Georgia Department of Education

1
Using Assistive Technology to Support Math Success
2

• Course Overview and Outcomes

3
Course Overview

• In this course, participants will learn about a
  range of assistive technology devices that can be
  used to support students with disabilities who
  are struggling in the area of math.

4
Course Outcomes

• Increase educator knowledge of assistive
  technology devices and services to enhance
  instructional programming
• Enhance student achievement by providing access
  to appropriate assistive technology devices

5

• Setting the Stage

6
Current Educational Focus

• The way in which special education and related
  services are provided to students with high
  incidence disabilities has changed as a result of
  recent legislative mandates.
• Increased inclusion in the general education
  curriculum.
• Increased academic demands for all students.
• Required accountability for student progress.

7
Current Educational Focus

• The change in focus is due to recent legislative
  mandates including
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
• Individuals with Disabilities Education
  Improvement Act of 2004

8
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

• State and local education agencies are
  responsible for developing academic standards
  that are utilized to develop high quality
  instructional programs for all students.
• Students with disabilities must have access to
  the same standards-based curricula as their
  general education peers. The students
  Individual Educational Program also determines
  educational programming.

9
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

• Students with disabilities must participate in
  testing to assess their progress in meeting these
  standards.
• Students with the most significant cognitive
  disabilities may participate in testing based on
  alternate achievement standards. The number of
  students participating in the alternate
  assessments must not exceed 1 of all students in
  the grades tested.

10
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act of 2004

• Children with disabilities should achieve to high
  academic standards developed for all students.
• Students should be provided with appropriate
  assistive technology devices and services as well
  as accommodations and modifications to assist
  them in making progress in their educational
  programs.
• School systems must be accountable for student
  achievement for all students.

11
Georgia Performance Standards Skill Areas

• The Georgia Department of Education has
  established (or is establishing) academic
  standards across core content areas.
• These standards are referred to as the Georgia
  Performance Standards and are available at
  http//www.georgiastandards.org
• Students with disabilities must have access to
  the standards-based general education curriculum.

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Georgia Performance Standards Skill Areas

• In the Georgia Performance Standards, the
  mathematics curriculum is organized into five
  content strands
• Number and Operations
• Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers,
  relationships among numbers, and number systems
• Measurement
• Understand measurable attributes of objects and
  the units, systems, and processes of measurement

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Georgia Performance Standards Skill Areas

• Geometry
• Analyze characteristics and properties of two-
  and three-dimensional geometric shapes and
  develop mathematical arguments about geometric
  relationships
• Algebra
• Understand patterns, relations, and functions
• Data Analysis and Probability
• Formulate questions that can be addressed with
  data and collect, organize, and display relevant
  data to answer them

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• Math Difficulties and Supports

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Types of Math Difficulties

• Persons experiencing difficulty with math may
  have problems in one or more of the following
  areas
• Calculation
• Visual-spatial skills
• Organization
• Problem Solving
• To provide appropriate supports, we must
  determine the types of difficulties the student
  is experiencing.

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Types of Math Difficulties

• Calculation skills
• Memorizing basic facts and formulas
• Remembering simple rules and definitions
• Following the proper order of operations

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Types of Math Difficulties

• Visual-spatial skills
• Seeing the book, worksheet or board
• Seeing the book accurately (there is a
  difference!)
• Recording on paper so it can be understood

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Types of Math Difficulties

• Organizational skills
• Interpreting problems correctly
• Grouping the skills necessary to solve the
  problem
• Performing steps in order

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Types of Math Difficulties

• Problem solving skills
• Identifying and selecting appropriate strategies
• Using the strategies correctly
• Generalizing strategies to other situations
• Applying acquired knowledge and skills to solve
  problems

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Types of Math Difficulties

• Many students require special education support,
  accommodations, modifications, and/or assistive
  technology to be able to make progress in a
  standards-based curriculum.

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• Assistive Technology Definitions

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Definition of Assistive Technology

• Assistive technology device
• Any item, piece of equipment or product system,
  whether acquired commercially off the shelf,
  modified, or customized, that is used to
  increase, maintain, or improve the functional
  capabilities of children with disabilities.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education
  Improvement Act of 2004

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Definition of Assistive Technology

• Assistive technology device
• EXCEPTION. The term does not include a medical
  device that is surgically implanted, or the
  replacement of such device.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education
  Improvement Act of 2004

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Definition of Assistive Technology

• Broad definition gives IEP teams the flexibility
  to provide a range of assistive technology
  solutions from low technology to high technology.
• May include modifications and accommodations
  required by the student.
• May include instructional technology.

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Definition of Assistive Technology

• Assistive technology devices for math include a
  range of tools ranging from easy to complex and
  inexpensive to expensive that are used to support
  calculation, visual-spatial, organizational, and
  problem solving skills.

