Technology Resources for Education's Assistive Technology Solutions

Weekly Resources for the Assistive Technology Service Provider Community

Volume 5, Issue #29 for Week of 7/19/04

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

Technology Resources for Education (T.R.E.) Center http://www.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 have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."  Henry David Thoreau

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UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:

·        http://www.gen.umn.edu/research/CTAD/default.htm Curriculum Transformation and Disability  (CTAD), a collaboration of the University of Minnesota's General College and Disability Services, was designed to help postsecondary faculty make their classes more accessible to all students, including  students with disabilities. The CTAD workshop uses the model of Universal Instructional Design, which encourages faculty to provide alternatives  in their curricula that will make it accessible to a wide range of  students from a variety of backgrounds. CTAD completed its project  activities in July, 2003, with the publication of the Curriculum  Transformation and Disability Workshop Facilitator's Guide.

·        http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/persprep/chap219.htm - Implementing Chapter 219 of the Laws of 2003: In relation to publishers or manufacturers of instructional materials for college students with disabilities to also make the materials available, at a comparable price to the printed version, in alternate format.

 

ACCESS SOLUTIONS:

·        http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5198 New technology offers help for ADHD students

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ADMINISTRATIVE SOLUTIONS:

·        http://www.edsupport.cc/mguhlin/artifacts/writings/2004/8tipspalm.htm 8 Tips for Administrators Using Handheld Computers

·        http://www.cosn.org/resources/emerging_technologies/handheld.cfm Guide to Handheld Computing in K-12 Schools is the second report by CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee. Based upon extensive research and interviews with educators, administrators, and industry experts, the 60-page report evaluates handheld computers and their applications in education and administration, assesses their strengths and weaknesses, offers advice about implementing handhelds in K-12 schools, and reports on lessons learned by early adopters. A copy of the report can be purchased from CoSN's Catalog.

 

ASSESSMENT SOLUTIONS

·        http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22100479 Leaders' Edge: Are your Students Prepared to Demonstrate Technological Literacy? A goal of No Child Left Behind is that students must demonstrate technological literacy by the end of eighth grade. Here's how to  evaluate this goal's impact on your school or district's current practices. (from tech learning news)

·        http://www.thinkinggear.com/tools/main.cfm?t_id=1 This site provides a step by step series of forms helping you build an assessment rubric. Nice elegant design.  By Various Authors, Inter-Action Design, July, 2004 from Stephen Downs

 

CONSULTING SOLUTIONS:

·        http://www.masie.com/701tips/ We all love practical tips from learning colleagues!  So, here is the MASIE Center's first FREE Digital Book. "701 e-Learning Tips.”  Download the entire FREE book (140 pages and 13 megabytes).  You can print it out, share it with colleagues or read the PDF file on your computer screen.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SOLUTIONS:

·        http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/persprep/chap219.htm - Implementing Chapter 219 of the Laws of 2003: In relation to publishers or manufacturers of instructional materials for college students with disabilities to also make the materials available, at a comparable price to the printed version, in alternate format.

·        http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/part279.htm Amendment to Part 279 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Each is available in PDF format for printing from the above sites. Please share as appropriate. Thank you!

 

FUNDING SOLUTIONS:

·        http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/grants/ Funding for school technology is plentiful. The trick is knowing where to find it, how to ask for it, and how to play by the rules when you get it. The editors of eSchool News have assembled a collection of resources that should facilitate your search for grants and funding.

 

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

·        The following sites are from Bill Daggett’s Newsletter at the International Center for Leadership in Education

·        http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=5003 Could brain implants liberate students with disabilities? The point-and-click method of entering commands on desktop and laptop computers using keypad, mouse and GUI (graphic user interface) has proven to be a user-friendly breakthrough over traditional keyboard data entry. Now audio-activated input is available with voice command software and systems. But imagine an input device that requires no physical or auditory contact - just thought.   Source: "Could Brain Implants Liberate Students with Disabilities?" eSchool News, April 15, 2004

·        http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/3621535.stm   You will need to subscribe before viewing article. Car Talk: Engineers at IBM and elsewhere are developing next-generation digital voice and speech recognition systems that will allow two-way conversations between drivers and their vehicles. Source: Richard Taylor, "Talking to Your Car Becoming Natural," BBC News, April 13, 2004.

·        http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3752785.stm   Genetically Delaying Gray Hair?   Research being conducted at the French cosmetics company L'Oreal is leading scientists there to think they have identified the genes responsible for hair turning gray. Their speculation is that these genes provide the genetic code that controls the lifespan of the cells that give hair its natural color. By altering the genes with pills or topical treatment, microbiologists may be able to prolong the life of the color-giving cells (¡melanocytes) and temporarily delay the onset of "graying." The findings were shared before an exhibition on hair recently opened at the London Museum of Natural History.    Source: "Could a Pill Prevent Grey Hair?" BBC News, May 27, 2004.

·        http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,63545,00.html Generation-Two Cloning Provides Insights on Aging Dolly, the controversial cloned sheep, was born in 1996 and died prematurely in 2003 due to terminal illness. Biogenetics researchers are now beginning to understand what went wrong. Out of this cloning research, scientists are now looking for ways to engineer telomeres to last longer to reduce aging in humans.  Source: "Bullish Hopes for Serial Cloning," Wired News, May 24, 2004

 

PARENT AND ADVOCACY SOLUTIONS: 

·        http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/code_regs/IDEARegs_AppendixA.htm Appendix A to Part 300 - Notice of Interpretation Appendix A discusses requirements for IEPs, IEP meetings and teams, the parental role, transition, and other important issues. An Appendix to the Regulations has the same power as the regulation. Appendix A replaces the old Appendix C.

 

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                                   announces the Neo.”

*        http://www.closingthegap.com                    Closing The Gap

*        http://www.colligo.us/                        Where your handwriting is read back to you!

*        http://www.cricksoft.com                           Crick Software

*        http://www.ea-software.com                      Educational Activities Software

*        http://www.enkidu.net/                               Enkidu joins Dynavox.

*        http://www.infogrip.com                             Home of the “BIGtrack”

*        http://www.inspiration.com/palmoscompare

*        http://www.intellitools.com                                     IntelliTools, Inc.,

*        http://www.laureatelearning.com               Laureate Learning Systems

*        http://www.magictouch.com/           The Leader in Touchscreen Technology.

*        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 "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

 

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