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Assistive Technology

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless"
Mother Teresa

"The best journeys are the ones that answer questions that at the outset you never even thought to ask."
Rick Ridgeway

"There are certain spots in the world where you can stand that will change the way that you look at things forever."
Pete Whitaker

"My heart is singing this morning. A miracle has happened!
The light of understanding has shone upon my little pupil's mind, and behold, all things have changed!"
Anne Sullivan

"For students without disabilities, technology makes things easier.
For students with disabilities, technology makes things possible."
--M.P. Radabaugh

 

 

Information Sites
SETT and Re-SETT: Concepts for AT Implementation: http://www.connsensebulletin.com/resett.html
This article relates to the student and includes strategies to help teams make plans that facilitate student growth using Assistive Technology.

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: http://www.tsbvi.edu/index.htm
Resources, PowerPoints, workshops descriptions are at this site.Universal Design for Learning - supported with Assistive

Technology: http://homepage.mac.com/seilts/udl_at/index.html
The first class will begin by looking at this site.

In the News
IDEA 2004 Regulations: Summary of Major Changes: http://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/law/idea.regs.sumry.chngs.pdf

Understanding Learning Disabilities: http://www.districtadministration.com/page.cfm?p=1205
This article provides an overview of learning disabilities, the IDEA definition of learning disabilities, information on useful classroom
interventions for students with learning disabilities, and information on how districts can put research findings on effectively teaching students with learning disabilities into practice.

Text Readers
There are two types of text readers. Some, such as Read Outloud, Read Please: http://readplease.com/, zoomtext: http://www.compuaccess.com/zoomtext.htm, Read and Write and others people often mention can read aloud electronic word processing based text, with different feature sets. For example some can also magnify the text, for your low vision need. Both Kurzweil: http://www.kurzweiledu.com/ and WYNN: http://www.freedomscientific.com/LSG/products/wynn.asp have competitively priced versions of these as well, with the retail price of the Kurzweil being not much more than Read Outloud and less than WYNN, for example.
Kurzweil text reader is under $400, and has advanced features such as tracking by phrase, study skills, multiple dictionaries, high quality voices, etc. Read Outloud is the least expensive of the three and has fewer features, thus acts more as a strictly text reader as opposed to a more valuable instructional tool that would help increase the reading speed and comprehension of the student, as opposed to acting as just a screen reader. And the retail price of the WYNN text reader is actually more expensive than the retail price of the Kurzweil text reader. If you are looking for just the least expensive solution, use free text to speech software, such as Read Please. What you want to be careful of is that if you do go for the least expensive solution to save $100 or so, and that the solution you have chosen does not meet your expectations, you have just wasted your money altogether.
Then there are the text readers that have self contained OCR (Optical Character Recognition), which allows you to scan printed material. Before chosing a product with OCR, you might want to see how each product does with the type of source material you need to scan and read. Some do better than others. For example, the Kurzweil keeps the exact image, has form filling capabilities and a great suite of study skills. If you have textbooks with math, science, colored backgrounds, maps, etc, it can handle it. Read and Write Gold has ocr, and you can scan into word, but it doesn't necessarily keep the exact image of the page. Gold can scan into .pdf for exact image, but then you use .pdf aloud to read it, and you no longer use the functionality of Read and Write. Premier Programming has similar capability to Gold, in that Premier promotes what they call "exact match", and they even provide on their website an example of a page scanned with their "exact match" technology. However, all the text on that page that was on the orange colored background is not able to be read by the text reader, and that is almost half the material from that page, and part of the heading disappeared! So you may find that a less expensive solution such as Premier Programming or Gold does fine with novels on quality paper but not meet your need for textbooks. Many scanners have free OCR that you use to scan your source document into Word. Then you could use a free text reader, such as Read Please, to read that material. That is your lowest cost solution, and provides the least benefit to the student. You should also check out the length of time it takes to scan. Try scanning 20 pages of a textbook with Kurzweil, Read and Write, Premier and some of the others, and the results might make your decision for you. You may find that there is a very large variation in the speed in which the programs scan. If you buy a product based on price, and you find that it takes just too long to scan, or you are not getting good OCR results, it will go unused. These are all software solutions. There are also stand alone reading machines, which are basically self contained computers and dedicated scanners, some of which provide only audio output and some of which you can attach a monitor. The value of these is usually that the control keypad is not a full keyboard, and is thus easier to use for someone with little computer skills.
My suggestion would be to ask the companies to send their representative to your school to provide an in-service. Most of these companies provide that service for free. And ask them to leave behind their demo CD - from the companies that provide them (Kurzweil will, WYNN will, Read and Write will not) and try them out after the inservice. And pick the solution that best meets your need, without regard to price, because there are many many grant sources to provide money for implementing literacy technology.

Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome: http://www.kidsplastsurg.com/klippel.html
Question: I have an 8 year old daughter who was born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. She has always been disproportionate and has excess bones, tissues and malformations of veins. She has hands twice the size of adult hands, especially her right hand (she's right handed). It is difficult to find scissors to fit her hand, and it will only get worse as she gets older (her limbs and digits grow with her as she gets older). Does anyone have any ideas on how I can find scissors to fit her hand or make >adaptations so that she can be able to cut independently?
Answers:
* "Electric" scissors from Singer Sewing company. You might find them at a closeout store (BigLots, etc.) They operate on 1 or 2 AA batteries, and the batteries last a long time. They would probably work for your daughter because you can grasp the
handle in a fist. The scissors operate with a tiny "hold in" bar on the barrel. As long as that is held in, you can cut. Students who need to use a fist use them successfully as do students who could only use one side of their body due to TBI(Traumatic Brain Injury) or other similar issues as well. In some cases, the student did the cutting and a peer or staff braced the paper for them. The scissors do best on thicker paper and fabric (that's what they were made for), but definitely work on standard copy paper. An added bonus for inclusive environments: the scissors are COOL. The come with neon colors and the kids fight over who gets to use them! The kids who need them use the scissors first, and then other students can use them.
* Scissors that cut wrapping paper or the scissors that are used to cut fabric work on a roller system. The only problem is that you can't cut circles. For circles, you can use the scrap booking tools from a craft store. They give students the ability to have fancy edges, varies circles and other shapes.
*Assistive Devices-Scissors: http://www.peta-uk.com/usashop/acatalog/In_the_Classroom.html

Some sites that may help you throughout the class
Furl: http://www.furl.net/index.jsp
This site that manages your favorite Web sites. With Furl, your Favorites (or in Firefox, Bookmarks) are accessible from any computer. You add them with the click of a button. Then share them with friends and get recommendations from Furlmates. What’s a Furlmate? It's someone who likes similar Web sites. You can start by adding my site! You can access Furl from any browser. But you’ll need to download an add-in for one-click Favorites and Bookmarks.

Webnote: http://www.aypwip.org/webnote/
Webnote is a simple, easy-to-use tool that enables you to take notes via a Web browser and then access and share those notes from any computer. You create and name a workspace—the name is then integrated into the URL for your notes. Your workspace isn’t password protected, so anyone who knows the name of it can get into it—which is an advantage if your goal is collaboration or sharing and a disadvantage if you’re looking for a place to keep sensitive info (this probably isn’t it). The tool’s main features are basic: Once in your workspace, you create sticky-notes on a screen and then can fill them with text or html links. You can change the size, shape, and color of your notes with just a few clicks.

The education of students with disabilities was a local option for the first two hundred years of U.S. history. Throughout that time, large numbers of disabled students were excluded from school, and few went on to independent living and employment as adults.

History of Assistive Technology Legislation

The 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act
Assistive technology (AT) as defined in the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 includes two components: "assistive technology device" and "assistive technology service".

AT device is defined as "any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities."

AT service means any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. This includes:

To further clarify the meaning of assistive technology, some researchers make a distinction between high technology and low technology. High technology usually refers to complex, electrical and electronic devices such as computers, augmentative communication boards and environmental control systems. Low technology generally refers to simpler interventions such as custom designed hand tools, work station modifications and simple, easier to use, less expensive devices. "Often, low technology involves the application of "ergonomics" or human factors in which the workplace or home is designed to fit the person instead of making the person fit into a fixed design" (McQuistion, 1989). Often times when addressing the issue of technology, people tend to think of talking computers, robots, laser optics, and spy satellites; but not door levers, canes, telephone headsets, or job sharing. It is often assumed that bigger, newer, and more sophisticated means better. We tend to look to high technology solutions for every situation. However, "low technology alternatives can be just as effective and more easily integrated into a person's lifestyle" (Galvin & Phillips, 1991).

Benefits of Assistive Technology
Technology is beneficial to all of human kind. Everyone has used some type of technology device or service in everyday life activities. Such items as can openers, computers, telephones, dryers, remote controls, shopping carts, calculators, luggage carts, ramps, and power doors are all examples of assistive devices that help people get through their day with less difficulty. Individuals with disabilities use assistive technology devices for a variety of reasons:

Assistive technology enhances the lives of persons with disabilities on an individual basis. "All individuals with disabilities, regardless of age, regardless of disability, would have increased control over themselves and their environments, and would have greater freedom of movement, exploration and participation along side their peers at home, school, work and in the community, with the use of appropriate technology" (Rubin & Roessler, 1987).

