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Simon Technology Center Overview
Assistive technology can be a device or service that helps children with disabilities participate more independently within their environment at home or school.
The Simon Technology Center (STC) is dedicated to making the benefits of technology more accessible to children and adults with disabilities. Through a collaborated effort involving parents, professionals, and consumers, the STC can provide numerous services for your family, as well as resources and informative answers to your questions. Since 1987, the Simon Technology Center has helped many children and adults, with a variety of disabilities, use assistive technology to enhance learning, work and independence.
Services
The Simon Technology Center provides a variety of core services to help children, families, and professionals including:
- Technology consultations
- Lending library
- Individualized Training Sessions
- Facebook Buy & Sell Group - MN Special Needs Equipment for Sale
Find equipment and assistive technology after its initial use. Items such as, communication devices, walkers, adaptive switches and toys, motorized cars (that can be adapted), adapted keyboards, etc.
- In-services and workshops
- Simon Technology Center videos
Projects
The Simon Technology Center also operates several projects with specific focuses such as:
Featured Services and Projects
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The STC Lending Library has launched a new modern online catalog of items!
With more than 1,900 items, the Lending Library lets you try out and borrow some of the newest educational and disability-specific software and devices on the market including:
- Text-to-speech software for reading accessibility
- Speech-to-text software for improved written communication
- Universally designed toys for playtime accessibility and inclusion
- Communication devices for communication freedom
- Computer access adaptations for independence
- Talking calculators for improved independence with math
The Simon Technology Center Lending Library allows you to try assistive technology before making a purchase decision and is open to Minnesota residents. Families, educators, and consumers who become library members benefit from personalized assistance, convenient hours and services. As a member, you can:
- Receive personal assistance in selecting and checking out materials.
- Try out devices and software.
- Reserve, check-out, or renew items online, by phone, email or in person.
- Schedule quick pick-up during regular business hours or library open hours.
- Have items mailed to you for free if you live in Greater Minnesota.
Upcoming STC Workshops & Events
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Tech for Girls Club : Mini Golf with Robots
Date: Saturday, January 19, 2019 — 10:00 AM - 11:30 AMLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressMini golf and robots collide in this fun, hands-on workshop! Girls with disabilities will create their own mini golf course and learn how to code a Sphero robot to drive through the course. Obstacles can be added to make it more challenging. This workshop will use the CoderDojo curriculum.Mini Golf with Robots - Register for this workshop
Provided in partnership with Thomson Reuters -
Assistive Technology for Reading and Writing: An Overview of Innovative Tools for School, Work, and Home
Date: Thursday, January 31, 2019 — 3:00 PM - 4:30 PMLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressThis workshop will introduce you to new tools that support reading and writing. Demonstrations will include devices from the STC lending library, mobile apps, Chrome extensions, and Microsoft learning tools. -
Tech for Teens Club : Building a Robot
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2019 — 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressIn this workshop, teens with disabilities will assemble a robot and program it to respond to the environment. Students will learn about the entire process of building a robot, from assembly to executing code. This workshop is designed for students with basic computer skills but no previous coding knowledge is required. Students of all abilities are encouraged to attend. -
Tech for Girls Club : Chariot Racing with Robots
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2019 — 10:00 AM - 11:30 AMLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressGirls with disabilities will build and decorate their own chariot out of a variety of craft materials. Once their chariot is built, they will attach it to a Sphero robot and will code the robot to drive, race, and battle other chariots. This workshop will use the CoderDojo curriculum.Chariot Racing with Robots - Register for this workshop
Provided in partnership with Thomson Reuters -
Switch It Up! Understanding Switch Access for Computers and Tablets
Date: Thursday, March 28, 2019 — 1:00 PM - 2:30 PMLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressSwitches can help individuals with disabilities control a variety of devices, including computers, tablets, and communication devices. This workshop will provide information about how to set up switch access on an iPad, Android tablet, and computers.
The Simon Technology and its projects are generously sponsored by private donations and the following foundations: 3M, Best Buy, Boston Scientific, Donaldson Foundation, Ecolab, Fred C. & Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, Grotto Foundation, IBM, Medtronic, Minneapolis Rotary Community Service Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation, Schulze Family Foundation, Verizon, and Xcel Energy. In kind support provided by Accenture and Target.
PACER's site offers many PDF files for download, which require