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Definition of Assistive Technology

• Assistive technology for math is used to
• Remediate deficits
• Compensate for deficits

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Technology Supports for Math

• Remediation tools
• Strategies and skill based instruction to improve
  the skills in area of deficit
• Technology provides opportunities for
• Customization to students level of instruction
• Independent practice
• Reinforcement
• Accurate reporting and assessment

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Technology Supports for Math

• Remediation tools
• Assistance for finding remediation technology
• Media Specialist
• Technology Specialist
• Content Specialist
• Fellow Educators
• Educational Technology Training Centers
• Georgia Learning Resources System
• Georgia Project for Assistive Technology

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Technology Supports for Math

• Compensatory tools
• Used to enhance access to and success in
  completing instructional tasks which require
  students to demonstrate understanding of math
  concepts.

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• Access Tools for Math

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• In order to produce quality work, the student
  must have an appropriate environment and access
  to the proper tools to compensate for
  difficulties that they are experiencing.
• While these tools may not specifically address
  math skills, they are considered necessary for
  some students to provide them with access to the
  curriculum.
• In some cases, these tools may be the only
  assistive technology students will need to
  complete their math tasks.

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Positioning Aids

• Helps maintain posture and stabilizes students
  books and paper

• Teacher made slant boards (3 binders)
• Book stands, Dycem or non-slip shelf liner
  (Sammons Preston Rolyan)
• Slant boards (Pocket Full of Therapy)
• Page and copy holders (office supply store)
• Clip boards (office supply store)

33
Adapted Writing Utensils

• Assists with maintaining grip for writing
• Improves legibility
• Delays fatigue and increases comfort

• Adapted pens/pencils (Sammons Preston Rolyan,
  Onion Mountain Technology)
• Pencil grips (Sammons Preston Rolyan, Onion
  Mountain Technology)

34
Adapted Paper

• Improves spacing and alignment of student work

• Raised line paper (Sammons Preston Rolyan, Onion
  Mountain Technology)
• Bold line paper (Sammons Preston Rolyan, Onion
  Mountain Technology)
• Highlighted Paper (Onion Mountain)
• Graph Paper (Office Supply)

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Tracking Aids

• Enables students with visual tracking
  difficulties to maintain their place in the text
  or on a worksheet
• Reading Window (Teacher Made)
• Bar Magnifier (Independent Living Aids)
• EZC Reader/ Reading Helper (Really Good Stuff)

Click for Demo
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Contrast Aids

• Provides visual contrast

• Highlighters (office supply)
• Highlighting Tape (school supply, Crystal
  Springs)
• Reading Helper (Really Good Stuff, Onion Mountain
  Technology)
• Writing Guide (Onion Mountain Technology)

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Contrast Aids

• Provides visual contrast (continued)
• Acetate Report Covers (office supply)
• Color Overlays (National Reading Styles
  Institute, Onion Mountain Technology, See It
  Right)

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Text Enlargement Technology

• Allows for controlled enlargement of text to the
  magnification level needed
• Bar, page, pocket and stand magnifiers
  (Maxi-Aids, Independent Living Aids, LSS)
• Closed Circuit Television Systems (Telesensory)

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Word Identification Aids

• Offers portable solution for reading difficult
  words in math texts and worksheets
• Childrens Talking Dictionary and Spell Checker
  (Franklin)
• Merriam-Webster Speaking Dictionary and Thesaurus
  (Franklin)
• Speaking Language Master (Franklin)

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Handheld Scanners

• Offers word identification and reading support
  through scanning technology for reading difficult
  words in math texts and worksheets
• Can be used as a note-taking device
• May provide text to speech support
• Reading Pens (Wizcom)
• IRISpen (Onion Mountain)
• Notetaker (Don Johnston)

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Text Readers

• Text-reading computer applications that provide a
  bimodal presentation of the document being read
  aloud
• ReadPlease Free (ReadPlease)
• Universal Reader (Premier Programming)
• Etext Reader (Premier Programming)

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PDF Readers

• Visual and auditory
• PDF Readers provide speech access to unlocked PDF
  files
• Adobe Reader (Adobe)
• PDF Aloud (TextHelp)
• TextAloud (NextUp)
• Advanced Reading Aids
• Kurzweil 3000 (Kurzweil)
• Read and Write Gold (Text Help)

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Advanced Reading Aids

• Provides auditory reading support as well as
  visual enhancement features
• Kurzweil 3000 (Kurzweil Educational Systems)
• WYNN (Freedom Scientific)
• TestTalker (Freedom Scientific)
• Read Write Gold (Text Help)

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Screen Readers

• Allows for controlled enlargement of text to the
  magnification level needed
• Will read all text on the computer screen
• JAWS (Freedom Scientific)
• MAGic (Freedom Scientific)

45
Numpads

• Assists with math processing input

• Standard keyboard numpad (Windows or Macintosh)
• Standalone Numpad (InfoGrip)

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Electronic Worksheets and Tests

• Provides a way for worksheets and tests to be
  scanned into electronic format
• Paper Port (Nuance)
• OmniForm (Nuance)
• TestTalker (Freedom Scientific)

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Voice Input

• Allows the student to complete math tasks on the
  computer through voice dictation
• MathTalk (MetroPlex Voice Computing)
• Can be used with basic operations, using MathPad,
  up to graduate level math, using Scientific
  Notebook.

