TREATS - Technology Resources for Education's

Assistive Technology Solutions

 

Weekly Resources for the Assistive Technology Service Provider Community

 

Volume 6, Issue #11 for Week of 3/14/05

Compiled by David Grapka (mailto:David@Trecenter.org)

 

Technology Resources for Education (T.R.E.) Center TRECenter.org

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Note: Some links are time-sensitive.  Access to some may require registration or free subscriptions.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't.  If you want to win, but think you can't, it's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll lose, you're lost; for out in the world we find success begins with a fellow's will; It's all in the state of the mind. Life's battles don't always go to the stronger and faster person, but sooner or later the person who wins IS the person who thinks they can.”  Walter D. Wintle

 

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:

·    http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/Article13044.phtml Will digital textbooks replace print? Do eBooks offer improvements in learning? These questions and presentations on the advantages of using digital media to deliver educational content will be center stage at the eBooks in Education Conference, Thursday, April 14th, 2005 at the McGraw-Hill Auditorium in midtown Manhattan. Source: Marketwire

·    http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/Article13107.phtml Published on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 Arts teachers are integrating computer software with traditional instruction in dance, music, theater, and visual arts to spark students' creativity. Source: Education Week

·    http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5282 This report, called "Tech Tonic" and released by the nonprofit Alliance for Childhood, claims there is little evidence of long-term benefits from using computers in schools. It notes that children's lives are increasingly filled with "screen time" rather than real time with nature, caring adults, the arts, and hands-on work and play--activities that are far more important for the social development and well-being of children, it says.

 

ACCESS SOLUTIONS:

·    http://www.ablenetinc.com  Check out Ablenet’s Star Reporter program.  The feedback has been tremendous in terms of involvement, expectation, and team growth, as well as "kid motivation".  I think it's important to know that these are purchased programs, and DO require support and planning, but definitely worth the time and effort!  Take a look at our own website where you can view our final newspapers! http://www.cliu.org/se/assistive_technology.aspx from Wendy Homlish

 

ADMINISTRATIVE “SYSTEMS CHANGE” SOLUTIONS:

·    http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005454 This new non-technical report offers an inside look at what America's elementary and secondary students know and can do.  The report provides an introduction to the history and development of NAEP, school and student participation in NAEP, how the data are collected, scored, and analyzed, and how the results are reported.  To learn more about NAEP, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/

 

BILINGUAL SOLUTIONS:

  • http://www.my-spanish-dictionary.com/ For anyone struggling with students taking Spanish in school, here is a neat little English to Spanish Picture Dictionary. It uses real photos of the words. The only thing it is missing is audio. (from Jeannette Van Houten)

 

BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SOLUTIONS:

·    http://www.asdb.state.az.us/ecfe/projects.html Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) announces that, DOTS FOR FAMILIES, Ongoing Literacy for Families of Children with Visual Impairment, is now available. This site offers families and others the opportunity to learn about Braille and how the young child might use Braille to develop literacy skills.

·    http://www.gwmicro.com GW Micro, makers of the Window-Eyes screen reader, is proud to announce their sponsorship of the Video Description Service of "Blind Justice," a new drama on ABC television. WeSeeTV offers enhanced descriptions of sets, characters and any other Pertinent information on its website, www.weseetv.com  (from Amber McLain, Vice President, Executive Director of Sales).

·    http://survey.oit.pdx.edu/ss/wsb.dll/talbert/survey.htm This survey for teachers of visually impaired learners determines what types of adapted equipment are most commonly left in classrooms and homes, and how these items are used. The results will be used to produce an instructional CD or video that may become available to teachers of visually impaired learners.  The survey of 8 questions should take no more than 15-30 minutes and can be completed online. Responses will be accepted through March 31, 2005

 

COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS:

·    http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/AAC_+More+Than+Three+Decades.htm AAC: More Than Three Decades of Growth and Development  by Rose A. Sevcik and MaryAnn Romski

·    http://www.apraxia-kids.org/indexes/indextalk.html a site for kids with apraxia that includes an apraxia-KidsSM Message Board, Apraxia-Kids Listserv, Apraxia Support Groups and Parent Networks, Apraxia-KidsSM Newsletter, and Apraxia-related Events, Conferences and Workshops.

