FAAST located at Hope Haven Children's Clinic & Family Center
Contact: Kelli Bloom
4600 Beach Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32207-4764
Voice: (904) 346-5100 / TDD: (904) 346-5141
Fax: (904) 346-5111
E-Mail: kellib@hope-haven.org
Website: http://www.hope-haven.org/

Program Highlights

December

The Northeast Regional Demonstration Center staff members provided 641 device specific trainings to children and young adults with disabilities this month. Participants learned how to use communication devices, switch adapted toys, voice recognition software, Ipad applications, and a variety of computer software applications. Trainings were tailored to meet the individual needs of each individual seeking services.

November

The Northeast RDC recently offered a presentation and tour of UF & Shands Jacksonville Project SEARCH High School Transition Program to Andrea Von Stralendorf, an instructor for the Martin County School District, along with 3 employment specialists from the County.  Participants received information about the high school transition program Project SEARCH offers at the hospital for Duval, Nassau, and Clay County students. The tour and presentation provided attendees the opportunity to observe how assistive technology has successfully been implemented in the workplace.

The presentation included an overview of FAAST services. Mrs. Stralendorf is in the process of replicating the program in Stuart, Florida. Students from Duncan U. Fletcher High School's special education program participated in a tour and presentation at UF & Shands Project SEARCH High School Transition Program as well. The students observed high school transition students currently participating in the program completing their internship duties. The participating transition student interns shared how assistive devices and accommodations help them to perform their work duties more efficiently. The NERDC provided a FAAST presentation to the group along with printed materials for later reference.

October

The NERDC provided four refurbished personal computers in October. 12- year-old middle school student Ashley received one of them.

Ashley receives tutoring at Hope Haven. She has Downs Syndrome, which affects her development, learning, mobility and speech. Ashley uses a computer at school, however at home she did not have computer access.

Ashley enjoys doing mathematics and does well with numbers. Through the IEP process, Ashley's family and teachers identified that she had a need for communication development.  The family applied for a computer through FAAST's device reutilization program. Ashley's parents reported that the computer met Ashley's assistive technology needs by helping her advance in learning. Ashley enjoys writing, daily reading, language arts and science, and is now able to pursue those activities with her very own Dell PC. The family was highly satisfied with Ashley's computer.