October / November 2004
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Editorial Feature
AAC supports for engaging students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in group instruction
By
Joanne Cafiero
Preview:
Children with ASD are often described as the most difficult of all children with disabilities to teach. Practitioners in classrooms and clinics are challenged with finding or developing tools and strategies that engage these children for learning. The numbers of children with this baffling disability are increasing at startling numbers and, in some states in the U.S., the incidence has increased by as much as 400 percent!
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Boardmaker… visual supports for all students
By
Susan Cohen
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The background
Since the 1970’s, photos and symbols have been used to design augmentative communication boards and device overlays for nonverbal and/or physically challenged individuals. Originally, visual communication training focused solely on expressive communication skills, the ability to express needs to others and to make choices. Gradually, focus has shifted to also using the visual modality to improve receptive communication skills, the ability to understand and interpret information.
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DISKoveries
By
Joan Tanenhaus
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Joan Tanenhaus
Columnist
Special needs
Here are some new special Needs software programs, developed by companies especially for those with special learning needs. If you are attending the Closing The Gap Conference, be sure to visit the Exhibits and the booths of many of these companies to see the products first hand. Thank you for producing the quality products that we use in our classrooms, therapy sessions and at home.
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Developing language-rich light tech AAC systems for young children
By
Karen Casey and Sherry Kornfeld
Preview:
“Help, my kids aren’t communicating” is commonly heard in reference to young children using augmentative communication systems. They may be gesturing, labeling and answering yes/no questions with their natural, unaided communication strategies, but are they engaged in behaviors that are typical of their speaking peers? Are they initiating communication, communicating with a variety of vocabulary, using more than requesting behaviors, and talking about more than wants and needs? If your answer is “no”, you’re not alone. Best practice suggests that we offer the same types of language opportunities to AAC users (Gerber & Kraat, 1992).
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All Things Matt
By
Matthew Roberts and Matthew Wangeman
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Unsolicited Opinions
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, and thoughts of spending oodles of moolah on your closest loved ones dance toyingly through your grey matter, why not take a few minutes to read the humble opinions of one Matt. And by opinions we’re taking a little license; “opinions” for us is loosely interpreted as a diatribe/a soap box/a rant/founded and unfounded speculation/ and well thought out and reasoned conjecture (yes, yes… we know the meaning of conjecture). Anyway, reading further is understood to be at your own risk.
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Sorting through the features of scan and read systems for persons with learning disabilities – Part 1: Scanning and reading features – Part one of a
By
Kelly Fonner and Scott Marfilius
Preview:
Scan and read systems for persons with learning disabilities are increasing in their popularity as well as in their features. These products are highly competitive, keeping up with new developments at a rate similar to what we experienced with voice recognition in the mid-90s. As we discuss the features throughout this article, we hope to present a non-biased view of these assistive technologies.
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Switching your way through high school
By
Cynthia Cavanagh
Preview:
Introduction
The use of switches to allow control of electrical devices has, for decades, provided independence opportunities for individuals with a wide range of physical abilities.1 Switches and interfaces that provide device control have progressed to allow a large range of volitional activity to be translated into control of electrical devices. These voluntary activities can be as visible as a person’s hand reaching out to touch a pressure switch to turn on a radio (e.g. BigRed2, Trigger Switch3) or as invisible as a person’s thoughts directing the cursor movement on a computer.
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Product Feature
The CIRCUIT evaluation process
By
Judith Sweeney
Preview:
How do you carry out an AT evaluation? How do you teach someone else? These are the questions that many practitioners are dealing with today. Finding a way to share strategies, hints, and pitfalls has been a major concern for years. There are no standardized tests for AT.
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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” we wanted to create a workshop that illustrated to teachers how to create versatile curriculum materials, while also promoting skill building and independent learning. In part one we discussed how to create an activity on seasonal dress, a new twist on dressing up paper dolls in thematic scenes. We also showcased activities working with weather related symbols and IntelliMation, allowing students to “animate” weather patterns along with Web sites for finding weather related resources.
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Product Spotlight
SwitchXS 1.5.5 for Mac OS X adds Japanese and more
Preview:
AssistiveWare announces the release of SwitchXS 1.5.5. 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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StreetTalk GPS navigational solution for the blind
Preview:
The use of GPS devices is becoming more established for every day use, including by those with visual impairments for whom GPS guidance offers a greater level of mobility independence. By adapting mainstream technology, Freedom Scientific has created a very affordable and accessible GPS solution for the visually impaired. Freedom Scientific’s new StreetTalk GPS Solution will be available in September.
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New standing technology catalog
Preview:
The new Pediatric & Adult Standing Technology Catalog from Altimate Medical Inc. features a complete line of standing frames, including the EasyStand Magician Comfy Seat. New accessories for the Magician standers include: form-to-fit upholstery for added support, table swing-away sleeve for easy transfers, and new upholstery colors for a vibrant appearance.
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MacSpeech releases ScriptPak for Keynote
Preview:
Macintosh speech recognition authority MacSpeech announces the release of its iListen ScriptPak for Keynote. The new ScriptPak adds over 200 voice commands that control virtually every aspect of Apple’s popular presentation program. The ScriptPak is priced at $19 and is available immediately from the MacSpeech Web site.
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APHont: A font for low vision
Preview:
APHont(pronounced Ay’-font), was developed by APH specifically for low vision readers. APHont embodies characteristics that have been shown to enhance reading speed, comprehension, and comfort for large print users.
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Product updates from Ai Squared
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ZoomText 8.11.2 Update
Ai Squared is pleased to announce the release of ZoomText 8.11.2. This update delivers a variety of enhancements and fixes, including:
• Smoother scrolling in ZoomText’s magnified view.
Scrolling in ZoomText’s magnified view is now much smoother, and with no flickering of the mouse pointer. This dramatic improvement is especially noticeable at higher magnification levels and when using ZoomText’s Line and Lens zoom windows, mouse pointer enhancements, and the view locator.
• Improved reading in Outlook and Outlook Express.
Reading email in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express is now more fluent and reliable.
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