Access Tomorrow: Project Overview

This website is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (Grant #H327A060066) entitled “Access Tomorrow: Using E-mentoring, Web-based and Assistive Technologies for Increasing Achievement and Transition Outcomes.”  This grant has been awarded to the Nisonger Center of Ohio State University in partnership with IDEAL Group, Inc. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Education.

Table-of-Contents:

A. Executive Summary   

B. Introduction

C. Components of Access Tomorrow

D. Benefits of the Access Tomorrow

E. Benefits of IDEAL Group's AT FlashDrive

F. Objectives

G. Documents

H. AT Papers

I. AT Resource Documents

J. Additional AT Resources

A. Executive Summary [top]

Access Tomorrow is a project that employs an innovative model in which open source assistive technologies (AT) are being modified to execute and run off of portable SmartDrives. The portable SmartDrives are integrated into a fully-accessible online learning environment which provides students with disabilities access to a self-directed on-line transition preparation course.  This course uses the personally relevant context of transitioning from high school to college/employment, with emphasis on online exploration of student’s strengths, needs, skills, and career interests.  In addition the course offers opportunities for students to learn basic Information Technology (IT) skills that are integrated into Language Arts academic standards. The above process is being used to improve the academic and transition outcomes of high school students with disabilities. 

B. Introduction [top]

As technology continues to change the skills needed to become successful from both an education and employment standpoint, schools are being challenged to promote technology-supported learning, integrate technology-based assessments, and ensure that both teachers and students are literate in information technologies (IT).  Despite the emphasis of higher academic standards, many youth with disabilities are still leaving school without the academic and employment skills needed to participate fully in employment and postsecondary education.  To address this gap, mentoring programs have been established and appear to have significant positive outcomes for students, such as reductions in school absences, higher college participation rates, and better in-school behavior.  More research is needed to examine the relationship between mentoring and academic achievement, youth employment, and postsecondary education.

In response to these needs, the Nisonger Center at Ohio State University and the IDEAL Group, together with national experts, parents, students and educators, developed a three-tiered model called Access Tomorrow which emphasizes three components needed for improved academic achievement and seamless transition to college/employment for students with disabilities:

C. Components of Access Tomorrow [top]

1. E-Mentoring Student Transition Course:

• guides students through a self-directed on-line course that results in the development of a personalized transition portfolio;

• focuses on core IT skills, academic standards, and self-directed transition plans;

• applies IT knowledge to Internet research and e-communication;

• fosters structured relationships between students and mentors that encourage students to reflect upon and implement transition plans that lead to successful post-school transitions.

2. Mentor Guide

• Provides the content and awareness that mentors need to support students with disabilities through the school-to-adult life transition process

• Offers the mentors prompts that contain conversation starters related to the student e-mentoring course

3. Open Source AT SmartDrives integrated with a fully-accessible online learning system

• Access Tomorrow’s portable AT SmartDrives are enabling students with disabilities to carry and effectively use mature, high-quality, well-maintained open source AT software, open Source Microsoft Office compatible mainstream applications, and open source PC utilities to any PC, located within any type of computing infrastructure, anywhere in the world including places of employment, public libraries, their homes, schools and colleges. When integrated into a fully-accessible online conferencing and collaboration infrastructure Access Tomorrow is leading to many stakeholder benefits which are described in the following section.

D. Benefits of the Access Tomorrow [top]

The Access Tomorrow project provides benefits for students, mentors, families, and educators. As students move through the program along with the support of their mentors, the benefits reach multiple groups of people.

Benefits To Students

Students will:

• Connect with caring adults.

• Develop skills for everyday life .

• Gain knowledge in transition planning and career awareness.

• Develop a clear vision for transition.

• Improve reading, writing, and technology skills.

• Increase academic motivation.

• Become proficient in assistive technology applications specific to their needs.

• Be provided a means to conveniently access technological support.

• Become empowered to communicate more effectively through electronic means. 

• Improve self-esteem .

• Become less likely to get in fights and use drugs.

• Become more likely to graduate.

Benefits to Mentors

Mentors will:

• Establish a proactive friendship with a student as a coach, guide and advocate.

• Enhance leadership and communication skills.

• Develop an understanding of others' differences.

• Influence a student’s direction in life.

• Increase understanding of one's own values, priorities, and perspectives.

• Network with other volunteers and professionals.

• Engage in a convenient communication method.

• Increase knowledge and use of assistive technology.

Benefits to Families

Families will:

• Witness their children connect with caring adults.

• Gain a better understanding of interpersonal relationships that ultimately affect daily family life.

• Observe their c hildren improve self-confidence and attitudes about school and their future.

• Notice an increase in communication between family members.

• Experience security as their child interacts on a monitored e-mail communication system .

• Become familiar with the assistive technology available to their children.

• Be provided a means to conveniently access technological support.

Benefits to Instructors

Instructors will:

• Receive an e-mentoring program guide.

• Receive an AT assessment tool and guidance in choosing AT applications for their students.

• Be provided with a means to conveniently access technological support.

• Witness improvement in students’ reading and writing skills through the use of technology.

• Be provided with an approach to foster students’ positive attitudes about school, relationships and future planning.

• Be given a means to improve student relationships and communication skills with peers and adults.

E. Benefits of IDEAL Group's AT SmartDrive Technology [top]

Benefits To Students

Students will:

• Carry their assistive technology applications with them

• Be able to use their AT on almost any PC

Benefits to Teachers and other AT Specialists

Teachers and other AT specialists will:

• Conduct AT evaluations much more quickly and easily.  IDEAL Group's AT SmartDrive Technology eliminates the problems commonly associated with conducting in-school AT evaluations such as needing to:

  • Solicit approval to install AT software on security protected school PCs

  • Involve school IT department staff

  • Install software on school PCs

  • Uninstall software from school PCs

  • Check to insure that school PCs function properly after the AT uninstall

• Benefit from remote mentoring, tutoring and teaching support services

• Be provided with low cost/free, mature, high-quality, commercial-grade well-maintained AT software

• Have access to free, portable, suites of Microsoft Office compatible mainstream applications

• No longer have to deal with ownership and transition problems due to school-purchased AT.

• Be able to run multiple AT applications on a single classroom PC without experiencing interoperability/incompatibility issues. 

F. Objectives [top]

• Identify the most accessible and portable e-mentoring programs that improve the academic and transition plans of students. 

• Develop an e-mentoring product that delivers Information Technology (IT) skills & self-directed transition planning with the support of e-mentors. 

• Port open source assistive technologies to Portable SmartDrive platforms in manners which promote interoperability and compatibility with fully-accessible online conferencing and collaboration infrastructures and develop and provide documentation that supports e-mentoring programs.

• Develop meaningful opportunities for active parent involvement and peer interactions in the transition planning process. 

• Pilot the e-mentoring program with our portable open source assistive technologies and fully-accessible online conferencing and collaboration infrastructures to validate the usefulness for with students with disabilities.  

• Evaluate the effects of the e-mentoring program with our portable open source assistive technologies and fully-accessible online conferencing and collaboration infrastructures on achievement and transition outcomes.

• Disseminate product/effects of e-mentoring program through national centers, articles, presentations, and a website.

G. Documents [top]

• Assessments

• Project Overview from a Technology Standpoint

• Focus Group

• Positioning Statements

• Online Conferencing System VPAT

• Quality Assurance

• Legal

• Project Flow

H. AT Papers [top]

• Policy Barriers

• Definitions

• Technology for all

I. AT Resource Documents [top]