Kurzweil 3000

Recently a group of my students and I attended an interactive tour at Butte-Glenn Community College. The tour was called Jump Start to College. One of the activities we participated in was an overview of available assistive technology at the college for DSPS students. They had a program called Kurzweil which is software you can scan a book into and it will read the text out loud. The software will also let you type and then read what you have typed. A couple things I like about it were the ability to reach various types of learning styles and the feature of highlighting the words as it reads. You can also look up meanings of unknown words using hte built in dictionary. After the field trip I researched the cost of this software and found it to be quite expensive. But if you have a high need for it in your classroom, it would definately be money well spent.

A Few Assistive Devices Worth Mentioning

Mounted Tabletop Scissors

Who it’s for: this device is for individuals with limited control and those who struggle with fine motor skills. These scissors are also great for someone who has little strength.

How it works: Paper is fed into the “mouth” of the scissors along the base and cut by depressing the T Shaped handle. The scissors are spring loaded, therefore they automatically re-open.

Resource: http://www.allegromedical.com/daily-living-aids-c519/mounted-table-top-scissors-on-wooden-base-p500863.html
Joystick

Who it’s for: this device is for people with poor motor control, fine motor skills, and minimal grasping ability.

How it works: the joystick is connected to a computer just like a regular mouse. However, unlike the mouse, a joystick usually has 1-3 buttons to mimic various features of a regular mouse such as “right-clicking”. It can be controlled by hands, feet, and the chin. It controls the cursor on the screen of a computer.

Resource: http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/20723/popup

Highlighters

Who it’s for: I have used highlighters with variety of students for various needs. A student who needs help with organization can use a highlighter. If a student has trouble studying or reading small text, the highlighter will come in handy. A student that is learning to write can also use the pen.

How it works: You can use highlighters for reading to isolate text. You can use it for organization. You can also use the pens for tracing. This is also a valuable tool for marking important information in textbooks for later recall.

Resource: http://www.mangomon.com/blog/?Tag=Highlighters

Typoscope

Who it’s for: this inexpensive low-tech assistive device is for students who have difficulty with visual tracking. The Typoscope is beneficial for students who are having trouble decoding.

How it works: A Typoscope is a simple black sheet of plastic with a rectangular cut-out. The reader places the window over the desired text to be read and reads what is viewed through the window. Some Typoscopes included magnifiers and/or a highlighted strip.

Resource: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/typoscope

Whisper Phone

Who it’s for: A whisper phone can help kids quietly read out loud without bothering other students. A whisper phone can also help a student hear herself read aloud. Some educators think this helps to build reading fluency.

How it works: A student holds the phone up to his ear like a regular telephone and reads aloud. As they are reading aloud, they hear their own voice.

Resource: http://www.whisperphone.com/skin/frontend/default/theme110/pdfs/WP-FAQs.pdf

Boardmaker

Boardmaker is software for creating symbol based tools for learning and communication. The symbols used are simple drawing that can be modified according to use. Boardmaker can be used for making picture schedules, response boards, interactive stories, as well as communication tools. However, Boardmaker is, by far, not limited to these uses alone.

My first experience with Boardmaker was limited. As a para-pro I was never trained and actually used the software 3-4 times. Of those times I used it, a template was already set up and it was used strictly for making small picture icons to be used for communication. I only began using Boardmaker on my own a year ago and it still has been limited.

As I began to explore Boardmaker more in depth, I discovered very quickly the versatility of this product. By simply searching “Boardmaker templates” on Google I came across an array of already made templates I can use right away. Why re-invent the wheel, right? I also learned about other features of the software that are making life easier when making some of my own personalized classroom tools.

(Pros, cons, ideas, ah-ha moments…)
There have been some things I really like about the software and some things I dislike. I just learned about the symbolate button. I watched a tutorial on how to use it and tried it for myself. I am so excited to make recipe cards my students can use. I haven’t liked how un-user friendly it is. I have caught myself spending way more time on what should be a simple project than I should have.

Some other sites I discovered, besides the Mayer-Johnson site, were helpful as well. Here are a few:

http://www.ccs.k12.in.us/Hbm/ART/boardmaker_templates.htm This site has quite a few templates that are fairly universal. Many of the boards on this site were for behaviors, classroom procedures, transitioning, and schedules.

http://region2library.org/boardmaker.htm#vsr This site not only had pre-made templates but it also had other links to sites with templates. There was one site that I connected to that had big thumbnails of what the boards looked like which was convenient. I could look at them and decide whether or not it was a board I could use before downloading it.

I have Boardmaker V.6. I did some research on the differences between the version I have & use and the Boardmaker Plus! V.6 version. Two of the main differences that stuck out for me were the animation and sound features. The v.6 version does not have all the interactive features that Plus! has. Once I have mastered the version I have, I will want to upgrade. Until then I am finding that learning all new things I can do with what I have will keep me pretty busy for quite some time.

I recommend this product to teachers, speech therapists, and to parents and caregivers. This program can assist with lessons, communication, behavior prevention and modifications, and activities in daily lives. It is a pricy product but you get your money’s worth. It’s not a product that would collect dust on your shelf. I keep my disc in my computer at all times and access it very frequently.

itouch in use

iprompt app

Great application to use with students with ASD.

Fun with PhotoStory 3

This is a photostory that highlights the process and experience of the service learning project our students took part in. They planned, prepped, and hosted a fall festival party for students younger than them. The photostory was used to reinforce concepts learned in the service learning project. Viewing the photostory was a way for the students to reflect on the activity. Often times, when asked to recall information about an event, a field trip, or an activity, many of the students are unable to without some kind of prompt. This is a good visual prompt. It supported the idea that these students are no longer kids-they are adults now. Instead of going trick-or-treating, which is not age appropriate, they can still have fun in a different way and give back to the community.

