Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Assistive Technology Aac topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Round Lake preschooler honored for AAC use; district highlights assistive-technology gains
Summary
Officials presented an Infinitiq Outstanding AAC User Award won by Ben Martinez Castro and described district growth in assistive-technology supports for non‑speaking students.
Dr. Apgar and Abby Vrani, the district’s speech pathologist and assistive technology liaison, presented an award on June 2 recognizing preschool student Ben Martinez Castro for outstanding use of augmented and alternative communication (AAC).
“Assistive technology…is the key to unlocking a truly inclusive education,” Vrani told the Round Lake Area School District Board of Education as she described AAC tools and how Ben uses an iPad with LAMP Word for Life in both English and Spanish. Vrani said Ben, a 5‑year‑old preschool student, was selected from nominees across northern Illinois to receive the Infinitiq Outstanding AAC User Award; the ceremony took place in April and Ben and his team attended.
Vrani said Ben now greets staff, requests hugs, sings, switches seamlessly between English and Spanish on his device, spells words and participates academically in ways teachers could not verify before he had AAC supports. The presentation included photos and a video shown to the board to illustrate Ben’s use of the device and the district’s broader move toward technology-based communication supports for non‑speaking students.
District staff invited questions and offered to share the written materials and media shown at the award ceremony. No board action was required.
