June / July 2001

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One of the most fundamental changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) when it was re-authorized in 1997 is the mandate for public education to become more inclusive of all learners. Section 614 of IDEA '97 states the following:The term "individualized education program" or "IEP" means a written statement for each child with a disability, which includes a statement of the child's present level of educational performance, including how the child's disability affects their involvement and progress in the general curriculum.A special education student has a fundamental right to have access to the general education curriculum. How we as educators provide access to that curriculum is the key to educational success for students with special learning needs.

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Providing successful creative writing experiences for individuals with limited spelling skills can be challenging, particularly for individuals unable to use standard or adapted keyboards. Structured, word-based, on-screen writing activities can allow augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users with limited spelling skills to actively and successfully participate in creating unique written communication. This experience provides an important opportunity, as creativity is a process critical in establishing "the foundations for beginning literacy skills" (Musslewhite, C.

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Your clients have their communication devices and systems with many overlays, specialty boards and symbols in their environment, but do you find that you are still playing twenty questions? These AAC users are not talking with their peers, use few communicative functions and seem to be unmotivated to communicate. What can be done to nourish functional, generative communication and excite their communicative partners? We propose that there can be a systematic approach to employing games, music, and literacy and computer activities to support symbolic communication. We hope to offer some strategies to use incidental learning that will enhance symbol acquisition as well as language and concept development.Using augmentative communication functionally with persons with severe disabilities is challenging as these severe cognitive, physical or sensory deficits affect all aspects of their lives.

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Any parent, teacher, or specialist who is drawn to the title of this article knows the challenge of finding suitable books for older learners who are still actively acquiring basic literacy skills. If you are a computer-using parent, teacher, or specialist, then you also know that text-to-speech solutions alone will not magically matriculate a struggling reader into grade-level content.Students who are 12 years old and older, but reading at a first, second or third grade level, are justifiably offended by a book that is written for a first-, second- or third-grader. Such a book discounts the older student's social maturity and life experience.

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Bill shares his experience with an iTouch touchscreen equipped iMac. Richard runs through some of the new things from Apple including Mac OS 9.1, iTunes, Disc Burner, new iMacs and the new iBook.Bill: Reach out and touchTouching is a natural human behavior. We seem to be born with the need to pick things up and explore them.

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Web resources that enhance technology integrationWhile the importance of technology integration is frequently mentioned, it is often a do-it-yourself project. That is, if a teacher or therapist wants to use technology in their classroom or clinic they are often left to their own devices to figure out how to go about it and what the results might look like. Unfortunately, despite nearly universal agreement about the importance of technology integration, there are few models, resources, strategies, and tools to facilitate the process.The purpose of this column is to highlight selected Web sites that contribute to efforts to integrate technology into the curriculum in ways that enhance academic achievement for students with special education needs.

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Electronic learning aidsIn this issue, you'll find reviews of some of the newest electronic toys for learning. There are stand-alone phonics toys, reading and math systems, talking globes, new talking books and a sound memory game.Launch Pad (Educational Insights: 800-995-4436) This digital, plastic unit is an interactive system for teaching phonics. Full-color heavy-stock cards slip into the unit and color-keyed cartridges plug in.

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Remember when you had Typing 101 your freshman year of high school? Remember switching on that noisy, electric IBM or maybe you used (gasp) a manual typewriter?Well, things in today's schools have definitely changed. In the Agawam (Massachusetts) Public Schools, second-graders are learning how to type, third-graders are searching the Web and fourth-graders are putting together multi-media presentations using PowerPoint (a Microsoft program which makes slide presentations).And now there're QuickPADs, which are helping children as young as seven years old to type accurately and write with ease. For some children with special needs or physical difficulties, the QuickPAD has been a lifesaver, allowing them to concentrate on content, rather than struggling to hold their pen or pencil.

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Opus Technologies has announced that it has signed an agreement with Optek Systems of Australia to distribute and provide technical support in North America for Optek Systems' new Toccata Braille Music Translator software program. Toccata makes the process of transcribing printed music into Braille easy for sighted teachers, parents, transcribers and aides, even if they do not know the music Braille code. Toccata can translate music of any complexity, including single-line instrumental music, songs with lyrics, piano music, and orchestral scores.Unlike older Braille music translation programs that require the use of external software for entering the music or editing the translated Braille, Toccata is a fully integrated system with its own built-in music notation editor and Braille editor.

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Niemeijer Consult announces the release of KeyStrokes 2.1, an on-screen keyboard for the Apple Macintosh. KeyStrokes 2.1 is a new version with improved features, including compatibility with Mac OS 9.1, improved language, independent word prediction, more flexible shortcuts to frequently used text, improved responsiveness (through a new type-engine), compatibility with Word and TypeIt4Me, multiple keyboard layouts (including alphabetic) and a full implementation of functions keys. KeyStrokes 2.1 now adds Italian and Spanish dictionaries (already available were US English, UK English, French and German dictionaries).Pricing for KeyStrokes 2.1 starts at $45 for a single copy, with discounts of up to 40 percent for users of multiple copies.

