NEWTON, Mass. - April 16, 2001 - In a ceremony performed April 8, 2001, Madalaine Pugliese, MS, Ed.S., was presented a medal signifying her leadership in information technology. The award, given by the Computerworld Honors Program, recognizes the achievements of Stages, an assessment and teaching curriculum product line dedicated to assisting students with special needs. The program was developed by Pugliese and published by Assistive Technology, Inc.

"Stages offers a way of measuring even the most challenging learner's accomplishments," said Pugliese. "Because of this framework, we can now assess and document strengths in learners with disabilities that we've never been able to measure before. It's exciting to be a part of the Computerworld Honors Program because significantly more people will learn about Stages tools and use them to equalize opportunities for all learners."

Stages is a combination of solutions that helps define a learner's ability as he or she develops cognitive and language skills. With the aid of the Stages book, Stages assessment software and recommended curriculum software bundles, parents and professionals can identify learning requirements, assess skills and select appropriate software for students with special needs.

As a result of this honor, Stages will be made available for inclusion in The Computerworld Honors Program's Archives online (www.cwheroes.org and www.cwsmithsonian.org), and in the Permanent Research Collections of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

"After working with Madalaine for the last couple years on Stages, it comes as little surprise that her tremendous insight has been honored in this fashion," said Jim Lewis, President and CEO of Assistive Technology, Inc. "We look forward to a long and productive partnership that will continue to provide the educational community with unique innovations in technology."

About Assistive Technology, Inc.
Founded in 1995, ATI seeks to develop innovative hardware and software solutions to enhance the opportunities and quality of life of people with disabilities. Its products are based on more than 20 years of work pioneered at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Assistive Technology's hardware and software innovations include the following:

• Gemini — a communication device and personal computer with the most power and flexibility available on the market today
• Freestyle™ — a personal communication device with a wireless infrared signal system to control environmental settings like lights, appliances, TVs or stereos
• LINK™ — a high-quality speaking keyboard with DECtalk™ speech output for use in any of three ways: independently, with a telephone or with a computer
• Stages — combined solutions that help parents, teachers and clinicians define a user's abilities and assess cognitive and language skills
• EvaluWare™ — assessment software that helps identify the best computer access methods and ideal AAC setups for users

For more information or to place an order, please visit www.assistivetech.com or call 800-793-9227.