Assistive Technology
The Assistive Technology (AT) team at the California School for the Blind provides assessment and instruction to students with visual impairments on campus and throughout the state of California. Training and workshops are provided to educators, students, and their families on technology and educational topics through requests and conferences. The highly skilled assistive technology specialists continually develop curricula to reflect the changing technology and the demands of current educational needs.
Who we serve
The AT team serves students with visual impairments on campus and throughout the state of California. We offer services to districts, vision professionals, Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams, and families on request, through conferences, or through training. Training and workshops are provided to educators, students, and their families on technology and educational topics through requests and conferences. The highly skilled assistive technology specialists continually develop curriculum to reflect the changing technology and the demands of current educational needs. Outreach requests can be made through the Outreach Application Form
(Google Forms).
Our Focus
The Assistive Technology Team provides instruction in many areas including the following areas:
- Screen reading software
- Magnification software
- BrailleNote takers
- Smart phones & tablets
- Optical character recognition software
- Internet navigation
- Accessing mainstream technology and software
- Electronic braille displays
In addition to expertise in assistive technology, our teachers have backgrounds in higher education with an emphasis in visual impairment including Teachers for the Visually Impaired (TVI), Rehabilitation, and Orientation & Mobility.
Assessments
On-Campus Assessments
The AT team conducts technology assessments for all potential students during their Assessment of Suitability of Placement period, by performing a series of observations, file reviews, interviews, diagnostic tests, and device trials. Ongoing assessment for CSB's current students takes place through classroom observations and instruction, collaboration with the educational team, triennial assessments, and through individual instruction.
Off-Campus Outreach and Assessments
The AT team provides training and support for teachers, students, and families on campus and throughout the state on a wide variety of topics. A student's teacher for the visually impaired (TVI) can request an assistive technology assessment, which involves an AT Center team member conducting interviews, observations, providing collaborative consultation to the team, and preparing a series of technology recommendations. You can make outreach requests through signing up on our Outreach Application Form (Google Forms).
Trainings
The team at the CSB AT Lab provides online, on campus, and off campus training opportunities for TVI's and students with a visual impairment throughout the state of California on a wide variety of assistive technology topics. A TVI can have their student follow an online course of lessons on the Screen Reader Training (SRT) website teaching the use of screen readers such as JAWS and VoiceOver on iOS, or plan with us a customized in person training taking place on the CSB campus or in your home district. On a custom training, the AT team prepares a one day series of interactive lessons and activities to introduce, familiarize, or refine a team's skills with a particular device, program, or application. Previous workshops offered by the AT team have included Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), Job Access with Speech (JAWS) beginning and intermediate, iOS VoiceOver, Coding, braille note, Google Suite, etc. Subscribe to the Braille n Teach listserv or check the CSB homepage for current and future offerings. Please fill out the Outreach Application Form
(Google Forms) to make training requests.
Tech After Hours (A Monthly Workshop Series)
This monthly workshop series invites TVIs and blindness professionals to ask questions, share challenges, and explore solutions around assistive technology. Topics change each month, so be sure to check the schedule often and join the sessions most relevant to you. Each workshop provides expert, research-based guidance, along with practical strategies and tools. When resources are discussed, they will be shared with all attendees for continued learning and support.
Date & Time | Topic | Description |
Registration Link |
---|---|---|---|
October 28, 2025, 5:30PM-6:30PM PT | JAWS screen reader |
Join us as we discuss all things JAWS screen reader |
Register for the October Workshop
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November 18, 2025, 5:30PM-6:30PM PT | Videomagnifiers | Join us as we discuss videomagnifiers, both portable and desktop. We will be joined by the CSB low vision coordinator. |
Register for the November Workshop
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December 16, 2025, 5:30PM-6:30PM PT |
Braille Displays |
Join us as we end the year by answering all of your questions about braille displays and how they can help your students. |
Register for the December Workshop
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Short Courses
CSB offers week-long Short Courses throughout the school year. Previous Short Courses offered by the AT team have included the Braille Short Course, Google Short Course, and the iPad Short Course. You can find our current offerings on the Short Course Website.
Lending Library
TVI's can make requests to borrow devices for a period of up to 60 days to trial devices with students to aid in determining the most appropriate devices for students, and while devices are being repaired. Devices available include, braille displays, braille notetakers, embossers, etc. Please fill out our Lending Library Form
(Google Forms) to make requests.
Assistive Technology Lab Links and Resources
- Computer Science Curriculum Resources
- Day of Code Toolkit
- Techie Toy Gift Guide
- Curricula & How-To Guides
- Google Suite with assistive technology
(Video; 1:01:10)
- CSB YouTube channel
- under "Virtual Learning" where you can find a catalog of Assistive Technology discussions.
Events
News & Recognitions
- Apple Day with CBS TV Network's Mission Unstoppable
(Video; 4:27)
CSB partnered with Apple to host a coding day camp for students during Computer Science Education Week. The video is featured on CBS online.
Assistive Technology Staff

Allison Mello
Assistive Technology Specialist
amello@csb-cde.ca.gov
510-936-5661

Barbara Pickney
Teacher Assistant, Keyboarding Specialist
bpickney@csb-cde.ca.gov

Max Avendano
Assistive Technology Specialist
mavendano@csb-cde.ca.gov
510-936-5507

Ramani Gokhale
Teaching Assistant
rgokhale@csb-cde.ca.gov
510-936-5635
Want to join our team? Please visit our Jobs and Exam Announcements page for any open positions.
Events
- White Cane Day 2025
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Goalball Tournament
Thursday, October 23, 2025-Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - Ghoulball Tournament
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 3:40PM-4:40PM - Senior Night
Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 3:40PM-5:00PM - CAOMS (California Association of Orientation and Mobility Specialists)
Friday, November 14, 2025-Sunday, November 16, 2025 - Day of Code 2025
Thursday, November 20, 2025
- National Coding Symposium
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - Learning Lab
- Short Courses 2025-2026
- Summer Academies
- General Tours
(Google Form)
Please fill out the Google Form if you are interested in attending any of our General Tour days.- Monday, September 22, 2025 at 11AM
- Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 11AM