August / September 2002

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By Matt Roberts and Matt WangemanPC Matt solosThis month the Mac Matt takes a sabbatical while the PC Matt talks about his latest computer purchase. Taking the plunge.

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Writing disordersWith the current emphasis on literacy, parents and teachers often work with children who need assistance with expressive writing skills. These skills include the ability to organize language and express it in written form, along with skills including topic maintenance, creating a cohesive beginning, middle and end, sequencing thoughts, using correct sentence structure and grammatical forms, spelling, and much more. This feature will review programs that cover kindergarten to sixth grade.

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George Bernard Shaw once said,"We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing."Why are games so popular? We all want to belong, to participate. We all want to compete and even to win. We all want to show off what we know, and to laugh at ourselves and with others.

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"My student needs a laptop." "I need this software program." How many times have you heard these or similar requests from a teacher, parent or therapist? Unfortunately, when you ask questions such as "What is the specific skill that has been identified as a challenge for this student?" or "What else has been tried?", people often have difficulty answering. Teaching others how to approach assistive technology from a needs-based perspective and recognizing the range of tools and strategies that are part of this process are two of the main reasons we created the Student Access Map.The Student Access Map, or SAM, resulted from work on two grants that the Boston Public Schools Access Technology Center at Emmanuel College (ATC) received from the Massachusetts Department of Education. It is a framework for determining appropriate assistive technology supports to aid students in addressing the curriculum standards.

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By Dawn K. Stevenson and Karen KennyMost professionals in the field of assistive technology consider positioning for their clients. They take time to discuss and evaluate equipment, software, and input devices, but frequently neglect to consider these valuable tools for themselves.

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The QuadTrac Trackball, designed by a person with C4-C5 quadriplegia, allows people with C4-C5 and below quadriplegia to use computers with ease and alacrity, without the difficulty of having to simultaneously move the pointer and click mouse buttons.The QuadTrac accomplishes this with two large remote click switches that perform the same function as the click buttons on the trackball. Because these remote switches can be positioned anywhere on the desk, it becomes possible for quads to move the trackball with one hand and click with the other.Pricing for the QuadTrac is $145.Also from GPK, is the QuadCommander Joystick. The QuadCommander is the first and only joystick that allows people with C4-C5 and below quadriplegia, to experience the full delight, fury, and realism of today's PC game software.

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Freedom Scientific has introduced the revolutionary SAL Speech Assisted Learning system. SAL is the only tool of its kind for Braille instruction for educators. Students benefit from programmed instruction that gives them an opportunity to study independently.

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Kent Barrett's father was a salesman all his life, but over a period of a few months, he lost his voice and was forced to give up his business. He was diagnosed with ALS and was told he would never speak again. Kent decided to do something about it.

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The latest version of iListen, from the Mac orientated speech recognition company MacSpeech, Inc., brings more to the power of your voice.It's a continuous speech recognition, voice command and control and automationsystem all rolled into one package.Developed by the engineers of MacSpeech, iListen is a speech enabling tool that simplifies the use of your Mac and makes the writing of e-mails, letters and reports much easier. One very helpful part of speech recognition is that it cannot make spelling mistakesSetup is uncomplicated - install the software, plug in your microphone and you are ready to roll. (iListen comes with a USB headset).Training of the software is uncomplicated as well, just read the text on the screen.

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Beyond Sight, a manufacturer of products designed for blind and visually impaired persons has announced a new technology solution for blind individuals.Appropriately named LapTalk, the product is, in essence, a screenless laptop computer with an integrated text-to-speech application that enables non-sighted users access to the same information that sighted people can view on a monitor. LapTalk boasts 256MB of RAM, and 20GB of storage. In addition, compatibility is insured because the user will be working in an actual Windows environment, rather than the proprietary Operating Systems currently used on most notetakers.Jim Misener, President of Beyond Sight, who is blind himself says, "This machine will be running Windows XP, offer complete Internet access through either the built-in modem or network port, and will have full versions of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.

