Families

THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S
TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (T/TAC)
FACT SHEET FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES

The mission of the Training & Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) is to improve educational opportunities and contribute to the success of children and youth with disabilities (birth–22 years). The mission is two-fold; first, to increase the capacity of schools, school personnel, service providers, and families to meet the needs of children and youth with disabilities, and second, to foster the state improvement goals for personnel development, which address improving the performance of children and youth with disabilities by enhancing the knowledge, skills, abilities, and performance of all personnel who work with them.

T/TAC provides high-quality personnel development and technical assistance, using research-based, evidence-based, effective, and/or promising practices designed to build capacity in schools and school divisions. T/TAC aims to foster students with disabilities’ access to the general curriculum, achievement in the least restrictive environment, and knowledge and skills to make progress toward graduation.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (VDOE) NETWORKS

T/TAC staff work closely with the VDOE and other statewide agencies on several projects, including autism, instruction for students with intellectual disabilities, assistive technology, early childhood, literacy, math, multi-tiered system of supports, co-teaching, strategic instruction, and others. These collaborative efforts produce targeted materials and professional development opportunities for educators throughout the Commonwealth. T/TAC also works directly with the VDOE Special Education Office of Program Improvement in providing assistance to schools needing an improvement plan.

REQUESTS FOR SERVICES

Anyone in Superintendents’ Regions 6 & 7 (34 school divisions in southwest and southside Virginia) working to support students with disabilities may request our services. If a team is requesting on-site assistance, we will provide them with a request packet. The packet will need to be completed by the educational team and returned to us. If you are outside our regions, we can help you connect with other T/TACs throughout the state. We can also assist in a referral to other agencies to meet your needs.

T/TAC services are generally free of charge (there is sometimes a registration fee for regional conferences).

ON-SITE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

On-site professional learning is tailored to meet the specific needs of the team members who submit the request. The main purpose of on-site professional learning is to provide high-quality professional development related to identified areas of concern. T/TAC consultants work with teams of professionals to jointly develop workable solutions.

On-site professional learning takes many forms. It may include instructional coaching, observing a student, reviewing data and other documents, demonstrating specific teaching techniques, demonstrating the use of technology, or participating in team meetings. The consultant and school personnel initiating the request will determine the format of the professional learning prior to the visit. After the visit, a comprehensive written report is often provided with specific recommendations pertinent to student or program needs. Follow-up activities and support are encouraged. T/TAC does not attend IEP or eligibility meetings, provide diagnostic services, conduct evaluations or assessments of individual students, nor does it evaluate the skills of professionals who request consultations.

• On-site professional learning, including observations of an individual student, are conducted at the request of the educational team.  Parent permission is required before an observation is provided.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

Professional learning events address varied topics based on state, regional, and school divisions’ needs and interests. For information on current professional learning activities, please visit our website.

LENDING LIBRARY

The T/TAC has an extensive lending library. It includes books, videos, computer software, assistive technology, and augmentative communication devices that are available for loan. Individuals can visit our website (www.ttac.vt.edu/) to browse the library and check out items or call (800) 848-2714 if they need assistance to determine which library items may best meet their needs. Requesters may have up to five items mailed directly to them for a loan period of three weeks. Borrowers are provided a postage paid label to return items free of charge. We also welcome visitors to the library located in our Blacksburg office.

• Our library is open to the public. If you would like to look at specific technology or would like assistance searching our library, please call to make an appointment at 540-231-5167 or toll free, 1-800-848-2714.
• For directions and information about visiting our office, click Visiting T/TACon our contact page.

T/TAC WEBSITE

The T/TAC website features current information on upcoming events; archived copies of our e-mail resource, Continue the Conversation...; our online library; a professional development calendar; and a vast number of resources related to our mission. E-mail addresses for all staff are listed on the site, as well as directions to our office. The address is http://www.ttac.vt.edu/.

For questions regarding T/TAC services, please do not hesitate to call our office and speak to any of our staff or send us an e-mail. We look forward to working together!

T/TAC at Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Toll free 1-800-848-2714
Locally 1-540-231-5167
TDD 1-540-231-3315

E-mail: ttac@vt.edu

URL: http://www.ttac.vt.edu/