What are Indiana educators, like YOU, saying about PATINS?
Comment from Shawn Calloway
New Albany Floyd County Schools
My student currently uses a HIMs BrailleSense U2 notetaking device. Since this is an older model there are some pending changes that will make it less functional. We have borrowed the HIMs Polaris model to see if it will meet the student's needs. The Polaris also supports the Google Classroom platform so we want to further explore those capabilities. If the Polaris trial is a success, we will pursue purchasing a device. We are thankful to PATINS to be able to have a try before we buy opportunity.
Comment from North Knox AEM grant team member
The AEM grant has been more successful for North Knox Schools than any other initiative that we have ever put in place. It really has opened more doors for more students.
Comment from C. Lynn Myers
Speech and Language Pathologist
MSD of Washington Township
I recently found out that I received a grant to purchase some AT. When I talked to the contact they explained that a big part of me receiving the grant was that I had successfully borrowed and used much of the equipment through PATINS.
Comment from Darla Ashton
Assistive Technology Coordinator
Carmel Clay Schools
I so appreciate everything that the PATINS lending library has to offer. It’s fantastic to have a resource that allows our team to try out different solutions with a student in order to make sure we are getting the best fit for their educational needs. Thank you for the support you provide public schools!
Comment from Leslie Jerger
Speech Language Pathologist
Jasper Schools
I received the Round Cheap Talk on Monday for a student. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I received the device after placing the loan request order form online. We’ve been working with this student on scanning and selecting pictures on a communication board for a few months/weeks and decided to try the Round Cheap Talk attached to his wheelchair this week. He LOVED it! He previously clapped his hands for “yes” and shook his head for “no” but after only one school day using the device, he was reaching for it instead of clapping his hands! Unfortunately, the gooseneck that attaches to the clamp that attaches to the chair became loose and fell off the clamp. I am just wondering what to do and if you can help us? It was so exciting to give him a “voice” to communicate with us. He was so excited to use the device and cried when it broke.
Comment from Lisa Paynter
Special Needs Instructor
Broad Ripple High School
Thank you, once again, Mr. Daigle for helping Broad Ripple special needs students out with two refurbished computers. The process was easy and timely from start to finish. I am looking forward to seeing our students use them right after spring break! I have placed one in my classroom and shared the other with a neighboring special needs instructor. I will tell everyone I can to donate computer equipment to PATINS. What an amazing and important job you do. Additionally, your location at the Blind School makes pick up or delivery very accessible to Broad Ripple High School. I appreciate you!
Comment from Daniel Borowski
SE Teacher
Bedford-North Lawrence High School
I was able to order the communication devices through an account. I am just waiting for the UPS delivery. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. The service you and your center provide is invaluable to a special education teacher like myself.
Comment from Dodi Lacey
Speech Language Pathologist/Assistive Technology Coordinator
New Albany Schools
Just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed this day (SE Roundtable Topical: Technology in the Classroom: Addressing the Needs of All Learners. All sessions presentations by PATINS Staff). The setting was beautiful, the lunch was delicious, and I really got a lot out of the sessions I attended. I enjoyed the session Sandi Mahl did on The Google apps so much, that I have asked her to come to New Albany Schools and do an in-service with all our therapists.
Comment from Angie Schepman
Autism Coordinator
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Learning Specialist
Seymour Community Schools
I just want all of you to know how thankful I am for PATINS! It has really made a difference in one of my students with ASD. The IPAD really opened doors for this young man. Thank you, thank you. :)
Comment from Linda Dickerson
Self-employed SLP
I thought the speakers that I attended (at PATINS Tech Expo 2014) were outstanding. The information I got from them was new and exciting and right on target for my field of speech and language pathology.
Comment from Katrina Michael, Occupational Therapist
Robey Elementar
Wayne Township Schools
I just wanted to touch base again with you (Jeff Bond, CE Regional Site Coordinator) to say THANK YOU again for helping me so much with the laptop problem! You and PATINS are wonderful supports to me!
Comment from Janet Ellis
DRM
Alexandria School Corporation
You (Martha Hammond) and your team have made using the ICAM program so very easy and accessible that I barely even register it on my ‘to do’ list anymore. The benefits to our students, though, are bountiful. I so appreciate what your team has done for the students!
