August / September 2004
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Editorial Feature
Using technology to integrate instruction in orientation and mobility and emergent Braille/tactile literacy skills or “books in a flash”
By
Donna McNear
Preview:
The purpose of this article is to help readers gain a greater insight into the importance of integrating instruction in orientation and mobility skills and emergent Braille/tactile literacy skills and learn an efficient method to produce Braille/tactile books using technology.
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Preparing for a career... on the Internet
By
Scott Bellman, Sheryl Burgstahler and Sara Lopez
Preview:
Today’s competitive job market demands that students possess knowledge, skills and relevant job experiences that will set them apart from other applicants. Career preparation activities can increase their chances of obtaining employment upon completion of high school or college. Like most high school students, teens with disabilities may think that they have plenty of time to decide on a career and acquire the skills they will need to move down that path.
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All Things Matt
By
Matthew Roberts and Matthew Wangeman
Preview:
Stellar job kid… here’s your constellation prize
Alas, one must wonder if kids today know anything about space, other than that’s where you shoot/blow up meteorites and/or space ships. Of course, this might be because space is one of the ultimate abstract concepts. So, how do you de-abstract (yeah, we’re taking literary license with that word) outer space so that it seems real enough to get into the inner space between your kid’s ears? Explore it!
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Consumer or producer of assistive technology research: Has NCLB altered your role?
By
Dave Edyburn
Preview:
In a seminal article on the development of special education research competencies, Lewis and Blackhurst (1983) outline a continuum associated with the preparation of leadership personnel. They argue it is important to clarify the purpose of training special education leaders about research. Many practitioners desire to use research to improve professional practice but will not be actively involved in conducting research studies.
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Quality indicators in action
By
Jane Fields, Katharine Hill, Sean Smith and Marty Smith
Preview:
Background
The Minnesota Department of Education’s Special Education Policy Unit began a comprehensive self-assessment process in 2001, as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) continuous improvement monitoring process. Self-assessment and improvement are the driving forces of current activities in the Department.
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Helpful steps to use voice recognition with difficult voices
By
Norman Rothstein
Preview:
Voice recognition has come from costing several thousands of dollars, requiring endless hours of effortful training and often ending up with only mediocre results to becoming commonplace in today’s society. Doctors, lawyers, scientists and many other professionals use voice recognition. Voice recognition is used by millions of people daily.
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Product Feature
Storybooks: An important step towards literacy
By
Lori Dahlquist
Preview:
The importance of books in early literacy cannot be disputed. Over and over, research has shown that children who are exposed to books and are read to from an early age have an advantage in developing literacy skills. It is important that all children experience success in literacy activities, such as reading, in order to facilitate their continued development and to enhance a positive self-image.
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A Closer Look
The three Cs – children, creativity and curriculum
By
Suzanne Feit and Dan Herlihy
Preview:
When we first came up with the idea for “The Three Cs – Children-Creativity-Curriculum”, we wanted to create a workshop that illustrated to teachers how to create versatile curriculum materials, while also promoting skill building and independent learning. The true test is when the student can author and create materials. Learning is a life-long objective and, consequently, student authoring is as important and powerful as the teacher authoring.
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Product Spotlight
ZoomText 8.11 is released
Preview:
Ai Squared announces the release of ZoomText 8.11. This update delivers a wide variety of enhancements and fixes, including:
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Announcing Virtual PencilAlgebra
Preview:
Henter Math is pleased to announce the release of a beta version of Virtual PencilAlgebra, computer software for interactive access to algebra for students who are blind or visually impaired. This standard Windows application presents the equations visually for the sighted teachers, and audibly for the blind students.
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Voyager Braille display and Supernova combine to make a winning package
Preview:
In the interest of extending the companies’ longstanding relationship throughout the European market into the United States, Dolphin Computer Access Inc., has teamed up with Optelec, the North American division of the Tieman Group, to offer computer users who are visually impaired or blind, fantastic deals on the Voyager series of Braille displays.
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VisuAide unveils Maestro, the first mainstream handheld PC for blind and visually impaired
Preview:
VisuAide unveils Maestro, the first mainstream handheld PC accessible to the blind and visually impaired. The launch coincided with the National Federation of the Blind convention.