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A new video titled Universal Enhancement (UE) Pathways to Inclusion, featuring Dr. Thomas Pomeranz, a nationally recognized authority, clinician and consultant in the field of developmental disabilities, is now available. Over the last 30 years, Dr.

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Rickitt Educational Media (R-E-M) presents new additions to its catalog of special needs titles with ChooseIt! Maker, an editing program (PC Windows/NT) for creating linear, choice-making switch activities and SwitchIt! Maker, a switch access program (PC Windows/NT) that allows special needs teachers to create simple cause-and-effect activities using their own images and sound files.ChooseIt! Maker, developed by Inclusive Technology, is designed for learners, who, having moved on from cause-and-effect, now need to begin to make choices and master scanning techniques. Essentially an editing program, ChooseIt! Maker allows users to incorporate up to six pictures, some text, sound, a visual prompt and a 'repeat sound' button. Prompted by the sound, the text or the teacher, the learner must select the correct picture from the top of the screen.

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StepWare has released AceReader Pro Series of Products. Now you have your choice of products to select from to help you become a more proficient reader both on- and off-line. Choose between AceReader Pro, AceReader Pro Deluxe or AceReader Pro Deluxe Network.

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Acrobat 5.0 presents Adobe's effort to make both Acrobat software and the information contained in Adobe PDF files accessible to people with disabilities.Most notable, support for the Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA) Application Programming Interface (API) for Windows makes it possible for individuals who are blind or have other visual disabilities to use assistive technology, such as screen readers. For example, users of screen readers from GW Micro or Freedom Scientific can read Adobe PDF documents and forms directly from within Acrobat 5.0 or the Acrobat Reader. For users with low visual acuity, Acrobat 5.0 supports high-contrast viewing, and the ability to zoom in and reflow text on the screen allowing users to more easily read Adobe PDF files.

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Office XP features a new user interface designed to improve the entire Office experience. This includes a reduction in the number of elements on a page and the elimination of some competing elements. Letter and word spacing and color combinations are optimized for general readability.

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Dr. Peet's Talk/Writer is a reading and writing tool for preschoolers through age 8 and for individuals with reading challenges. It is a talking word processor that speaks every letter as it is typed and every word as the spacebar is depressed.

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The Edmark Reading Program teaches recognition and comprehension of 150 commonly used words chosen from the Dolch Word List. Using a whole word approach, this individualized beginning reading program uses small steps, consistent repetition, and positive reinforcement to ensure that students experience immediate success. It allows each student to proceed at his or her own pace, making it appropriate for students with learning or developmental disabilities, those who are hearing impaired or deaf, and ESL students.

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Window-Eyes 4.1, a screen access program for Windows 9X, and ME, introduces software for people who are blind, allowing them to both listen to and feel all the wonders available through personal computers. Window-Eyes 4.1 introduces support for Grade 2 Braille with close to 30 Braille displays supported. Window-Eyes 4.1 provides enhanced support for Internet applications such as Internet Explorer 5.5, the soon to be released Internet Explorer 6.0, Outlook Express 5.5, Outlook 2000, Eudora, PMMail, Agent, and much more.Window-Eyes 4.1 offers user-friendly, user interface utilizing standard Windows controls like check boxes, list boxes, and buttons.

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ViewPlus Software Inc. announces the availability of the Accessible Graphing Calculator. This Windows application was created to allow better access to math for users who are blind or dyslexic, and can also make learning math more fun and easy for everyone.Designed specifically to be equally usable, both visually or in audio, the Accessible Graphing Calculator audibly announces all functions and results with a speech engine included with the product.

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ViewPlus Technologies, Inc. has announced the availability of the Tiger Advantage Tactile Graphics and Braille Embosser. The Tiger Advantage Tactile Graphics and Braille Embosser provides individuals with visual impairments simple and easy access to tactile media that has previously been unavailable to them.The Tiger Advantage Tactile Graphics and Braille Embosser embosses graphic images and Braille simultaneously and operates from Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as with most other Windows programs.

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Kid Pix Deluxe 3 gives students unlimited ways to use their imagination and reach their creative potential. An easier, more engaging interface adds dazzling features to unleash students' natural creativity. Students will find fun new ways to express themselves using stickers, animations, voice painting, photo editing with special effects, and natural art tools such as oil paints, crayons and magic markers that have their own realistic sound effects.

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On February 2, 2001 Dianna L. Erickson set a new world's typing record when she keyed 85 words per minute (WPM) on a standardized typing test - keying with one hand.Dianna keyed 80 WPM on a standard computer keyboard before an accident caused serious damage to the ligaments of her left elbow, limiting the use of her left hand. Under the guidance of a vocational rehabilitation counselor she began training, at the First Step Career Academy in Modesto, California, for a new career.

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