Joy Smiley Zabala, EdD, is the director of technical assistance at CAST and the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning (previously called the National AIM Center). An experienced general and special educator, Zabala has worked in the United States and abroad to expand the use of assistive technology and other strategies to support the participation and achievement of individuals with disabilities.
Zabala is the developer of a collaborative decision-making tool called the SETT Framework, a co-founder of QIAT (Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology), and the facilitator of the QIAT List, an online community committed to effective selection, acquisition, and use of assistive technology. She serves on the boards of the Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Center on Technology and Disability.
Zabala is a strong advocate for Universal Design for Learning, assistive technology, and accessible materials as complementary supports for the achievement of all students.