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January 31, 2008
January 30, 2008
Imagine the possibilities of using an audiovisual recording device with students!
Audiovox has just introduced their brand new Digital Message Center. It presents audiovisual messages through a built-in camera and recorder. 
It features a 7-inch LCD screen, a digital clock, LED message indicator and wall mount or stand. It can also be used as a digital calendar, which shows the message, date and time automatically. The message area allows for hand written notes too! In a classroom setting, short movie clips can provide directions to students, model an activity, and allow students to record movie messages to others. They range in price from $159.99 to $199.99. http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/ces-2008-audiovox-introduces-digital-message-centers/
January 29, 2008
Assistive Technology Videos
Sometimes it is hard to really explain the impact that AT can have on ones life. Hearing or seeing it first hand is a great way to get the message across. Now with the popularity of You Tube there are many great videos that need to be shared that actually show real people using AT. Check Ellen out on this You Tube site. Ellen demonstrates and explains scanning and how she can activate multitude of devices through her communciation device.
January 28, 2008
Driving Assistance
Driving Aids Development Corporation (DADC) has been in operation since 1985. They developed and patented the DADC “500” hand-control system, that allows those who cannot access foot pedals to drive and control a vehicle independently with their hands. Their website includes the products, hand-control installers in each state and connections to automobile manufacturers that may pay the cost of installation of the hand-controls. Anything is possible!
Make your voice podcasts a little more animated
January 26, 2008
A New Web Accessibility Add-On for Firefox
"The Firefox Accessibility Extension 1.2 is now available from the following website:
http://firefox.cita.uiuc.edu
New features include:
1. Testing dynamically generated web pages with the Illinois Functional Accessibility Evaluator
2. Improved support for ARIA markup, but for the latest ARIA features try beta version 1.3
3. Updated menus and better organization, fixing of reported bugs
The developers are looking for your evaluative comments. "Please write a review of version 1.2 on the Firefox Add-ins website, they will not update the version on the website until there are a certain number of reviews. Curretnly they only have version 1.0 on the "Firefox add-ins" website, so your help would be greatly appreciated."
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1891
January 25, 2008
A Social Networking Guru
Interested in following the latest trends in social networking? You might want to visit the website of Danah Boyd, http://www.danah.org. Ms. Boyd, a PhD candidate at Berkeley, has focused her research on this topic and shares this through her blog.
Using SketchUp in the Classroom: Making instruction hands-on and visual!
Google SketchUp is FREE modeling software that empowers students to be 3D designers. It is a great tool for easily teaching kids to construct 3D models of buildings, trees, cars, rooms, etc. Students can use SketchUp to visualize geometry and other mathematical concepts, create models to learn about architecture, and design full-scale 3D environments. It’s fun and a great cooperative learning activity! Visit http://sketchup.google.com. Oh, and did we say, it’s FREE!!!
January 24, 2008
Taking Your Screen Reader on a Portable Drive
Ai Squared has recently released a new version of it's product ZoomText for a USB drive. This provides the screen magnification functionality on a portable flash drive--allowing users to take the software to another computer and access the program. For more information, visit http://www.aisquared.com/Products/usb/index.cfm
What are the characteristics of classrooms in which we use our AT?
From Teacher Tube: "Since most of today's students can appropriately be labeled as 'Digital Learners', why do so many teachers refuse to enter the digital age with their teaching practices? This presentation was created in an effort to motivate teachers to more effectively use technology in their teaching. Please see http://t4.jordandistrict.org/payattention."
January 23, 2008
Wiz through lesson planning with Wiz by AbleNet
Few school programs exist that do not have at least one AbleNet device or product on board, whether it is a Step-by-Step communication device, a simple switch, spinner, or curriculum program. AbleNet has developed an online resource of ideas for using their devices. Search through these activities by grade level, theme, skill or product. www.ablenetinc.com
January 22, 2008
Looking for right AT
The Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) has updated and revised the Tech Matrix for writing and assistive technology. If you haven't seen or used this matrix, check it out. The TechMatrix is a powerful tool for finding assistive and learning technology products for students with special needs. The matirx compares features of several products so you can make more informed decisions for your students. Check it out at this link:
January 21, 2008
AT really is everywhere!
