The Assistive Technology Blog

Many districts have money to spend on AT right now, and with more students aiming for standard diplomas down the road, some of that AT money is probably going be spent on content-focused material.

If you are looking for some good math software, for SOL content in grades 1-6, check out the following online software review article. "Electronic Resources - Using Mathematics Software to Enhance Elementary Students’ Learning" is a well-written and researched article available in the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) online journal (http://my.nctm.org/eresources/view_article.asp?article_id=6479&page=1). The authors included screen shots of many of the titles they review.

Added bonus: This is software that meets the needs of many students with disabilities while still being appropriate for all students! A great way to create centers that are automatically leveled to each student's math needs.

Some of the software referred to:
Building Perspectives Deluxe.
The Cruncher 2.0.
Data Explorer.
Factory Deluxe.
Fathom Dynamic Statistics.
The Geometer’s Sketchpad.
The Graph Club 2.0 Deluxe.
Graphers.
Green Globs and Graphing Equations.
How the West Was One + Three x Four.
Math Arena.
Math Munchers Deluxe.
Oregon Trail.
Zoombinis Logical Journey.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Multiplication "War"

Split a deck of playing cards between 2 people.
Flip over the top card of each deck simultaneously.
The first one to say the fact based on the cards turned over (a four and a five = Say "20") gets the cards.
The person to get the most cards wins!

Adaptations:
- Keep a multiplication table out for beginners to refer to when they start playing.
- Take turns with a short timer; if the person whose turn it is doesn't get the answer right (based on multiplication table or other strategy), the other person can steal it!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A picture is worth 3000 nagging reminders about time. This cute program comes from a CD called "Time Tools" from Trainer's Warehouse www.trainerswarehouse.com.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do you have students who can read information in a text when you point out where it is ("It's in this paragraph" or "look at this heading, it has this word in it, too"? Scanning is a skill many students struggle with; in digital environments they can use the "Find" tool and search for the word, but with traditional print on paper they have great difficulty. Marginal gloss is a low tech tool to build independence in those students.

To add marginal gloss (which many of us think of as the notes written down the side of the page in a classic text or a dictionary) to a textbook or novel without permanently defacing the book, simply fold a piece of paper and line up the top of the paper with the page, then use arrows to point to the important parts. Now the student can see which section you want her to focus on and answer the question that goes with that section.

This is what the folded marginal gloss sheet looks like:

This is what it looks like when you get ready to answer the question:

Click here for an alternate view: View image

You can have the students answer the questions right on the marginal gloss sheet! Added bonus: later on, they can refold the paper and quickly backtrack to the place where they found the information.

Interested in some research on marginal gloss? Check out:
Stewart, Roger A., and Cross, Tracy. A. (1993). Field Test of Five Forms of Marginal Gloss Study Guide: An Ecological Study. Reading Psychology,14 (2). 113-39.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 15, 2006 Presenter: Karen McCall, Sponsored by EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information).

Register at http://easi.cc/forms/tablet.htm

This web seminar will demonstrate the ability of students with disabilities to use tablet technology and Microsoft OneNote. The tablet offers tool for task accessibility such as handwriting, speech recognition, the use of screen magnification, and screen reading software. With the new smaller models of tablets, you have “big Windows� applications on a small Windows XP Pro based computer. Add Microsoft OneNote and you have a powerful digital notebook. OneNote is a free form digital notebook tool that can be used with adaptive technology. Tablets can be used by people with dysgraphia, learning disabilities, visual disabilities, or who are blind. More academic institutions are moving to tablet technology and this seminar provides an overview of how it can be used as an inclusive tool.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Assistive Technology Training Online Project is sponsored by the University at Buffalo Center for Assistive Technology, located at http://atto.buffalo.edu

Areas covered in the website:

AT Basics: Information on AT use for elementary students with disabilities

Tutorials: "How to" use specific hardware devices and software programs (including Clicker4, Overlay Maker, others-visit the website for a list http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials.php) or look below

AT Decision Making: Use this process to identify AT Solutions for students

Resources: Links to national AT organizations, projects, and listserves

Reading & Writing Tools

Clicker 4 (Crick Software)
These tutorials were developed by staff at the Kent National Grid for Learning group in England and include: About Clicker; Making your own grids; Creating a set of linked grids; Clicker Big Books and Clicker projects in schools.