Common Misconceptions About Assistive Technology
Some of the most commonly held misconceptions regarding AT devices and services are discussed below. It is important to examine your own thinking to determine whether you may unconsciously subscribe to any of these notions and how it may affect your provision of AT services. It will help you identify misconceptions clients may hold and how that may affect their expectations of AT.
1. Assistive Technology is the "be all and end all" - Assistive technology is a powerful tool useful to persons with disabilities in many ways and situations. But technology alone doesn't end all the difficulties that come with having a disability. Assistive technology devices can make accomplishing a task easier. There are persons with disabilities who feel devices will take care of all the problems they encounter.
2. Assistive Technology is complicated (high tech) and expensive - Some of the technology used today is complicated and expensive, but some of the best solutions to AT needs are simple, inexpensive low tech devices. Expensive sophisticated devices are not necessarily a part of every solution.
3. Persons with the same disability can benefit from the same Assistive Technology devices - Just because two people have similar disabilities doesn't mean they both have the same AT needs.
4. Professionals are the best source of information on Assistive Technology - Because technology is always advancing, it is impossible for one person or group to be the authority on all the technology available. Therefore, it is important for consumers, family members and professionals to learn more about assistive technology and to share their knowledge and expertise with each other to reach the best possible solutions. Some AT solutions rely more on the common sense use of both assistive devices and every day items from the hardware store than on highly technical information and expertise. While service providers are often connected to technology networks and resources, consumers and their families, interested in overcoming personal barriers, often find the most creative and practical solutions. Thus, it is important to work together when making AT decisions.
5. Assistive Technology product descriptions are always accurate and helpful - Product descriptions are designed to sell products and are intended for general audiences. It can be difficult to determine which information is useful and relevant to your specific needs. It is best to get other, more objective information to supplement the product descriptions.
6. A user's assistive technology requirements only need to be assessed once - A particular device may be useful to a person with a disability for the rest of their life or for only a few months or years. As individuals expand their activities to encompass home, school, work and community, they may have new or different needs in these settings. Ongoing self-assessment as well as reassessment by professionals ensures that changing needs are addressed. Therefore, it may be necessary to do more than one assessment of need in regard to assistive technology.
7. Assistive Technology devices will always be used - Although AT is often crucial to the independent functioning of people with disabilities, they abandon many devices. Abandonment of technology occurs for a variety of reasons, i.e., the device doesn't do what it is supposed to, it isn't reliable, or it isn't easy to use. Research demonstrates that consumer involvement in technology decision-making enhances the likelihood the device will be retained.
8. People with disabilities want the latest, most expensive devices - Persons with disabilities are just like any other customers or consumers. Most of them want technology that will prove to be easy, reliable, affordable, and will get the job done as quickly and conveniently as possible.
9. Assistive Technology is just a luxury - For someone with a disability who relies upon AT to perform a critical function or achieve a desired goal in life, AT is very much a necessity. Just because a device makes a task easier or more convenient to do does not make it a luxury no matter what the cost. Consider how society initially regarded automobiles, telephones, and more recently, computers. Now these "modern day conveniences" are commonplace standards.
10. Only people with certain types of disabilities find Assistive Technology useful - The need for specific types of AT varies widely from one person to the next, but individuals of all ages, varying abilities and needs, and all types of disabilities may be able to benefit from the use of technology. "Individual needs" is the key phrase here. There are as many possible technology solutions available to meet the real life challenges of real life individuals as there are creative people to devise them.
Adapted from: Illinois Assistive Technology Project, (IATP). (1991). Basic Skills in Assistive Technology Handbook. Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services.)

Assistive Technology for Learning Disabilities
Microsoft Accessibilty Technology for Everyone: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/ tells about built-in accessibility features in Microsoft products that you can adjust to meet your needs and preferences. These include enlarged cursors under mouse, the onscreen keyboard, and the text to speech feature and the color and font size changes in Word.

One of the low-tech features that can make it easier for a student to read text from the computer is the background and font color. Changing the background color and the text color is easy and something you might want to experiment with to see if it helps the students.
To specify font characteristics in Internet Explorer, including color and style, click the Tools menu, select Internet Options, and then click the Accessibility button. The Accessibility property sheet is displayed. To change font size, go to View, then Text Size.

There is also colored tape that can be purchased to lay over text and moved around to highlight main ideas or answer to questions presented. This type of tape can be reused and does not hurt the text. It can also be laminated for sturdiness, leaving about a quarter of an inch margin around the colored part, and a hole punched a hole in the end to loop a small thread so that is a book mark, too. Picking the right color for the student is the trick.
There are also erasable highlighters.

The position of the monitor is very important for the student. Most monitors can be adjusted. Be sure to adjust the monitor so the student can look at it at eye level.

