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Parents to get help with kids' disabilities

A Central High lab with assistive equipment and software for children has an open house.

By VALERIE TAYLOR
Published March 10, 2005

Ask parents of children with disabilities about one of their greatest hopes, and many would say more independence for their children.

On Wednesday, those Hernando County parents will have the opportunity to learn how to help their children attain that goal during Assistive Technology Night at Central High School.

The Assistive Technology Lab on the school's campus is loaded with equipment and devices for helping parents of children with disabilities improve communication, behavior, school work and more independent functioning.

Teachers have been using the lab's capabilities since it opened this school year. But for parents, it has been too much of a secret, lab staff said. The special night was designed to introduce the lab to parents, to inform them of emerging technologies and to preview some of the latest equipment, software and tools.

"As a parent, you're always trying to find things to help your kids in life. When you can find those, and they're there for you to look at, it's a great opportunity," said Kristin Hope, a technology specialist with Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System, a collaborative program between the Hernando County school district and the Florida Department of Education that targets students with disabilities.

Professional staff will be on hand to demonstrate various techniques and devices that enhance communications, such as the use of symbols, touch screens, special keyboards or visual aids.

Parents will learn how to create personalized materials that will help them - and their child - communicate better.

For example, if a child has certain activities in his or her life or specific interests, like a favorite restaurant, going to the movies, math, or dogs, parents will see how to create a board that shows those specific interests.

Those visual images, combined with others that show daily activities, can be used by students with disabilities to organize their thoughts and talk about their day, express their eating preferences or to engage in other interactions with their family. And parents can use these materials to elicit certain behaviors or maintain schedules.

WHAT: Assistive Technology Night

DATE: Wednesday LOCATION: Central High Assistive Technology Lab, 14075 Ken Austin Parkway

TIME: 6 to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS: This event is free, but registration is limited. Contact Leslie Bolen at (352) 683-0209 or Exceptional Student Education at 797-7022, ext. 217,for more information or to register. No child care will be available.

[Last modified March 10, 2005, 01:14:16]