Where the Rubber Meets the Road: A Pilot Assistive Technology (AT) Lending Partnership Between Georgia College & State University and Putnam County Middle School
Location
Boston 1
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
In April 2024, the presenters established a pilot Assistive Technology (AT) Lending Program with Putnam County Middle School in order to lend AT devices to teachers wishing to explore the devices’ effectiveness with P-12 students. The AT Lending Library was begun through College of Education funds allocated to Dr. Kim Muschaweck, which enabled the purchase of a variety of new AT devices to be made available for cost-free loan to local districts. If teachers find the devices useful with specific students, the teachers and IEP teams may then consider adding them to students’ subsequent IEPs to impact academic growth. After a series of discussions, in April 2025 an agreement was finalized when Principal Monica Macklin and her Special Education Lead Teacher met with the presenters, evaluated the school’s needs as well as the AT Lending Library, completed user agreement paperwork, and checked out several AT devices for students’ and teachers’ use at Putnam County Middle School during the 2025-2026 academic year. This effort has impacted the university’s relationship with this partner school, its district, and most importantly, the P-12 students it serves. Upon completion of the pilot year, the program will be offered to other partner school districts.
Keywords
Assistive Technology, Special Education, professional development schools, P-12 partnerships
Professional Bio
Kim Muschaweck is an Associate Professor of Special Education at GCSU and holds a Ph. D. from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the GCSU faculty in 2020, she served as a school psychologist and district-level Director of Special Education. Rob Sumowski is a Professor of Special Education at GCSU and holds an Ed. D. from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining the GCSU faculty in 2011, he served as a Special Education teacher, behavior specialist, and a district-level Director of Student Safety.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Muschaweck, Kim S. and Sumowski, Rob, "Where the Rubber Meets the Road: A Pilot Assistive Technology (AT) Lending Partnership Between Georgia College & State University and Putnam County Middle School" (2026). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 81.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2026/2026/81
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: A Pilot Assistive Technology (AT) Lending Partnership Between Georgia College & State University and Putnam County Middle School
Boston 1
In April 2024, the presenters established a pilot Assistive Technology (AT) Lending Program with Putnam County Middle School in order to lend AT devices to teachers wishing to explore the devices’ effectiveness with P-12 students. The AT Lending Library was begun through College of Education funds allocated to Dr. Kim Muschaweck, which enabled the purchase of a variety of new AT devices to be made available for cost-free loan to local districts. If teachers find the devices useful with specific students, the teachers and IEP teams may then consider adding them to students’ subsequent IEPs to impact academic growth. After a series of discussions, in April 2025 an agreement was finalized when Principal Monica Macklin and her Special Education Lead Teacher met with the presenters, evaluated the school’s needs as well as the AT Lending Library, completed user agreement paperwork, and checked out several AT devices for students’ and teachers’ use at Putnam County Middle School during the 2025-2026 academic year. This effort has impacted the university’s relationship with this partner school, its district, and most importantly, the P-12 students it serves. Upon completion of the pilot year, the program will be offered to other partner school districts.