 

CONSULTING SOLUTIONS:

·    http://amauta.org/GFSC/news_mar_05.pdf The latest Global Facilitator Service Corps - GFSC Newsletter is ready for you.  In this issue you can find complete information on Facilitating Group and Organizational Resilience and other useful topics. Visit http://globalfacilitators.org to see information in our Virtual Library.

·    http://ica-associates.ca/downloads/CompetencySelfAssessment.doc Looking for a self assessment?  Click here for a self-assessment test for Assessing one's understanding of facilitation and one's facilitator skills.

 

DEPARTMENT SOLUTIONS:

·    Written public comment and recommendations on New York State's Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act are currently being accepted. You may submit them in one of four ways:

o        written comment to VESID, Special Education Policy and Partnerships Unit, Room 1624 One Commerce Plaza, Albany, New York 12234, Attention P. Geary;

o        comments via facsimile to 518-473-5387

o        post your comments at http://discus.nysed.gov/cgi-bin/discus-mando/discus.cgi;

o        send your comments to VESIDSPE@mail.nysed.gov (please include "IDEA Comment" in the subject line).

 

FUNDING SOLUTIONS:

·    http://www.frdny.org/ Deadline: May 2, 2005 The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater New York Chapter has announced the availability of the Maurice Gurin Memorial Scholarships, which are designed to enable professionals new to the development field to attend the 26th anniversary of Fundraising Day in New York  (June 24, 2005), the world's largest one-day fundraising conference. The program enables motivated, talented people to attend the wide variety of informative workshops and seminars offered at the conference.

 

PARENT SOLUTIONS

·         Subject: some child - safe and educational links (from Jeff Dorr) http://www.kidscom.com/

·         http://www.kaytee.com/kids_zone/

·         http://www.netsys.hn/children.html 

·         http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/holiday/index.html 

·         http://www.christcenteredmall.com/kids/

·         http://www.candlelightstories.com/kids.asp

·         http://www.gov.nt.ca/RWED/kids/index.htm

·         http://www.ldonline.org/kidzone/speak_up/speak_up.html

·         http://www.asthma.org.uk/kidszone/index.php

·         http://www.si.edu/

·         http://www.house.gov/scott/kids.htm

·         http://familyeducation.com/experts/index/0,1164,1,00.html?yi_home

·         http://www.ajkids.com/index.asp?origin=0&meta=1

·         http://www.stayingalive.mb.ca/kids_zone.html

·         http://www.i-safe.org/

·         http://www.georgiahomeschool.com/index.html

·         http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/prevent/kidszone/gallery/album1.html

·         http://www.campionboats.com/kids/

 

REHAB SOLUTIONS:

·    http://www.worksupport.com Find some helpful resources here, including an  article by Barcus, J. M. & Targett, P. (2003). Maximizing employee effectiveness through use of Personal Assistance Services at the workplace. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 18(2), 99-106.  The summary link is: http://www.worksupport.com/Topics/workplace.asp from Bill McGrath

·    http://www.lockfast.com/ A site that really “holds” your attention with low tech fastening ideas and products.

·    http://www.creativecommunicating.com/catalog/classroom.html 101 ways to use velcro and more

·        http://www.augresources.com Materials to enhance communication skills (Alice Wershing)

 

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                                                 Reading: Access and Comprehension

 

*        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. We'll be happy to share it here or at our web site. Contact, reprint, and subscription information is at the end of this document.

 

As always, thank you for your interest in the TRE Center and our work.  We look forward to having you share your wisdom with the people on this list and with those you serve.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Grapka, ATP, ATS,

Project Coordinator, T.R.E. Center

NASDSE Certified Assistive Technology Specialist,

RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Practitioner

Maywood School, 1979 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-464-6346

Fax: 518-464-6353  

Toll free in NY: 1-800-248-9873.  URL: www.trecenter.org

 

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