If the student has a physical disability, such as a wheel chair, be sure the computer is at a table that is tall enough for the wheelchair to fit underneath. You can purchase adjustable tables that can be raised and lowered depending on the needs of the student. If an adjustable table is not available you can purchase adjustable keyboards. Younger, smaller students may need a much lower table.

A book holder that holds the book vertically at about 70 degrees is helpful for some students.

Resources
Achievable Concepts: http://www.achievableconcepts.com.au/

Accommodations Manual: How to Select, Administer, and Evaluate Use of Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment of Students with Disabilities (PDF) from the Council of Chief State School Officers:
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/AccommodationsManual.pdf
This manual from the Council of Chief State School Officers details a five-step plan for use of accommodations in assessments and provides fact sheets and teacher tools. The five steps are: expect students with disabilities to achieve grade-level academic content standards, learn about accommodations for instruction and assessment, select accommodations for individual students, administer accommodations, and evaluate and improve accommodations use.

Adaptive Sports Foundation: http://www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/

AAC - Augmentative and Alternative Communication: http://aac.unl.edu/

The Alliance for Technology Access: http://www.ataccess.org/
" The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies."

Accessible Toys: http://www.ataccess.org/resources/fpic/accesstoys/
" Once again, ATA, TIF (Toy Industry Foundation), and AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) have collaborated to create the newest Toy Guide. Over 200 off-the-shelf toys were tested with children with disabilities and their families across the nation. This guide will help parents, friends, relatives or caregivers choose appropriate and fun toys for kids with disabilities. You'll be able to find great toys right at your local toy store."

Big.com: http://www.big.com/home.php
For people who have difficulty seeing anything, there are a few options. First, there's a toolbar you can download from big.com. It
only works with Internet Explorer. But it gives you three levels of magnification while you're surfing the net. It's free.

CAPHI (California Association for Physical and Health Impairments: http://www.caphi.org/teachers.htm

CJT Enterprises: http://www.cjt-yes.com/

The Darci Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering: http://www.westest.com/darci/
"Because of physical disabilities, many people can not use a standard keyboard or mouse. This limits their participation in many educational and work activities, their access to information, and their inclusion in society as a whole. This is ironic because computers can greatly improve the lives of many people with disabilities."

Dierk's Page: http://www.anicursor.com/
Different type of cursor for students with VI, autism, LD, etc.

Disability Related Products/Services: http://www.makoa.org/cmpyinfo.htm

The Early Childhood Education Network: http://www.literacycenter.net/
This site has fun experiences for young children learn shapes, letters, reading and numbers.

Education Tech Points-A Framework for Assistive Technology Planning: http://www.edtechpoints.org/manual.htm

Georgia Project for Assistive Technology: http://www.gpat.org/
" Funded since 1991 as a special project of the Georgia Department of Education: Division for Exceptional Students, GPAT's mission is to develop and enhance local expertise in assistive technology to ensure that students with disabilities have access to the assistive technology devices and services that they need in order to participate, progress, and achieve in their educational programs."

Glossary of Deaf Acronyms: http://www.deaf-center.org/deaf_acronyms.htm

HandSpeak: A Sign Language Dictionary Online: http://www.handspeak.com/

Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Senstivity: http://www.irlen.com/index_sss.html
"Irlen Syndrome, also known as, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) is a type of visual perceptual problem. It is not an optical problem.... Individuals with Irlen Syndrome see the printed page differently from those with normal vision and must constantly adapt to distortions appearing on the printed page."

Joy Zabala's Resources for Assistive Technology in Education: http://sweb.uky.edu/~jszaba0/JoyZabala.html

  To help educators and parents understand the difficulties children may experience, the coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities has pulled together many resources, including bulletin boards that examine teaching issues. 

Linux Accessibility HOWTO: Physically Disabled: http://www.linuxselfhelp.com/HOWTO/Accessibility-HOWTO/physical.html

LittleFingers Software: http://www.littlefingers.com/
There are things to buy and by scrolling down the page, there are freeware programs to download. Many are for Mac's.

Math Problem Solving for Middle School Students with Disabilities: http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/MathProblemSolving.asp
 The Access Center for Improving Outcomes for All Students K-8 is a national technical assistance group funded by ED's Office of Special Education Programs. The Access Center helps connect states and districts with research-based practices, tools, and materials. In this resource, "Math Problem Solving for Middle School Students with Disabilities," Marjorie Montague shares strategies from "Solve It!", a program designed to teach the necessary cognitive and metacognitive processes and strategies that good problem solvers use. You can read online or download a Word or PDF version.

"The Millennials" [Podcast]: http://home.learningtimes.net/learningtimes?go=776254
This podcast takes a look at the "millennials", those born between 1980 and 2000. They have a unique set of perspectives, and they are entering our classrooms. What are they like and are we ready? What challenges will they present? This show is packed with several "must reads" and great references.

