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The Virginia Society for Technology in Education (http://www.vste.org) has established a new social networking space, utilizing the free tool ning.com. Within this space is also a new community for AT entitled, "AT Rocks in Virginia". To learn more and become an active participant,
Go to http://vsteonline.ning.com/group/at and start participating!
Chad Schnell, our local Promethean board rep, shared a video that highlights just one specific instance of using Promethean’s solutions as assistive technology. "It’s an older clip, and since that news cast, Joe has been awarded a scholarship that one of our sales folks put together in his name to make Promethean available for both his home and future grade levels," says Chad. Take a look!
Download file
James River Park System is taking a step to raise awareness of accessibility with the publication of "Shockoe Slip: From Top to Bottom," a slim tour book aimed at people in wheelchairs who often are discouraged from seeing historic sites because of physical barriers.
The tour book is the creation of Ralph White, manager of the James River Park System. He got the idea from an aunt who visited Richmond years ago. She used a wheelchair and was frustrated by the obstacles to sightseeing at the city's many historic locations.
Check out the article published in the Richmond Times Dispatch
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2007-07-11-0009.html
Do you know people, of any age, who would benefit from some sort of assistive technology, yet don't have the resources to purchase them? I learned recently that there are several places here in Virginia that recycle all types of AT from walkers and wheechairs to AAC devices. There is a process to follow and forms to complete, but what a great option for those that need it! Check them out:
Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment and Endowment (FREE Roanoke)
2017 S. Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 8873
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 777-4929
http://www.free-foundation.org
FREE Lynchburg
2511 Memorial Ave., Ste 106
Lynchburg, VA 24501
434-846-3733
http://www.free-foundation.org
FREE Martinsville/Henry County
22 East Church St., Ste 206
Martinsville, VA 24112
276-632-2004
http://www.freemhc.org
Goodwill of Central Virginia
6301 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA 23225
804-521-4916
http://www.goodwillcva.org
Equipment Connection
disAbility Resource Center
409 Progress St.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 373-2559
http://www.cildrc.org
Recycled Equipment and Devices Donated for Independence (REDDI)
Clinch Independent Living Services
1139C Plaza Dr.
Grundy, VA 24614
276-935-6088
http://www.cils-online.org
PD 6 Equipment Recycling Network
Department of Rehabilitative Services
292 Woodrow Wilson Avenue
Fishersville, VA 229391500
540-332-7706
href="http://wwrc.virginia.gov/assistivetech.htm">http://wwrc.virginia.gov/assistivetech.htm
Sun Microsystems' Accessibility Program has teh slogan, "Driven by the belief that designing to meet the needs of users with disabilities can improve the productivity of ALL users." What are they doing to back this up? Sun has recently earned the Americans with Disabilities Act Eagle Award in acknowledgment of its advancements in enabling technologies-largely for their work with Enabling Technologies in building accessibility for Java that does the following:
Works with the accessibility architecture(s) built into any platform on which Java programs run Scales and extends beyond desktop systems to include Java-powered devices such as information kiosks and nomadic systems Enables and promotes built-in accessibility to minimize the need for external assistive technology Provides programmatic support for assistive technologies Enables developer tools to implement and utilize the architecture in a way that promotes "access friendly" design methods
Some of their other activities include:
Developing guidelines on how to build accessible products
Specifying functional requirements for access solutions
Enabling Sun products to meet the requirements of Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Telecommunications Act
Establishing partnerships with research organizations, corporations, and standards bodies to focus on increasing product accessibility.
Worried about the inaccessiblity of Java applets that populate the educational, work, and social web? Looks like we'll have help soon.
For more info, click on http://www.sun.com/access/general/overview.html, http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/accessibility/reference/docs/index.html or http://www.zdnetindia.com/index.php?action=article&prodid=13650&chid=70&Ref=Java
Click on http://ldonline.org/article/6239 for a good LD Online article about funding sources for AT. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA), students with learning disabilities have the right to be provided with appropriate assistive devices to help them succeed in school. This Info Brief provides information to help parents find and obtain alternative sources of funding for classroom- or home-based assistive technology when funds are not available through a child’s school.
