A Look at the

2006 Tools for Life Fair

With 544 attendees, the Doubletree Hotel brimmed with life during the two-day Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology Fair (Tools ‘06) hosted by the State Department of Education, the Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition, and the Idaho Assistive Technology Project. High school students of every ability, teachers, parents, professionals, and assistive technology (AT) vendors came together to share knowledge, offer support, and gain inspiration, motivation, and tools to help with the transition from high school to post-secondary education, independent living, and/or employment. To launch the fair, the first keynote speaker, LeDerick Horne, a successful businessman, poet, and advocate from New Jersey, inspired everyone with the personal story of his pursuit of a college education and career in spite of his severe learning disability. With humor, insight, and sensitivity, Mr. Horne revealed to students and educators his path towards independence and success with the aid of school support, self-determination, and assistive technology.

From left to right: Conference staff member Michelle Doty with keynote speakers Sujeet Desai and LeDerick Horne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the second day of Tools ‘06, Sujeet Desai, an accomplished young musician with Down syndrome, moved and challenged the audience to help students with all disabilities reach their highest potential.  Mr. Desai’s story was one of family support and perseverance.  Not only did he graduate with honors from his high school, Mr. Desai attended Berkshire Hills Music Academy where he lived independently and studied for two years. In addition to public speaking and playing his music for wide audiences, Mr. Desai is employed as a music instructional assistant in an elementary school.  See a video streaming of Sujeet's Keynote address on the Idaho Training Clearinghouse Electronic Learning Community.

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Marilyn Howard, Superintendent of Public Education in Idaho since 1999, addressed everyone at lunch on the second day of the Fair. Dr. Howard indicated her pleasure with the number of students in attendance at the fair and the quality of the information and tools available. Dr. Howard challenged the students to take control of their futures and to work hard toward their goals.

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Following the keynote addresses, attendees attended over 45 breakout sessions on information technology, assistive technology devices and software, services, self-determination, post-secondary education, community living, employment, resources, and recreation. Attendees spent any spare moment visiting the 47 vendor, post-secondary education, and agency booths in the halls and ballroom.  Noted as one of the largest educational conferences in the state of Idaho, Tools ’06 impacted those who attended as well as countless others who were impacted by those attendees who returned to their schools, agencies, and communities to share information gained from one of the most successful technology fairs in Idaho’s history.

2006 Tools Fair Pictures

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2007 Tools Fair