The Assistive Technology Blog http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/ The TTAC @ VCU Assistive Technology Blog is a blog/discussion community for Assistive Technology providers across Superintendent's Regions 1 & 8. Do you have a question you would like to see answered in the assistive technology blog? EMAIL US and someone on the Assistive Technology team here will post an answer as quick as we can! en Copyright 2008 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:49:13 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Car purchasing guide from GM for people with disabilities General Motors and the iCan! online community for people with disabilities now have
"an Internet-based tool that guides people with disabilities, seniors and caregivers through a process to identify new GM vehicles best suited to their needs. It can be accessed from home or at the dealer, upfitter or rehabilitation specialist.The GM Mobility Advisor also offers suggestions for adaptive equipment relevant to the specific vehicle and the your equipment and provides suggestions for loading and unloading different types of equipment into specific vehicles."
Click on http://ican.gmmobilityadvisor.com for more information. (The site will initially ask you a question about web accessibility-so don't be concerned!)

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/car_purchasing_guide_from_gm_f.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/car_purchasing_guide_from_gm_f.html AT and Transition Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:49:13 -0500 Assistive Technology Funding Manual The Assistive Technology Funding Manual by the Institute on Disability/UAP can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format from http://iod.unh.edu/publications/pdf/manual-AT-Funding.pdf.

This is a detailed guide to Assistive Technology funding sources, from Medicaid and Medicare to private health insurances, and see your rights under IDEA.

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/assistive_technology_funding_m.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/assistive_technology_funding_m.html AT and Transition Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:00:09 -0500 Another Interactive Web 2.0 tool This is a fun tool useful in a variety of areas. YackPack is an online audio messaging system that allows the user to give comments, messages and feedback to individuals or groups. Messages are stored and listeners can hear the message at their convenience. YackPack is being used by educators for foreign language learning, distance education, collaboration, and providing narrative feedback. You assign members to your Pack and then you can communicate with all members of your pack or select individuals.

Watch this short video that explains how YackPack works. Then give it a try!

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/another_interactive_web_20_too.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/another_interactive_web_20_too.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:35:17 -0500 International Society for AAC (ISAAC) ISAAC's organization’s mission is to inform everyone in the world about AAC. As we know there are many children and adults who are using AAC, but many who are not. ISAAC works with AAC users and those with speech difficulties to research ways to find new and improved AAC, as well as to make AAC recognized , valued and used everywhere in the world. They have a list of accomplishments on their website. Check it out!

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/international_society_for_aac.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/international_society_for_aac.html Communication Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:50:03 -0500 MAGic screen magnification free promotional release until September 2008 Click on http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/magic/MAGic11-promo-dl.asp to access "the MAGic® 11.0 promotional release...a trial offer that lets you try the newest MAGic screen magnification release, which can run with or without the latest release of JAWS® 9.0. This promotional version operates without interruption until September 2008, so that you can try out the most recent product enhancements or take the opportunity to try MAGic in combination with JAWS."

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/magic_screen_magnification_fre.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/magic_screen_magnification_fre.html Web Accessibility Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:10:57 -0500 Kurzweil posts success stories for the knfb reader Remember hearing about the KNFB reader?
"Combining a state-of-the-art digital camera with a powerful personal data assistant housed in a custom-designed, attractive case, the knfb Reader Classic puts the best available character recognition software together with text-to-speech conversion technology, all in the palm of your hand. Hold the Reader's camera over print - a restaurant menu, directions, or a memo from your boss - and snap a picture. In seconds you can hear the contents of the printed document in clear synthetic speech. Scan, read, and discard pages; store them for later reading; or transfer to a computer or Braille-aware PDA. The Reader even has a headphone jack so you won't disturb your neighbors...a joint venture between Kurzweil Technologies and the National Federation of the Blind."

Well, we all thought that the knfb reader is cool, but hearing the success stories is cooler:
http://www.knfbreader.com/stories.php.

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/kurzweil_posts_success_stories.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/kurzweil_posts_success_stories.html Assistive Technologies Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:38:20 -0500 Free online conversion for text to speech Here are two websites that allow you to record PDF, Word, plain text, PowerPoint files, ,RSS news feeds, emails and web pages and convert them to speech automatically. These files can then be used to imbed into a powerpoint file, website, or placed on an mp3 player.

Check out Spokent Text or Read the Words

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/free_online_conversion_for_tex.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/free_online_conversion_for_tex.html AT for Reading Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:21:50 -0500 Advanced digital video projects Are you coming to today's Tech Tuesday session on "Advanced Digital Video Projects"? If so, the link to the wiki for today is http://udl4literacy.pbwiki.com/Digital+Video+Projects. If not, poke around on the site, read some of the ideas generated from the last session, and try out our step-by-step instructions for creating movies for alternate/alternative assessment or just for fun learning with your students!