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SwitchXS 1.5 adds speech-cueing, key repeat and other advanced features
Preview:
AssistiveWare / Niemeijer Consult announces the release of SwitchXS 1.5. SwitchXS provides virtually complete access to Mac OS X and all standard Mac applications for people who can only use one or more switches. It offers full mouse and keyboard emulation by means of a so-called scanning mode.
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Pulse Data International introduces first wireless, pocket-sized BrailleNote
Preview:
Pulse Data International introduces the world’s smallest handheld Braille device for the blind. The BrailleNote PK weighs less than a pound and has dimensions of 6.8 inches by 3.6 inches by 1.3 inches. It is the first Braille personal digital assistant (PDA) in the marketplace that can fit into a pocket.
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NewsAloud is your personal news audio center
Preview:
NextUp.com has released version 1.0 of its NewsAloud software that can automatically retrieve news stories from a variety of news sites, such as Yahoo News and Reuters, as well as from any RSS Feed (RSS is a format for syndicating news and other Web site content). It uses Voice Synthesis (Text To Speech or TTS) to read these news stories aloud on a PC. NewsAloud’s automatic audio file creation can also keep the 100 most recent stories available as MP3 or Windows Media files ready for playback on your iPod, PocketPC, or even on your TV with Tivo’s Home Media Option.
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MacSpeech releases ScriptPak for QuickBooks Pro 6
Preview:
Macintosh Speech Recognition authority, MacSpeech, announces the release of its ScriptPak for QuickBooks Pro version 6. The new ScriptPak adds over 180 voice commands that control virtually every aspect of Intuit’s popular accounting program. The ScriptPak is priced at $29 and is available immediately from the MacSpeech Web site.
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Kurzweil Educational Systems adds color offering to Kurzweil 3000 for Macintosh product line
Preview:
Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc., innovator of reading, writing and learning technology for individuals with visual and learning disabilities, introduces Kurzweil 3000 for Macintosh Version 2.5. The release adds a new color product, which delivers color scanning and color display, to the popular Kurzweil 3000 for Macintosh product line. In addition, new study skills and reading features have been added in Version 2.5 to both the color and black-and-white product offerings.
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Memory aid system – the Jogger
Preview:
There are some exciting new developments in the Jogger system, a very small, wearable device that enables individuals who suffer from short-term memory loss to manage their own affairs and thus achieve greater independence and productivity.
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Mayer-Johnson, Inc. agrees to join DynaVox Systems LLC
Preview:
DynaVox Systems LLC, a provider of advanced augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions, announces that it has acquired Mayer-Johnson, Inc. of San Diego, CA.
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New manufacturers added to AT book, expanding its value
Preview:
With the addition of 22 manufacturers of assistive technology products the publishers of Assistive Technologies: Expanding A Universe of Opportunities for People with Disabilities, have expanded the most comprehensive list of assistive technology manufacturers worldwide ever published <www.atn-ctcf.org>.
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Kurzweil Educational Systems announces Kurzweil 1000 Version 9
Preview:
Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc. announces Kurzweil 1000 Version 9, scanning and reading software for people who are blind or visually impaired. The latest version of the software makes printed pages and electronic archives more accessible and usable than ever before with a new on-line encyclopedia search and retrieval capability, broadened support for Web repositories, more accurate scanning, enhanced DAISY and portable device support, and better navigation through document linking.
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General News Item
Mother of son with autism making a difference on the airwaves for all people with disabilities
Preview:
The dream has finally become a reality for Monica Moshenko, host of the only live talk radio show focusing on disabilities every Sunday, 5-6 PM on WXRL, 1300 AM out of Lancaster, NY. For the past five years, Monica, a single parent of three children (24-year-old twins, and a ten-year-old son) has been raising awareness for autism and is regarded as an advocate for families and children of special needs, but wanted to reach more people with disabilities, families and professionals.
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Example: +apple -juice
Find records that contain the word apple but not the word juice.
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The asterisk serves as the truncation (or wildcard) operator. Unlike the other operators, it should be appended to the word to be affected. Words match if they begin with the word preceding the * operator.
Example: apple*
Find rows that contain words such as "apple", "apples", "applesauce", or "applet".
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Parentheses group words into subexpressions. Parenthesized groups can be nested.
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