Access Technology Center at Madison Pk Complex

The BPS Access Technology Center is part of the Office of Instructional Technology and is located at:
Madison Park Complex; 55
Malcolm X Blvd., Boston, MA 02120
Phone: (617) 635-8882 x 411 Fax: (617) 635-8894
Email: atc@boston.k12.ma.us
Contacts: Kristen Eichleay, Erik Young, & Susan DuBuske

The mission of the Access Technology Center (ATC) is to promote teaching and learning for all children with the assistance of technology. ATC provides specialized technology and training opportunities for teachers to create an enriched learning environment that enables students to meet the BPS learning standards through universal access techniques. These innovative uses of technology will promote student success and independence both in school and in the community. In addition, ATC offers follow-up support to teachers and students in the form of study groups, site visits, and phone/ email communication.

On this web site you will find dynamic, user-friendly universal access tools for teachers to support diverse learners in accessing the BPS standards. The Student Access Map (SAM) packet of materials offers a structure for general, special or bilingual educators; Student Support Teams; or IEP teams to identify student areas of need and to provide appropriate no/low, mid and high tech support strategies and tools.

Any announcements of professional development activities will be posted on the ATC MyBPS web site.

The Access Tech Center has developed the Student Access Map (SAM), a dynamic, user-friendly tool designed to assist educators in aligning instructional supports with student needs. Derived from practical fieldwork, this tool and related materials were created to ensure applicability by general and special educators and related service providers, and to incorporate a more comprehensive emphasis on state and district curriculum standards.

Inquiry Box: The Inquiry Box is a a simple cardboard shipping carton with plastic page protectors on the sides - a powerful low tech classroom support tool. This handout has directions for making the box and many content area strategies for its use.
Did I?: This handout is a Did I sheet for creating an Inquiry Box.
SAM Instructions: Student Access Map Instructions
Student Access Map (SAM) Fill-in Chart: This is a fill-in version of SAM with left-to-right columns for writing information. It is the
Student Access Map for Math: A sample filled in.
Student Access Map for Reading: A sample filled in.
Student Access Map for Writing: A sample filled in.
Supports Lists: Tools and Strategies to Support Access to Standards-Based Learning for Diverse Learners: This document provides categorized lists of no tech, low tech, mid tech, and high tech tools and strategies which can address barriers to student learning. It is part of the SAM framework and provides ideas for incorporat
Skill Areas & Sub-Skills: As identified in the SAM Supports Lists: List of skill areas.

These handouts were devised for a workshop entitled Recipe for Adapting Books. The workshop offers a systematic approach to the process of adapting books. It addresses why you would want to adapt books/text, and includes categorized guidelines for getting started, a Did-I sheet, contents of a book activity kit and loads of tips, tricks and helpful hints. The Read Me file lists all the handouts.

Read Me File for Adapting Books Handouts
Reasons for Adapting Books
Adapting Books Activity Kit
Strategies & Tools for Adapting Books
Guidelines for Adapting Books
Did I? Sheet for Adapting Books
Adapting Books Assistive Technology Continuum
Inquiry Box
Working With Graphics
Text-to-Speech