December 2006 / January 2007

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When a person who has multiple disabilities is unable to make choices by a direct selection technique, scanning with switches must be considered as an alternative input method. Training a switch user who has multiple disabilities to scan to make choices is often a complicated task that requires specific teaching and techniques.

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Represented in most distance learning courses are a variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds, ages, native languages, and learning styles. In addition, students may have disabilities that include blindness, low vision, hearing impairments, mobility impairments, and learning disabilities. However, most distance learning programs only deal with accessibility issues when a student with a disability enrolls in a course; in other words, they provide accommodations.

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Important concepts for posture and body positioning for optimal learning in the classroom.

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I sat in the developmental pediatrician's office reading a report on my son. I was so shell shocked; I didn't really read the words. In the safety of my own home, I read the report and realized I had no idea what a diagnosis of “dysgraphia” meant.

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Editors Note: Welcome to AT In-Depth. We've chosen to start a column that will introduce readers to some of the leaders and specialists in the field of assistive technology. Their insights, knowledge and first hand experiences, along with real-world examples and strategies, have changed and continue to influence the education we provide in schools today.

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“Remembering that we cannot reach the mind we do not engage ought to be a daily compass for educational planning”(Tomlinson, 2005, pg. 9).

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A product evaluation and pilot study to determine the efficacy of the UltraCane in outdoor environments.

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This 2005 pilot program documented by Mrs. Ann Marie Flanagan, Exceptional Children's and Nationally Board Certified Teacher of Mocksville Elementary School, NC studied thirteen first through fourth grade exceptional needs students using Simon S.I.O., a multi-level phonics instruction program published by Don Johnston Incorporated.

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With technology firmly embedded in our daily lives, we mustall be aware of the tools that can give learners with additional support needsimproved access to learning. Paul Nuttall and Christine de Graft-Hanson frominclusive software specialists, SEMERC, discuss the access opportunities offeredby switch technology.

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Manchester, VT. – Ai Squared, a leader in assistive technology software for the visually-impaired, was purchased by Technology Investment Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: TICC), a publicly-traded business development company that invests in small to medium-sized technology-related companies, and an individual private investor.

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Enabling Devices announces that it has once again developed an innovative, yet inexpensive communicator, the Big Talk Triple Play.According to Steven Kanor, Ph.D., President of Enabling Devices, “We decided to combine two of our very popular products into one in order to give our customers the most flexibility at the lowest price. Our Big Talk and Press Your Luck have now become the Big Talk Triple Play.”

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Don Johnston and his Start-to-FinishPublishing team visited NASA/Caltech-Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California this year to celebrate the release of two new Start-to-Finish Core Content books detailing the Mars Exploration Rover Science Mission.The Start-to-Finish books are written to support readers of all abilities using a "proprietary editing process" that produces text to remove reading barriers. The books document the journey of Spirit and Opportunity, two rovers currently exploring Mars. The stories bring to life the amazing accomplishments of the researchers and scientists who make the mission possible.

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" Booking appointments, sending and receiving emails, checking train times, listening to MP3s, chatting with friends on MSN, recording audio for my blog and so much more.  My PDA has enriched my life by allowing me to keep up to speed and in touch without being tiedto the office."

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New Web-based features and support of national textbook standards provide learners with greater benefits.

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Macintosh speech recognition authority MacSpeech has released a new ScriptPak bundle for iLife 06. The new ScriptPak adds over 700 commands to iListen that allows the user to do virtually anything in the six iLife 06 applications that they would normally do using keyboard shortcuts or menus."We are thrilled to finally offer the iLife 06 ScriptPak bundle," said MacSpeech Chief Evangelist Chuck Rogers, "complete with features designed to take the best advantage of iListen 1.7."

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Tom Snyder Productions, a Scholastic company, announces the release of MaxData, a new kid-friendly program that gives students an age-appropriate introduction to databases. MaxData teaches students all aspects of data handling, from the first steps of simple representation of data, to learning database concepts such as fields, field types, records, tables, and filters. The program’s accessible interface has three grade-appropriate levels so students can concentrate on the ideas, relationships, and information being explored.“Educators have begun to realize that students need proficiency in a variety of technology, including databases, but this can be daunting to a busy teacher, ” said Rick Abrams, General Manager of Tom Snyder Productions.

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AssistiveWare announced the release of VisioVoice1.0.1. VisioVoice is an award-winning product for blind and vision impaired Mac users providing a number of speech and vision related features to enhance accessto Mac OS X.

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ZYGO Industries, Inc. announced the release of the TalkingAid-Wireless communication device from NAMCO, Ltd. of Japan.

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Macintosh speech recognition authority MacSpeech has released a new ScriptPak, Mariner Software's Montage Screenwriting program. The new ScriptPak adds over 150 commands to iListen that allows the user to do virtually anything in the Montage applications that they would normally do using keyboard shortcuts or menus."Many of Mariner Software's customers are already using iListen with Mariner Write, Calc, and MacJournal." said Mike Wray, President and CEO of Mariner Software. "Now, budding screenwriters can not only use iListen for dictation, but with the addition of the ScriptPak for Montage, they can control virtually every aspect of the program as well."

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The EasyStand Magician standing frames by Altimate Medical benefit children of all ages, both physically and psychologically. Physically, standing can assist with skeletal development in children, help normalize respiratory function, and improve circulation. Having the ability to bear weight strengthens bones and muscles.Psychologically, standing promotes independence, enhances learning, and encourages kids to explore their environment.

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The purpose of SLATE is to develop, support and maintain collaborative work among assistive technology leaders designated by state departments of education in a way that increases awareness, understanding and use of assistive technology and universal design for learning as a tool for educational participation and achievement.

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