New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Resource & Education Center
The NEAT Center at Oak Hill enriches lives by enhancing independence and quality of life for people with disabilities including visual impairments. It sets the standard in providing innovative solutions, program excellence, services and advocacy for people with disabilities.
 The NEAT Center at Oak Hill is a place to learn about products, equipment and services that assist people with day-to-day activities that they have trouble doing themselves, either because of a disability or the effects of aging. It is also a place to donate or buy durable medical equipment.
The NEAT Center is a program of Oak Hill.
Our legal name is The Connecticut Institute for the Blind, Inc., d/b/a, Oak Hill, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Download our brochure (820KB PDF) |
| |
Para español clic aquí
|
| |
| Information For |
|
Featured News & Events |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Workshops, Seminars and Product Demonstrations for the 2008-2009 School Year
The NEAT training catalog for August 2008 to June 2009 announces opportunities for anyone interested in the latest assistive technology devices and services.
Please see the course descriptions to help guide you in selecting workshops, seminars or product demonstrations.
|
|
NEAT IS HIRING
NEAT is currently looking for a full time
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
The primary purpose of the AT Specialist position is to provide training and technical assistance to our member base and the general public. The individual will coordinate the NEAT A.T. curriculum.
A Master’s degree in special education or related services is required. A strong background in assistive technology and training/teaching experience required. Experience in conducting assistive technology evaluations for school systems preferred. ATP certification desirable.
This is a full time position with some travel required. Salary is commensurate with experience. Oak Hill/NEAT offers a full benefits package.
If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please contact Julie Barker at (860)-769-3816 or email; barkerj@ciboakhill.org.
|
|
Employment Surveys
The New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center at Oak Hill, a local-level pilot program of the State of Connecticut "Connect-Ability Project", is in the process of developing a strategic plan to assist in the implementation of a program that will increase the recruitment, hiring and promotion of individuals with disabilities in the central Connecticut area. To learn more about Connect-ability, click here.
We need your help! Please take a few minutes to complete and submit our short survey. It will only take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will provide us with some basic information necessary to understand and respond to your employment, job retention, training and workplace accommodation needs. Your individual responses will be kept strictly confidential.
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this valuable information. Please feel free to share this link with your friends and colleagues.
If you are an individual with a disability, click here to participate in our quick survey.
If you are an employer or a person involved in the employment process in your company, please click here to participate our quick survey.
Please share this survey with friends, colleagues, business owners, family, etc.
If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please contact us by clicking here.
|
|
Speaker Series
Visual Literacy
Presented by: Judith P. Sweeney, M.Ed., Onion Mountain Technology
Judi Sweeney has worked in the field of education since 1969. She has been a regular education teacher (secondary English) and special education teacher in both public and private schools. She also taught and managed projects and grants in assistive and educational technology at the University of Connecticut for over 10 years.
Do you add graphics to your worksheets? How do you choose the background colors for your communication boards? Does font make a difference when you present a sight word? Why do some students need extra space between problems? Do you work with students who will never understand printed words?
If you have ever asked these questions, you have begun to consider the other, often ignored, way people gain information from paper and on-screen lessons – visual literacy. Based on important research findings from the fields of psychology, graphics design, and learning and cognition, this workshop will help you make choices well beyond the words you put on paper.
We’ll look at how you include principles of visual literacy – graphics, fonts, colors, white space, shapes, figure/ground and more – when you create materials for use on and off the computer. You’ll learn how to use the computer to convey meaning without ever using a single letter or word.
Thursday, January 15, 2009; 9am-3pm
Fee: $100 members $125 Non-members
Lunch Included |
|
|
|
Register for Event | |
|
|
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Introduction to BoardMaker
In this introductory workshop, participants will learn how to use Boardmaker, software that features picture communication symbols (PCS) for creating printed communication and educational materials. Participants will learn how to: utilize and modify existing templates; create custom boards; search the extensive picture library; and import pictures from other sources. Please bring a CD-R or USB drive if you would like to save your work.
Recommended for: General and Special Education Teachers and Health Care Professionals.
January 12, 2009; 9am-3pm
Register
|
|
What's Your Prediction?
In this workshop, participants will learn about the various types of word prediction software available, who benefits from this type of software, and what factors to consider when selecting a program for a user. Features such as predict ahead, word selection, number of suggestions, and text-to-speech will be discussed. Participants will learn how to create custom prediction lists and methods for teaching individuals how to use word prediction will be shared.
Recommended for: General and Special Education Teachers, Related Service Professionals, Employers, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Students/Individuals with disabilities and their families.
January 23, 2009; 9am-3pm
|
Register for Event |
|
Workplace Accomodations:
Connecting the Needs of Employers and Employees with Disabilities
This seminar has been postponed until Spring 2009.
Information will be posted as soon as it becomes available. |
|
|
|
|
|
