By Kitchen H.R. No. 629 77R11304 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Students and adults with disabilities have been 1-2 historically underserved in the area of technology, and the Austin 1-3 Independent School District's (AISD) AT-STAR project is intended to 1-4 address this problem; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The AT-STAR project is a $2,269,239 collaborative 1-6 effort between eight agencies: the AISD, Austin Community College, 1-7 The University of Texas, Austin Harvard School, Mountain Shadows 1-8 Academy, Sylvan Learning Center, Far South Community Schools, and 1-9 Region XIII Education Service Center; AT-STAR funds come from a 1-10 federal initiative, the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, and are 1-11 distributed through the Texas Education Agency; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Members of the AT-STAR project will develop five 1-13 modules to teach educators about assistive technology, which is any 1-14 device "that is used to increase, maintain or improve the 1-15 functional capabilities" of those with disabilities; an additional 1-16 training module will be developed to meet the needs of students 1-17 with disabilities in higher education; and 1-18 WHEREAS, It is estimated that approximately 240 educators 1-19 will receive training through the AT-STAR project and that at least 1-20 1,700 public school students and 55 private school students will 1-21 benefit; ultimately the project may serve as a model that can be 1-22 used throughout the country; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Designed to aid students with disabilities, the 1-24 AT-STAR project will have a spill-over effect for other students 2-1 and for adults throughout the community, who will also be able to 2-2 develop their technology skills at the AT-STAR training centers; 2-3 Gail Belcher, principal of Bedichek Middle School, realized the 2-4 multiple benefits that a project such as AT-STAR could provide, and 2-5 it was her vision that gave birth to the AT-STAR initiative; and 2-6 WHEREAS, In addition to Ms. Belcher's indispensable 2-7 leadership, the AT-STAR project has come to fruition through the 2-8 hard work of Henry McMahon, Carye Abete, Piret Sari-Tate, Julie 2-9 Miller, and Jan McSorley; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The two AT-STAR training labs were designed and set 2-11 up by a group of about 80 students from the LBJ High School Science 2-12 Academy, who will also be responsible for the remote management of 2-13 the labs for the duration of the grant; Knowbility, a local 2-14 nonprofit organization, will ensure that all the materials 2-15 developed by the AT-STAR project meet accessibility standards for 2-16 people with disabilities; and 2-17 WHEREAS, By equipping educators to provide assistive 2-18 technology services to students with disabilities and by raising 2-19 parent, student, and community awareness of assistive technology, 2-20 the AT-STAR project is giving vital aid to Texas students with 2-21 disabilities; now, therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-23 Legislature hereby commend the AISD's AT-STAR project and extend to 2-24 all those associated with this project sincere best wishes for 2-25 success in this worthy endeavor.