April / May 2005

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All students deserve equal access to public education, and students with learning disabilities are no exception. The Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Assistive Technology Team (Boulder, Colorado) found a comprehensive approach to providing assistive technologies for students with learning disabilities across the district, rather than simply problem solving student needs one student at a time, as students were brought to their attention. Originally providing access stations at each district high school, the program is being expanded to students at all age levels through the district’s web.

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We answer the knock on our office door, we hear Caitlin sing the ‘Fly EaglesFly’ chant. School spirit is high as the Super Bowl approaches. Caitlincarries a green and white pom-pom on her tray, her cheeks are decorated with a‘Go Eagles’ cheer, her nails are painted green, and her switch isadorned with an Eagles sticker.

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R is a 16-year-old teen with autism who primarily communicates with a speech generating device (SGD). He also uses gestures, vocalizations, picture icons, and sign when his SGD is not working or does not have the vocabulary needed to communicate his message. One day, R’s teacher brought ingredients to school to make s’mores (chocolate and marshmallow melted on a cracker) for Sibling Night (an activity that would be occurring in the evening).

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This is a two-part series that will highlight how a school district combined the use of assitive technology and insights taught from movie industry professionals to increase writing and reading skills. In part one, we will overview the philosophy of the “Young Film Makers Program” and explain how to develop introductory language, skills and understanding to create a classroom of storytellers. In part two, we will focus on the software and adaptations used to develop those skills, and explain how to flesh out story ideas into animated movies.

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The Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) is a cooperative located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. NSSEO’s Assistive Technology Program offers services to the approximately 6,000 students with disabilities in its eight member districts and NSSEO programs.

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The following article has been written by John Dyson, who came to the Centre for Assistive Technology (CAT) in London, Ontario Canada this past fall. He had heard about this unique program combining educational research with community outreach at the London Public Library. Since John began visiting the lab, he and other users, as well as the research and support staff have enjoyed a journey of discovery concerning the many ways that the Dragon speech-to-text software can help everyone – especially people who find mechanical methods of text production challenging.

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Matt Wangeman and Matt Roberts - Columnists Musings that amuse us Well, it looks like it’s about time for us to batten down the hatches for a spell. Here at the old Matt compound we’re looking to take a little sabbatical, while stepping aside to let others try their hand at this worthy gig. Oh..

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The SETT Framework is widely used by collaborative teams in all phases of assistive technology service delivery. Using the SETT Framework as a guide, teams build shared knowledge about the strengths, challenges, and interests of a student, the facilitators and barriers of the student’s customary environments, and tasks that the student must do or learn to do to be an active participant in educational activities. Following a careful examination and analysis of the Student, Environments and Tasks, teams are able to develop a system of Tools – devices, services, strategies, accommodations, modifications – and plan effectively so that assistive technology can be used by the student.

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Joan Tanenhaus Columnist.

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Introduction The original, primary purpose of specialized Optical Character Recognition (OCR)/Reading software was to convert printed documents, which were the norm, into electronic text and read it out loud for people who couldn’t see to read the printed pages. Optical Character Recognition software and scanning hardware have improved and proliferated. Scanners are now common, have USB connectivity and cost a lot less.

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Last year’s release of ZoomText 8.1 brought you specialized support for Adobe Reader 6.0. This important new feature gave users the ability to read and navigate PDF documents using ZoomText’s powerful document reading tools – AppReader and DocReader.

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HumanWare, the new company created through the recent merger of VisuAide and Pulse Data, is pleased to announce the release of the first integration of Trekker and Maestro. Trekker is the leading standalone GPS orientation solution for the blind, and has been available since April 2003. Maestro is the first off-the-shelf accessible PDA.

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Slater Software, Inc. announces the newest upgrade to Picture It and PixWriter software. Now both programs include Spanish! Pictures plus Spanish text brings literacy growth to English, Spanish and bilingual speakers.

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Homebound Solutions LLC announces the launch of RespiteMatch.com, an on-line source for caregivers and homebound patients to connect for home healthcare services. RespiteMatch.com was born from the need to find a comprehensive source on the Internet for caregivers, nurses, LPN’s, CNA’s, mid-wives, physical therapists, occupational therapists, elder care and other home healthcare professionals to work in the residential setting.

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The Directors of New Zealand-based Pulse Data International and Canadian-based VisuAide announce the merger of their companies, and the creation of an exciting new organization to serve the needs of people with visual impairment. The merged entity will be known as the HumanWare Group.

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Altimate Medical is proud to introduce the new EasyStand Evolv. The EasyStand Evolv is the next generation of the current EasyStand Series. Altimate Medical’s Product Development Team has made significant improvements to the EasyStand based on feedback from customers around the world.

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New research shows dramatic improvement using a home brain fitness program for those with attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), dyslexia and learning disabilities.

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Dolphin Computer Access Limited announces the availability of their next generation, version 6.50, award winning access software.

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JAWS for Windows 6.0, with its new state-of-the-art features, is now shipping. All single and multi-user Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) holders will receive the free upgrade.

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HumanWare launches Victor Reader Wave, the latest model in the popular line of Victor Reader DAISY CD Digital Talking Book Players.

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AssistiveWare announces the release of version 3.5 of KeyStrokes, its award-winning on-screen keyboard with advanced PolyPredix multilingual word prediction for Mac OS X. KeyStrokes 3.5 offers many unique, time and effort saving features allowing significantly easier and faster typing. The new version provides word prediction for the hardware keyboard, its on-screen keyboard and for soon to be released SwitchXS 1.7.

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DynaVox Technologies announces that the Impact Tablet XL and the DynaVox DV4 would replace the original Impact Tablet in the company’s product line. This move was prompted when Fujitsu discontinued the hardware that supported the Tablet.

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If your child needs to improve their grades for the remainder of the school year, get your child interested, help them move ahead and give them a product that will encourage them to have fun while they learn.

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