The Assistive Technology Blog

J. Rose Plaxen, author of “Adapt, My World!” shares her creativity in this book and on the web by demonstrating how as a parent, she adapted her child’s environment, furniture, materials etc. so that her daughter could participate in life.
Here is a statement from the website
At that time, I realized that with adaptation, Lori is able to reach goals that her non-disabled peers reach with a little creativity. The excitement came when we noticed that she was able to live more independently. When Lori wants to do something that is a challenge, I develop a way to help her become self-reliant.
Something we all need to remember...

http://www.adaptmyworld.org

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ATIA, in partnership with the Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center at Illinois State University, produces Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits (ATOB) to promote the outcomes and benefits of assistive technology for persons with disabilities across the lifespan. The journal is free for download and available in multiple accessible formats.

Click on http://atia.i4a.com/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=3428 for the November 2007 edition,
which includes:

Outcomes and Benefits in Assistive Technology Service Delivery
Research on AT Outcomes and Large Scale Assessments
The Effectiveness of Using a Pocket PC as a Video Modeling and Feedback Device for Individuals with Developmental Disbilities in Vocational Settings
Providing Curriulum Access to Young Children: Online Workshops for Educators
Visual Features That Convey Meaning in Graphic Symbols: A Comparison of PCS and Artists' Depictions
Universal Design for Learning: Critical Need Areas for People with Learning Disabilities
Enhancing Access to Situational Vocabulary by Leveraging Geographic Context
Achieving Systemic Change with Universal Design for Learning and Digital Content
Evidence-Based Practice and the Consideration of Assistive Technology Effectiveness and Outcomes

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 3:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/scramble1.htm for a pretty good online version of math magnets. Warning: requires some mouse control and avoid using the place value board for calculating (it has no zero).

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Have you seen the Attainment Day Planner? Click on http://www.attainmentcompany.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16288&cat=0&page=1 and take a look--for those of us who are WAYYYYYYYYYYY into dry-erase, this is kind of cool :)

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By simply dialing 2-1-1 you can access to information from trained specialists on a variety of health and human services that are available throughout the region. Resources included Alzheimer’s assistance, crisis intervention, home health care, transportation, disability services etc. What a great resource for parents, caregivers and individuals who are struggling to get answers and connections to organizations that can improve their lives.

You can find more information on the web at:
http://www.yourunitedway.org

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recently I heard a presentation on how to "think out of the box" in delivering email messages. For many, the textual design of email messages offers just a long list of things to do and work to accomplish. But, what if that email message included a different representation of the message?

Maybe a virtual link using Google Earth to share an address, http://earth.google.com/. Try this sometime....find the address in Google Earth and copy/ paste the address and send that to your email recepient!

Maybe an engaging comic strip with personalized characters? Consider creating your message in a comic strip format using http://comicstripgenerator.com.

How about adding text to an image that you wish to share, with enthuisiasm! Consider, http://www.txt2pic.com/

Posted by Fran Smith at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Interested in starting a community portal? A place where many can create, edit and build a web-based community? Consider using a wiki tool. We've
tried a few that are free and some with fewer commercial advertisements.

For a few places to try, visit:

PB Wiki, http://www.pbwiki.com
Wet Paint, http://www.wetpaint.com/Wiki Space, http://www.wikispace.com
Happy Wiki Building!!

Posted by Fran Smith at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's a neat website that provides a presentation on the topic of "How the Learning World Became Flat: Ten Knowledge Sharing and Technology Trends Equalizing Access to Learning". This offers some interesting information and perspective on how technology is spanning the world ....in new a varied ways to share information!

http://www.trainingshare.com/pdfs/SFX8F90.pdf

Posted by Fran Smith at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wondering how to jazz up that PowerPoint presentation? Maybe consider a different format or design? At the recent Virginia Department of Education's Educational Technology Leadership Conference, several great resources and suggestions were shared. Consider a few of the following websites:

http://www.beyondbullets.com/
http://www.meade.k12.ky.us/TRT/Teachers/PowerPoint_downloads.htm
http://www.presentationzen.com/

