2014 AT Conference

Thank you to all who attended the 2014 AT Conference On Thursday, November 20th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was another successful conference with approximately 350 persons in attendance and 50 vendors demonstrating new technology.

Presentations were held throughout the day. There were also User Presentations throughout the day given by people who use technology in their everyday lives. There was even an iPad Playground set up to learn about various apps available for Augmentative Communication, Reading, Writing, Blindness/Low Vision, Early Learning, Cause & Effect, and Therapy supports. If you missed this years' event, you'll see you missed a lot of great information!

At this years' welcome breakfast, ATAP Program Director, Roberta Greene Whittemore welcomed Dr. Dalton, who then presented the Elizabeth M. Dalton Assistive Technology Award to Cheryl Simmons. In 2010, the Rl Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP) established the "Elizabeth M. Dalton Assistive Technology recognizing the contribution of Dr. Dalton over the years to the field of assistive technology and to the establishment of the Rl Statewide assistive technology conference (now ATCNE), TechACCESS of Rhode Island, and ATAP -the Rhode Island TechAct Project. Recipients of this award may be professionals and/or assistive technology users who have had significant impact on the field of AT, or for whom AT has provided the means for them to significantly impact the community and/or the AT field. Nominations for this award are open to the community-at-large.

A few of the testimonials from colleagues who nominated Ms. Simmons:

"She possesses a quiet determination that drives her to continue to search for products, strategies and whatever it takes to help her students access the curriculum with success." "Cheryl works tirelessly to educate students, parents, and staff regarding tools and techniques that promote greater independence and academic functioning. Her ability to follow through and then follow up in a timely fashion is amazing." "She goes out of her way every day to provide the best technology for every student she services; technology that specifically matches that student's needs."

Congratulations, Cheryl! Thank you for your wonderful contributions in the field of assistive technology. Rl ATAP, your colleagues, and your friends wish you the very best!

The 2014 ATAP Assistive Technology Conference also would like to thank their sponsors of the conference:

Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS)

Allegra Printing East Greenwich

Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP)

Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan Program (ATEL)

ATAP Child & Youth Resource Center at East Bay Educational Collaborative

enablemart (School Health Corporation)

HMEA, Inc.

Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL)

Rhode Island Department of Education, Office of Student, Community, and Academic Support (RIDE)

Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Special Needs

Rhode Island Rehabilitation Association (RIRA)

Rhode Island Relay

TechACCESS of RI

Interpreters Compliments of:

Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS)