Technology Resources for Education's

Assistive Technology Solutions

Weekly Resources for the Assistive Technology Service Provider Community

Volume 5, Issue #39 for Week of 9/27/04

Compiled by David Grapka (email: 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: “Children learn through all their senses, to develop a sense for order and logical thought.” Maria Montessori

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech188.shtml Eight Pillars Of Successful Technology Implementation
http://www.workforcenewyork.org/univaccess.htm The New York State Department of Labor has now officially approved the Universal Access-NY web site. Included in this tool-kit are indicators related to workforce development activities for youth with disabilities.
http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/offsite.htm links to copyright sites. Part of the Groton Public Schools' Copyright Implementation Manual, which has been recently extensively revised, this site features an annotated listing of copyright sites of interest to educators.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/magazine/12MAINSTREAMING.html?ex=1096862400&en=59db18d8a9f77c5d&ei=5070&th The author wrote an interesting, balanced story about both the rewards and the challenges of trying to address and meet the needs of all students in a classroom. Though the resources brought to bear in this story are unique and what is "right" for Thomas and his classroom is not likely to be "right" for every child, the passion for success and the collaboration that went into "making it so" are evident on the parts of all involved, and this something that each of us shares. From Joy Zabala

ACCESSS SOLUTIONS:

http://angelco.en.ec21.com/2/CA00399567/Melodyhorn.html the Melody Horn - a way for a person to make music using only one hand (From Adam Krass)
http://www.nextup.com The new TextAloud 2.0, text-to-speech software, is now available for only 29.95. The entire program is well worth the price. (from Jim Nuttall – Michigan)
http://www.customtyping.com/tutorials/at/switches/Curriculum.htm for some “cheat sheet information” and info about modified worksheets. From Bridgette Nicholson
http://www.customtyping.com/tutorials/at/switches/TuffTalker Connections and setup.pdf I am using the Words + TuffTalker with one of my students, with the Mouse mover for switch controlled mouse movement - this is the setup. From Bridgette Nicholson

ADMINISTRATIVE SOLUTIONS AND CONCERNS:

http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR682/ed_ch2.html#RTFToC13.com How to get empirical evidence on technology’s effectiveness.
http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/legal.asp#NCES Special Hardware and Software for Students with Disabilities outlines the findings of an NCES survey exploring the assistive and adaptive tools available to students with disabilities in public schools.

http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/WebAccess.asp#TechinSchools The NCES report, Technology in Schools, provides information on the measurement of technology use and its availability in schools for SEAs and LEAs.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/iptelephony/index.cfm a brand-new eSN Special Report titled IP Telephony looks at the overall benefits and potential drawbacks of IP telephony. It details how three school districts managed to implement it with successful results. You'll get the inside story from the school people who made the switch, and find a wealth of resources to help you research options (Our own BOCES does this!)

BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SOLUTIONS:

* http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3701404.stm New technology magnifies text on mobile phones A Spanish company has developed technology to help visually impaired people see the text on mobile phone screens more easily. The company, Code Factory, says the technology will be available within a matter of weeks. (from CEC Smrtbrief)

COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS:

http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/ProductsandServices/U-LAM/intro.html The Universal Language Activity Monitor (U-LAM) is available at no cost for computers used exclusively to teach AAC - learn more about this exciting tool! (from NCTI air Quick clicks)
http://www.symbolworld.org/ Just in time for the school year, I stumbled across this site with picture symbol news, stories & even poetry. Very simple navigation, picture symbols to go with the text, and an illustration/photo for each page. it's free.
http://www.news-2-you.com/ For a yearly subscription, News-2-You delivers great weekly news, recipes, jokes & games, written with text and Boardmaker symbols in pdf format. You get 3 versions (for different reading levels), communication boards & activities to print and use with your students, & custom symbols to make your own activities. “Joey's Locker" has new activity pages and online games every week, also for subscription. The site has free samples and the topics span a wide age range in terms of interest level and give struggling readers access to current events (contributor unknown)

CONSULTING SOLUTIONS:

http://www.mediate.org/resources.htm List of Movies with a Focus on Conflict Resolution
http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/cprtindx.htm gives a comprehensive look at the issue of using Music in your training workshops. Its http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/offsite.htm points to a number of other sites, and, for example, http://www.kohnmusic.com/ points to organizations which transmit licensing fees from users to owners. From Bill Harris

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SOLUTIONS:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=5103 Bush FY 2006 cuts would irk educators From eSchool News staff and wire service reports
http://www.edweek.org/ew/tb/tblive/transcript_09-09-2004.htm Before you go to the polls next month, read this transcript with Sandy Kress, Bush’s education advisor on the Bush Educattion Agenda.

