You are invited to an ice cream social and book release reception for Therese Willkomm's new book "Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes II: Ordinary Items, Extraordinary Solutions" on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 from 4pm-6pm at the University of New Hampshire Elliott Alumni Center.

The afternoon will feature:

• Remarks from the author
• Book signing
• An interactive display of inventions and items found in each book chapter
• Copies of the new book as well as other assistive technology items available for sale
• Free ice cream!

There is something for everyone at iPad Boot Camp, a four day, hands-on iPad training series! Participants will enjoy interactive sessions and learn about the many ways the iPad can be used to support individuals with disabilities’ independence. Whether you join us for a single day or all four, it is sure to be an APPsolutely amazing week! Participants will have access to an iPad during the session but are encouraged to bring their own if they have one.

Session Descriptions:
Monday, August 12, 2013 - iPad 101: Intro to the Amazing iPad
This hands-on workshop will teach the basics of owning, operating, and maintaining an iPad, as well as the latest features that will benefit individuals with disabilities. Presented in two parts, the morning will be spent discussing and demonstrating the iPad’s basic hardware and software features and how they can be used to support individuals with disabilities. The afternoon session will showcase a variety of iPad accessories to accommodate for physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments. These accessories include: pocket trackers, switch access, interfaces with electronic aids to daily living (EADLS), stylus adaptations, mounting solutions, voice recognition, and more.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - Adapting the iPad for Individuals with Disabilities: A Make-and-Take Fabrication Workshop
While the iPad is promoted as a universally-designed tool, individuals with various disabilities often benefit from the added support of adaptations. This hands-on, interactive workshop will discuss the process for fabricating iPad adaptations for use by individuals with physical and sensory impairments. Participants will create 10 different adaptations, learn about 25 different iPad adaptations that can be made in five minutes or less, and learn how to fabricate four iPad stands and an accessible stylus. Participants will also create a mounting solution for an iPhone, tactile and visual overlays, and body-supported solutions for the iPad.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - Using iPads to Achieve Educational Success for Students with Disabilities
In the ever-expanding world of available apps, how can educators discern which ones will best serve students’ needs and create ways to measure success? This interactive workshop will address these concepts and more! Participants will explore apps for print disabilities, executive dysfunction and neurobehavioral challenges, mental health, communication impairments, writing, early learners, and apps that use the iPad camera. Participants must have attended iPad 101 or currently be an iPad user to participate in this session.

Thursday, August 15, 2013 – Apps and AT for Aging
Many older adults face increasing challenges in performing everyday tasks and creating a safe home environment. How can individuals who wish to stay in their homes, and those who support them, make use of simple tips, tricks, devices, and tools to make life easier? This workshop will address both low-tech and high-tech solutions that promote independence for older adults, including low-cost, on-the-fly fabrications and modifications, as well as iPad apps and adaptations.

Technologies that will be discussed and demonstrated include solutions for:

• Reducing slips and falls
• Maximizing grip
• Promoting memory and organization
• Addressing vision and hearing disabilities
• Recording heart rate, blood pressure, food intact, exercise and sleep patterns
• Real time video chats with loved ones and service providers

Who Should Attend:

General and special educators, paraeducators, assistive technology specialists and providers, accessibility professionals, ADA administrators, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, rehabilitation engineers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, family members, and others are encouraged to attend.

The iPad is having a profound impact on the lives of older adults, family members, and care providers. Thousands of apps have been developed to promote, health, safety, independence, and emotional well-being. In addition, there are hundreds of iPad accessories and adaptations to accommodate for challenges associated with hearing, vision, memory, arthritis, or high blood pressure.

This webinar will discuss an assortment of iPad apps and accessories which can benefit older adults, including apps for:

• low vision
• easier reading and writing
• hearing impairments
• remembering important events, people, and activities
• locating people, cars, misplaced items, and bathrooms
• speaking difficulties
• reducing anxiety and depression
• controlling appliances in the home
• recording heart rate, blood pressure, food intact, exercise and sleep patterns
• real time video chats with loved ones and service providers

Participants will also learn ways that the iPad can be quickly adapted to accommodate for a variety of vision, communication, or physical impairments.

Sponsored by Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH)

Who Should Attend:

Accessibility professionals, ADA administrators, assistive technology specialists, family members, older adult consumers, rehabilitation engineers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and related service providers are encouraged to attend.

Please join us for the 2013 NH Leadership Reunion Gala and Fundraiser on Friday, April 12, 2013 from 7pm-10pm at the Yard Restaurant in Manchester, NH. Join us to reconnect with alumni, meet sponsors and the 2013 class, and enjoy an evening to support the Leadership Series.

*JUST ANNOUNCED: New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan will be in attendance from 7pm–7:30pm in support of the evening’s activities and to offer brief remarks. Governor Hassan is a 1991 Leadership Series graduate and was the inaugural recipient of the Brianna Dillon Leadership Medal.

Those in attendance can expect plenty of hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, a large silent auction, raffles, the third annual Brianna Dillon Leadership Medal presentation, and inspirational stories from Leadership graduates. In addition to several generous gift baskets and gift cards, fundraising items include: 

• Kindle Fire
• Bruins tickets
• A week's stay in the Shenandoah Valley in October 2013
• Handmade items including a large quilt and jewelry
• A 50" LCD HDTV
• Keurig coffee maker
• Original artwork
• And much more!

We are still seeking donations for the silent auction! We count on your support to secure the year-to-year funding for the Leadership Series. Please consider contributing goods, services, or gift cards. For more information and to arrange a donation, call 603.228.2084 or email the Leadership team.

If you would like to volunteer at the event, contact Beth Dixon at 603.228.2084 or via email.

Hope to see you there!