It’s even at the beach! Check it out!
http://www.mybeachwheelchair.com
January 18, 2008
A Review of the Highlights from the 2007 National Center on Technology Innovation Conference
Want to read more about a great conference on technology innovation? Follow the link below to review information, presentations, handouts, and more indepth information from the nation's leading innovators in AT and technology innovation. For more information visit, http://www.nationaltechcenter.org
January 17, 2008
New AT Tool for People with Physical Disabilities
Light Operated Mouse and Keyboard (LOMAK) - Opdo Limited,
The Lomak™ (Light Operated Mouse and Keyboard). uses advanced light sensor technology and a proprietary circular keyboard design to allow users to operate the keyboard by either a hand held pointer or a head mounted light pointer.
http://www.lomakkeyboard.com
January 16, 2008
New AT use for Neurofeedback
SMART Brain Home System, developed by CyberLearning Technology, uses neurofeedback to improve the behaviors of individuals with autism, language disorders, and attention deficits.
http://www.smartbraingames.com
January 15, 2008
Finding the Right Toy
I know this is late for the holidays but I spent some time over the holidays looking at toys and remembering how difficult it can be at times to find the right toy for a child with a disability. Thanks to the internet a lot of the searching can be eliminated. Here are a few excellent resources for finding just the right toy for a child with a disability.
This first document is a booklet created by the Alliance for Technology Access. It highlights the features of several commercially available toys.
http://www.ataccess.org/resources/fpic/accesstoys/letsplay2006/LetsPlay2006.pdf
Able Play is a toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs so parents, special educators, therapist and others can make the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilities. Check it out at their website:
January 14, 2008
Virginia Recreational Resources for People with Disabilities
This resource includes information about recreational opportunities in Virginia for people with cognitive and physical disabilities. It also includes National recreational resources that are available. This document was compiled by VCU and funded by a grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center and the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). There is a PDF copy on the web at
http://www.vahealth.org/cdpc/disability/documents/2007/New%20PosAbilities%20Recreation%20guide.pdf
January 11, 2008
NCTI Awards New Innovations in AT Technologies
The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) recognized several companies for their new innovations in AT at the 2007 annual conference. These are noted below:
Science Writer from the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
Science Writer is a digital tool, that guides students in writing a report based on the scientific inquiry process. Embedded supports include animated agents, rubrics for self-checking, a glossary, and a journal that follow the principles of universal design for learning.
http://www.cast.org/research/projects/tws.html
GOODFEEL® Braille Music Translator, Dancing Dots, Inc.
GOODFEEL® allows blind musicians to independently learn new material from print scores and, express creative musical ideas in print medium.
http://www.dancingdots.com
January 10, 2008
Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device
Check out this new concept in portable reading devices! 
This electronic device is the size of a paperback book with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. It uses electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, to provide a screen that is sharp and easy to focus on in bright and dim light. Text can be enlarged with the click of a button and pages are turned using switches located on the left and right of the page. It’s easy to “save your place” and book mark pages. Kindle holds over 200 books. It’s available at www.amazon.com for $399.00. Visit Amazon to view the video demonstrating Kindle.
January 9, 2008
Wondering what interactive whiteboards look like in action?
TeacherTube (http://www.teachertube.com) has a video segment called "Classroom interaction using the mimeo and CPS clickers in a UDL classroom." Take a look!
January 8, 2008
Hear Sara Sing
In a follow up to the blog posting on Friday....Hear Sara sing the National Anthem before a Pittsburg Pirates game using her Dynavox communication device.
January 7, 2008
Create electronic books—just follow the tutorial
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) has information on their site about how to create and implement electronic books. Check it out!
http://www.wati.org/Curriculum/Literacy/EC/create_implement.html
January 4, 2008
Need a little AAC lift?
Click on http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=3396 for a great story from the Assistive Technology Industry Association about a college student who uses the DynaVox AAC device as well as a few other pieces of AT to fulfill her goals of being a composer and performer.
January 3, 2008
Got $80 and need to be reminded a lot?
Watchminder (http://watchminder.com) may be for you. Programmable with up to 30 (brief) text messages per day, the creator is billing this digital wristwatch as both a reminder system and potentially a training tool for those working on behavior change.
January 2, 2008
Does graph paper help your students to organize?
Graph paper is beloved by many for its ability to keep us organized and in columns when we write numbers and letters. If this sounds like a sentiment you agree with, check out http://www.mathematicshelpcentral.com/graph_paper.htm for more than a dozen free graph paper options as well as a freeware graph paper printer application!