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/advanced_digital_video_project.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/advanced_digital_video_project.html AT and Standardized Assessment Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:43:09 -0500 ISAAC 2008 Biennial Conference 13th Biennial International Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Designed for speech and language pathlogists, families, individuals who use AAC and/or who have speech challenges, teachers, occupational therapist and anyone else who who like to learn more about communication.

The conference will take place in Montréal, Québec, Canada, from August 2-7, 2008. In 2010 the conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain.

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/isaac_2008_biennial_conference.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/isaac_2008_biennial_conference.html Communication Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:56:10 -0500 Microsoft Lead Software Development Engineer Talks About His AT Solutions for Low Vision Click on http://www.microsoft.com/enable/news/newsletter/jul08.aspx to read "Accessibility in Action: Microsoft Lead Software Development Engineer Talks About His AT Solutions for Low Vision." In a video clip, a Microsoft software development engineer talks about his AT solutions for low vision including screen readers, multiple monitors, and screen settings.

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/microsoft_lead_software_develo.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/microsoft_lead_software_develo.html Assistive Technologies Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:01:07 -0500 Steer a wheelchair or operate a computer using only the tip of the tongue Click on http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINN2934810420080630 to read about how A new device that uses a tiny magnet can help people with physical disabilities steer a wheelchair or operate a computer using only the tip of the tongue. From the report: The magnet, the size of a grain of rice, lets people direct the movement of a cursor across a computer screen or a powered wheelchair around a room. It is easily implanted under the tongue, the team at the Georgia Institute of Technology said. "We chose the tongue to operate the system because unlike hands and feet, which are controlled by the brain through the spinal cord, the tongue is directly connected to the brain by a cranial nerve that generally escapes damage in severe spinal cord injuries or neuromuscular diseases," said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor who helped direct the work. "Tongue movements are also fast, accurate and do not require much thinking, concentration or effort." A headset with magnetic field sensors detects the magnetic tracer on the tongue and transmits wireless signals to a portable computer, which can be carried on the user's clothing or wheelchair. "This device could revolutionize the field of assistive technologies by helping individuals with severe disabilities, such as those with high-level spinal cord injuries, return to rich, active, independent and productive lives," Ghovanloo said in a statement.

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/steer_a_wheelchair_or_operate.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/steer_a_wheelchair_or_operate.html Assistive Technologies Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:54:00 -0500 New Guidelines on UDL The Center for Applied Special Technology recently added a set of guidelines on UDL and a graphic organizer depicting how UDL approaches are considered across the three UDL areas providing:

multiple representations of representation
multiple means for expression
multiple means of learner engagement

To view both these new guidelines and the graphic organizer, visit: http://cast.org/publications/UDLguidelines/version1.html

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/new_guidelines_on_udl.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/new_guidelines_on_udl.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:11:36 -0500 A Great Source for Books for Emergent Readers of All Ages This is so exciting and a wonderful resource. On the Tar Heel Reader you’ll find a collection of easy-to-read books on a wide variety of topics. Each book is switch accessible and speech enabled. You may download the books as a slide show in PowerPoint, Impress, or Flash format. The Tar Heel Reader is an experimental prototype that is a result of a collaboration between Center for Literacy and Disability Studies and the department of Computer Science on the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The collaboration of Gary Bishop, Karen Erickson, David Koppenhaver, Gretchen Hanser, and more in UNC Chapel Hill's Computer Science Department and The Center for Literacy and Disability Studies is a powerful and amazing example to us all. The website also allows others to write and contribute books thus creating a great open source library for ALL readers. Be sure to visit often and bookmark this page. I see great things coming of this!!

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/a_great_source_for_books_for_e.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/a_great_source_for_books_for_e.html AT for Reading Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:11:06 -0500 PODD training opportunity Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD) Training
What a great opportunity to learn from two of the leading AAC experts in the world! Gayle Porter, from Melborne, Australia, has over 25 years of experience working with people with complex communication needs. She has developed and published resources on the PODD communication books and pages sets for speech generating devices. Linda Burkhart, from Maryland, a former teacher and AT/AAC expert, has worked with many children and adults with significant disabilities and has developed adapted materials and innovative strategies for working with them. If you have a chance, and some money, go see these two in action!
Chicago, Il - July 21, 22, and 23, 2008
Sponsored by Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/podd_training_opportunity.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/podd_training_opportunity.html Communication Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:52:35 -0500 A New UDL Strategy Tool to Work in Google The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) has developed a new online Strategy Tutor tool that works in tandem with the Google Search Engine offering supports to students. Try this at
http://cst.cast.org/cst/auth-login

]]> http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/a_cool_place_to_purchase_techn.html http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/2008/07/a_cool_place_to_purchase_techn.html Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:25:12 -0500