Assistive Technology

The BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 Assistive Technology Program is designed to build the capacity of our nineteen school districts for providing assistive technology services and devices to their students by delivering training and technical assistance to teachers, aides, therapists, parents, and administrators throughout the Intermediate Unit 17 area.

Blast IU 17 provides comprehensive Assistive Technology consultation services.

  1. The student’s IEP team, including parents, determines if an Assistive Technology (AT) consultation is needed to assist the student in accessing and participating in the educational environment.  Once the IEP team determines the need for further consideration of a student’s suspected AT needs, a member of the student’s IEP team will complete the AT consultation request form and secure the signature of the district special education coordinator or principal.
  2. Following receipt of the completed AT consultation request form, the assistive technology consultant will contact the individual who completed the request form to schedule an observation of the student and a meeting with all applicable team members. Consideration of AT generally involves a team discussion guided by the SETT framework, in which the individual student’s needs, environment, tasks, and available tools are examined to determine additional support.
  3. In collaboration, the team and AT consultant will complete an action plan.
  4. If necessary, the special education coordinator will schedule a meeting with the IEP team members to discuss the consultation and action plan.
  5. As outlined in the action plan of the SETT framework, the AT consultant can facilitate the following, if needed:
    • provision of professional development/in-service
    • oversight of equipment trials (securing devices to trial, assisting with programming, the establishment of routine/schedule for data collection)
    • scheduling of future team meetings for the purpose of data review

To request an Assistive Technology consultation, please click here to complete the form.

For more information contact:

Lycoming County:
Christine Bear, M.A., CCC-SLP
Assistive Technology Consultant
(570) 323-8561
cbear@iu17.org

Bradford, Sullivan & Tioga Counties:
Dana Vermilya, M.S., CCC-SLP
Assistive Technology Consultant
(570) 673-6001
dvermilya@iu17.org