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• Calculation and
• Problem Solving Tools

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Manipulatives

• Provides concrete materials that can be used when
  performing math tasks
• Counters (Beacon Ridge, MathFun.com)
• Pattern Blocks (Beacon Ridge, MathFun.com)
• Fraction Tiles (Beacon Ridge, MathFun.com)

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Manipulatives

• Provides concrete materials that can be used when
  performing math tasks (continued)
• Tangrams (mathfun.com)
• BarCulator (mathfun.com)
• PieCulator (mathfun.com)

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Manipulatives

• Provides concrete materials that can be used when
  performing math tasks (continued)
• Cranmer Abacus (APH)
• MathLine (Onion Mountain Technology)
• Master Fraction (Onion Mountain Technology)

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Virtual Manipulatives

• Allows for access to electronic manipulatives
• IntelliMathics (Intellitools)
• National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
  (http//nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/)

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Charts and Study Guides

• Booklets provide sample problems and references
  for solving common math problems
• Flip charts, Quick Study guides (Amazon,
  Publisher provided)
• Quick Math Books (Curriculum Associates)
• CliffNotes (www.cliffnotes.com, bookstores)
• Flow chart, cheat sheets (Teacher made)

54
Charts and Study Guides

• Applications provide sample problems and
  references for solving common math problems
• Study Works Teaching Pro (Global Software
  Publishing)
• Scientific Notebook (MacKichen Software)

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Charts and Study Guides

• Online Resources provide sample problems and
  references for solving common math problems
• Ask Dr. Math Math Forum _at_ Drexel
  (http//mathforum.org/dr.math/)
• Math.com (www.math.com/)
• WebMath.com (www.webmath.com)
• Algebra.help (www.algebrahelp.com)
• Math online (www.mathonline.org/)
• SparkNotes (www.sparknotes.com/math/)

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Process Aids

• Provide auditory prompts for solving multi-step
  problems
• StepPad (Attainment)
• VoiceCue (Attainment)

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Large Key Calculators

• Provide large buttons and/or large display for
  physical access
• Dino Junior Big Number Calculator (Independent
  Living Aids)
• Sci-Pod Low Vision Scientific Calculator
  (MaxiAids)
• Desk-top Calculator (MaxiAids)

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Talking Calculators

• Provides speech feedback of numbers entered and
  numbers on display
• Various models (MaxiAids, PCI, Independent Living
  Aids)

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Fraction Calculators

• Provides calculation assistance for solving
  fraction problems
• TI-15 Explorer Calculator (Onion Mountain
  Technology)

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Graphing Calculators

• Provides assistance in completing math tasks that
  require graphing
• Some provide link to computer - connectivity
• TI-84 Plus Silver Edition (Texas Instruments,
  office supply and discount stores)
• CFX-9850G Graphing Calculator (Casio, Academic
  Superstore, office supply and discount stores)
• Accessible Graphing Calculator (Independent
  Living Aids)

61
Talking Scientific Calculators

• Provides speech feedback for solving higher level
  math equations
• Talking Scientific Calculator (Independent Living
  Aids)
• Orion T136X Talking Scientific Calculator
  (MaxiAids)
• TI-36X Solar (Independent Living Aids)

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On-screen Calculators

• Provide on-screen calculation assistance
• Big Calc (EnableMart)
• Windows based Calculators- standard and
  scientific
• Giant On-Screen Calculator (free at
  http//mrjennings.co.uk/teacher/maths/calc.html)
• CalcuScan (Mayer Johnson)
• Ti-SmartView emulator software (Texas Instruments)

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Calculator with Braille Input-Output

• Allows Braille users to enter problems using
  Braille keystrokes and have embossed output
• Braille n Speak (Freedom Scientific)

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Graphing SoftwareSoftware for Graphs and Charts

• Allows students to create graphs on the
  computer
• Microsoft Word (Microsoft)
• Microsoft Excel (Microsoft)
• Graph Club (Tom Snyder)
• TI Interactive (Texas Instruments)
• Geometer Sketchpad (Key Curriculum Press)
• Scientific Notebook (MacKichen Software)

