Technology Resources for Education's Assistive Technology Solutions
Weekly Resources for
the Assistive Technology Service Provider Community
Volume 5, Issue
#18 for Week of 5/3/04
Compiled by David
Grapka (email: David@Trecenter.org)
Technology Resources
for Education (T.R.E.) Center http://www.TRECenter.org
------------------------------------
Note: Some links are
time-sensitive. Access to some may
require registration or free subscriptions.
QUOTE
OF THE WEEK: “Leadership
is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.” Harold Geneen,
Founder, MCI Communications
SPECIAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- http://www.atexpo2004.com/ Assistive
Technology Expo, 2004. The
NYS Governor's Expo on Assistive Technology, Technology Opens Doors, will be held on May 13,
2004, Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY, 8:30 - 3:00
pm. The Expo will Feature: A
Showcase of AT Devices and Services, Over 100 Exhibitors, Free Product
Demonstrations and Materials, Easy-Viewing Location, & Low Registration
Fee
- http://www.resna.org/Conference/2004Conference/Conference2004.php
RESNA
27th Annual Conference
- http://www.pdcnys.org for the new registration
form for the May 25th Disability Summit to be held in Albany.
SPECIAL OFFER FROM CLOSING THE GAP:
- http://www.closingthegap.com/NY.html
Closing The
Gap has generously offered the State of New York a 70% group discount on
their on-line service called "Solutions." Complete a one-time, 60-minute free trial
membership. Read the current issue, browse the archives, and find current
product information. If you feel "Solutions" is a valuable for you,
then simply complete a special on-line registration process at http://www.closingthegap.com/NY.html
and enter the following Reference Code: 207858. A one-year single user
membership, regularly $50, is being made available to NEW YORK recipients
of this newsletter for a special group rate of only $15 per user. To
qualify for this special GROUP RATE, we need a minimum of 300 New Yorkers
to order Solutions. Please
note that your membership will NOT be billed or activated until the group
achieves a minimum of 300 users. You will receive e-mail notification when
this occurs.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:
- http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082625/html/4.html#p200051e79960004002
This e book
, which is on line free , Technically Speaking, what all Americans need to
know about technology has a chapter which speaks to this issue of literacy. Technically Speaking: Why All
Americans Need to Know More About Technology (2002) National Academy of
Engineering
ACCESS SOLUTIONS:
* http://www.ngtvoice.com/products/hardware/microphones/
the
Acoustic Magic Voice TrackerTM Array Microphone automatically locates and
electronically steers toward the person who is speaking.
ADMINISTRATOR SOLUTIONS: Here are some basic links to
statistics on computer & Internet use and people with disabilities in the
US:
- http://www.ncddr.org/du/researchexchange/v06n01/
National
Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR). (2001). NCDDR
survey 2000: Computer and Internet use. The Research Exchange, 6(1), 1-6.
Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, National Center
for the Dissemination of Disability Research.
- http://www.dsc.ucsf.edu/UCSF/pdf/ABSTRACT22.pdf Kaye, H. S. (2000, July).
Disability and the Digital Divide. Disability Statistics Abstract No. 22.
San Francisco: Disability Statistics Center, Institute for Health and
Aging, University of California.
- http://www.dsc.ucsf.edu/UCSF/pdf/REPORT13.pdf Kaye, H. S. (2000, March).
Computer and Internet use among people with disabilities. Disability Statistics Report No. 13.
San Francisco: Disability Statistics Center, Institute for Health and
Aging, University of California.
- http://web.syr.edu/~razubal/zubal_whousestheinternet.htm From Rachael A.
Zubal-Ruggieri Information Coordinator, Center on Human Policy, Syracuse
University, 805 South Crouse Avenue, Syracuse, NY. Email: razubal@syr.edu
AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS:
- http://www.eridevices.com/ ERI is specialized in the
design, engineering and manufacturing of Communication Devices and
dedicated to serve the needs of the physically challenged.
BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SOLUTIONS:
- http://www.viewplus.com/ ViewPlus®
develops and manufactures products that make information accessible.
Specializing in blindness accessibility, ViewPlus® is best known
for TIGER
braille embossers that print braille and tactile graphics direct from mainstream
Windows software. Check out
their Accessible Graphing Calculator (AGC) that facilitates
mathematics accessibility through audio or braille.
CONSULTING
SOLUTIONS:
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SOLUTIONS:
FUNDING SOLUTIONS:
JUST FOR FUN: Sorry! No contributions this week!
MOBILITY SOLUTIONS:
- http://www.snugseat.com/ The World's leading supplier
of pediatric rehabilitation equipment, Snug Seat works with therapists,
parents, and children around the world to assist children with cerebral
palsy, spina bifida, and other special needs to help provide gait
trainers, seating, positioning, wheelchairs, aids for daily living, and
transportation equipment.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
- http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20040304S0005 Paperboard Computers
Hitting the Market. Swedish
technology company Cypak AB has developed a disposable paperboard computer
that can collect and process several pages of encrypted data. Though the
computer's capabilities are somewhat limited -only 32 Kbytes of memory -
future applications will have far broader uses. The paperboard computer
uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology that integrates
printable sensors and electronic modules to process data. Currently, the
computer is used in trials as a pharmaceutical and postal packaging
data-collection device.
Source: W. David Gardner, "It Had to Happen: The Disposable
Computer," TechWeb,March 4, 2004.
- http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/huang0504.asp
Microsoft’s Magic Pen.
A digital pen invented at Microsoft’s Beijing lab will allow
people to switch effortlessly between electronic documents and paper.
