Categories
Announcement News and Events

CTTAP Has a New Logo!

The CT Tech Act Project was established in Connecticut in 1992 and for 31 years we have used our original logo and tagline ‘Achievement Through Technology’.

Old CTTAP logo from 1992 - 2023

But times change, trends change, and we know technology changes very quickly! This year the CT Tech Act Project Advisory Council decided it was time to modernize our look and feel. This included updating our logo to a more relevant look that better reflects our current mission, that is more versatile and adaptable and will endure for many years into the future.

Connecticut Tech Act Project logo

We maintained the color purple, but utilized a deeper, royal purple and have added orange to create a nice pop of color and contrast. The graphic elements to the left of the program title are intended to be active, dynamic and bold, reflecting our mission as Connecticut’s Assistive Technology program – the central place that individuals with disabilities, family members, educators, employers, and professionals turn to for Assistive Technology supports, programs, services and resources.

We are excited about this new look and to have also updated our website to reflect our new colors and logo. We also streamlined the information to give visitors to our website easier access to the information and resources they are looking for. You can visit our website at www.CTtechact.com. You will begin seeing our new logo throughout our website, social media and print materials. Rest assured we are the same small but mighty program with a great new look!

Categories
General News and Events

Guidelines for Article Submissions

Want to share your articles, information and/or upcoming event?

We would love to hear from you & include your contributions in the next CTTAP News e-newsletter and on our blog! Article Submission Guidelines are:

  • One feature article of 1,200-2,000 words
  • Several general articles of 600 words max
  • Digital Accessibility Tip Column
  • Preference is given to articles that include pictures with alt tags provided by the author
  • Upcoming events must include information regarding target audience, location and cost of the event

Want to discuss your ideas? Feel free to use this link Contact Us to send us an email.

Categories
Announcement News and Events Uncategorized

Thank You to the CT Tech Act Project AT Partners!

AT Awareness Day is also a day to give thanks and recognize Assistive Technology professionals. The CT Tech Act Project is extremely grateful to our community AT Partners whose staff do a fantastic job providing AT services to individuals with disabilities and aging adults in Connecticut! 

CREC: Assistive Technology Services

CREC Logo

Berkshire Bank 

Berkshire Bank Logo

Assistive Technology – EASTCONN

EASTCONN logo

Meriden ATECH

ATECH logo

NEAT Center at Oak Hill

NEAT Center at Oak Hill logo

SERC Library

SERC logo

SCSU Center for Educational and Assistive Technology

SCSU logo

UCP’s Assistive Technology Center 

 

#ATAwarenessDay

Categories
AT Success Stories News and Events

Nancy’s Story

Older woman with laptop
Seniors – even those with no computer experience – have gained valuable skills through the Stay Connected program.

During the height of the COVID pandemic, Nancy, an older adult living independently in her own home, was beginning to feel socially isolated as she was unable to get together with her friends for their regular games of bridge. Through Cares Act funding, and the Stay Connected program, she was provided with a brand-new laptop. One big challenge? Nancy had never used a computer before.

She had to learn the very basics of using a computer: connecting to Wi-Fi, plugging it in so the laptop would have a charge, even where to find the space bar. After initial training and an introduction to the laptop was provided by phone, Nancy and her AT Consultant moved onto video conferencing where she learned how to access websites and use bookmarks. Finally, Nancy was able to join her friends for online Bridge Club. Now, not only is Nancy playing bridge several times a day with her friends, enjoying her ability to stay connected to them virtually; she is also using her laptop to purchase and read books online and much more. #ATAwarenessDay

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Announcement Events News and Events

National Assistive Technology Awareness Day is Wednesday, April 6, 2022!

The CT Tech Act Project and our AT partner agencies are celebrating National AT Awareness Day to bring attention to the important role Assistive Technology (AT) plays in the lives of individuals with disabilities and aging adults.

What is AT?

AT is any item or piece of equipment that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of older adults and individuals with disabilities. AT provides access to education and the workplace, allowing individuals to live well within their communities, enjoy recreational activities, and more. AT takes many forms – from low-tech devices like canes, walkers, ergonomic pens and magnifiers to high-tech items like smartphones, computers with speech-to-text software or magnification, adapted vehicles, or smart home technology.

How Can You Get Involved?

National AT Awareness Day is a great opportunity to share the importance of Assistive Technology for you, a family member, or someone you know with local lawmakers (https://www.cga.ct.gov/) and members of Congress (https://www.congress.gov/members). Thank them for supporting programs like the AT Act that make AT more accessible to all.

Consider sharing what AT means to you on social media using the hashtag #ATAwarenessDay.

How can you learn more about AT in Connecticut? 

Visit the CT Tech Act Project website at www.CTtechact.com or follow us at www.facebook.com/CTtechact or on Twitter @Cttechact.

