On a daily basis, people with disabilities face numerous barriers that prevent them from participating in and contributing more fully to activities in their home, school and work environments, and their communities. Technology has enormous potential to eliminate such barriers. When technology supports are present at an early stage, persons with disabilities are better able to develop functional skills that enhance their opportunities for inclusion in everyday community life. The proposed interdisciplinary program seeks to train advanced undergraduates - mostly juniors and seniors - majoring in school-related disciplines (speech communication, special education, physical education, recreational therapy, occupational therapy, educational technology) in the development of culturally sensitive approaches to utilizing assistive technology.

The participating institutions have recognized expertise in teaching, research, and services related to the major content areas of the proposed program. Thus, they are able to generate unique collaborations at both the academic and administrative levels. Through a combination of academic activities and fieldwork, participants will learn to use and adapt high-tech and low-tech devices, in accordance with varying functioning needs, socioeconomic status, and cultural environments of persons with disabilities in the United States and Brazil.

As a result of this project, both countries are benefiting from a cadre of professionals who are knowledgeable about a wide range of assistive technology and capable of generating interdisciplinary solutions to culturally specific problems in the education of persons with disabilities. Graduates of this program (13 students from Temple University, three students from Bridgewater State College, ten students from Universidade Federal da Bahia, and eleven students from Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná) are now able to promote institutional changes and affect policy making, ultimately having an impact on the number of persons with disabilities who receive appropriate educational supports and move forward to full participation in their respective societies. Because of the blog created by a Temple University 2005 program participant, researchers from various countries became familiar with this project and shared their experiences with our program participants.

Finally, participants of this program became more aware of ways of becoming actively involved in their societies upon completing this program experience. For example, a student with disabilities (from Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná) had the opportunity to visit the United States as a program participant at Bridgewater State College, and she became very active in the field upon her return to Brazil. At the present time, two Temple students are finishing their program activities in Curitba, at Universidade Tuiuti do Parana.

ONLINE REFERENCES: 

Assistive Technology Journal
   http://www.atnet.org/news/apr02/atjv46-0401.html  

Assistive Technology Online Community
   http://groups.msn.com/AdaptiveandAssistiveTechnology  

Assistive Technology Online Resources
   http://ca.geocities.com/janethopkinsbc/resources.html  

Links to Assistive Technologies
   http://www.lburkhart.com/links.htm  

Dominique Monolescu Kliger
Project Director
U.S. Lead

Temple University
665 Ritter Annex Bldg. TU
  ZIP 004-00
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: 215-204-3154
Fax: 215-204-2666

View Personal Web Site

Theresinha Miranda
Brazilian Lead

Universidade Federal da
  Bahia
Escola de Educação
Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon,
  s/n
Salvador, Bahia 40110-100
Brazil
Tel: +55 (71) 3248-1722
Fax: +55 (71) 3235-2228

View Personal Web Site

Nelson Pretto
Brazilian Lead

Universidade Federal da
  Bahia
Escola de Educacão
Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon,
  s/n
Salvador, Bahia 40110-100
Brazil
Tel: 55 (71) 3248-1722
Fax: 55 (71) 3235-2228

View Personal Web Site

Lidia Silveira
Project Co-Director
U.S. Partner

Bridgewater State College
Special Education and
  Communication Disorders
  Department
Hart Hall
Burril Ave.
Bridgewater, MA 02325
Tel: 508-531-2021
Fax: 508-531-1771

View Personal Web Site

Iolanda Cortelazzo
Brazilian Partner

Universidade Tuiuti do
  Paraná
Escola de Educacao
Rua Sydnei Antonio Rangel
  Santos, 238
Santo Inácio
Curitiba 82010-330
Brazil
Tel: 55 (41) 331-7757
Fax: 55 (41) 331-7700