A Buncombe County Schools educator has been honored for her work making the world more accessible to students.
Speech-Language Pathologist Beth Eckstein is the 2024 recipient of the Stephen E. Sallee Assistive Technology Award of Excellence. The prestigious honor, awarded by the Grant Advisory Council and the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program, honors individuals and organizations who have made a remarkable impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities by enhancing access to, promoting, or demonstrating the benefits of assistive technology.
Assistive Technology (AT) includes devices, systems, and services that help those with disabilities. It includes items like read-aloud and voice typing software programs, communication apps, adapted writing tools, audio books, large print keyboards, adapted toys, and visual supports such as picture schedules. AT can also be used to improve mobility.
“Beth recognized the need early on for students with severe and profound needs to have different technology solutions from the rest of the county,” shared Progressive Education Program speech-language pathologist Erin Spainhour, who nominated Eckstein for the award. “She truly gives my non-verbal students a ‘voice,’ my students with severe physical disabilities a ‘hand,’ and my students with severe intellectual disabilities ‘success.’”
Mrs. Eckstein has been part of the BCS family for more than two decades. She currently serves students at Black Mountain Primary and Black Mountain Elementary schools. As the BCS Assistive Technology team leader, she helps facilitate assistive technology programs for students throughout the BCS system.
“Perseverance is the key,” Mrs. Eckstein shared. “We have to get the materials that students need to access their school environment and curricula so they can be successful.”
Over the years, Mrs. Eckstein has coordinated the BCS Assistive Technology equipment loaner library and launched the “Alternative iPad Program” for students who cannot access the laptops due to motor, behavior, communication, and/or visual difficulties. She’s also provided training for teachers and parents.
