Special Education Technology (SET-BC)

Program Objectives

• To assist BC school districts in educating students with physical disabilities, visual impairments, autism, or intellectual disabilities through the use of assistive technology,

• To develop assistive technology expertise within school districts

SET-BC provides the following assistive technology services to school districts:

1. Consultation for selection of technology, planning for implementation, and follow-up for school-based teams
2. Loan and ongoing technical support of technology
3. Training for school-based teams and students
4. Provision of resources and information for school-based teams

Referral Process

School districts identify students within SET-BC's mandate who will benefit from the use of assistive technology and request SET-BC services for them, based on an equitable distribution of program resources around the province.

• The next SET BC Deadline is for Cycle 3, and is MARCH 30, 2012
• Download District Screening Checklist

For further information on the Referral Process, please contact Karen Neill at 604-713-5498 or at kneill@vsb.bc.ca

NEWS ON iPads/iPods: iPads and iPods can now be requested as 2 point solutions for students in all mandated categories. For more information, please read the following circular SETBC iPad/ iPod Loan Policy

Exit Criteria and Follow up

SET-BC provides ongoing consultation and implementation and technical support for students who receive technology solutions. On average, this support continues for a five year period: after that time, districts often request new technology solutions and related support for students.

SET-BC carries out an annual follow-up process with school-based teams to determine the impact of technology use on students' educational goals and to collect feedback on our services to districts.

Tips for Writing a Successful Application & Completing the SET BC District Screening Checklist Form

Tips for writing a successful application (pdf)

* Every Application MUST Include:

1. IEP- A copy of the student’s most recent IEP (Individual Education Plan).  IEP Goals must demonstrate how the technology will support the students’ goals.
2. Evidence- Description and samples, where appropriate, of no-tech/low-tech strategies that the team has implemented.  For example:
   • Worksheets that involve significant prep-time & could otherwise be supported by software, and are necessary to meet the student’s education goals.
   • Timed handwritten versus keyboard/typed writing samples (if applicable, such as for a student with significant fine motor deficits). 

     3. Consultation notes and/or reports from appropriate District Resource Staff:

• Occupational Therapist,
• Physiotherapist,
• Inclusion Consultant,
• Speech-Language Pathologist, &/or
• AAC Speech-Language Pathologist,
• District Deaf & Hard of Hearing Teacher,
• District Vision Teacher

     4. School Based Team Responsibility - What resources are available at a school-based level to support successful implementation of this technology. 

Note: Training is routinely provided for all specialized SET BC software and hardware, but not basic technical skills.

* Student applications must clearly demonstrate how the technology is required for the student to meet their educational needs/goals.

NOTE: Each year, SET BC allocates a set number of points per school district.  Points are ‘exchanged’ for technology that is provided on loan to the school district, for the use of a particular student.  These points are to be used for all ministry designated students. 

Each year, there are three request cycles (the deadlines for each cycle are available on the VSB website). The requests for technology far exceed the availability. Therefore, submitting (&/or resubmitting) a DISTRICT SCREENING CHECKLIST for SET BC Services form, does not ensure that the student will be approved to receive the technology.  The selection committee prioritizes each application per cycle; students who require technology to access the curriculum are given the highest priority. 

For further information about SET BC please refer to: www.setbc.org.  Note: the Cycle Application Deadlines are on the VSB website, and are NOT the same as those indicated on the SET BC webpage.