MonTECH’s Rural School Outreach project was funded by Montana’s Office of Public Instruction, its mission to connect with schools and encourage enhanced student support through use of assistive technology (AT) in classrooms.
The project started in 2022 with a survey of 554 Montana educators and school-based therapists. Responses showed a dearth of knowledge around AT and how to use it.
Action was needed, so MonTECH hired Kendra Lewis to be our Public Education Specialist. Kendra grew up in a small farming community and is the founder of Cutting Fences, a foundation supporting ranchers, farmers, and veterans with disabilities.
Public-school teams were encouraged to contact Kendra to sign up for a presentation about MonTECH and AT designed for student success. In return, participating schools received an introductory kit of AT to keep. Following their presentation, the team chose 3-4 additional items from an AT menu. One presentation/conversation = approximately nine pieces of assistive technology to keep? Win!
Funding was lost in the summer of 2025, but the positive impact was substantial and lasting. The program benefitted 130 schools in 40 communities; it touched 47 of Montana’s 56 counties!
Included in the starter kit:
- Noise-cancelling Headphones: Minimize background noise and distractions, decreasing the likelihood of behavior due to overstimulation.
- Communication Key Ring: Provide nonspeaking students a voice in all environments; every student deserves a voice everywhere, all the time.
- Foam Grip: Use to help students with motor challenges or weak grip hold items like pencils, paintbrushes, utensils, and more.
- Make Stuff and Love People, by Therese Willkomm: Build AT! This book has hundreds of do-it-yourself AT solutions. Make AT for individual students or encourage classes or clubs to engage in AT-building for fellow students.
- 3-inch Time Timer: Assist students in visualizing time and preparing for transition from one activity to another without the added stimuli of ticking or an alarm.