Step Up AT is an evidence-based customizable program that coaches teachers, teacher assistants, teacher support specialists, school districts, and other agencies to adopt evidence-based assistive technology (AT) practices shown to improve early literacy outcomes for young children (ages 3-5) with disabilities.

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About Us

Mission Our Mission

Our Role in the Community

The mission of Step Up AT is to support teachers and parents in effectively using evidence-based assistive technology (AT) to increase early literacy and learning outcomes for preschool children with disabilities. We achieve our mission using a peer coaching model and an open-source online learning platform, telepresence robots, bug-in-the-ear (BITE) technology, and video models to support the use of AT practices during early literacy instruction.
Step Up AT About Us
Icon of a hand holding a star representing the help that Step Up AT can make in helping

Debbie School teachers greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with the Step Up AT team. They found the trainings and coaching to be very valuable and greatly appreciated all the tips they received about creative ways to use assistive technology to help their students.

Kathy Vergara

The Debbie Institute at the Mailman Center for Child Development
Services Our Services

How We Deliver Our Services

Step Up AT offers multiple methods for teachers, teacher assistants, school district agencies, and parents / caregivers to gain the knowledge, coaching, and assistive technology necessary to help them inspire early literacy in children with disabilities.
The collaboration and expertise of research and policy experts in the expansion and refinement of AT education is welcome to ensure the best possible results for the children that we serve.

Online Modules

The interactive online modules are accessible “anytime, anywhere” in both English and Spanish.

Video Demonstrations

Accessible tools are demonstrated by a coach who provides additional tools and strategies that can be implemented immediately in the classroom or at home.

Lending Library

Step Up AT offers the opportunity for parents and educators to try a tool before they buy through FAAST’s Lending Library.

AT Curriculum Crosswalk

A toolkit for educators, parents, coaches, and school administrators to find just the right tool at the right time.

Partners Community Connections

About Our Partners

This project is funded by the U.S Department of Education Office of Special Education, Stepping Up Technology Implementation Grant, and developed and implemented in partnership with Florida’s state-run program to improve access to AT, the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) and the University of Miami (UM) Mailman Center for Child Development and Pediatrics.
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) The FAAST program provides information and referrals, device demonstrations, outreach services, and device loans to Floridians with disabilities across the lifespan. The implementation team members work directly with FAAST and an interdisciplinary team from the UM Mailman Center.
University of Miami (UM) Mailman Center for Child Development and Pediatrics The Mailman Center for Child Development is an academic program within the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine whose purpose is to provide services to children experiencing developmental challenges and chronic illness.
US Department of Education Office of Special Education (OSEP) The OSEP’s mission is to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities from birth through age 21 through financial support provided to states, local districts, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations through formulary or discretionary grants.
Encourage Helping Teachers Implement AT in the Classroom.

Step Up AT Learning Resources

Click on the images below to learn more about the value of providing program development to help educators implement Early Literacy and the application of Assistive Technology (AT).

Open-Source Resources

Our resources are offered open-source (and through AT in the Classroom), through our modules, and through our Video Library.

Annual Report

Our latest Annual Report is coming soon!

AT in the Classroom

Visit our Learning Modules to learn more about ways to implement AT in the Classroom.

Assistive Technology Lending Library

Visit the FAAST AT Lending Library where you can test options for educators to try in the classroom.