Open Access AT Foundations Fall 2026 (Tuesdays 11/3 & 11/17
AT Foundations Fall: Two 3-hr online sessions
New condensed Open Access Course AT Course. Please see below for course description!
Course Description: The Accessible Technology Foundations is an introductory course designed to build educator capacity to proactively remove instructional barriers through the effective use of technology. This course focuses on access-first thinking, shifting attention from student labels to identifying barriers within instructional tasks, materials, and learning environments, and using technology to support meaningful participation for all learners. Participants will explore the role of both accessible and assistive technology in supporting access to core instruction. The course emphasizes practical, classroom-ready strategies, including the use of built-in accessibility features and commonly available digital tools, while also addressing when more individualized technology supports may be necessary for students with disabilities. Participants will engage in hands-on exploration activities, including the Open Access AT FlipKit, to practices applying access-first thinking to real students and real barriers. Legal requirements related to assistive technology, IEP team roles, and documentation are addressed to ensure educators understand their responsibilities without overemphasizing the process. Designed for all educators, including general education, special education, administrators, and support staff, this training is designed for immediate classroom application while honoring the rights and needs of studnets with disabilities.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
– Recognize instructional barriers as features of tasks, materials, and environments not student deficits.
– Apply access-first thinking to instructional design and classroom practice.
– Distinguish between accessible technology and assistive technology and how both support learner access
– Use barrier-based reasoning to match instructional challenges with appropriate technology supports.
– Identify and utilize built-in accessibility features and commonly digital tools to reduce barriers to learning.
– Understand the range of technology supports available along the assistive technology continuum.
– Recognize when supports may need to become more individualized for students with disabilities.
– Understand AT legal requirements, including IEP team roles, consideration, and documentation.
– Recognize common barriers to technology implementation and identify ways to address them.
Course Outline:
1) Session One: Building Access Through Technology
A. Establishing a shared vision for access-first thinking
B. Identifying instructional barriers in tasks, materials, and environments
C. Understanding learner variability and why flexible technology is necessary
D. Defining accessible and assistive technology
E. Built-in tools: creating accessible learning environments
F. Hands-on exploration: The Student Lens Activity
2) Session Two: Accessible Technology in Action
A. Feature matching and skill gaps
B. Understanding the assistive technology continuum as a range of supports
C. A UDL lens for access: representation, engagement, and action and expression
D. Start with the student: available vs. needed, when accessible becomes assistive
E. Implementation barriers: beliefs, knowledge, and ownership
F. From consideration to practice: AT consideration and the AT FlipKit exploration
Audience: All educators and administrators, targeted for students with M/M high incidence disabilities.
Certificate of Completion: will be offered upon request.
*Additional Option for credit through CSU Sacramento for full 6 hour course completion.
Questions? Contact Lisa Foote, SBC SELPA AT/AAC Specialist, lfoote@sbcselpa.org