National Assistive Technology Research Institute (NATRI): http://natri.uky.edu/

The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems and the National Institute for Urban School Improvement: http://nccrest.eddata.net/index.php
"The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems and the National Institute for Urban School Improvement have developed this interactive data website to help states and school districts examine their special education data. Both the National Academy of Science and the Harvard Civil Rights Project have recently examined the degree to which students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are disproportionately represented in particular disability categories and in particular kinds of special education placement."

Net-Tamer: http://www.nettamer.net/tamer.html
This is a browser that can browse the web, get/send your email, or check the time and date. It will get email and usenet groups, then log off so you can use the included offline reader, or you can choose to stay on and look around. It will also do a download/ upload of mail or usenet on a timer. The program is speech friendly to users of talking programs for the visually impaired.

PictureSET: http://www.setbc.org/pictureset/Default.aspx
This site has tons of Boardmaker resources, both Win & Mac! Many times the files are also offered in PowerPoint or PDF format for those who don't have Boardmaker.

PleaseRead: The world's most popular text-to-speech software- and still free!: http://www.readplease.com/

Premier Assitive Technology: http://www.premier-programming.com/

Sensory Processing Profile: http://www.crossroadsinstitute.org/sen.html
This is not a test but rather an organized set of questions that are given to the parents. The subsequent 'diaganosis' is made through parent report.

The Sensus Internet Browser: http://www.sensus.dk/sib10uk.htm
TheTalking Internet Browser accommodates the visually impaired on the World Wide Web. It supports total keyboard control and navigation. This includes functions such as scrolling through the interactive links contained in a document or executing an interactive link. Navigation is facilitated through the keypad arrow keys and defined shortcut keys.

SENSwitcher: http://www.northerngrid.org/sen/Menu-L.htm
" SENSwitcher has been designed as a progressive teaching and assessment tool and is accompanied by an 18 page set of teachers notes together with assessment records, developmental skills progression models and small step checklists linked to the QCA P Levels for ICT. These documents and programs are available FREE..."

Speech Recognition: Hardware and Software: http://www.customtyping.com/tutorials/sr/software_hardware.htm

SymbolWorld: http://www.symbolworld.org/index.htm
"Symbolworld has been set up to provide a web site with material suitable for symbol readers of all ages. The internet is an important medium which many people really like to use. Sadly there is very little material that is appropriate or accessible by people with learning difficulties."

Tots n' Tech: http://www.asu.edu/clas/tnt/home_files/ideas.htm
The Tots 'n Tech Research Institute (TnT) has a section on their website called "IDEAS to SHARE" that features assisted technology ideas from early interventionist specialists from around the United States. It has great ideas under topics such as communication, eating, play, positioning, and others. The ideas are updated weekly with new categories and new ideas.

QIAT: http://sweb.uky.edu/~jszaba0/QIAT.html
Includes Quality Indicators

WATI (Wisconsin Assitive Technology Initiative): http://www.wati.org/index.html

WordWeb: http://wordweb.info/free/
It can be kept in the system tray so it is available with all of programs (e-mail, Internet, Word, Access, etc.) One option that is nice to know about when using it in the classroom is the ability to turn off "Vulgar and Offensive" words.

Resources for a cost
AAC Connections http://www.aacconnections.com/
Technologies for individuals with speech impairments

Accessible Book Collection: http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org/

ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG): http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

Assistive Mouse Adapter: http://www.montrosesecam.com/Products.html
For people with hand tremors, pointing and clicking a computer mouse can be one of life's most exaperating challenges. the Assistive Mouse Adapter uses technology like that in camcorders to filter out shakes and jitters from a user's hand.

assistivetech.net: http://www.assistivetech.net/index.cfm
This site is a resource for assistive technology (AT) and a link to a wide variety of AT and disability-related information. Their searchable database of AT is designed to help you target solutions, determine costs and link to vendors that sell products.

Autism clues tracked - UNC-CH scientists aspire to lead in search for causes: http://newsobserver.com/news/story/3420326p-3040680c.html
The federal government is pouring big dollars into ambitious students about autism, and scientists are devising new tools to hunt down causes and care.

Barrier Free Education: http://barrier-free.arch.gatech.edu/
Barrier Free Education is a resource site helping students with disabilities gain access to math and science education. The text and links at this site are intended to inform and assist students with disabilities, parents, and teachers.

Bookshare.org offers 17,000 royalty-free texts: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5057
For special-education teachers, providing required reading for blind and learning-disabled students is a significant challenge. Now, thanks to the aid of Bookshare.org, a non-profit digital book service based in Palo Alto, Calif., educators have access to a library of thousands of titles they can download and reproduce for use on screen readers or as MP3 files.

