Giving Our Quietest Children a Voice

This webinar will provide information learned from an ongoing longitudinal, mixed-methods research study. The purpose of the research is to examine the impact of implementing the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) with educational teams supporting six young children with various disabilities, all with varying degrees of Complex Communication Needs (CCN). The children range in age from three to six years old. The comprehensive team supporting the children include the Child Development Lab (CDL) Director, two university-based researchers, teachers, teacher assistants, a Speech and Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist from Oklahoma Able Tech, and our state Assistive Technology (AT) agency. Following the eight QIAT guidelines, multiple Recommended Practices from the DEC are being followed and implemented.  Families are an integral part of the research process. Each child receives individualized interventions and are now using different AT communication devices. Results, challenges, and successes will be shared in the webinar.
 
Participant Outcomes:
 
Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the eight steps in the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) and how they relate to the DEC Recommended Practices.
Participants will examine documents from the longitudinal, mixed-methods study and be able to relate and connect them to their own settings and needs.
Participants will be able to integrate the new knowledge gained regarding the implementation, successes, and challenges identified of the steps of the QIAT with six young children within the session.
 
Presenters: Gretchen Cole-Lade, PhD, Claudia Otto, PhD, and Dianna Ross, MS

Gretchen Cole-Lade, PhD, is a retired special education teacher and an assistant professor teaching early childhood education pre-service teachers. She earned a BS in Special Education, an MEd in Early Childhood Education and a PhD in Professional Education Studies with an emphasis in Special Education.
 
Claudia Otto, PhD, was a special education teacher and is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor preparing K-12 pre-and in-service teachers to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities. She earned a BS in Business Administration, an MS in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, and a PhD in Professional Education Studies.
 
Dianna Ross, MS, is the director of the Child Development Lab at Oklahoma State University. She earned a BS Family Relations and Child Development and MS in Curriculum and Instruction. Her expertise is child development, and children with and without developmental delays and disabilities.