FUNDING SOLUTIONS:

http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/fundingupdate.asp#SBIR This may be one of only two bookmarks you need for information on funding!
http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/grants/index.cfm
http://www.ed.gov/print/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html 10 facts about education funding.
http://www.lefbooks.org Orders must be received by 11/15/04. Information and a matching book grant order form are available here.

JUST FOR FUN:

http://www.rhetorical.com/cgi-bin/demo.cgi If your student has access to a computer that has speakers but it doesn't have a screen reader and you just want to have a little fun, try this web-based Text-to-Speech Demo using your own inputted text with different languages and accents in male or female voices.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/3611660.stm Not sure this falls under best practices but it looks kind of fun. From Glen Ashlock, MS, ATP

MATH SOLUTIONS:

http://www.hentermath.com/betainfo.asp Henter Math is pleased to announce the release of a beta version of Virtual Pencil Algebra, computer software for interactive access to algebra for students who are blind or visually impaired.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

http://www.azcentral.com/families/education/articles/0922special22.html Arizona special-ed students delight in using SMART Board At Desert Mirage School, teacher Pat Spreitzer uses a three-foot-wide touch-sensitive computer screen to help her nine K-2 students overcome their severe language disorders. Spreitzer reports the technology has enabled them to expand their sentence length and increase their vocabulary more quickly.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/tnt.html?oref=login&tntget=2004/09/16/technology/16tuto.html&tntemail1 intelligent tutoring systems for students when teachers cant be there for them

PARENT AND ADVOCACY SOLUTIONS:

http://us.ratemyteachers.com/ Thriving RateMyTeachers.com lets students praise, slam faculty Last week, the three-year-old RateMyTeachers.com Web site received its six-millionth teacher rating. While teachers who get positive grades tend to like the concept, RateMyTeachers.com creators say hundreds of districts object to students' anonymous and sometimes cruel postings and blocked Internet access to the site. USA TODAY (9/28)
http://p078.ezboard.com/fourchildrenleftbehindfrm28.showMessage?topicID=109.topic Parent and disability groups uniformly oppose H.R. 1350 and oppose or have major concerns with the Senate bill, S.1248. Read IDEA Talking Points here.
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-party2 ..NEA helping turn NCLB-bashing into trendy party gameThe Los Angeles Times reports on a new trend that is sweeping local communities, thanks to the National Education Association. The NEA is organizing house parties where individuals can come together and discuss the performance of their local schools. Bush administration critics say the NEA effort is nothing more than a means of bashing No Child Left Behind. (Note: This site requires registration.)

TEACHING SOLUTIONS:

http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=47102013September 15, 2004. How To: Incorporate Multimedia into Documents

http://glef.org/php/biglist.php?id=137 The Big List on Technology Integration

http://reg.commercialappeal.com/mca/web/registrationForm?from=www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_3168716,00.html Co-teaching" system boosts special education test scores in Tennessee district. A "co-teaching" system that puts two teachers -- one certified in English or math and the other in special education -- in most classrooms has led to academic gains in the Shelby County, Tenn., school system. Under the plan, about 70% of the county's special education students have two teachers. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (free registration)
http://www.azcentral.com/families/education/articles/ Special-ed pupils learn via high-tech inspiration. By Monica Mendoza / The Arizona Republic. Severely learning disabled children at Desert Mirage Elementary School in Glendale are using technology this school year and making great educational gains beyond what teachers and parents predicted, even hoped. High tech comes to special education.

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.floridareading.com/ Go small and think big with the PocketViewer, a handheld,

battery-operated video magnifier from Pulse Data that fits easily in your pocket or handbag.

* http://www.independentliving.com/departments.asp?dept=9

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

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

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

* http://www.judylynn.com/prog_win.htm#P219 Judy Lynn Software is proud to announce the release of a new Windows program called "Wheel of Sounds" for students functioning at a cognitive age of 9 months and up. A Free trial version of Wheel of Sounds can be downloaded from their "Downloads" web page at http://www.judylynn.com/downloads.htm

* 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.

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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.

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