Tech First Talks
Tech First Talks are interactive, live virtual sessions hosted by SHIFT, featuring industry experts, technology vendors, providers, and other leaders advancing the Technology First movement. These engaging presentations explore a variety of enabling technology topics.
Only offered to enrolled SHIFT certification learners
What Happens After the Dream? A Conversation About Technology and Self-Determination
Session Details
As part of SHIFT’s ongoing efforts to support Technology First approaches, Education Manager, Patrick Lane, facilitated a conversation with Tom Keating and Josh Barbour of Cognitopia about how practical, accessible technology helps people with cognitive disabilities navigate everyday life with greater confidence and less dependence on others. Cognitopia grew from a deeply personal understanding of support needs and evolved into a set of tools that help people follow routines, work toward goals, manage tasks, and stay connected. The discussion explored how applications like Cognitopia could strengthen person-centered planning, support community employment, reduce pressure on direct support staff, and make coaching more available across homes, schools, workplaces, and community settings. Tom and Josh also considered the thoughtful use of AI, the needs of families and informal support networks, and the potential for Cognitopia to work alongside other enabling technologies. At its heart, the conversation focused on using technology effectively—not to replace human support, but to make support more consistent, accessible, and directed by the person.
About Tom and Josh:
Tom Keating Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Cognitopia, home of the Cognitopia Platform for Self-Determination, including tools for person-centered planning, goal management, task accomplishment, and team coordination. He is also a Courtesy Research Associate in the Computer and Information Sciences Department of the University of Oregon. Tom has been focused for the past 40 years on development of community living and self-management applications for individuals with cognitive disabilities including autism, intellectual disabilities, and traumatic brain injury. He developed the Picture Planner visual calendaring system and has been principal investigator on over twenty federally-funded technology development projects. He serves on the boards of Mainstream Housing, an integrated affordable housing developer, and Alternative Work Concepts, a community employment agency, in Eugene, Oregon. His perspective in all of his work has been strongly influenced by his experience of over 30 years as a caregiver for a brother who experienced autism.
Josh Barbour is trained in PATH person-centered planning and is a Transition Network Facilitator who serves 30 school districts in Linn, Benton, Lincoln and Lane counties in Oregon. Josh provides technical assistance and curricular supports, establishes relationships with school district and community partners and provides training and professional development. Josh is also one of the hosts of the Oregon Transition Podcast: https://
Prior to his role as a Transition Network Facilitator, Josh was a transition teacher in Eugene 4J School District for 11 years, working with 18-21 year old students who have graduated high schools with Modified Diplomas. For 10 years, Josh worked with middle school students identified with emotional disturbance in Eugene 4J School District, Lane Educational Service District, and The Centennial School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
In his free time, Josh is in a face-melting acoustic music outfit which only knows one way to play: LOUD. The band defies all rock and roll norms by purposely not having a rhythm section or ever attempting to play in sync. Catch them live on the Senior Activity Center Circuit where they will be playing at the crafts fair in your town!
Facilitators
Tom Keating Ph.D.
Founder and CEO of Cognitopia
Josh Barbour
Transition Network Facilitator
EVENT INFORMATION
- June Tech First Talk
- Recorded and Available in the SHIFT Resource Library