For more information, click here: http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=2&#funding
Wondering how to access all those accessibility features in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Access, Excel), or the new Windows Vista? If you're someone who needs larger screen access, magnification, speaking aloud of the text, larger mouse pointers, and many more....visit these links below:
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/guides/default.aspx
In Virginia, the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) announced the availability of a new credit-financing program for Virginians with disabilities: Telework loans.Telework / Telecommuting means the individual works for pay from home in a job that would otherwise be completed at an office or workplace. The ATLFA will make Telework loans to individuals who require computers and other equipment in order to obtain employment, maintain employment or to establish a self-employment enterprise while working from their home or telework center.
EASI will be hosting an upcoming free 2-part Webinar in on Etext Advances
DIGITAL BOOKS & PLAYERS, AN UPDATE
By Robert Lee Beach, Assistive Technology Specialist, Kansas City Kansas Community College. This will be hosted on Thursday November 15 and 29 - 2PM EST.
The presenter will discuss some of the sources of books and provide an update on
what is happening with these. He will review software and hardware players for digital books and
update you all on what is currently available.
For more information, please visit, http//easi.cc/workshop.htm
The folks at Equal Access to Software and Information will be hosting an upcoming webinar series on making PowerPoint accessible. PowerPoint ia a frequently used presentation tool and, while providing wonderful graphics and interactive tools for the presenter, many of these same tools present barriers for those who are blind or have low vision. Simply adding sound tracks to each slide may not be enough. To learn more, check out EASI's New Synchronous Clinics:
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
This month is a good time to take a closer virtual tour of resources and assistive technologies that can assist those with disabilities. A few of our favorites:
http://atto.buffalo.edu/
http://www.assistivetech.net/
http://www.abledata.com
http://www.microsoft.com/enable
http://www.apple.com/accessibility
http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=286
The Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS) is a statewide program whose priority is to establish assistive technology recycling programs across the State. VATS works with local groups to plan and implement AT recycling specific to each community.
The VATS AT Equipment Exchange system allows users to post requests online for available Assistive Technology devices, as well as list devices for sale or donation. To access this Exchange, click on http://www.vats.org/Exchange.htm
"The Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) is committed to providing quality services to assist Virginia's citizens who are blind, deafblind or vision impaired in achieving their maximum level of employment, education, and personal independence. The department provides an array of specialized services to blind Virginians of all ages to assist them in attaining the skills, confidence and positive outlook that are critical to independence." Click on http://www.vdbvi.org/Services.htm for information on a range of services DBVI offers, including those related to:
Employment
Independent Living
Education
Vision Aids
Deafblind
Library Services
Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired
Assistive Technology
Travel Skills
Applying for Services
Food Service
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic has a new short video, Building Confidence, Building Lives demonstrating the impact RFB&D has on the lives of students with print disabilities. Click on http://www.rfbd.org/teacher_training.htmand find the link at the bottom of the page or click directly on http://www.rfbd.smugmug.com/gallery/2587806#136380509.
The Center for Literacy and Disability Studies http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds/ have posted directions on how to tactualize some of the Don Johnston Inc.'s Start to Finish Beginning Literacy Starters. Just when I thought they couldn't make them any better! Tactualizing is designed for students with deaf-blindess to help them understand the content being presented. This site includes step by step instructions and a shopping list of materials with the stores that carry the items! I can't wait to make one! Let me know if you try one too.
Visit http://www.atlfa.org to learn more about the Virginia Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority.
From the website:
The ATLFA offers low interest loans for a variety of special equipment to eligible applicants. The interest rate is normally well below normal market rates, and loans are available with no down payment and longer terms which reduces monthly payments. These low interest loans are made through our financial partner (SunTrust), are guaranteed through our financial partner, or are direct loans made by the ATLFA. Remember that all income levels can apply.
Have you always wondered what to do with a device or piece of equipment that you don’t need anymore? Or have you needed a piece of equipment, but couldn’t afford it or your insurance wouldn’t cover it? Well, in Virginia there are places to go to “reduce, recyle and resuse” AT, AAC and other adaptive equipment! The Virginia Assistive Technology System coordinates several of these sites across the state. Go to their website to find a place near you.http://www.vats.org
Checkout the Visual Search Mode of the VCU T/TAC online library. Icons are used as search buttons for categories or subject areas. Selecting the Assistive Technology search button opens up several other search buttons for easy “one-touch” searching for AT items, software or helpful links. If you would like to checkout AT Library items call us at 800-426-1595 and ask for our library, or come by the VCU T/TAC at 10 E. Franklin St in Richmond.
