Charting the Cs logo. Cooperation, Communication, Collaboration. Growing Two Trees with One Seed: Creatively Building Capacity in Assistive Technology (AT) Across One District April 28 - 30, 2025 Jennifer Veenendall , OTD, OTR/L, ATP Assistive Technology Specialist / Occupational Therapy Lead at West St.Paul - Mendota Heights - Eagan Area Schools (School District 197) About Me West St. Paul - Mendota Heights - Eagan Area Schools Assistive Technology Specialist and Occupational Therapy Lead Artist, builder, upcycler middle-aged woman with blond hair and glasses Jenn Veenendall, OTD, OTR/L, ATP What is this Presentation About? Question mark graphics | free photos | UIHere Learning Objectives 1.Recognize the needs assessment results that led to this work site initiative 2.Identify the work experience design and activities promoting district - wide AT consideration while developing student employment preparation 3.Analyze this initiative and design for broader application in other environments Colorful Natural Tree Vector Clipart image - Free stock photo ... Colorful Natural Tree Vector Clipart image - Free stock photo ... What Led to this Program? The Problems Lack of AT consideration, implementation, and documentation More work site opportunities needed for transition program students The Solution The Solution The Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) Work Experience Program drawing of an acorn Because I Love an Analogy… drawing of an acorn The ATRC Work Experience Colorful Natural Tree Vector Clipart image - Free stock photo ... Colorful Natural Tree Vector Clipart image - Free stock photo ... Vocational Skill Building for Transition Program Students AND AT Capacity Building Assistive Technology Resource Center Work Experience •Students •Environment •Tasks clipart of three young adults, a workbench and tools, and a "tasks" symbol with a clock, gears and arrows Students •Typically 1st - year students •Unclear AT needs •Wide variety of skills cartoonified photo of 4 young adults with a work area behing them Environment -Video Assistive Technology Resource Center Maker Space Tour Short video tour of student volunteer work space. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okrgy_JUWFk Environmental Modifications and Supports Tools and Equipment from left to right: self-opening scissors, adapted hole punch, lamintor machine with a tray, and an adapted paper cutting tool. •Self - opening scissors •Lever hole punch •Laminator tray •Adapted cutting board Tape runner tool Tape runner label making device Label maker Training and Instructions •Visual schedules •Written task steps •Video modeling (within apps or QR code to You-Tube) •Get Ready, Do, Done, Get Done visual planning template More Environmental Modifications and Supports Training and Instructions Examples Play icon grey color | Public domain vectors a paper checklist Get Ready, Do, Done Visual Planning Template in yellow, green and red Link to examples about training and instructions Tasks Work completed in the ATRC directly aligns to the U.S. Department of Education’s Employability Skills Framework Workplace Skills the employability skills framework and components in a circular chart Link to Employability Skills Framework AT Lending Library Work •Data entry •Cleaning •Return to storage •Email communications hand with stylus and iPad Shipping and Receiving Work •Assemble packages •Fill out shipping labels •Unpack new inventory •Check functionality of new items •Apply inventory label •Photograph and email hand and 4 shipping labels Visual Production Work •Visual schedules •Duration charts •Bound social stories •Visual scales •Spinners •First/Then boards •Token boards •File folder games •Custom orders person using a paper cutter Low-Tech Fabrication Work •Weighted pencils •PVC grasping tools •PVC switch positioning devices •Pencil grips (3D printed) •Sensory supports (fidgets, weighted lap pads, shoulder wraps, and baby dolls) hand touching completed 3D printed object on a 3D printer Audio Production Work •Penfriend website sticker recording •Chapter books MP3s Book, titiled, What if There were No Bees? and a hand holding a Penfriend reading pen ATRC Google Site •Link to ATRC Google Site File:Google Sites (2014-2020).svg - Wikipedia Barriers •Lack of collaboration time •Unpredictability of my schedule road barrier with lights at the top Successes 1.Growth in work skills 2.Adaptive strategies and AT identified 3.More implementation of low tech AT throughout district 4.Less money spent on items we now fabricate within district hands clapping drawing What I’ve Learned Along the Way 1.Grants are helpful 2.Illustrate the value of the work 3.Collect student thoughts lightbulb turned on What’s Next / Future Planning? General goals for the future involve the creation of tools and resources to support literacy across the district. Expand into “Production Center” green up arrow Tools and Materials to Support Literacy •Phoneme grapheme mapping tools •Visual tracking tools •Decodable books with Penfriend website recorded supports Think Tank (or Forestation Planning) qr code linking to Padlet board QR Code to Padlet Link to Padlet Charting the Cs logo Thank you! Jennifer Veenendall, OTD, OTR/L, ATP jennifer.veenendall@isd197.org