The Assistive Technology Blog

Do you want to spend your summer catching up on what has been happening with technology in education? Are you searching for research to support the use of technology to teach content to reach all learners. TechMatrix has a list of nice research articles with abstracts for AT, Math, Reading and Writing, that are current and worth reviewing. You will have to search elsewhere for the full article, but it's nice to have a place to start.
Look on their website under "Research"
http://www.techmatrix.org/

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Role of Psychology in Assistive Technology is addressed in http://www.apa.org/science/psa/jan08role_prnt.html. From the article:

“We know that technology-person mismatches can have a series of repercussions including wasted resources, and people not performing at their functional best. On the service delivery level, device abandonment represents ineffective use of an assistive technology, all of which can be addressed through psychological science.”

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Farfalla is "an attempt to create an accessibility platform integrating various assistive technologies." Click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zA4LbZvBNA to see "a small collection of screencasts of some features of the web application Farfalla, like 5-keys and text-to-speech." The creator plans to release the source code soon- follow along at www.farfalla-project.org.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

"Thanks to some ingenious assistive technology, this high school student didn't let a birth condition stifle his passion for music. He played euphonium in his school's award-winning marching band from his wheelchair." Click here to read and see more: http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-lukas-bratcher

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

Here is a great resource for teachers and AT centers. Often times we are asked how a particular device works or can be programmed. Ablenet has created many short videos highlighting the use and programming of particular Ablenet products. Check them out at this link:
http://www.ablenetinc.com/press/multimedia.aspx

Think of the time saver this will be for AT consultants, most practicioners will be able to follow the directions on these short video clips.

Posted by Mona at 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I found a neat website for searching and matching educational and assistive technology products to the learning support needed.

The TechMatrix is a powerful tool for finding educational and assistive technology products for students with special needs. See the Find Product menu for other search options. Create a customized matrix by subject and/or learning support. Send your customized matrix to a friend or colleague.
They also have Consumer Guides for School Administrators as well as Educational Vendors to assist educational teams with making technology decisions.

Look on their website:
http://www.techmatrix.org/

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.edutopia.org/assistivetechnology to read "Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement, and Independence to the Physically Challenged." It's a nice piece on AT, mobility, and school participation.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/speech-recognition/articles/29308-loquendo-brings-speech-technology-into-home-with-voice.htm to read about a "voice-controlled oven"!
From the press release:

Now, speech technology has also made its way into the home with the introduction of Sophius, a fully voice- controlled oven from Indesit Company. The prototype of Sophius was presented by the company as its latest concept and makes use of Loquendo (News - Alert) TTS and Amuser, a multimedia solutions provider, to allow users to interact with the oven using their natural voice to command Sophius on the temperature and cooking time. For example, "Cook pizza at 180 degrees for 20 minutes."

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-albano-berberi-video to read and see how assistive technology helps a Advanced Placement computer science student, devoted gamer, and violin prodigy pursue his passions despite a visual impairment .

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From the "land down under" comes this wiki which has great information regarding research in the field of assistive technology. This wiki contains links to articles and presentations. It also highlights the need to continue to develop a good research base for use of assistive technology. Check it out: Keeping Up To Date With Assistive Technology Research

Posted by Mona at 6:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the biggest struggles faced by AT teams and individuals who use AT face is funding for the technology. Teams and individuals know what is needed for success, but finding a way to finance it is a difficult. The RESNA Alternative Financing Technical Assistance Project (AFTAP) provides technical assistance to State Financial Loan Programs. This includes Alternative Financing Programs funded under Title III of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394) and Access to Telework Loan programs funded under the New Freedom Initiative.
Check out their website:
http://www.resna.org/AFTAP/RESNA.html

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.microsoft.com/enable/casestudy/default.aspx to read:

Accessibility case studies [which] showcase organizations that have integrated accessible technology solutions into their technology plans to help individuals with various types of impairments maintain productivity on the job. Case studies feature best practices and lessons learned, as well as examples of why it makes good business sense to provide accessible technology in the workplace.

Case studies include:
- Texthelp Read&Write Software Provides Valuable Productivity Tool for Microsoft Technology Specialist
- Kurzweil 3000 Reading and Comprehension Software Helps Business Leader Reach Full Potential
- State of Georgia: Computers and Assistive Technology Remove Barriers for State of Georgia Employee with Learning Disability

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 4:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out http://callierlibrary.wordpress.com/ for the COMD News: Events and Research in Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders blog. Description from the blog:

The Callier Library is located at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and supports the graduate-level programs and faculty in communications sciences which are located at the center. It also supports the work of clinicians in hearing and speech disorders who work at both campuses of the Callier Center. One of the missions of Callier Library is to be a useful source of information to the international community of researchers and clinicians in communication disorders. To that end, this web log of citations and news in the field has been built and maintained by Allen Clayton, the Callier Center Librarian. These news items are gleaned from over 400 sources on the Internet and are provided as a service to our patrons.

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

Click on http://blog.blindaccessjournal.com/ to read the many entries in Blind Access Journal blog. Description from the blog:

This blog and podcast is all about the blind and our quest for the greatest possible access to all the information available in the world around us. Karen and I chronicle our experiences dealing with a variety of issues as a blind couple, show how we have dealt with various blindness situations and seek comments on ways to constructively address the concrete concerns of accessibility and transportation we face on a daily basis.