Classroom Sound-Field Amplification Systems: http://www.hear-more.com/classamplification.htm

Click and Type Virtual Keyboard: http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/
"Click-N-Type is an on-screen virtual keyboard designed for anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from typing on a physical computer keyboard. As long as the person can control a mouse, trackball or other pointing device, he or she can send keystrokes to virtually any Windows application or DOS application that can run within a window." And it is free!

Clicker 5: http://www.cricksoft.com/uk/products/clicker/
Clicker is a writing support and multimedia tool, which enables you to write with whole words, phrases or pictures.

Cube Writer: http://www.cubewriter.com/
"On-screen keyboard and writing program that meets ALL computer user needs. CubeWriter allows users of all ages and abilities to write with a computer in a non-conventional way." A 45 day free trial is available.

Custom Solutions: http://www.customsolutions.us/

District Technology Planning for All Students: Helping to Meet the IDEA '97 Mandate: http://www2.edc.org/LNT/news/Issue9/feature1.htm
"School districts today are faced with multiple needs generated by standards-based reform, the implementation of technology, and the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through the collaboration of general and special education in its technology planning, Concord, New Hampshire has worked to align those efforts."

Dr. Mac's Amazing Behavioral Management Advice Site: http://www.behavioradvisor.com/
This is a good site for information and a place you can ask questions regarding Behavioral Disorders.

Dragon Naturally Speaking
If students have difficulty reading the paragraphs in order to train Dragon Naturally Speaking, this is one solution. Turn the screen toward the teacher. The teacher then reads the paragraphs to the student during training. The student does not look at the screen but repeats the words in a phrase length that is appropriate for both his/her speech pattern and Dragon Naturally Speaking. This way the student trains correctly from the beginning in pacing and phrasing patterns. This takes care of the kids with reading difficulties also. The microphone doesn't pick up the teacher's voice as long as the teacher speaks at a soft level. not whisper, and are at a normal distance from the student. The How to Train Dragon paragraph provides information on the program while students train and the teacher can pause the program and give pointers along the way.

Drake Music Project: http://www.drakemusicproject.com/makepage.asp?cpageid=1
" The Drake Music Project is a UK-based, nationally represented, arts charity working with disabled people. We were the first (being founded in 1988) and are still the only UK charity working in the fields of disability, music and technology.
We passionately believe that everyone should have the opportunity to share the joy of music-making."

DynaVox: http://www.dynavoxsys.com/

EARS for EYES Program: http://www.earsforeyes.org/
This program provides, free of charge, audio cassette lesson tapes that teach adaptive daily living skills to the vision impaired and their caregivers.

Elo Touch Screen Monitors: http://www.elotouch.com/

Enabling Devices: http://www.enablingdevices.com/

eyePilot: http://www.colorhelper.com/
eyePilot is a program that is designed to help viewers distinguish between colors on the screen. Click an element on the screen. Then, everything that is a different color is grayed out. It makes things much easier.

The Fitaly One-Finger Keyboard: http://www.fitaly.com/fitaly/fitaly.htm
"The Fitaly One-Finger Keyboard is optimized for entry with a single finger or with a pen, as is the case on a pen computer or a computer with a touchscreen."

Freedom Scientific Learning System Group: http://www.freedomscientific.com/lsg/

The Geometer's Sketchpad: http://www.keypress.com/sketchpad/index.php
60 day free evaluation can be downloaded.

Guide to Wheelchairs and Assistive Technology: USA TechGuide: http://www.usatechguide.org/
"A Web Guide to wheelchair and assistive technology choices, wheelchair views and reviews, and related information and articles. Promoting user involvement in the selection of appropriate assistive technology."

Hearing Loop: http://www.hearingloop.org/

Hear-More - Products for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: http://www.hearmore.com/store/default.asp

Helping Helpers Brochure: http://www.ldonline.org/helpinghelpers/pdf/brochure.pdf
"For many children, the most rewarding part of the week is the time spent in after-school programs, clubs, and activities. Volunteers play an essential role in making sure each child has a great experience. The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation has provided us with a generous grant to help volunteers work with and relate to children in their groups who may have a Learning Disability (LD) or Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We have put together a free brochure and companion section on LD OnLine with some basic strategies volunteers, mentors, or teachers can use to make the time they spend with all children more rewarding."

IEP4u Objectives: http://www.iep4u.com/

Infogrip: http://www.infogrip.com/

IntelliTools: http://www.intellitools.com/
Demo's at: http://www.intellitools.com/Demo/index.php
Many people have used IntelliTools Classroom Suite to author books. The program allows you to import pictures, record your own sounds or student voices, add animation, allow students to draw and create and is accessible to all users. In addition, it can be non-linear, which opens the door to a choose your own adventure book as well.