I showed my students some pictures from the activity and then showed them this photostory. They were more engaged in reflecting and enjoyed watching it. One said it was like they were in a movie. I also explained that we could do more photo stories together for future events and activities. The response was extremely positive, which is exciting! I plan to use Photostory 3 more often in the future for lessons like this as well as other lessons.

Google Searches

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/shortcut-better-google-results-00000000027634/

This is an article from the Real Simple magazine written by John Lawton all about "Googling". This resource is for teachers, students, and really anyone who uses Google. The articles focus is tips on using Google, from doing basic searches to advanced. This article also has a section called: "7 Things You Can Do Directly in the Google Search Field". Some of the things included performing calculations and converting measurements. This is a good way for my students to gain easy access to information needed to not only obtain knowledge used within the classroom, but outside the classroom in their natural setting. For example, they can search information about local recreation and leisure activities and find information about local transportation and housing.

Educational Online Kids Games | eLearning Resources for Teachers | Education City

Educational Online Kids Games | eLearning Resources for Teachers | Education City

Photo Story 3

Here is a great link to a tutorial on how to make a photo story. Photo stories are a great tool to use in the classroom to enhance curriculum and can be modified to fit the various needs of the students.

http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/hippohelper/pdfs/photostory%20tutorial.pdf

Side note: If you have Windows 7, it won't work. However, if you know different, please let me know.

The Lesson Plans Page - 10 Step Lesson Plan Guide

The Lesson Plans Page - 10 Step Lesson Plan Guide

Google Tools: Resources for Your Classroom

This handout, by Donna Taylor, Krause Center for Innovation, is a list of resources about various Google tools and websites along with short bibliographies on each resource. I found all the various things you can access through Google amazing. One of the challenges this information addressed was accessibility. There were many tools that Google offers that my students can access even if they don’t have a computer at home. My students can access saved files, blogs, keep a schedule, and even see the world in a different aspect. What I had found most useful were tools for me as a teacher. These sights had various ideas for lessons, support groups, organizational tools, workshops, search tools, and blogs. With the population I teach, I need all the resources I can get!
***(This resource came from the Assistive Tecnology online Vista course through CSU Chico. If you're interested in gaining access to this handout, email me at jmartino2@mail.csuchico.edu)***

Using Switches...Thoughts and Ideas

http://www.pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c135.pdf

The types of disabilities and challenges using switches can address are communication, participation, hand-eye coordination, learning various skills in an alternative way, inclusion, and limited fine motor skills. For my students that use switches it means their quality of life is increased by enabling them to participate in activities and conversations they otherwise would not be a part of. To me this is extremely important, not only for the students using the switches, but for the others as well. I feel that it teaches them compassion and acceptance.

Photo Story 3

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/PhotoStory/default.mspx

This resource was a tutorial on how to make a photo story. My first thought was, I could use this to make a photo story of field trips and various activities. Often times upon returning from a field trip the students would have a difficult time recalling key points of the activity. I thought this would be a great tool to help them reflect on their experiences. Then, I thought it would be a great tool to use as a service learning project. I could have my students create a photo story about the transition program to share with the younger students who may transition into the program.

Wiimote Whiteboard

http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2009/01/31/wiimote-whiteboard-in-education-a-tutorial/

This website is a link to an amazing tutorial on how to make an inexpensive interactive whiteboard. First, I would like to highlight the “inexpensive” part. We all know there isn’t much money in our classroom budgets. Second, the benefits of using an interactive white board can be numerous. The board can accommodate different learning styles. Students respond favorably to board use. One-computer classrooms can maximize the use of limited computer access. It’s interactive. Moreover, it opens up an array of resources that can be used with the students. I could see using this for a variety of lessons and learning tools with my students.

Are You a Global or Linear/Sequential Thinker?

http://www.onionmountaintech.com/files/Global-Linear%20Activity.pdf

This is a worksheet that determines whether you are a global thinker or a linear thinker. It reads as a simple questionnaire where you tally up the points at the end to determine your score. Once you figure out if you think globally or linear, examples are provided for each.
This would be a great tool to use with my adult students so they can have a better understanding of who they are. One of the main curricula that is taught in my classroom is vocational skills. Self advocacy is an important part of learning vocational skills, as well as life skills. I encourage my students to further understand themselves by learning how they learn best, what type of personality they are, what accommodations and modifications they need, etc.

Talking PowerPoint - Sorry, unable to get sound for this :0(

Know Your Rights Talking

The Power of Talkies (Talking PowerPoints)

The PowerPoint I created is intended for students transitioning into adulthood, ages 18-22. It can also be presented to the general population of adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities. The presentation can be used to support a unit or lessons on self advocacy. Self advocacy is an important element of learning vocational and life skills in order to succeed and thrive as an adult.

Talking PowerPoints can be created and used in a various ways in your classroom.
I recently spoke to a colleague who frequently uses them with her reading program. She said, "The kids get so excited about the stories I've created using this resource and it motivates them to read. I love them."

Here are a couple links on creative uses for PowerPoints how to create your own Talking PowerPoint:

http://talkingbooklibrary.net/

http://www.livingwithcerebralpalsy.com/pdfs/talking-book.pdf

http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2009/how-to-add-talking-captions-to-powerpoint-presentations/

Education: Disability.gov

Education: Disability.gov

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Ok everyone, I am exhausted. Been working on this blog like crazy, so now I need some feed back...please?

Currently I am learning about special ed. laws. It seems to make more and more sense. Now I am finally catching on to all that jargon. /:)

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