Father's app lets disabled son 'speak' thru iPad

Victor Pauca will have plenty of presents to unwrap on Christmas, but the 5-year-old Winston-Salem boy has already received the best gift he'll get this year: the ability to communicate.
Victor has a rare genetic disorder that delays development of a number of skills, including speech. To help him and others with disabilities, his father, Paul, and some of his students at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem have created an application for the iPhone and iPad that turns their touch screens into communications tools.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101224/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_ipad_enabling_speech

Thank you, Associated Press and Yahoo News

Lexia Reading

Lexia Reading, is a break through in reading education to help students gete the essential reading skills needed to succeed in school and life.

Think about being able to do assessment without testing: an accurate, detailed picture of reading performance for your district, school, and student in real time, without having to administer tests.

You will spend more time teaching, students spend more time learning, and all students’ reading skills are improved.

Reda More: http://www.lexialearning.com/

Please understand this is not about endorsing a product. It is about multiple requests from teachers and special ed staff that I take a look at it.

It has a 60 day free trial..I'm looking

Cheerleaders boost team spirit by adding 9 disabled students

Sara Waterman works the line with a toss of her head and a slow-motion shoulder thrust.

Shepton High School cheerleader Allie Heselton, 15, helps 16-year-old Caroline Romo rehearse cheers for a school pep rally.
"I'm a cheerleader," she says, arching her arms in formation. Her teammates applaud. They holler. Then they start jumping.

The Shepton High School cheerleading squad features the characteristic array of pompom-wielding, ponytailed gymnasts. But it also boasts faces less familiar to Texas cheerleading.

Spurred by a national student-led movement, the Plano ISD squad this year added nine students with disabilities to its roster.

In one football season, the Shepton Smiles have helped boost school spirit and promote inclusiveness. The 29-member squad even received a cheer from Oprah Winfrey when members appeared on her show two weeks ago.

"We wanted the girls to realize the world doesn't center around a 16-year-old cheerleader," said coach Quisha Webb.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-sheptonsmiles_10met.ART.State.Edition1.43b7eb5.html

Assistive technology devices enable students with disabilities

Assistive technology devices enable students with disabilities to express what they know, and rapid advancements in technology are helping to "redefine ability and disability," says Milton Chen, senior fellow and director emeritus at the George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Read more : http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/12/08/database-of-assistive-technologies-now-includes-science-related-products/

Google Wants Its Products to Talk to Users

Google has acquired speech synthesis company Phonetic Arts for an undisclosed sum in an effort to enhance its voice output (computer speech) services.

Cambridge-based Phonetic Arts’ speciality is building technology that generates natural expressive speech for computer games, making computers capable of speaking any text in any voice. Google aims to integrate this technology into its products and services to enable it to translate text to speech and speak to users in natural voices.

Read More: http://mashable.com/2010/12/03/google-acquires-phonetic-arts/

We all parents, educators, students need to be following this, it can be an amazing thing to help alot of people

Congress To Consider National Special Needs Parent Day

A resolution calling for the establishment of a national day to recognize the parents of children with special needs is expected to be considered as early as Tuesday in the House of Representatives.
If passed, the resolution would not alter any laws, but would be a ceremonial way for the House to ask the president to issue a proclamation creating an annual day to honor parents of those with special needs.
A recent Department of Health and Human Services survey estimates that 14 percent of American children from birth to age 17 have a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional condition, according to the resolution, which is sponsored by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind.
“Parents of special needs children deserve annual national recognition for their selfless dedication, compassion and sacrifice,” the resolution says.

Thank you Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop

Babylon Free Online Translation and Dictionary

Babylon is:

A one-stop website when it comes to translation. Our online translator will help you with the best language translationpossible over the Internet Read More: http://translation.babylon.com/

A one stop site for dictionaries in numerous subjects and languages Read More:http://dictionary.babylon.com/

This is not only help full for our special needs students but all students in general.

