TREATS - Technology Resources for Education's
Assistive Technology Solutions
Weekly Resources for the
Assistive Technology Service Provider Community
Compiled by David Grapka
(mailto:David@Trecenter.org)
Technology Resources for
Education (T.R.E.) Center TRECenter.org
------------------------------------
Note: Some links are time-sensitive. Access
to some may require registration or free subscriptions.
QUOTE
OF THE WEEK: "If you do not have time to read, you do not have time to
lead"
--Phillip Schlechty
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
·
http://www.systemschange.syr.edu The 10th conference
on
UNIVERSAL
DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:
·
http://www.premier-programming.com/TTA/texttoaudio.htm
Text-To-Audio© converts text documents into naturally sounding audio, and can
add bookmarks to text files "as it records" to allow for more
navigation of text files.
·
http://www.nextup.com/TextAloud/index.html TextAloud is a text to
speech converter that reads text from email, web pages, reports and more, aloud
on your PC. Save your daily reading to
MP3 or Windows Media files ready for playback on your iPod, PocketPC, or even
on your TV with Tivo's Home Media Option.
·
http://readplease.com/rpfree.php
ReadPlease Corporation
·
http://www.21learn.org Mind/Brain
Learning Principles by Renate Nummela
Caine and Geoffrey Caine
·
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/02/10taks.html
Online testing touted as more efficient way to gauge learning. Some secondary
school tests could go online, others could go away.By Jason Embry AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF.
·
http://techlearning.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=57703763
In the eyes of state Rep. Kent Grusendorf, taking a test with a pencil and
paper is so 20th century. The Arlington Republican and chairman of the House
Public Education Committee filed a package of education reforms last week that
called for major changes in the state testing program. The most ambitious
changes include proposals to administer the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills on computers instead of paper as soon as 2006 and to replace the TAKS in
high school with a series of end-of-course tests.
ACCESS
SOLUTIONS:
ADMINISTRATIVE
SOLUTIONS
·
http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/education/idea/ideafaq.pdf
A link to a new Guide to "Frequently asked Questions" from the federal
Committee on Education and the Workforce and Subcommittee on Education Reform
has been added here This 26 page document (PDF Format) is very informative.
CONSULTING SOLUTIONS:
* http://www.nova.edu Innovate "Creative Use
of Information Tools" a new online peer-reviewed journal, Innovate, which
will focus on the creative use of information tools to enhance active learning
methods irrespective of sector (K-12, colleges and universities, corporate universities).
Register to receive the journal at http://horizon.unc.edu/innovat
DEPARTMENT SOLUTIONS:
·
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/publicsessions.htm
VESID has scheduled three "Information and Public Comment Sessions"
on the Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Announcement
of these sessions is now posted. This and all information relating to IDEA 2004
may be found at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/home.html
DISTANCE EDUCATION:
·
http://www.itdl.org
the following references are available here:
o
Green, B. (2004, December). The 6 myths of
creativity. Fast Company, 75-78.
o
Howe, M. J. A. (1999). Genius explained.
o
Muirhead, B. (2004) Encouraging creativity
in student online work. International Journal of Instructional Technology and
Distance Learning, 1 (12), 51-56.
o
White, C. (2003). The middle mind: Why
Americans don't think for themselves.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
·
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/18/business/media/18random.html?
Publisher Aims at Cellphones
·
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4257961.stm
Student with sight impairment translates colored images into music
Victor Wong, a student with a sight impairment from
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT:
·
http://www.afb.org/NIMAS.asp
You are invited! The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and CAST are proud
to present: What is NIMAS?: A New File Format for Developing Textbooks and
Instructional Materials for Students K-12 with Visual or Print Disabilities. WHEN:
·
Data driven decision-making, centered on
the collection and analysis of a range of student data, is widely recognized as
fundamentally important for educators. What does the literature say about using
data to inform instructional decision? Read “Improving Teaching and Learning
with Data-Based Decisions: Asking the Right Questions and Acting on the
Answers” (http://www.ers.org/spectrum/sum01a.htm)
to respond to this question.
·
Power in the Palm of your Hands (http://kathyschrock.net/about.htm)
developed by Kathy Schrock provides educators with resources that support
effective use of handhelds for learning and instruction.
·
Register now for this new CAST offering:
Universal Design for Learning and Data-Driven Decision Making (http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2417)
Date: March 10 – 11 at CAST in
TEACHING
SOLUTIONS:
·
http://www.gpat.org/GPAT%20Resource%20Topic%20Pages/GPAT%20Resource%20Main%20Page.htm
If you go to the GPAT resource page and
click on AT Devices, there are pages for reading, writing, and spelling supports. There are narratives about devices, videos,
tech tips, links to other web resources
as well as vendor information. The tools
are organized from low to high tech. It is
a work in progress, but we are adding resources each week. (from Kristy McIntosh)
TESTING
SOLUTIONS:
VENDOR
PARTNER WEBSITES AND NEWS:
*
http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org Accessible Books
*
http://www.aacconnections.com AAC connections
* http://www.ablenetinc.com Ablenet
* http://www.alphasmart.com Alphasmart
*
http://www.closingthegap.com
Closing The Gap
*
http://www.colligo.us
*
http://www.cricksoft.com Crick Software
*
http://www.ea-software.com Educational
Activities Software
*
http://www.enkidu.net Enkidu
joins Dynavox
* http://www.greatleaps.com Great
Leaps Reading
*
http://www.infogrip.com Home of the “BIGtrack”
*
http://www.inspiration.com Inspiration
*
http://www.intellitools.com IntelliTools,
Inc.
*
http://www.kurzweiledu.com/products_k3000win_demo.asp
*
http://www.laureatelearning.com Laureate Learning
Systems
* http://www.magictouch.com The
Leader in Touchscreen Technology
* http://www.madentec.com Madentec
*
http://www.nasdse.com RIATT
at NASDSE
*
http://www.rjcooper.com/2+2 R. J. Cooper
*
http://www.sunburst-store.com
Sunburst Software
*
http://www.texthelp.com Makers of Read and Write
Gold
*
http://words-plus.com Words
Plus
Please forward T.R.E.A.T.S. to your friends and
colleagues who want to learn Assistive Technology Issues and Solutions. Thanks!
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
This weekly email newsletter is free and provides
information useful to the community of people interested in the use of
technology as a tool to help all students.
If you have information to share that would be of value to members of
our learning community, including job notices, please write and let us know.
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As always, thank you for your interest in the
Sincerely,
David Grapka, ATP, ATS,
Project Coordinator,
NASDSE Certified Assistive Technology Specialist,
RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Practitioner
Phone: 518-464-6346
Fax: 518-464-6353
Toll free in NY: 1-800-248-9873. URL:
www.trecenter.org
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