PARENTING AND ADVOCACY SOLUTIONS:
TEACHING SOLUTIONS:
- http://www.truckerbuddy.org/
Trucker Buddy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping
educate and mentor the nation's schoolchildren via a pen-pal relationship
between professional truck drivers and children in grades 2-8. Trucker
Buddy matches classes of students with professional truck drivers. Every
week, these drivers share news about their travels with their assigned
classes, and provide a format for the enhancement of the grade school
curriculum in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies,
and history.
women, the nation’s professional truck
drivers.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS:
- EASI
Sponsored Special 3-part Series: Low Tech Computer Applications For
Learners With Disabilities. Source: Equal Access to Software and
Information. These hour-long,
interactive, online Web conferences present information about free or low
cost computer software to help learners with disabilities take part in the
information age. These are aimed at those who may not know about such
technologies teachers, parents, school administrators and school
counselors. The presentations are May 6, May 20 and June 3. To read more details or to
register online, go to: http://easi.cc/clinic.htm Norman Coombs nrcgsh@rit.edu
DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: THE FOLLOWING
UNIVERSITIES OFFER COLLEGE CREDIT USING THE RIATT@NASDSE
COURSES.
- http://www.fhsu.edu/mls/conc/assistech.shtml Fort Hays State
University (FHSU). Masters Degree M.L.S. or Non-degree credit. 31-hour Masters of Liberal
Studies builds on most Bachelor programs in education rehabilitation
fields. Contact:C.B. Crawford, Phone: 785-628-5950, Email: ccrawfor@fhsu.edu.
- http://www.unlv.edu/faculty2/babbitt/ University of Nevada Las
Vegas (UNLV) Specialist
in Education Degree Ed.S. 36-hour post-masters degree builds on most existing
Masters degree programs. Contact: Dr. Bea Babbitt. Phone: 702-895-1106.
Email: babitt@unlv.edu.\
- The College of Santa Fe
(COSF) 36-hour Masters in
Education, focuses on Multicultural Special Education with Assistive
Technology strand. Contact: Dr. Linda
Greg. Phone: 505-884-2732 ext. 233. Email: york1045@aol.com
- http://www.louisville.edu/edu/edsp/distance/programs/ma/index.html University of Louisville. Offers graduate credit
- Elmhurst College Offers graduate credit. Contact: Dr. LuEllen Doty. Phone: 603-617-3644 Email: lud@elmhurst.edu
- www.ndsu.nodak.edu/DCE/html/assistTechMain.html North Dakota State
University NDSU
offers 2 A.T. Specialists Certificates and Graduate Credit Option. Contact: Nancy Olson. Phone: 701-203-7100. Fax: 701-231-7016. Email: Nancy.Olson@ndsu.nodak.edu
THESE UNIVERSITIES OFFER CEU, CPU, AND PDU CREDIT FOR THE RIATT@NASDSE COURSES
REHAB SOLUTIONS:
- http://www.transitioncoalition.org/
The
Transition Coalition has a helpful website for folks engaged in transition
planning for students with disabilities. Resources on the site include
searchable databases of transition programs and projects from across the
US, online training seminars, and some free publications.
- http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html?exp=0
To enhance the educational experience of students with disabilities and to
avoid and unnecessary confusion or delay in their access to postsecondary
pursuits, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of
Education developed a brochure that explains the rights and
responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend
postsecondary schools. This pamphlet also explains the obligations of a
postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary
aids and services, to ensure that the school does not discriminate on the
basis of disability. The content of this pamphlet is now online.
VENDOR PARTNER WEBSITES AND NEWS:
·
http://www.buddyspeak.com keyboard
communication boards
Please forward T.R.E.A.T.S. to friends 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 "level the playing field" for students
with disabilities.
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: 518-456-9290.
Fax: 518-456-9289.
Toll free in NY: 1-800-248-9873. URL: www.trecenter.org
ABOUT TREATS:
*Please respond directly to the person
posting an item.
*To submit questions or items for
consideration, send it to david@TRECenter.org
If you know others who would like to receive T.R.E. AT Resources, please direct
them to: http://www.trecenter.org/treats.htm for subscription information. To speak to a human about newsletter
issues, please contact David Grapka at 518-456-9290 (toll free in NY
800-248-9873).
DISCLAIMER: T.R.E.A.T.S is published
by the T.R.E. Center, Capital Region BOCES. At times we may list dot. Com companies in "T. R. E. A.
T. Resources. Mention of dot. Com companies and
resources in this newsletter is not an endorsement by the TRE Center or the New
York State Education Department.
We take no responsibility for the accuracy of the postings except our
own. All contents of the postings are the responsibility of the posting party.
*Copyright 2004, T.R.E.A.T.S.
Permission must be granted to reprint any Item (other than your own
posting). Copyright note:
Submission of an e-mail message or art work affirms that you are able to and
have given THE EDITORS non-exclusive permission to reprint the content of your
message in all forms, electronic or otherwise, in all languages throughout the
world.
Our archives
serve many purposes for you.
First, they are a handy reference guide for
clients and audiences hungry for technology tips. Secondly, you have ready access to our newsletter articles
with permission to reprint. We hope that your access and distribution of these
reprints will encourage new subscribers and provide great publicity for all the
good work that you do. Third, we
believe that our archives represent a trecenter.org web site that is
"information-rich" that serves as a history of our site for potential
clients to review. Finally, our
archives are living proof that subscribers receive worthwhile information on a
consistent basis.