A Path Towards the Least Restrictive Environment

Students in special education can make progress in the general curriculum when it is presented to them in a format they can access. If the format of the material is appropriate to their learning needs, they can consume it. As consumers of the general curriculum, aren’t they general education students – just learning from a different format? In fact, all students learn differently. Some make copious notes, others read material once and retain it; some outline and others map their ideas; some sit attentively while others rest their chins on their desks. If every student has a unique learning style, then they are all special.

More http://blog.bookshare.org/2010/11/17/a-path-towards-the-least-restrictive-environment/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bookshare%2FURFG+%28Bookshare+Blog%29&utm_content=Twitter

Thank you Bookshare

I strongly believe that every student is unique and special. In supporting students with adaptive technology I use what I call the "goodness of fit" model because of this belief.

Great Resource for Inclusion Settings,” says IA Specialist

Laura Koch IA Specialist for Muscatine Community School District, Iowa, can share alot with all of us on how Bookshare has supported students in her school district this year. Laurais an early adopter of the Bookshare online library of accessible books,

More http://blog.bookshare.org/2010/11/22/bookshare4inclusion/

Thank you Bookshare

I am a big fan of bookshare, I use it myself and support many students in their use of it.

Respect for people with intellectual disabilities

Two you tube videos that make powerful statements in support of respect for people with intellectual disabilities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zFKFshINuw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE_5_BbZlbI

Please take time to look at them

IPad Opens World to a Disabled Boy

I am a fan of tech as alot of people know. I'm often asked by people if they should get an IPAD, and could it help their child with a disability.

It is not helpful for everyone, understand I beilieve in the "goodness of fit rule" it is not technology for technologies sake, that tech needs to "fit" the individual and work towards a given result.

Read more
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/nyregion/31owen.html?_r=1

Thank you nytimes and Apple for sharing this with me

Rise of Digital Books in the Classroom

As surely as the sun rises every day, digital books are steadily, daily finding their way into classrooms. Their arrival will not flood our classrooms like a tsunami; rather they will appear because of the foresight and talent of leading educators who recognize the many benefits of digital books and know how to incorporate them into teaching strategies.

Read More http://blog.bookshare.org/2010/11/04/sunrise-or-tsunami-–-the-rise-of-digital-books-in-the-classroom/

Thank you Bookshare

Harassment and bullying guidance

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Department of Education issued guidance to support educators in combating bullying in schools by clarifying when student bullying may violate federal education anti-discrimination laws. The guidance issued today also makes clear that while current laws enforced by the department do not protect against harassment based on religion or sexual orientation, they do include protection against harassment of members of religious groups based on shared ethnic characteristics as well as gender and sexual harassment of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals.

continued
http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/guidance-targeting-harassment-outlines-local-and-federal-responsibility

BrowseAloud

BrowseAloud is free software that reads web pages out loud. It can help anyone who has difficulty reading online, including people with visual impairments or learning disabilities, and English Language Learners.

Once you have BrowseAloud installed on your computer, all you need to do is point your mouse at the words on the site. BrowseAloud will highlight the words and read them out loud.

http://www.browsealoud.com/page.asp?pg_id=80096

More intellectually disabled youths go to college

In years past, college life was largely off-limits for students with such disabilities, but that's no longer the case. Students with Down syndrome, autism and other conditions that can result in intellectual disabilities are leaving high school more academically prepared than ever and ready for the next step: college.

Eight years ago, disability advocates were able to find only four programs on university campuses that allowed students with intellectual disabilities to experience college life with extra help from mentors and tutors. As of last year, there were more than 250 spread across more than three dozen states and two Canadian provinces, said Debra Hart, head of Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston, which provides services to people with disabilities.

That growth is partly because of an increasing demand for higher education for these students and there are new federal funds for such programs.

YES THEY CAN

Every parent with a student heading into a transition program please read more: http://tinyurl.com/2b3fyfa

Disability Mentoring Day Wed Oct 26

A national effort to promote career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through hands-on career exploration, on-site job shadowing, and ongoing mentoring leading to internship and employment opportunities. If you can provide and opportunity for someone I hope you will.