Posted by Fran Smith at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Walgreens distribution center in South Carolina employees include 35% with disabilities. They purposely designed the center to meet the needs of all of the employees. They took a different approach to the assembly line and got rid of the keyboards and monitors and replaced them with touch-screen monitors and pictures icons and more automation. Opportunities for training are available and natural supports are built in the workplace. Walgreens plans to open another distribution center in Connecticut in 2009 using the same model. How did they move in this direction? How might other companies do the same?

http://www.walgreensoutreach.com

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're like many of us, the proliferation of information that is shared through email, the web, and a host of other locations can be overwhelming. There are however several web-based tools that can help to simplify this process. Check out a few of the resources below:

Delicious, http://del.icio.us/ is a social bookmarking site that allows users the opportunity to build a web based location of frequently visited websites. Building websites in this location is similar to using your "favorites" bookmarking within your own computer...just offering a more mobile location.

Netvibes, http://www.netvibes.com or PageFlakes, http://www.pageflakes.com, provide a web space where users can take advantage of customizing RSS (real simple syndicated) information feeds. So, essentially, the user can customize a link to a web site they typically wish to remain abreast of and receive the updates in one central location.

Posted by Fran Smith at 5:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks to the collaborative sponsorship between CITEd and Don Johnston, the following FREE webinars are scheduled in 2008. A range of topics will be discussed on using and integrating technology into instruction. For more information, see below and visit http://www.cited.org/

Technology Decision Makers Hold the Keys to Successful Implementation
January 4th at 11:00 am ET & January 14th at 3:00 pm ET

Are you in a position to request or recommend technology purchases? Learn how to be an informed consumer, with an understanding of the leverage points in district administrations as well as with vendors. Based on interviews with over 50 administrators, this webinar provides you strategic information on how administrators are making decisions related to technology.

The Role of Technology in Response to Intervention (RTI)
February 11th at 11:00 am ET & February 28th at 3:00 pm ET

RTI is fast becoming a household term, but what does it mean for you in your school and classroom? How can technology help you manage the process and serve students? Discuss the implications with the experts at the new National Center for Response to Intervention about research to practice efforts.

Finding the Technology that Supports Your Reading, Math, and Writing Instruction
March 18th at 11:00 am ET, 2007 & March 24th at 3:00 pm ET

How do you find the technology solutions that best address your students’ needs? Join us to celebrate the launch of the TechMatrix 2.0, a database of technology tools reviewed on accessibility and instructional features. The TechMatrix 2.0 supports user-generated searches and customizable returns that can be shared with colleagues. Come see what tech tools will work for you!

The Assistive Technology Planner: A Guide for Implementing AT
April 14th at 11:00 am ET & April 29th at 3:00 pm ET

Beyond mere consideration, how do you fully implement AT for students on IEPs? Explore the innovative AT Planner, a comprehensive set of guides for administrators, teachers, and families full of checklists, resources, and recommendations. Based on the research of the National Assistive Technology Research Institute, the Planner will guide implementation according to evidence-based practices.

Evaluating Your Technology Implementation Program
May 2nd at 11:00 am ET & May 12th at 3:00 pm ET

Posted by Fran Smith at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The influence of emerging (and existing) Web 2.0 tools is being quickly realized by many. The tools, often connected to social media/ social networking approaches, are favored by many of today's young people.

At the recent Virginia Department of Education's Technology Leadership Conference, Dr. Daniel Arkin (CEO- VSTE) shared a very thought provoking presentation on several examples. In fact, some of these tools are being used by the VSTE to share information. Explore a few of these below:

Blogging, http://www.wordpress.com (search VSTE)

Typing/ Blogging Phrases through Twitter, http://www.twitter.com

Social Networking --
Ning, http://ning.com (search VSTE)
Classroom 2.0, http://classroom20.ning.com

To explore and learn more, visit The Complete Web 2.0 Directory at http://www.go2web20.net

Posted by Fran Smith at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Georgia's Tools for Life website (www.gatfl.org) has some good publications and resources. One is particularly noteworthy to those of us working to put AT into the IEP...