From the National Endowment for the Arts' website:
The National Endowment for the Arts’ Office for AccessAbility is the advocacy-technical assistance arm of the Arts Endowment to make the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and people living in institutions. The Office works in a myriad of ways to accomplish its goals, such as providing technical assistance to individuals and organizations in the following areas: to open existing programs and make the arts fully accessible to people with disabilities, older adults, and people living in institutions; and to comply with the Endowment's Section 504 Regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The AccessAbility Office develops a wide range of partnerships with the public and private sectors, including:
The Arts Endowment’s leadership initiative to educate designers, schools of design, and others on Universal Design continues to advance. This design process goes beyond "special accommodations" to incorporate features that may be used by everyone at all stages of life. This initiative includes a 2001 collection of 32 universal exemplars in the five major design fields on CD-Rom developed by the Center for Universal Design in Raleigh, NC (http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/). On October 2-3, 2003, the Endowment convened a Universal Design Meeting in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education/ NIDRR that brought together experts from academia, the design field, consumer groups, and government agencies to develop recommendations for future funding priorities that would broaden knowledge and encourage the practice of universal design. For a report on this meeting, see the Endowment’s Web site: ud/contents.html.
Careers in the Arts for People with DisabilitiesIn partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, Health & Human Services, and the Social Security Administration, this initiative began in June 14-16, 1998 with a National Forum on Careers in the Arts at the John F. Kennedy Center where 300 participants focused on training, funding, and jobs. Currently, a mentorship program that sponsors artists and arts administrators with disabilities, is supported in partnership with the U.S. Dept. of Education. For more info, contact the Kennedy Center at http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org. Further, a series of state-wide forums on Careers in the Arts are supported with VSA arts and organized by UCLA's National Arts and Disabilities Center (for more information, visit http://nadc.ucla.edu/).
The Code Factory company offers a technology that provides speech to a pocket PC! Mobile Speak Pocket provides a full screen reading program. Thus, individuals who are blind or visually impaired can have access to a portable PDA device. For additional information visit, http://www.codefactory.es/mobile_speak_pocket/mspeak_pocket.htm
IPODS and Mp3 players are increasing in popularity -- especially among today's younger technology users. Often a challenge on the video screen of an IPOD is the small display. Thus, when trying to watch a video podcast or a downloaded video, the size of the display is limiting. MyVU is a new product, available for the video IPOD users, that provides large screen viewing. The "lightweight eyewear" provides a private viewing area for the IPOD user with built-in viewing and audio capability. For additional information, visit http://www.myvu.com/Products
HELP to support AAC communities affected by the hurricanes in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Work with USSAAC members, as well as professionals and families from affected areas before, during and after the conference.
When: February 21-23, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Look here for more information and the many ways you can help.
http://www.ucpbham.com/calendar-of-events/aac-and-all-that-jazz.html
In a recent edition of Education Week's Digital Directions, mention is made about the new Second Life island for the International Society for Technology in Education. Second Life is an emerging virtual world technology. Users are guided throughout this virtual and interactive web-based experience with a persona avatar or "virtual guide on the side". To experience this innovative area from ISTE, visit http://www.iste.org/secondlife/
The 3rd annual World Usability Day New England conference will be held on November 8 at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. The keynote address will be provided by Ben Shneiderman from the University of Maryland on "The New Science of Universal Usability". For more information, visit http://www.dartmouth.edu/~wud/
Several webinars on a range of instructional and assistive technology topics are slated for the fall such as:
NIMAS: Implementation Issues and Solutions - 10/10/07 and 10/30/07
Differentiating Instruction with Technology - 11/29/07 and 12/4/07
For more details, visit http://www.cited.org
Welcome to all participants in the Tech Tuesday Click & Go: Cheap and Easy Software!
If you're with us at 4 PM in Richmond, click on http://udl4literacy.pbwiki.com/Click+and+Go to get started.
If you didn't join us, sign up for other Tech Tuesdays this year--space is limited!
The first annual International AAC Awareness Month is sponsored by ISAAC and USSAAC to raise awareness and support for individuals who use AAC. How many times have you tried to explain to others that your child/student uses AAC for communication and without it (if it’s broken or not maintained) he/she doesn’t have a “voice”? There are lesson plans and activities for students that involve experiencing communicating without using their voice, listening to AAC users as they lead some of these discussions and finally visually expressing their thoughts about these experiences using artwork or writing that can be shared across the world!
Imagine the impact not only in schools, but the potential to change the world!
I am attaching the lessons and information.
If you would like more information about the event, contact Tom Reed, at treed@tjreed.com