The Access Center’s Technical Assistance

Activities

Amy KlekotkaTechnical Assistance Liaison

Wisconsin Summer Institute 2006:Addressing Disproportionality

Green Bay, WIAugust 15-17, 2006

Agenda

• Center Activities – Introduction and Description– Technical Assistance Services

• Information Sharing Communities• Direct Technical Assistance• Web based Services

• Examples• Questions and Discussion

Access Center: Who are We?

• National Technical Assistance Center– Funded by the U.S. Department of

Education, OSEP

• Focus on issues of Access– Active learning of the content and skills

that define the general education curriculum for students with disabilities

Access Center Mission

The mission of the Access Center is to provide technical assistance that strengthens state and local capacity to help students with disabilities effectively learn in the general education curriculum.

Access Center Goals

With an emphasis on research-based programs, practices, and tools, our services help students learn in the general education curriculum through:

• Increasing awareness among educators• Strengthening the ability of educators to be

informed consumers • Assisting educators to implement and evaluate

programs, practices, and tools

Three Types of Services

• Ongoing Direct Assistance from Technical Assistance Liaisons

• Information Sharing Communities• State-to-State Information Communities• District-to-District Information

Communities

• Web-based Services• Training & products, Webinars, & Access

in Action

What is “Access”?

Active learning of the content and skills that define the general education curriculum.

Access in the Legislation

• Access• Participation• Progress. . .

• What do they have in common?

Where does access occur?

• The access to the general education curriculum mandate does not speak to the issue of where, per se, but rather on what

• However, IDEA indicates a strong preference for including students with disabilities in regular education settings

The Current Challenge

We are faced with the need to bring the two together to promote access, participation, and progress, while still meeting unique needs of students

Have you heard this one before?

“Let me get this straight, we’re behind the rest of our class and we’re going to catch up to them by going slower than they are?”

Technical Assistance Activities

• Information Sharing Communities• Direct Technical Assistance• Web Based Technical Assistance

Information Sharing Communities

• Cross-state communities• Urban district community• Topical communities

Direct Technical Assistance

• Connecting with interested states and districts

• Clarifying technical assistance goals• Developing technical assistance at

varying levels of intensity• Building on technical assistance

services

A Sampling of Services the Access Center Provides States and Districts

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Tier OneTechnical Assistance (TA) via products on the website

1. Resources we place on the website2. Products we produce or contract from outside experts3. Web events (Webinars) we host4. Conduct tour of the Access Center Website

Tier TwoTA via mediated information sharing

5. Conduct informal information gathering6. Provide topical information packets or links to information - ”quick turnaround” activities 7. Present research and facilitate information sharing8. Provide and review state level material and guides related to access9. Recruit states and districts for participation in national level information sharing

communities10. Share the mission, goals and activities of the Access Center in an effort to recruit

relationships with states and districts.

Tier ThreeTA via state/regional/national activities

11. Present at activities that involve key stakeholders12. Develop a training module for use by TA providers13. Survey the needs of states and districts in order to inform plans related to access. 14. Participate in workgroups or teams addressing issues related to access15. If requests on the same or similar topics arise from several states or regions, recommend

regional or national activity on the topic16. Facilitate regular communications and/or activities between the Access Center and

states/districts in order to sustain productive relationships.

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A Sampling of Services the Access Center Provides States and Districts

Tier FourTA via intense state/region specific work done by AC staff

17. Assist states in the process of aligning IEP goals with state standards18. Develop tool for administrators to use to analyze achievement data

and make decisions related to program needs for students with disabilities

19. Assist States/Districts in developing evaluation models for showing progress related to access.

Tier FiveTA via intense state/region specific work done in coordination with

other entities

20. Collaborate to plan and provide (facilitate or oversee) state-wide conferences

21. Work with districts to implement a change model that will guide the district in better providing access for all students.

22. Assist in evaluating efforts/programs/policies relating to access or improving outcomes for students with disabilities

23. Train core group of TA providers or trainers in a state/ region on topical research.

24. Plan and implement regional or state information sharing communities 25. Work with districts to implement district-wide initiatives that increase

access

Colors indicates type ofTA service

Direct Assistance

Information Sharing Communities

Both Service Areas

NV

AZ NM

COUT

WY

MT

ID

OR

WA

CA

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

ND

MN

IA

MO

AR

LA

AL GA

SC

NCTN

KY

IL

WIMI

IN OH

PA

NY

FL

MEVT

WVVA MD

DE

NJCT

MS

NH

RI

DC

MA

AK

HA

Colors indicates type ofTA service

Direct Assistance

Information Sharing Communities

Both Service Areas

NV

AZ NM

COUT

WY

MT

ID

OR

WA

CA

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

ND

MN

IA

MO

AR

LA

AL GA

SC

NCTN

KY

IL

WIMI

IN OH

PA

NY

FL

MEVT

WVVA MD

DE

NJCT

MS

NH

RI

DC

MA

AK

HAHA

District 75, NYC

• Implement pilot inclusion program for students with Asperger’s Disorder at the middle school level– Beginning in Staten Island– Professional development in June– From there, deciding on what supports

are needed throughout the year

Bering Strait, Alaska

• Liaisons presented in Unalakleet, AK – including administrators, special

education facilitators, and paraprofessionals

• Now doing follow-up videoconferences on co-teaching and differentiated instruction.

The Big 8 Urban Districts, Ohio

• Relationship with Ohio initially began through their participation in a state information sharing community

• Relationship grew through direct consultation with the group

• Now working on a community of practice among the Big 8 urban districts…

Web Based Technical Assistance

• Training and Products – Internally and externally produced

• Interactive Opportunities– Threaded Discussions– Webinars

• Access in Action

For more information…

• Please contact me:–Amy Klekotka

•aklekotka@air.org•202-403-5489

• Visit the website:–www.k8accesscenter.org