Categories
AT Success Stories News and Events

AT Legend Carolann Cormier Will Retire

Written by Nicole Natale, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP, Senior Education Specialist, CREC Resource Group

Carolann CormierFor the past 36+ years, Carolann Cormier has worked as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and an expert in assistive technology (AT) and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) throughout the state of Connecticut. Since 1995, Carolann’s career has spanned many different work environments, including public schools, summer camps, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), children’s hospitals, colleges and the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). Carolann has presented nationwide, has also published numerous professional articles and written a guide to AT for students with Autism. She has also accomplished so much professionally, having earned a variety of advanced degrees and certifications. However, Carolann’s professional success is far greater than the sum of its parts: It’s her positive influence on students and families that is the true mark of her personal and professional legacy.

There are many professionals and families that can attest to the positive impact Carolann has had on their lives. Anne Selavka story encapsulates this positive impact succinctly.

Anne has twin boys, one of whom – Greg – was born with significant support needs and also had complex communication needs. As Greg was aging out of birth-to-three, Anne received a report from a professional that indicated Greg would never speak or be able to use assistive technology. Anne was referred to a local children’s hospital where she met Carolann. Like Anne and her family, Carolann refused to believe the report and focused instead on Greg’s potential. Since then, Carolann has not only been a tireless advocate for Greg, but a member of his family. Carolann could easily see Greg’s potential and has worked with Greg and his teams throughout the years to help support him. Anne credits Carolann with “opening up Greg’s world.”  Anne says that Greg’s ability to communicate with his family and friends, to bake, to access his community and to experience a positive quality of life can all be attributed to Carolann’s unshakeable advocacy. Carolann helped to give Greg and his family hope that he would reach his potential, even when times were bleak. Greg is 28 years old now, and even though Carolann has not worked with him and his family in a professional capacity for years, her relationship with them has continued, as has her advocacy. Anne wonders where they would be today if Carolann hadn’t come into their lives, and considers they are “lucky to have found her.”

Carolann and Greg

The Selavka’s story is just one of many. From Carolann’s direct work with students and families, to her trainings of professionals to build their capacity in AT, to her workshops and to her thoughtful late-night email responses to colleagues, the impact of Carolann’s work on the lives of people with disabilities is immeasurable. When asked why she went into the field of AT, Carolann said that she had met so many people who could not use speech to communicate and desperately wanted to help them because she knew that they could communicate in some way. She was thrilled to be a part of what was then the emerging field of AAC because it brought communication to people who previously could not communicate. Carolann says the most rewarding part of her career has been when she “sees the light bulb go on” in her students. There is nothing better than seeing a student with learning disabilities or with complex communication needs, successfully communicate with a new AT device. “Their look of accomplishment” has driven Carolann’s resolve to pursue solutions because her students’ success is her greatest reward.

While Carolann plans to continue working part-time, she will be officially retiring at the end of the 2019/2020 school year. Please join CREC and the CTTAP community to congratulate Carolann on her illustrious career, and thank her for her tireless dedication, passion and advocacy for students with disabilities and their families. Carolann, you are irreplaceable and will be sorely missed.

Categories
Events News and Events

March 4, 2020 National Assistive Technology Awareness Day!

Written by Arlene Lugo, Program Director, CT Tech Act Project

The U.S. Senate has designated Wednesday, March 4, 2020, as National Assistive Technology Day to raise awareness about Assistive Technology devices and services used to increase independence and allow for inclusion of individuals with disabilities, as well as older adults in their communities,
schools, homes and workplaces. This special day also commends our nation’s Assistive Technology specialists and program coordinators for their dedication to serving individuals with disabilities and older adults.

In honor of this day, the CT Tech Act Project would like to express its gratitude to its community partner agencies who provide such depth and breadth of Assistive Technology services to the residents of Connecticut every day.

Word Cloud of Thank you in many different langauges

Many thanks to our partners at:

CREC: www.crec.org/at

Berkshire Bank: www.CTtechact.com/loan

EASTCONN: www.eastconn.org/assistive-technology-home

The Eastern CT Assistive Technology Center at WRCC:
(860) 423-4534 ext. 319

The NEAT England Assistive Technology Center (NEAT):
https://assistivetechnology.oakhillct.org

SERC: (860) 632-1485 ext. 319

SCSU Center for Educational and Assistive Technology:
https://inside.southernct.edu/ceat

UCP of Eastern CT: https://ucpect.org/assistive-technology-at

The Western CT Assistive Technology Center at WCAAA:
https://wcaaa.org/programs/assistive-technology-center

#ATAwarenessDay

Categories
General News and Events

Guidelines for Article Submissions

Want to share your articles, information and/or upcoming event?

We would love to hear from you & include your contributions in the next CTTAP News e-newsletter and on our blog! Article Submission Guidelines are:

  • One feature article of 1,200-2,000 words
  • Several general articles of 600 words max
  • Digital Accessibility Tip Column
  • Preference is given to articles that include pictures with alt tags provided by the author
  • Upcoming events must include information regarding target audience, location and cost of the event

Want to discuss your ideas? Feel free to use this link Contact Us to send us an email.