Judy Lynne Software, Inc: http://www.judylynn.com/prog_win.htm

Knowbility: http://knowbility.org/index.jsp
Accessible technology to support the independence of people with disabilities

Law, Health Policy and Disabilities Center: http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/

Math Pad: http://www.infouse.com/mathpad_public/
Math Pad enables students to do math scratch work on the computer. It also helps students who cannot
otherwise line up the math problems (because of perceptual issues) do it on the computer. Students with mild physical issues use Math Pad as a way to help conceptualize borrowing and carrying. The fact that it can be seen on the computer(with the highlighting functions for where to regroup) helps.
Math Pad can also be used as a teacher tool. Type in the math problems and then print them out as an accessible worksheet. For some students that has been helpful, especially for visually impaired students. The workshee can be type out and then enlarged on the photcopier.
Math Pad Plus is the fractions and decimals program.
With this version, Word problems can be typed and they will be read aloud. It also enables higher level math to be done on the computer. It enables fraction manipulatives to be used on the comptuer. This is helpful for kids who cannot do that with real manipulatives.

MaxiAids: http://maxiaids.com/store/default.asp
This site sells "Products for Independent Living"

Media Access Generator (MAGpie): http://ncam.wgbh.org/webaccess/magpie/
"Developers of Web- and CD-ROM-based multimedia need an authoring tool for making their materials accessible to persons with disabilities. The CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) has developed two such tools, version 1.0 and 2.01 of the Media Access Generator (MAGpie), for creating captions and audio descriptions for rich media."

Minomech Enterprises: http://www.minomech.com/
“Mind over Machine,” Access to High Technology for Individuals with Special Needs

Modification Checklist: http://www.createdbyteachers.com/modchecklist.html
from CreatedbyTeachers to help with IEPs

NaturalReaders: http://www.naturalreaders.com/
The the free version of Natural Reader will highlight each word as it reads it.
Note: The site says,"If you have installed AT&T Natural Voices in your computer system, the program will not be functional."

NextUp Talker: http://talkforme.com/products.html

Origin Instruments Corporation: http://orin.com/3dtrack/

Pager/call bell/buzzer - type products available for persons with progressive degenerative disorder and no intelligible speech for a "calling" device that would require relatively light touch and little strength. Each is wireless and equipped with a switch jack so you can plug in any kind of switch if the built-in switch is inaccessible to a given user.
o Adaptivation’s Personal Pager: http://www.adaptivation.com/
o Enabling Devices’ "Personal Pager": http://enablingdevices.com/viewproduct.aspx?id=630&session=adult
o Enabling Devices' "Handy Call Chime” http://enablingdevices.com/viewproduct.aspx?id=199&session=adult

Pixwriter: http://www.slatersoftware.com/pixwriter.html
Write by selecting pictured buttons or typing.

Randomizer: http://www.adaptivation.com/randomizer.htm
Adaptivation has listed below some frequently used handouts, forms, sample recipes, and published articles in pdf format so they are available for download: http://www.adaptivation.com/Handouts.htm

Read and Write Gold: http://enablemart.com/productdetail.aspx?store=10&pid=605&dept=22

Researchers hail dyslexia breakthrough: http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,9865,1220980,00.html
Researchers at Exeter University have been studying a new treatment for individuals with dyslexia which includes balance and motor-strengthening activities. This technique is based on the theory that the cerebellum is partly responsible for making reading and writing an automatic process.

RJ Cooper & Associates - Software and Hardware for Persons with Special Needs: http://rjcooper.com/

Solo Transportable Computer: http://www.explan.co.uk/solo/
The Solo is an ultra-low power, transportable computer designed to operate from a number of different power sources including solar panels and lead-acid vehicle batteries. Its ultra-low-power design enables it to be used indefinitely away from sources of mains electricity.

Special Connections: http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/specconn/index.php
This is a website designed for all educators to use to help all students access the general education curriculum.

Speaking Dynamically Pro: http://www.acciinc.com/software/DynamicallyPro.htm
"Speaking Dynamically Pro (SD Pro) is a dynamic screen communication software which allows you to use a computer as a powerful speech-output device. SD Pro can also be used to create interactive educational activities."

Talking E-mail: http://www.4developers.com/talkmail/
14 day free trial

Talking Signs: http://www.talkingsigns.com/
Talking Signs® technology is an infrared wireless communications system that provides remote directional human voice messages that make confident, independent travel possible for vision impaired and print-handicapped individuals.

Teach-nology: http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/special_ed/iep/

Tech/Touch: http://www.amdi.net/TechTouch.htm
"Using a computer based platform, the Tech/TouchTM can be customized for special needs of users. The Tech/TouchTM is encased in a customized housing to ensure durability."