Co:Writer 4000 (Don Johnston, Inc.)
Apply features of this a word prediction program designed to speed up and enhance writing activities.

IntelliKeys (IntelliTools, Inc.)
This programmable keyboard is used to assist students with entering letters and numbers, navigating on-screen displays, and executing commands.

IntelliTalk II - Part 1 (IntelliTools, Inc.)
IntelliTalk II is a full-featured talking word processor that allows you to combine graphics, text, and speech to enhance writing and communication skills.

IntelliTalk II - Part 2 (IntelliTools, Inc.)
IntelliTalk II supports the creation of curricular activities with sample templates and customizable toolbar palettes.

Overlay Maker (IntelliTools, Inc.)
Learn to create your own customized overlays for classrooom activities for IntelliKeys with photos, graphics and text.

Microsoft Word (Microsoft)
Microsoft Word is a popular word-processing program with many powerful features that can make learning easier for students with disabilities.

Write:Outloud (Don Johnston, Inc.)
This word processor speaks letters, words, sentences, or any combination of the three. Use it for writing and reading activities.

Tools for Visually Impaired

JAWS® for Windows
(Freedom Scientific)
JAWS® for Windows works with your PC to provide access to software applications and the Internet. With its internal software speech synthesizer and the computer sound card, information from the screen is read aloud, providing technology to access a wide variety of information.

BrailleNote (Pulse Data)
This notetaker with refreshable Braille provides a portable reading and writing system for students who are blind. Nine color-coded modules assist school teams to support student use.

ZoomText® Xtra (AI Squared)
ZoomText® Xtra is an assistive technology software program that combines large print and screen reading when using Windows. Windows programs are enlarged and spoken to you as you do your work.
Creating Talking Books

Clicker 4 (Crick Software)
This guide gives you step-by-step instructions on how to use Clicker 4 to create mouse or switch operated talking books using pictures scanned in from real books.

HyperStudio 4 (TAG Software)
This guide gives you step-by-step instructions on how to use HyperStudio 4 to create mouse or switch operated talking books using pictures scanned in from real books.

PowerPoint (Microsoft)
This 36 page guide developed at the ACE Centre gives step-by-step instructions on how to use Powerpoint to create talking picture books. It also looks at accessing these talking books using a single switch.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vison Connection, founded by the non-profit Lighthouse International, is a leading resource worldwide on vision impairment and vision rehabilitation dedicated to helping people who are blind or partially sighted lead independent and productive lives. From their website, http://www.visionconnection.org/Content/Technology/AssistiveTechnologies/AccessibleMedia/AccessibleMedia.htm :

One of the common reactions to losing one's sight is a feeling of being isolated. Avenues of information — books, magazines, computers — are...closed off...However, several organizations...have addressed this growing need by making books and periodicals available for blind or print disabled individuals, often at nominal or no cost to the user.

The website offers ideas of how people with low vision can continue to access text such as newspapers even after they leave a classroom. Additionally, the website is well-designed, with clear fonts and adjustable font sizes to meet the needs of all people.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What should we be posting information about? What conversations would you like to have?

Let us know and we will get right on it! Just look down and click on the word Comments.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keep pace with Miss Dixon at her blog, http://inclusion-in-mathematics.blogspot.com/. She is posting all summer about the nuts and bolts of helping kids learn in inclusive middle school mathematics classes . Benefit from her knowledge--down in Alabama, even warmer than we have it here!--and offer your own specialized AT knowledge by posting comments to her blog!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's summer! Everyone is thinking sun and surf, and here's a great organization who can make sure ALL MEANS ALL even in the good old summertime...

Infinitec.org http://www.infinitec.org/play/water/adaptivewatersports.htm is a joint effort of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago and United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc., Washington D.C. and offers materials and information on all kinds of AT--here's their take on summer sports:

Many people with disabilities find a new kind of freedom in water because of water's buoyancy; it reduces the person's weight by 10 percent and it's low-impact. Thanks to a boon in adapted sports technology, almost any sport can be adapted and water sports are often the easiest. One may use a sports wheelchair designed for sailing, swimming, and even adapted water-skiing. Enthusiasts may glide over blue waters on a mono-ski or saucer. Many terrific disabled sports organizations offer training and a lot of fun. Also, mainstream sports and recreation facilities are more accessible. (Usually consumers have to inquire or request certain access features, such as a hand-held shower or accessible locker room door, but start with an open mind—most facilities managers truly want to make things work, they just need a bit more instruction.)