Comment from Angie Schepman
Autism Coordinator/DHH Teacher/Learning Specialist
Seymour Schools
This was my first time using PATINS. Sandi and staff made this first-time experience amazing. I was highly impressed on how they responded to all of my emails and questions in a timely fashion and assisted me when I needed help. Wonderful experience!
Comment from Cindy McDonald
Teacher of the Deaf
I attended the 2012 PATINS Conference in which Ms. Sweeny (OnionMountain Press) presented how to utilize Adobe Acrobat Pro. Since then I have implemented using Adobe Reader for a student who has been using a scribe; however, now that we have been able to apply what I learned last year from the conference, the student is independent now and does not have to use a scribe any longer. She is only in second grade, but what a wonderful time to start responding completely on her own, just like everyone else, thanks to Adobe, the presentation offered at the PATINS conference, and my being able to attend! Have questions, contact me and I'd be happy to share!
Comment from Kimberly Kane
Deaf Educator
Thank you so much for the thought and care that you are extending to me for the 2013 PATINS State Conference. It is so nice to attend a conference offered by professionals who service children with disabilities and who also extend the same thought to adults with disabilities.
Comment from Carol Hessler
Sunman-Dearborn Schools
Two of the three students (borrowing from PATINS Lending Library) who have used devices from PATINS will have their own iPads for next year provided by our SPED cooperative because we have been able to show the big role the device can play in impacting their ability to learn. They have loved having them, and we have loved your support!
Comment from Gail Crowley
Teacher of the Blind and Low Vision
Jennings County and Seymour Community Schools
Thanks SO MUCH for your (Sandi Mahl, SE Regional Site Coordinator) help. I got together with Chadd Smith, ICAM IT Consultant) yesterday and we're going to be working the next couple of Tuesdays and Thursdays on downloading these books. I'm so glad I went to the Tech Expo and I'm especially glad you had me speak with him. I'm really grateful!
Comment from Michele Gillman
Director Special Education
School City of East Chicago
Jim, we are so excited to have the opportunity to work with you. These in-services have been a highlight to everyone's day! Thank you for the time and energy. I know these are long days for you. We know you make a difference for these students. I continue to hear wonderful reports from the sessions, again thanks!
Comment from Andrea Hausz, MA,CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Thank you sooo very much for helping with the ICAM registration, digital book requests, and the download - push to IPAD process. I was successful in getting all 6 of the needed textbooks on my new student's iPad. I'm exhausted, but I did it!! You were both so very nice and patient with me, and I really appreciate it! I feel so empowered. Have a blessed holiday season and happy Christmas shopping.
Comment from Carrie Welch
Parent
Chaz finished second place in the 4th grade science fair. He was able to use his iPod to give his presentation, then he answered the questions the judges asked. He will go to Ball State in February. They were also allowed to use computers for graph & typing information. Chaz did his experiment by himself. Justin had to help with pictures and helped Chaz make a graph.
Also Chaz is in the classroom all day. They let him use his iPad in both classrooms. He also shares with a group of students listening to stories. He is doing awesome & becoming more independenteveryday. I just wanted to share & welcome to use!
Carrie Welch
P.S. Thank you for all your help!!!!
Comment from Jill
Elementary Teacher
Indianapolis Public Schools
The 4 computers donated have been a hit for my kids the past and current year. It makes me so happy to see my kindergarteners using the technology they so desperately need. We've been in school for over 20 days now and already each student has learned how to navigate on starfall.com and pbskids.com and that's all due to having the technology available so thank you!!! This year I only have 4 out of my 25 students that have a computer at home so being able to 'play' with one at school is huge!!
Comment from Jodi Click
Special Education Coordinator
At The Excel Center, we teach students who have dropped out, failed out, or been kicked out of high school at some point in their past. Our students are working to earn a Core 40 high school diploma and range in age from teenagers to elderly adults. A significant number of our students were in special education in the past and/or have learning or other disabilities. Their needs were, obviously, not adequately met in their past schooling experiences and that resulted in failure for them. I brought students with me to the Tech Expo yesterday to allow them to see options available to them to accommodate their disabilities and to encourage them to try out various programs while the company reps were present to give better demonstrations/explanations of the products than I can give while trialing programs on loan from PATINS and INData. My students, some of whom were in self-contained special education in the 1970s and had no previous exposure to even turning on a computer before beginning at The Excel Center in September, didn't stop talking the whole way home about all the exciting things they learned.
