Leadership

Speak up for accessible e-health records! Post your comments by March 15 and ensure that this new federal initiative hears from the accessibility community.

U.S. National Ed Tech Plan, released March 5, 2010, sets an ambitious agenda for using technology to transform teaching and learning. Add your comments to the Plan.

Representing the Federation Employment and Guidance Service, Inc. (F·E·G·S), the largest human service organization in the United States, Al Miller demonstrated the power of leveraging public-private partnerships to improve the overall quality of life and maximize independence for individuals with special needs. Based on his tenure of over 40 years at F·E·G·S, Al outlined the blueprint for integrating technology that leads to greater incentives for innovation.

This session provided an excellent vehicle for participants to hear from leading national philanthropic organizations regarding the impact of investment in shaping the marketplace of ideas and innovation.

Today, more than ever, it is critical that technology products, devices, and tools have evidence pointing to their effectiveness. Panelists discussed the latest findings driving the field, and the best practices gleaned from the research. A lively conversation followed outlining effective strategies to communicate research-based findings in user-friendly terms to public and practitioner audiences.

Jim Fruchterman’s model for Benetech, a leading solution representing socially motivated technology applications, is a visionary example of leveraging the power of the social network to enhance lives. As a leading social entrepreneur and technology developer, Jim highlighted his experiences in creating ground-breaking solutions that allow all individuals to achieve equality in society.

NCTI co-sponsored the AT Outcomes Summit in December, 2005 with the SEAT Center at Illinois State University. Here, the main themes and directions from the discussion are summarized and next steps articulated.

Key findings in inadequate teacher preparation, low awareness, and gaps in leadership at all levels of the education system undermine the implementation of assistive and learning technology. Few incentives or enforcement mechanisms of existing credentialing standards create a weak link in the preparation of new teachers and administrators. Although some training is available through statewide organizations and other providers, the capacity of these organizations is limited to address the waves of under-prepared professionals throughout the system.

NCTI established a partnership with the Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center at Illinois State University and the University of Kansas to advance a national research agenda for issues related to the effects of assistive technology on educational outcomes.

A study by the Communications Workers of America finds that the U.S. has slower internet speed than 16 other industrialized nations. Slower internet speed could negatively affect innovation in the country, says the union, and it recommends a national policy to address the problem.