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

Anne Banton and Matthew Press of the ConnSENSE Bulletin have created a great article summarizing all the new Assitive Technology tools presented by vendors at ATIA 2008. In it they highlight a new interactive station to allow wheelchair access to whiteboard technology, the new Intelliswitch Joystick, a multitude of new AAC devices, including a new wearable device from AbleNet, and many, many more devices and applicatons. Click here for the full 25 page report.

Posted by Mona at 6:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ATworkshops is pleased to announce that this workshop is on and space is still available!

Thursday, June 12, 2008
“Making Books Talk for Beginning, Struggling, or Non-Readers”
9:00am – 3:30 pm
Children’s Center School, Winston-Salem, NC
Ken Whitley, B.S., M.A., CCC-SLP, ATworkshops

Workshop Description:
Many persons have difficulty reading. These may be pre-literate children, non-readers exhibiting cognitive involvement, or those exhibiting learning difficulties. This does not mean, however, that these persons are not interested in books, magazines, newspapers, or text-based materials on the internet.

Tools now exist that turn printed text (paper or on-screen) into talking text. Other tools can be used to create talking on-screen books using personalized graphics, sounds, and videos. This workshop will explore how to make text-based materials usable, effective, and enjoyable for persons who are either non-literate or who struggle with literacy. Tools to be examined include the BookWorm, SwitchIt! Maker 2, My Own Book Shelf, IntelliTools Classroom Suite, and WYNN.

Session Objectives: Participants will learn about:

- Non-computer tools that employ recordings to make books talk
- Tools that are used to create on-screen talking books
- Tools which can convert paper or onscreen text into talking text through
the use of OCR scanning
- Using your own digital pictures, videos, and recordings in creating
talking books

Please note: This is a literacy workshop, not a blind/low vision workshop.

Cost: $45.00, payable to ATworkshops through pre-registration. To register, print out the registration form from the web page below:

http://www.atworkshops.com/Making%20Books%20Talk%20Regist.%20Form%20for%20Web%20%206-12-08.doc

Print, complete and fax or mail to ATworkshops. For questions, call ATworkshops at 888-433-5303. Space in this workshop is limited and requires a minimum of 35 participants pre-registered in order to be held.

To view all of ATworkshops’ upcoming trainings simply click on the link below for our calendar.

http://www.atworkshops.com/upcoming_workshops.htm


Info of ATworkshops
info@atworkshops.com

ATworkshops www.atworkshops.com
411 South King Street
Morganton, NC 28655
Phone: 828-433-5302
Toll Free: 888-433-5303

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/3521/phone-blind-people/ to read more about a "Nokia N82 mobile phone [that is] the first of its kind...The mobile reader enables users to take pictures of and then read most printed materials at the push of a button, using the high-resolution camera in the state-of-the-art Nokia N82 cell phone. Users can hear documents, signs, menus, receipts - most any printed text - read aloud in clear synthetic speech, at an adjustable speed."

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.readingmadeez.com/products/ktavpod.html to learn more about the Key to Access video player from Premier. From the website:

The Key to Access VPod enables you to take your Assistive Software with you on a portable USB MP4 Player. Connect the MP4 Player to any USB Port, double click the Key to Access Icon, the floating tool bar will appear giving you access to 10 powerful literacy tools. The software NEVER needs to be installed on your computer. All your personal settings are saved on your Key to Access so that no matter which computer you use, your access will be the same.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.zacbrowser.com/ for the free "ZAC Browser - Zone for Autistic Children."From the website:

ZAC is the first web browser developed specifically for children with autism, and autism spectrum disorders such as Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and PDD-NOS. We have made this browser for the children - for their enjoyment, enrichment, and freedom. Children touch it, use it, play it, interact with it, and experience independence through ZAC. ZAC is the zone that will permit your child to interact directly with games (a LOT of games) and activities (focused on MANY interests) that cater specifically to kids who display the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders, like impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. ZAC has been an effective tool for kids with low, medium and high functioning autism.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is a great web site that is worth spending some time reviewing. It is especially helpful to school divisions who are trying to develop implementation plans and consideration guidelines for assistive technology.

The Maryland Assistive Technology Network's new site, MATNOnline is a project from John Hopkins University's Center for Technology in Education (CTE).

MATNONline has a wealth of resources on AT from Consideration through Implementation and Data Collection, efficient summaries of a variety of articles on AT, video interviews with AT experts including Penny Reed and Kelly Fonner, and the MATNOnline Wiki, which is in part a place to house UDL lesson plans and curriculum materials. It also has a variety of How To's for AT products and software (Boardmaker, Intellitools Classroom Suite).

Visit the Maryland Assistive Technology Network at:
http://www.matnonline.com/olms/output/page.php?id=9514

Posted by Mona at 6:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are you looking for an easy and convenient way to learn about technology, without spending a dime? Except for may be the snack and drink. Slater Software is partnering with Roxanne Butterfield to provide free customized on-line training for your staff!
Some examples include
- Reading & Writing in the Life Skills Curriculum
- Using Symbols for Literacy
- Adapting the Curriculum with Picture it
- Beginning Writers Succeed with PixWriter

- Special Topic by Your Request

For more information:
Email: Roxanne@slatersoftware.com
or call her at 501-525-4893 to discuss your needs and arrange your on line training.
http://www.slatersoftware.com/webinar-info.html

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)