Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT-NW)
Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training
The Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT) Program is a collaboration between the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) and the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB).
Our mission is to provide assistive technology training to teachers of blind/low vision children, utilizing a "train the trainer" model, while also providing support/training for other professionals working with blind or low vision children as well as parents/caregivers of a child who is blind or has low vision, including those with additional disabilities.
Assistive technology options are provided through APH and training is provided through WSSB-employed trainers serving an eleven-state/territory region: Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming.
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Need info to get started on new AT from CATT?
TADA! Tactile Art and Design Adventures
TADA! is designed to be a free online curriculum for anyone to use with a student of any age and ability who would like to learn nonvisual basic drawing skills, spatial concepts related to coding, and how to create computer graphics. TADA! offers a set of ten (10) activities that are organized as introductory, intermediate, and advanced "points of interest" that can be followed like an adventure map and punctuated with excitement!
By following the TADA! map, students can expect to:
- Learn to draw using physical media and materials
- Exercise spatial literacy with physical and virtual canvases
- Learn basic coding concepts
- Practice using accessible descriptive language
- Develop basic concepts for creating computer graphics
- Apply creativity and resilience towards drafting, rendering, and revision processes
Get Started with TADA! today!
Staff
Dr. Yue-Ting Siu
CATT-NW Coordinator
Dr. Ting's mission is to advance teachers’ proficiency with access technology, promote innovations in multimedia accessibility, and motivate a new generation of “techie TVIs”. She is the author of the textbook Access Technology for Blind and Low Vision Accessibility (APH Press, 2020).
Sam Fields
Operations Manager - CATT-NW
Leslie Edmonds
CATT-NW AT Trainer for Low Vision Tech and Extensive Support Needs
Leslie is a credentialed teacher in California, Oregon, and Alaska. She is passionate about accessible STEAM education and assisting underserved and rural communities with blind and low vision students of all ages and abilities.
Eli Sanchez
CATT-NW AT Trainer for Nonvisual Tech
Semi-professional blind guy at night, AT specialist on a mission to lower the unemployment number of blind and low vision individuals by day.
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