The NH Leadership Series is an innovative annual training program that provides participants with state-of-the-art information and strategies to effectively impact organizations and policies on issues related to disabilities. For more information, visit the Leadership website.

With the introduction of iPads into school and classroom settings, educators are able to provide better access to academic content electronically. However, finding high-quality, curriculum-appropriate digital materials that are ready for classroom use can be challenging.

During this workshop, participants will learn how to use computer programs and apps to create customized eBooks for the purpose of classroom instruction. Participants will learn how to incorporate recorded sounds and images, as well as tips for creating a polished finished product.

Other topics will include:

• A discussion of the differences among various eReader apps and programs 
• How to download and import free eBooks from the web
• How to create eBooks from websites for offline use
• Moving files from a computer to eReader apps on an iPad
• Switch access options for students with physical disabilities

Participants are required to bring an iPad and a laptop (Mac or PC) with Mozilla Firefox web browser installed. Participants must also have administrative rights to install add-ons to Firefox.

This workshop is pending approval for .5 RESNA CEUs. At the conclusion of the session, participants will receive instructions on how to purchase RESNA CEUs. 

Sponsored by Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH).

Who Should Attend:

General and special educators, paraeducators, speech pathologists, assistive technology specialists, related service providers, parents, and others are encouraged to attend.

Many older adults face increasing challenges in performing everyday tasks and creating a safe home environment. How can individuals who wish to stay in their homes, and those who support them, make use of simple tips, tricks, devices, and tools to make life easier? This hands-on, interactive workshop will address both low-tech and high-tech solutions that promote independence for older adults, including low-cost, on-the-fly fabrications and modifications, as well as iPad apps and adaptations.

Technologies that will be discussed and demonstrated include solutions for:

• Reducing slips and falls
• Minimizing back injury
• Using only one hand
• Maximizing grip
• Promoting memory and organization 
• Addressing vision and hearing disabilities

Who Should Attend:

Direct support professionals, case managers, social workers, health care providers, nurses, clinicians, long term care specialists, assistive technology specialists, family members, and older adult consumers are encouraged to attend.

While the iPad is promoted as a universally-designed tool, individuals with various disabilities often benefit from the added support of adaptations. This webinar will demonstrate over 30 ways an iPad can be adapted in five minutes or less using everyday materials. Participants will learn to mount an iPad so the camera can be stabilized and used as a video presenter, presentation, lecture, or capture tool; adapt a stylus or use innovative input methods; create tactile graphics for iPad apps; attach an iPad to a wheelchair, bed, crib, chair, or a person; recess an iPad into a table or tray; and learn creative ways to protect an iPad.

Sponsored by Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH)

Who Should Attend:

General and special educators and paraeducators, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, assistive technology specialists, independent living specialists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, medical equipment sales personnel, parents, and consumers are encouraged to attend.

Assistive technology can greatly enhance educational success in post-secondary education, but youth and educators often lack knowledge, awareness, exposure, and skills in its use. This workshop will discuss, describe, and demonstrate over 50 different technologies which can benefit youth who experience physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments. Technologies to be discussed include magnification and amplification devices, computer access solutions, iPad apps, memory and organizational aids, note-taking solutions, and low-tech solutions for everyday challenges.

Series Description:
Despite the inclusion of secondary transition services in an amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2004, youth with disabilities continue to have lower graduation rates, higher dropout rates, lower employment rates, and lower post-secondary education rates than youth without disabilities. This five-part series will highlight practices that improve youth’s self-determination skills, share tools to help youth develop transition plans that are relevant to their interests, and share resources to ensure that youth are successful. It is highly recommended that participants attend all five sessions in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the transition process and the tools and strategies for effective secondary transition practice. Click here to see all dates in this series.

This series is co-sponsored in part by the Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) III project, funded by the NH Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education.

Who Should Attend:

High school general and special education teachers, school counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors, transition specialists, special education case managers who work with high school students, mental health and area agency staff, child welfare and other community providers, and family members are encouraged to attend.

Registration for this event is now closed. Due to security regulations at U.S. Capitol buildings, we cannot accommodate walk-ins.

However, you may access this event online live, free of charge:

Annual Compendium of Disability Statistics - Live Webcast
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 - 9am–3pm EST

• AM Session: Compendium Release Briefing – 9am–11:30am
• Lunch – 11:30am–1:00pm (During lunch there will be a break in the live webcast—broadcast resumes at 1pm)
• PM Session: Research-to-Policy Roundtable – 1pm–3pm

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You are cordially invited to attend the release of the Annual Compendium of Disability Statistics and the Second Annual Research-to-Policy Roundtable meeting in Washington, DC. Both events will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room SD-G50.

The Compendium Release Briefing*, held from 9:00–11:30am, will include a briefing and a one-hour workshop on the sources and uses of disability statistics. The Compendium is a web-based tool that pools disability statistics published by various federal agencies together in one place. When working on legislative and other matters relating to persons with disabilities, the Compendium will make finding and using disability statistics easier. It will prove invaluable to your work.

The Research-to-Policy Roundtable, scheduled from 1:00–3:00pm, will provide an opportunity for disability advocates, policymakers and researchers to discuss ways that research can assist policymakers in developing programs, policies, and legislation that support people with disabilities.

Lunch (optional) will be provided free of charge for all participants.

*For individuals who cannot attend the Compendium Release Briefing in person, this session will be available live via webcast. Individuals who register to attend online will receive more information and a link to the public webcast a week prior to the event. In addition to the live webcast, the video will be archived and available for viewing a later date.

Presented by Kessler Foundation in partnership with the Institute on Disability / UCED at the University of New Hampshire.

The StatsRRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research under cooperative agreement H133B080012, from 2008 - 2013. The information developed by the StatsRRTC does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government (Edgar, 75.620 (b)).