I attended the Premier Literacy Workshop Wizard presentation with my 17-year-old student with SEVERE dyslexia (he can not functionally read or write, despite being very intelligent) and I wanted to share with you... In the middle of the presentation, the student turned and looked at me, with a look of awe on his face, and said, "Miss Jodi, if I would have had this when I was in school before, I wouldn't be at The Excel Center. I never would have dropped out of high school if I would have had this program."
Thank you for doing what you do. This student now knows he can succeed because I finally found the right tool. He enrolled here this winter and I've borrowed so many software programs from you to try with him and everything helped, but it wasn't the magic button we needed. Now we found the missing piece in helping him. PATINS did this. You made it possible. You've done it many times in the past for my students with severe and low-incidence disabilities, but I readily admit I have always underestimated the impact of AT on students with high-incidence disabilities. I've never had a student put into words so well what assistive technology means and how critical PATINS is to the success of ALL students in Indiana.
Congratulations on a very successful Tech Expo yesterday!
Comment from Lynne
North Decatur Elementary School
The student, staff, and parents had no idea this kind of equipment existed. Now, they do. If the time comes when they feel a CCTV with a long-throw lens will be helpful, they will know it exists. I feel the ability to check out equipment and show its availability and use was invaluable.
Comment from Sue Davis
Director of Exceptional Needs
Community Schools of Frankfort
I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am regarding the help and assistance Daniel McNulty has provided to me over the past couple days. The situation regarding a BLV student has been unfortunate but Daniel provided expert help. I am waiting now for ICAM to respond as to the availability, will then apply to an iPad, and classroom computer. I am the DRM now thanks again to Daniel and Martha Hammond. Our superintendent requested I pick 5 individuals from the district (suggested by Daniel) to also assist with the DRM responsibilities. We did and he submitted their names today. You have been a huge wealth of assistance to me to put me in contact with incredible, helpful, patient people. I really can't thank all of you enough for helping me to make a young 6th grade girls academic success possible.
Comment from Michelle R.
Occupational Therapist
Andrew J. Brown Academy
Have I told you lately how wonderful your lending library is???? You sent me a few Start to Finish books and I just have to share that I was able to engage two 6th grade students that can't read and display many, many negative behaviors to keep from having to show their limitations. They were initially resistant (as they are to anything reading/writing) but once they started they were engaged in a way that I have NEVER seen them before. One student got 90% on the first quiz. The other student got 100% and then asked to do the next chapter and received another 100%. You have helped make a difference for these kids.
Comment from Rachel Staggs
Greensburg Elementary
The PATINS staff is attentive, friendly, helpful, and caring. They are knowledgeable and seemed to truly care about my students. I like the way they made suggestions about additional items that I did not know about. This was very helpful.
Comment from Valisa Meyer
Consultant for D/HH & B/LV
Shelbyville High School
Thank you for your help today!!! It's greatly appreciated and it's nice to know that we have someone to contact that will work with us when we run into tech. problems that we don't understand!!!!
Comment from Carolyn
OT Student from University of Southern Indiana
Your presentation was awesome! I am so glad PATINS is out there! And you are the greatest person to explain, demonstrate, and expose what it going on! There is so much assistance out there to help students, teachers, and therapists in their day to day involvement with individuals who need the extra help. I wasn't aware that so much assistance existed until your presentation. Thank you!
Comment from Nancy
Occupational Therapist
South Central Area Special Education Cooperative
How can you guys be any better? Rating 5++
Comment from Andrea Ellsworth
Coordinator/Staff Developer
MSD of Wayne Township
West Central Joint Services
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you for all of your support this semester as our district has transitioned DRMs and tried to navigate our way through it (making mistakes along the way). You have been so helpful and I really appreciate your patience. Happy holidays to you and your family!
Comment from Parent
I REALLY enjoyed your presentation this evening, but especially appreciated your positive energy & attitude! This really brings a lot of hope to us parents out here... We have a 14-year old son who has autism. We've tried many things with some success over the years, but now we're preparing him for public high school in just a few weeks. I have special interests in Assistive Technology so I'm excited about applying some of the resources you touched on tonight to help shape some sort of program or system of learning, first for my son and then to tell the world what has been most effective.