Poll: Learning Disabilities Are Often Misunderstood

About 80 percent of Americans believe the statement “people with learning disabilities are just as smart as you and me” to be generally accurate. http://t.co/4IxxZvT
But a majority of the public also link learning disabilities with mental retardation and autism, and more than 50 percent agree that learning disabilities are “often caused by the home environment children are raised in.”

Thank you Education Week

About bullying

Do everything you can help end bullying. Our special needs children population is some of the most vulnerable.

1 Ohio school, 4 bullied teens dead by own hand http://tinyurl.com/2cen2za

You can help end bullying by donating $5 to @TrevorProject. Text "KIND" to 85944. Then respond "yes". Pass it on!

About Rosa's Law

Institute for Community Inclusion On Tuesday, October
06, 2010 President Obama Signed S. 2781, “Rosa's Law”, requiring the
federal government to use the term “intellectual disability” instead of
“mental retardation” and “individual with an intellectual disability”
instead of “mentally retarded” in health, education, and labor policy.
...

Bill Text - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
thomas.loc.gov

Everyone with a special needs child needs to read this
Thank you ICI for sharing

Students Who Struggle: Focusing on Strengths

Edutopia ‎"Studies show that in the next few years, our schools will see a wider spectrum of special needs kids than ever before. What if we could sell these struggling kids on the fact that sometimes their difficulties can become their strengths? What if ADHD became a student's superpower one day?" - blogger, Heather Wolpert-Gawron. What are your thoughts? Has anyone tried a similar approach?
Thank you Edutopia for this thought

Use a Peer Tutor or Use an Instructional Aid?

I really don't know (yes I said that). How I see it is: a) What kind of support it says the student needs in the IEP. b) What "goodness of fit" is the support to whom the student is. c)How the district sees it. Now having said that my experiences with peer tutors is only so so. They tell these tutors basically nothing and a quick assumption is made that they can just babysit. Want a peer tutor to really help your student?
Here are some guidelines or help you should be able to ask that tutor for.

1. Note taker (takes notes of teacher lecture in legible writing for study and review at home)

2. Facilitator (checks regarding homework to turn in, notes to give to parents or teacher, USB keys to give to the teacher, helps with saving data to USB key in appropriate format to continue work on the project at home.)

3. Messenger (write due dates in planner or on the assignment sheet to facilitate with time management at home.)

4. Gatherer (helps collect and place in folder all appropriate handouts for use at home)

It never hurts to ask and the benefits can be huge for the tutor and your student as well.

Download the Free Blio e-Reader Today!

K-NFB Reading Technology, Blio™ e-reading software, was launched today.

With its ability to reproduce color, layout and original fonts as in the print version of a book, Blio brings to life a large selection of titles that are not available with e-ink devices. Categories include textbooks, an e-reader that can deliver the reading experience that was intended by the author. The free application can be downloaded immediately to all Windows-based devices at http://blio.com/downloads

Twittering is back

More than about Jon is now doing both. Follow @morthnabtjon. Stay in touch :)

About Inclusion- this could help

I am a big fan of inclusion. School districts, I do believe really want it. I certainly see inclusive goals in IEP's. I though as a parent, advocate and tech guy have never been really able to share a methodology to get there. But how about this: Special Olympics recently launched the 'Get Into It' curriculum as an online resource to help teachers educate students about accepting, respecting and advocating for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Check it out and learn more about creating an inclusive school environment.

Get Into It!
www.specialolympics.org


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tech Layover

I'm kind of a kid, a kid who doesn't do well during long layovers in airports. But I'm also a man who likes to get involved and help people. I saw a couple with a kid like me, who had a laptop with them. After introducing myself and explaining what I do with tech. I loaded a DAISY 3.0 digital book reader (www.caracol.com.br/ddreader) that functions as a Firefox add-on. The download also installs Firefox if needed, and includes a basic voice for reading the books For those of you not familiar with Daisy books you can learn more about the DAISY book protocols and resources, by going to www.daisy.org. The child loved hearing the books!