Writing is a complex issue. If assistive technology is required to help with writing the complexity of the task increases significantly. In order to determine AT needs, writing can be broken down into two major areas. The first is the physical aspect of the writing process. Can the consumer use pencil and paper effectively for the tasks needed? The second is the writing process. Can the consumer use correct grammar, syntax, spelling, and organizational skills to complete the required writing tasks? This article will briefly look at several alternatives for each of these two areas by using two case studies.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/4/games/0index.htm for One Switch, a resource for folks interested in "Switch Gaming." The website highlights the latest switch and game accessibility news.

A snippet from the website:
Video games are fun and also give people the power to do amazing things that they would be unable to in real life. With the right specialised hardware, many standard video games can be played by anyone, no matter the disability. "One Switch Gaming" is especially interested in games playable with a single switch, and in campaigning for accessibility features in all games.
Recent Switch Game News
November 2007: 4Noah revealed. A PC utility allowing one switch gamers to control games using 2 to 6 buttons.
October 2007: The Playstation 2 Switch Interface Deluxe is hinted at. The first easy to use switch interface that is 99% compatible with Playstation 2 games is almost here. It's here!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out Fatbits (http://www.digitalmantra.com/fatbits/download.html), "a very fast, compact, easy to use and versatile FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) screen magnifier."

I had some fun with it today--it's great for accessibility for those with low vision as well as artists and detail-oriented web folks.

Here's me playing on Google--and that's just 5x magnification! You can make the magnification window bigger or smaller, and magnify pretty much as big as you want...

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

News from Washington! Read "Visually Impaired Students Study Math Using Innovative Software: Sighted kids also benefit from hearing equations via MathTrax program."

MathTrax is a graphing tool for middle school and high school students to graph equations, physics simulations or plot data files. The graphs have descriptions and sound so you can hear and read about the graph. Blind and low vision users can access visual math data and graph or experiment with equations and datasets.

To read the article, click on this impossibly long URL: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=December&x=200712041642461CJsamohT0.8393061.

You can access the MathTrax website at http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mathtrax.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Schwab Learning Foundation has a free guide for parents that explains how assistive technology (AT) can help kids with learning disabilities, and it walks you through the process of selecting technology tools that will be most beneficial for your child. The guide includes:
- An overview of assistive technology
- A summary of how assistive technology tools address various types of learning disabilities
- An article which describes a research-based method for finding the right fit between a child’s needs, the tasks she struggles with, the settings where she will use technology, and the AT tool itself,
- A practical worksheet to guide you through the steps to matching AT tools to a child’s individual needs and strengths, and
- Consumer tips for evaluating assistive technology products. Click on http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=488 to download your Essential Guide to Assistive Technology (21 pages), print, and go!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Another free, switch accessible program from Inclusive Technology. This program allows you to record your voice or other sound file and have it played back while a face is animated on the screen. A great motivator for young children who loves the sound of their parents voice. This program allows for one or two switch scanning, mouse or touchscreen and keyboard shortcuts.
You can choose from seven faces that animate, including Santa Claus.

Download it free from this website:

http://www.inclusive.co.uk/downloads/downloads.shtml#talkingfaces

Posted by Mona at 5:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For those of you who work with students who benefit from visual supports for understanding and communication, display surfaces are a constant struggle during instruction. Will the Velcro stick? Is the surface to large or small? Can the students’ access the pictures if necessary? Is it portable? Have you ever tried a tri-fold board? If you make it as described by Caroline Musselwhite, you could have actually six areas to display visual supports---which allows instruction to move more smoothly. I will send the link to the PDF from the March 2003 Tips
http://www.aacintervention.com/tipthre.html#May%202003---get out your sewing machine and start stichin’! If anyone has other ways to make one, post directions!

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)