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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>See my comment below. if anyone has anything to add, you can e-mail Abigail as well. Let’s make our voices and our kids’ needs heard!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Have a great day!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> rybodek@gmail.com <rybodek@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 27, 2021 5:15 PM<br><b>To:</b> abigail.mason@ocfs.ny.gov<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: comment on assistive technology training for school-aged students<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Abigail,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you again for the call today and for all the great services the Commission provides.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want to reiterate the issue we discussed about the deficiency in students’ assistive technology training. As I had mentioned, TVI’s receive limited training on assistive technology and are mostly focused on getting students to complete their assignments. As most of your counselors can attest, many students graduate high school with insufficient technology skills for college, work, or even daily living.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Therefore, I suggest that assistive technology training become a service students are entitled to during transition. Alternatively, I recommend that the Commission work closely with the Education department to emphasize the importance of assistive technology as part of the Expanded Core Curriculum and the importance of adding assistive tech training as an IEP service by individuals with the proper certification (i.e. CATIS) or skill (perhaps visually impaired adults who are well-versed in this area).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you again for this opportunity,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rachel Bodek<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>