'Text to Voice' or 'Text to Speech' is another add-on I shared with them. It gives Firefox the power of speech. Select text, click the button on the bottom right and this add-on speaks the selected text for you. Isn't that really cool? The audio is also downloadable. The child loved hearing text from his favorite web pages!

My layover is now over, I'm happy, they are happy, their son is happy..it's a great day!


- Posted using BlogPress from my mobile

Ipad help for autistic children

I have only recntly started to work with asscessible technology on Ipads for children, there is so much potential here. This article was just too good to wait on to blog and share http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/ It even made the main page of the Apple Website. This could be such a good thing for so many kids! Please give it a look.

From tweeting, back to blog ,soon both

I switched to in March, tweeting (twittering) to get out information on accessible technology to my blog followers faster. I learned a lot from this, people don't understand a lot about twittering and rather than talk about tech, assumed somethings might be said about my dry cleaning pick up (I would not do that by the way:))

I also learned that the twitter website has a number of accessibility issues. So considering all the focus on social networks being used in education lately, its mention in the eschool publications as a tool for learning (and more than a few emails from parents)

My return to blogging, seemed as good a time as any to share a few accessible ways to tweet.

* Accessible Twitter is a website alternate for the Twitter website, but ensures accessibility
* Qwitter is a Twitter client designed for blind and low vision users, compatible with screenreaders
* Tweets60 is an accessible version for the Nokia S60 smartphone

I haven't given up on twitter, but now know both are important and have their place.

Will be doing both again in the near future

Way finding and Familarity - Map Card 101

In the community learning environment. educators want the student to not only find things but be familiar and comfortable in the store, whether it is some place they go with their family or not. While this is not necessarily "tech" It is a method I have used with a number of students and had my first opportunity to share with educators today.

The map card is a simple 3X5 index card that the student cuts out items from the adds for that store (sometimes the store logo as well) and while visiting the store adds the location (aisle: letter and number) corresponding to those items. Parents students and educators alike have had real success with this idea.

Thank you parents, educators (Kerrie, Carol, Tracy and Mary) for hearing me out and giving this a try

Spell Checker

Spelling was never my strong "suit" any way and that has become even more apparent since using text to sppech software now daily. I recently ran into a free software program called Ginger http://www.gingersoftware.com/ now I'm quoting from the site because I think the software is significant, good for students and I simply don't want to get the facts wrong.

"It doesn’t correct just spelling mistakes. It also corrects misused words, basically words that are spelled correctly but not in that context. How we do it is we look at the context of the sentence. The software uses breakthrough technology that looks at the context of each sentence and works out what the writer or the user was trying to write according to the context.

At the moment we correct spelling and misused words, but in the beginning of next year we’ll also be correcting grammatical errors which will make a huge difference to people making not just spelling mistakes but say, people for whom English is a second language who make a lot of grammatical errors.

What the software also does by correcting the whole sentence, it’s making the whole way people work a lot more efficient. Instead of going back and looking word by word, it is much faster to correct full sentences. So, if it takes someone an hour to write, and this is the feedback we’re getting from users right now, instead of it taking them a half an hour or an hour to write a few sentences before, it’s very quick and very efficient. you click one button and it corrects all of the mistakes within that sentence. You click another button, it corrects all the misused words and you just continue working.

It’s just a much better way to use the time and the accuracy is a lot higher than any other spell checker. If you really have difficulty writing and you make unusual spelling mistakes, which a lot of people who have learning difficulties or who have dyslexia do, normal spell checkers can’t correct the unusual mistakes that they make. Our software, because it looks at the context of the sentence can correct these unusual mistakes at the sentence level. It’s much more accurate and it’s much faster and easier to use. "

This a plug in for Microsoft Word, easily the most-used word processing program in schools and, best yet, is is free.
I am using it my self daily, have helped put it use for 4 students now (thank you parents for letting me show it and try:) )
I also thank you Ron for sharing this with me.