GoTap Braille & Other Tech for Students in the Digital World

Thank you

This live web event has ended. Thank you for attending.

Description

This session will showcase GoTap Braille the new inclusive and engaging app and kit for young students learning braille. Also, this session will include other engaging braille materials and technologies that can be used alongside GoTap Braille.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will identify 3 new engaging technologies to teach and reinforce braille for young children.
Participants will identify 3 apps or technologies that can be used by both sighted students learning to read and students who have low vision and/ or are learning to read braille.
Participants will identify four different activities included in the GoTap Braille App Program and Kit.

This session is presented by Dr. Betsy Flener and Joni Nygard.

Contributors

Betsy Flener

Dr. Betsy Flener has over 40 years of experience in the field of special education and visual impairment. She has been a teacher, regional consultant for Kentucky School for the Blind and a consultant in assistive technology at the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative. She has presented at state and national conferences for many years on such topics as communication and literacy for students with complex needs, septo‐optic dysplasia, assistive technology, and braille for students in the digital world. She was the recipient of the Louis Braille Touch of Genius Competition in 2015 for the Tactile Talk Toolkit and most recently developed the GoTap Braille App Program, kit and guidebook.
Joni Nygard

Joni Nygard, MS, CCC‐SLP, has specialized in augmentative alternative communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) throughout her 30 year career, serving as an SLP in public schools (birth to 21); managing an AAC clinic at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison, Trace Research and Development Center; and most recently developing AAC products and training materials at Attainment Company. Joni authored Early Literacy Communication Overlays, a companion book for Early Literacy Skills Builder and co‐authored TactileTalk Guidebook as well as articles in Closing The Gap publications. She also co‐authored the What’s Cool About Music app. She is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences on AAC/AT related topics with an emphasis on literacy and communication for all students. Her passion is advocating for individuals with complex communication needs of all ages in school, medical, and community settings. Currently, Joni is Director of Speech & Language Product Development and Director of the Aging Resources Division for Attainment Company, Verona, Wisconsin.