Technology Resources for Education's Assistive Technology Solutions

 

Weekly Resources for the Assistive Technology Service Provider Community

 

Volume 6, Issues 31-32 for Weeks of 8/8 and 8/16/05

Words Compiled by David Grapka (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: We have a sacred responsibility to provide quality and customer service to others – both inside and outside our organizations.  This is not a matter of discretion, but a sacred trust.  We have made a promise to meet an agreed performance standard.  We have given our word, our bond.  If we live up to our responsibilities in the first place, we will not need a “program.”  Lance Secretan

 

 

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:

·    http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/Article14025.phtml Accessibility options in Microsoft Windows, Office and Internet Explorer make it easier for anyone to use a computer.

 

·    This link   http://colligo.us/demo/bc804/804.pps is a very large PowerPoint show, demonstrating BookCrafter and the readers, especially Adobe and Microsoft and our ReadText.  There are hyperlinks showing videos, etc.

 

·    The Frugal Connection: Here's a great new resource that I received from Judi Piscitello, Batavia. http://www.thefrugalconnection.com/Free-eBook-Sites.html

 

·    Laboratory of Dale Purvis: This cool online lab uses Macromedia Flash demonstrations to explain the mysteries of human visual and auditory perception. Test your skills of perception by participating in some of the lab's Flash demonstrations pertaining to Brightness, Color, Motion and other areas of visual perception.  There are also Audition demonstrations to test your hearing skills and a host of other cool features. http://www.purveslab.net/

 

·    http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/e-Newsletter/August2005/index.htm The August 2005 IDEA Center E-Newsletter is now available.  Contents include information on the universally designed model home in the 2005 Horizon Home Show in Amherst, NY.

 

 

ACCESS SOLUTIONS:

·    http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/ The Optimus keyboard has standard size keys, but will be programmable, and dynamically display the current function of any key.  It will be an open-source product available 2006. <Kirsten Haugen>

 

·    EnableMart makes the Roller Mouse, which is quite sensitive at: http://www.enablemart.com/productdetail.aspx?store=10&pid=530&dept=24  Alice Wershing

 

·    http://ataccess.org/hub/ provides a search by vendor, topic, keyword, etc., for all the products that ATA members have entered, then request that information be sent directly to you.

 

·    Georgia Tech’s CATEA releases the new version of the National Public Internet Site on Assistive Technology (www.assistivetech.net)

 

ADMINISTRATOR SOLUTIONS:

·    CSE OnLine training useful in September for old and new CSE Chairpersons. Certain sections (e.g. PD Forms) have been extremely valuable. It is open to anyone who registers-schools, parents, organizations, the universe. To register, go to http://nyscseonline.org, go to the gray shaded box in the lower left corner and follow the directions.

·     Increasingly, schools, are looking to senior projects as a way of better assessing what students know and are able to do, while at the same time adding greater depth and meaning to what many consider a "lost" senior year. Read more in the News 14 article "State Board of Education to Discuss Senior Projects." (Free registration may be required.) rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=72790&SecID=2

 

BLIND SOLUTIONS:

 

COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS:

·    http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/nonverbal2/diction1.htm#The%20NONVERBAL%20DICTIONARY Click on the "Entries" link to learn about hundreds of ways we communicate without ever saying a word. This well-researched dictionary will help you understand non-verbal messages, both those that you send as well as what others are conveying through their body language.

 

CONSULTING SOLUTIONS:

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