ACC Playing Key Role in International Assistive Technology Conference

The Anne Carlsen Center will be sharing its assistive technology expertise with the rest of the world in October.

Closing the Gap, an international conference that focuses on assistive technology and education, will be held Oct. 13-18 in Minneapolis, Minn. This is the 26th annual year of Closing the Gap, which includes two days of pre-conferences and three days of conference sessions presented by professionals from around the globe.

“This conference is a good chance for us to keep up with what is new and what is cutting edge,” said Center Assistive Technology Director Mark Coppin. “We get to meet vendors and national speakers and develop relationships with them.”

Once vendors and companies are aware of the Center, they may send software or equipment to ACC’s Jamestown Campus to be tested. Through this testing, the Anne Carlsen Center keeps up to date on new technologies, as well as giving their input on what can be more effective ways to help individuals with disabilities.

ACC will be represented by Coppin and five other employees, including a pair of Center therapists, at the conference.

“If it was my choice, we would bring the whole Center,” said Coppin. “There are so many things that can be applied to the therapeutic, residential, educational and other areas.”

Coppin says a conference of this magnitude is not available in a rural state such as North Dakota. This makes attending Closing the Gap all the more appealing for Center employees. Over 200 one- and two-hour conferences are available for attendees, covering a broad range of topics. These areas of focus include autism, curriculum development, literacy and more.

“To find information and stay up to date, it takes a lot of work,” said Coppin. “Because of Closing the Gap I’m able to find what is out there, how to apply it, meet people involved with the process, and get their thoughts on what is currently happening in the field.”

Coppin is going to be busy at this year’s conference, co-presenting in four conference sessions. He will be part of one workshop, along with ACC’s AT Coordinator Theresa Hanson, ACC Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Sharon Olson, and ACC’s AT Specialist Marcy Szarkowski, who will examine humor in education. This workshop is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17.

“This year we will talk about incorporating humor into the writing process,” Coppin said of the Make Them Laugh: The Write Way! session. “We will be showcasing a variety of different writing activities that involve humor.”

Last year the Closing the Gap magazine asked Coppin to be a featured writer for their quarterly publication, an honor he has been extended again in their upcoming January issue.

The conference is also a good backdrop to help North Dakotans meet face-to-face and talk about different technologies and advancements.

“It would be difficult for people from the state to keep on top of how fast everything is changing without Closing the Gap,” Coppin said. “The conference gives us a chance to get together. It’s always pretty nice to do that.” ACC began presenting at the conference in 2001.

The Anne Carlsen Center has been dedicated to the empowerment of individuals with disabilities for nearly 70 years. More information on the Center’s values, mission and services is available at www.annecenter.org. For more information about Closing the Gap, visit www.closingthegap.com.