Visit the site to see links to information about the following water sports and ideas about organizations to contact that support people with special needs:
Swimming and Aqua Fitness
Sailing
Scuba Diving
Fishing
Rowing, Canoeing and Kayaking
Waterskiing

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

...it tolls for the kid you sent into the hallway about 25 minutes ago. You know the one- every time he asks for a pass to the restroom, you wonder what he really wants to do.

OK, so we all know that the first step involves making sure he is engaged in the class activities, feeling that his needs are met, and having a positive sense of self-worth in the peer group.

But he also might not know exactly how much time has passed since he left the classroom. The Hall Pass Timer (available for checkout from the T/TAC AT lab) might be what he needs. The same time is kept on both the Hall Pass and the Teacher Monitor and can be set for an allotted time for student to be out of the classroom. "Times's Up" warning lights and alarms on both Hall Pass and Teacher Monitor.

Click here for another image: View image

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Worried that time is running out for the summer already? Worried that you haven't even had a chance to experience summer yet (except for the swell heat and humidity--we love Central Virginia weather!)--think about getting more familiar with using timers...in life, in the classroom, at the gym...

Time Timers (pictured) are great ways to show ourselves (and our students) the passage of time, in a way that digital and analog clocks generally don't do.

There are a few companies that sell a variety of cool instructional timers that are easy to use, and many can be displayed on a computer screen. Time Timer-brand timers will soon come with audible sounds indicating that time is up--something that used to only be available in the digital version!

Who are the retailers? www.timetimer.com is one, www.trainerswarehouse.com is another (with one CD that offers 13 different versions of a digital timer.

Know any sources? Share by posting a "comment"!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The importance digital media brings to an instructional situation is central to the recently adopted National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS), which offer national guidelines for K-12 electronic book publishers on universal file formats (NIMAS, 2006). For more detailed information visit, http://nimas.cast.org/. When electronic books are developed under NIMAS standards, digital formats are usable across an array of assistive and technological devices (NIMAS, 2006). Several websites provide electronic book respositories that may be useful to teachers and students including Read Print http://www.readprint.com, The Accessible Book Collection
http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org/FAQs.htm, and The Digital Book Index http://www.digitalbookindex.com/about.htm. When using digital texts, we have can provide a wider range of options for students in using assistive and instructional strategies such as embedded speech-to-text assistance, clickable enlargement, text notes, and reading/highlight aloud.

Posted by Fran Smith at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you consider yourself tech-savvy, or are just interested in learning more about online forums and the like, I strongly suggest dropping in regularly on The Savvy Technologist (http://technosavvy.org/). Click on the link to see a recent blog posting that lists many great brainstormed educational uses of iPods and iTunes, including roving reporters, capturing oral histories (family history), podcast vocab words and spelling lists, flashcard practice with iFlash (http://loopware.com/iflash/), and “soundseeing� tours.
The blog is written by Tim Wilson, Technology Integration Specialist at the Hopkins School District in Hopkins, MN, an Apple Distinguished Educator, and a Ph.D. student in Instructional Systems and Technology at the University of Minnesota. It contains information of interest to technology coordinators and integrationists, classroom teachers, and administrators. Most of the articles are related to Internet technologies such as blogs, wikis, online forums, Web standards and accessibility. Some of Tim’s posts are also found at the eSchoolNews Ed-Tech Insider blog where he is a founding contributor.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you are unfamiliar with SchwabLearning.org, it is a useful site for parents of students with learning disabilities. Financial giant Charles Schwab and his wife began the non-profit organization and website because of the challenges of raising their own child with a learning disability (LD), specifically dyslexia.

A current posting on the website regards AT tools that assist with reading, including audio books & publications, optical character recognition, speech synthesizers/screen readers, and variable speed tape recorders. Check out the AT tool descriptions and links at http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=1071.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)