OUTREACH TO MAINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND BEYOND

UMF plays a key role throughout the state in promoting an understanding of  universal design and assistive technology as complementary tools that help students learn. Besides being alma mater for 15 percent of the teachers in Maine's 715 public schools, the University models and supports teaching that provides equal access to learning, regardless of individual differences in physical, sensory and cognitive ability.

"This has been going on for many, many years," said David Stockford, who heads Special Services in Maine's Department of Education. "What is most powerful is Farmington's commitment to work with schools and child care providers to transfer this innovation and knowledge from institutions of higher education to the classroom. Also exciting is the change within the University as it works on the leading edge of technology and learning."

Stockford identified Professor Loraine Spenciner as an "excellent example" of UMF's foresight and statewide leadership. "Her experience and expertise in early intervention and assistive technology have contributed to the University and the State being recognized for leadership in these areas," he said, crediting Spenciner and several other Farmington faculty as "key to the University's success in training excellent, special educators."

Establishing the Assistive Technology (AT) Resource Center and planning a new Education Center are testaments to Farmington's sustained support for innovative teaching practices, said the State Director of Special Education. Local director, Kathleen Fries of the South Portland School Department, had similar high praise for University of Maine at Farmington's impact on schools across the state.

"The last group of teachers I sent to the Resource Center came back with requests for specific items because they had seen them in Farmington," Fries said.

The teachers intended to select software, but were "understandably" drawn to the whole collection - switches, in particular. "They came back wanting cheek switches, tongue switches, sip and puff switches - all kinds of switches. It wasn't that they needed them right now, but they wanted to see what the technology was about so they would be informed about what is available for future students."

The University of Maine at Farmington provides a free AT lending service for Maine parents and teachers. Resource Center staff are available to demonstrate devices and show people how to make inexpensive modifications to traditional classroom materials. "It's terrific!" Fries said. "Teachers become inspired and enthusiastic. They start looking at assistive technology in a whole new way - as part of the curriculum and methodology - rather than for discrete uses."

Fries supervises 45 teachers and 90 ed techs, overseeing education programs for 650 students with special needs in Maine's second-largest school district. She said she goes out of her way to involve local taxpayers. "I use the budget development process as an opportunity to appear before the School Board and citizens so I can tell them about Maine's efforts to use and promote public understanding of  'universal design'. I explain why it's important to provide equal learning opportunities, why we need to invest in new ways for presenting curriculum. I sell them on the concepts. It's my best opportunity to teach," she said.

The UMF AT Resource Center continues to expand and promote use of universal design and assistive technology. Faculty and students learn about specialized software and Web accessibility as they participate in demonstrations, conferences and workshops. Demand for the Center's resources is expected to increase dramatically in the near future.