65
Portable Math Processors

• Provides a portable electric solution for solving
  math problems and practicing math skills
• CalcuScribe (CalcuScribe)
• Palm OS with Math Software (Handango, ImagiWorks)

Missile Math 1.8
66
Electronic Math Processing Software

• Allows for completion of basic math functions in
  an electronic format
• MathPad (Intellitools)
• MathPad Plus (Intellitools)
• Access to Math (Mac) (Don Johnson)

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Electronic Math Processing Software

• Allows for completion of higher level math
  functions in an electronic format
• Equation Editor (free download from MS Office CD)
• MathType (Design Science)
• StudyWorks Teaching Pro (Global Software
  Publishing)
• TI Interactive (Texas Instruments)

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Electronic Math Processing Software

• Allows for completion of higher level math
  functions in an electronic format (continued)
• Virtual Pencil series (Henter Math)
• Scientific Notebook (MacKichen Software)
• Geometers Sketchpad (Key Curriculum Press)
• Algebrator (Sofmath)

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• Money

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Manipulatives

• Provides concrete materials that can be used when
  performing money tasks
• Bills, coins Hands on Money (Attainment)
• Bills, coins, stickers, trays (Creative
  Presentation Resources, PCI)
• Check writing and banking sets (PCI)
• Coin Abacus (PCI)

71
Charts and Study Guides

• Provides visual cues and references for math
  tasks involving money
• Money Books (Attainment, PCI)

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Money Calculators

• Provides a tool for calculating money
• Coinulator (PCI, Onion Mountain Technology,
  Attainment)
• Money Calc (PCI)

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• Measurement

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Adapted Rulers

• Provides for visual and physical support when
  measuring
• Master Ruler (Onion Mountain Technology)
• Finger Grip Ruler (Onion Mountain Technology)
• Large number rulers (Fiskars, local department
  stores)

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Adapted Tape Measures

• Provides fractional and/or decimal increments
  labeled
• Labeled with fraction (StanleyTools, Lufkin)
• Provides Laser / Digital measure without tape
• FATMAX Tru Laser Measurer 100 Series
  (StanleyTools)
• Provides voice output when measuring
• Talking Tape Measure (LLS Group, MaxiAids)

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Adapted Measuring Devices

• Provides measuring support through talking,
  color-coding, larger / bolder numbers, larger
  handles, more stable bases, etc
• Talking Measuring Jug (Independent Living Aids)
• Teaspoon Measuring Syringe (Independent Living
  Aids)
• Color Coded Measuring Cups (MaxiAids)
• Big Number Funnel Set (MaxiAids)

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• Time

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Manipulatives

• Allows for visual cues when telling time
• TimeWheel (Attainment)
• Master Clock (Onion Mountain Technology)

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Adaptive Watches

• Provides various modes of output to assist with
  telling time
• Talking Watch (Independent Living Aids)
• Vibrating Watch (Independent Living Aids)
• Dual Time Watch (Timex)
• Teaching Watches (Timex, Zoobee)

80

• Determining the Right Tool(s)

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Determining The Optimal Tool(s)

• Student abilities and needs
• Required tasks
• Available supports

82

• Benefits of Assistive Technology

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Benefits of Math Aids

• Productivity
• Independence
• Achievement

84

• Services to Support Successful Assistive
  Technology Use

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Assistive Technology Services

• Assistive technology service
• Any service that directly assists a child with a
  disability with the selection, acquisition, or
  use of an assistive technology device.
• As used in this part, assistive technology
  service means any service that directly assists
  a child with a disability in the selection,
  acquisition, or use of an assistive technology
  device. The term includes-
• (a) The evaluation of the needs of a child with a
  disability, including a functional evaluation of
  the child in the childs customary environment

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Assistive Technology Services

• Assistive technology service (continued)
• (b) Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing
  for the acquisition of assistive technology
  devices by children with disabilities
• (c) Selecting designing, fitting, customizing,
  adapting, applying, retaining, repairing, or
  replacing assistive technology devices
• (d) Coordinating and using other therapies,
  interventions, or services with assistive
  technology devices, such as those associated with
  existing education and rehabilitation plans and
  programs

87
Assistive Technology Services

• Assistive technology service (continued)
• (e) Training or technical assistance for a child
  with a disability or, if appropriate, that
  childs family and
• (f) Training or technical assistance for
  professionals (including individuals or
  rehabilitation services), employers, or other
  individuals who provide services to employ, or
  are otherwise substantially involved in the major
  life functions of children with disabilities.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education
  Improvement Act of 2004

88
Things to Keep in Mind

• Technology is no substitute for good instruction
• Technology should be used in conjunction with
  other available supports
• Technology use should be monitored and changes
  made as needed

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Contact Information

• gpat_at_doe.k12.ga.us
• 404-463-3597
• 404-651-6457 (fax)