TextAloud: http://www.voicefactor.com/productVFB.htm
TextAloud uses AT&T: http://caruso.naturalvoices.com/demos/ and NeoSpeech voices: http://www.nextup.com/neospeech.html. You can open a file in their window and have the words highlighted as TextAloud reads. You can set the text size, color and the highlight color. The cost is $29 for TextAloud program and $25 for the AT&T voices. They also have a proof read feature. You highlight a paragraph in your document and press a hotkey. A textbox pops up and reads and highlights the words. You can also have the highlighting work so it shows the read word in a different color. This way the word is not masked by a overlapping color.

Training and Techical Assistance Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA: http://kihd.gmu.edu/ttac/index.htm

Uniquely Gifted: http://www.uniquelygifted.org/
The site includes annotated lists of resources in many areas -- specific special needs, Special
Education law, IEPs, support groups and much more.

VoiSec: http://www.voisec.se/pages/careandaid.html
"VoiSec is a button-shaped device for recording and playing short messages. Measuring a mere 4 cm (or 1.6 inches ) it fits nicely in the palm of your hand."

Words+: http://www.words-plus.com/
Augmentative Communication and Disabilities products, including SayIt!Sam Tablet XP1.

WordQ Writing Sofware and SpeakQ Speach Recognition Software: http://www.wordq.com/
This program is easy to train and for students to learn because it will read the text to the student and they just have to repeat the sentence. It combines the features of most standard word processors and works in email, in Excel, and in most software programs where there is text to be entered. It is a bit more pricey than DNS because you have to buy both SpeakQ and Word Q but you can use the prediction features from Word Q in the SpeakQ. They offer trial versions of the software.

Wireless pagers assist the deaf: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3607030/
Wireless pagers like the BlackBerry and the T-Mobile SideKick are helping the deaf enhance their communication abilities.

Writers: http://www.keyboardinstructor.com/ecm/Home.html
Writers are similar to the Alphasmarts but these keyboards transfer kids writing via IR to the computer, have built in thesaurus that really builds vocabulary, spell check, built in writing prompts, etc. and are less than $200 a unit.

ZoomText 9.0: http://www.aisquared.com/index.cfm
This is a magnification /screen reading program. Currently you can download the beta version of 9.0 for free in order to give it a try. It has a reading part called the Application Reader Tool. The new ZoomText uses the Neospeech voices. The Application Reader Tool will underline the words as they are read. Underlining helps to perceptually bring out the word as well as the auditory presentation of the word. This saves fatigue to the eyes. You can set the magnification to zero and still use the Application Reader Tool. You can also take a tour of ZoomText at this site.

Measuring Assistive Technology Outcomes
Assistive Technology Outcomes Measurement System Project (ATOMS Project): http://www.uwm.edu/CHS/r2d2/atoms/index.html

Consortium for Assistive Technology Outcomes Research (CATOR): http://www.atoutcomes.org/pages/welcome.html

Council for Exceptional Children - Technology and the Media Division : http://www.tamcec.org/products.htm
This link leads to guides for professionals in the Assistive Technology field.

SNOW (Special Needs Opportunity Windows): http://snow.utoronto.ca/resources/technology/techadap.html

Things that can be made in a workshop, class, or individually by teachers, parents, and/or students
Page fluffers: styrofoam packing peanuts hot glued or stick in a paperclip
Line reader: colored highlighter tape laminated into strips. Make when laminating to use the acceess laminate space.
Slant board: 3-ring binders or clipboards with the plastic bottle that holds tennis balls used as the raiser. Screws were drilled into
the clipboard and bottle and the nuts were put into the bottle so a heavy plastic cylinder that you find there might work.
Paper holders: Clip boards on shelf liner
Pencil grip: film containers, hot glue the top on and slice a small x into the cap. stick pencil in.
Wipe off surfaces: There is a stiff board with a white nonporous surface that you can get at a hardware/ fix it store like home depot
that comes in plywood size sheets. Cut it into pieces and bevel the edges for portable wipe off writing pads.
Cause/effect switch for switch software with a mouse attached: Make a "mouse house" using a small photo album from the
dollar store or a waiters order book. You simply build up a spot with a hot glue gun so that when a student hits the "mouse house" it hits the left button on the mouse.
Embed prompts within the digitized homework assignment itself: What is it that the student must do? What additional directions does the student require? Is there a link (either another Word document or a web page) that can be embedded that will help the student with a particular assignment? Is there a page number that they can be referred to? etc. These can be audio or visual prompts when done in Word. The student would then click on the sound object and hear additional directions or would read the additional directions embedded within the document.

 

This site began in March 1998 and was created by Janet Luch.  It was last updated on November 24, 2007
Email to studyplans@yahoo.com.