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Electronic Speech Enhancement's (ESE) speech enhancers are now in their fourth generation. The Spectrum VP, the newest model, not only helps people speak more clearly, it serves also as a communications center. Integrating wireless systems for independence, and connections to telephones and computers, the Spectrum VP enables computerized speech recognition for many whose unclear speech otherwise denies them this productivity.

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Ai Squared announces the release of ZoomText 7.1, featuring support for Windows XP. ZoomText magnifies and speaks the text on the screen, making computers accessible and friendly to low-vision users.With ZoomText 7.1, low-vision users can now fully enjoy the benefits of Windows XP, using the same magnification and screen reading they've grown accustomed to. Support for Windows XP extends Ai Squared's commitment to CompatibilityOne - support for all Windows operating systems in a single package.

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Adaptivation, Inc., has introduced the TalkingMyWay Object Communication System, a system that facilitates communication for students whose understanding is enhanced through objects. The set consists of 30 different objects mounted on laminated cards with removable matching Mayer-Johnson Picture Communication Symbols. This method encourages transitions from objects to symbols and/or text, as well as meeting many other communication needs.

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GW Micro, creator of Window-Eyes Standard and Window-Eyes Professional, announces support for the new Macromedia Flash Player 6.Window-Eyes is a software screen reader for people who are blind. Macromedia Flash Player 6 provides Window-Eyes users with access to the most exciting and engaging content and applications on the Web. This is the first release of Macromedia Flash Player that communicates with screen readers.

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Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc., innovator of reading technology solutions for individuals with learning or visual disabilities, announced Kurzweil 1000 Version 7, the latest version of the reading software for people who are blind or severely visually impaired. In response to user demands, Kurzweil Educational has added functionality in three areas: on-line access to books, educational tools that promote more active reading, and office productivity. The product also includes a comprehensive set of accessible text management tools for creating bookmarks, annotations, summaries and portable MP3 audio files.

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Freedom Scientific Inc., a producer of assistive technology products for people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities, is shipping the Type Lite notetaker, with POP3 e-mail capabilities via an external 56K modem at no additional cost. In addition, new features are continually being added to this next generation of notetakers including the ability for users to specify how words are pronounced, word echo options, countdown timer, battery life gauge, user controlled clipboard, datebook, stopwatch and an hourly announcement alarm.The Type Lite, with its typewriter-style keyboard and 40-cell Braille display, includes a full word processor with spell check, phonebook, appointment calendar and advanced file management capabilities. Along with 12MB of internal memory, the Type Lite has virtually unlimited storage and backup capacity when used with its CompactFlash port and SanDisk removable memory cards.Complement the accessibility of your work station by connecting the Type Lite to a PC to function as a Braille display.

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Pulse Data HumanWare has announced a partnership with Handy Tech of Germany to distribute the Braille Star 40. For the first time, the Braille display has been unplugged from the personal computer. The new Braille Star 40 is the first of a new generation of Braille displays designed to work with or without a personal computer.

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On October 3, 2001, President George Bush established a Commission on Excellence in Special Education to collect information and study issues related to Federal, State, and local special education programs with the goal of recommending policies for improving the education performance of students with disabilities.President Bush charged the Commission with studying issues related to Federal, State, and local special education programs in order to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities.The commission held 13 public hearings and meetings throughout the nation and listened to the concerns and comments of hundreds of experts, parents, disabled students, teachers, principals, policy makers and the public.Hundreds of other individuals provided the Commission with letters, written statements, and research. The Commission's effort represents the most expansive review of special education in the 27-year history of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.The Commission submitted the report titled "A New Era: Revitalizing Special Education for Children and their Families" to The White House on July 1, 2002 as required by the Executive Order.A copy of the report is available on-line, as a Microsoft Word document or as a .pdf, at www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/reports.html.For more information, contact the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education, 80 F St., NW, Ste 408, Washington, D.C. 20208; Phone 202-208-1312; Web site www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/index.html.

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