The Assistive Technology Blog

Leave it to RJ Cooper to explore how the iPad might work for those who use switches. He said in his recent electronic newsletter that he is creating a wireless switch interface to be used with the iTouch, iPad and iPhone, but the creators of the apps now need to rewrite or include a switch and scanning option. Why don't we all think a little more universally so that all can access everything with having to retrofit or rewrite? Oh well, keep an eye on RJ Cooper (http://www.rjcooper.com)for his switch interface to be sold for $99.

Ricky Buchanan at ATMac posted a nice blog entry about how to convert PDFs to Word...for free! Check her post out: http://atmac.org/free-pdf-to-word-converter-for-os-x. She's looking for feedback on the tool from fellow Mac users...which she will likely share with her readers.

While you're there, read her posts about the iTouch (family) apps.

Sign up for the QIAT listserv http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/listserv.html to participate in important discussions about AT with other professionals. This is a great way to get (and stay) up-to-date with the advances in AT service delivery.

QIAT wants a variety of participants to sign up. As they say: "The complexity of identifying quality indicators that could be useful across a wide variety of educational environments and service provision options is clear. Even more complex are the issues relating to implementation of quality services in a way that supports positive student results. There is clearly a need for the participation of people with a wide variety of perspectives and experiences as providers and consumers of assistive technology services in defining and implementing this work."

http://www.Appolicious.com

QIAT (http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/) stands for Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services...as if you didn't know!

Check out their guide for including AT in the IEP...a challenging task.
GuideDocATinIEPintent10-09FINAL[2].doc

We, and others, think this is pretty important!
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1581-Accessibility-and-Social-Media

Brian Friedlander at assistivetek has posted a nice video showing how to use this feature. Check it out at
http://assistivetek.blogspot.com/2010/07/myscript-for-livescribe-plug-in.html

Consider this option, Direct from Ning.com "Pearson, a leader in education services, technology and school solutions, will be sponsoring Ning Mini for free for North America K-12 and Higher Education Ning Networks. This program is opt-in, so please visit the Pearson registration page to find more details and get signed up. Ning and Pearson will not take any action on your network without your consent. If you have a Ning Network or are creating a new one, submit your information on the Pearson registration page to get Ning Mini for free!" http://about.ning.com/pearsonsponsorship/

We've just stumbled upon a really cool new iTouch app.... Read To Me. Not only does it do the obvious, read the text aloud, but you can import text from Google Docs or the Web! Less that $5.00!

If you purchase a 32 or 64 GB iTouch, you then have access to many of the universal access features!

Explore various online applications provided Gizmo's Freeware. Please note that some of the applications were created overseas and their websites may not be in English, but you will find what you need following this link:

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/kVjMCCQ19mo/best-free-online-applications-and-services.htm

In November 2008 the Virginia Department of Education released materials for school divisions to use when developing operating guidelines and service delivery models for assistive technology. Included in the document Assistive Technology: A Framework for Consideration and Assessment are definitions, laws, consideration guidelines, and a process for assistive technology assessment. Sample forms and additional resources are also provided. These documents do not replace any federal or state regulations but are designed to assist Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams in planning and implementing assistive technology (AT) services to students with disabilities.

Many of the resources provided have been developed by national leaders in assistive technology. Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) acknowledges these experts Penny Reed, Joy Zabala, and Gayl Bowser for providing leadership and their expertise to the development of assistive technology services in Virginia. Acknowledgment is also given to the following projects: the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI), the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (GPAT), the Oregon Assistive Technology Project (OTAP), the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) and the Louisiana Framework for Conducting Assistive Technology Consideration, Screening, and Assessment for creating model AT documents and procedures, for generously allowing other AT programs to use their materials, and for inspiring others to continue to learn more about AT.

Click on http://www.ttac.vt.edu/vaatpp/index.html to read more and access these resources.

...on matching the right AT to the student you are working with!
Click on http://www.wati.org/ and then "Supports."

Make sure you register soon for this engaging conference that offers cutting edge information on learning and assistive technologies at http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/conf10-overview/

...and found this link which gave me some more ideas!

Click on http://www.trcabc.com/resources/teachers-corner/top-10-classroom-uses-for-highlighter-tape/.

I have always appreciated the universities that ask their engineering students to use their knowledge and newly acquired skills to create a product that will change people's lives in a big way. Check it out!

http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?org=NSF&cntn_id=115433&preview=false

Here's a great "access app" from our friends in Scotland on how to keep accessiblilty more universallly available for your web users at http://access.ecs.soton.ac.uk/ToolBar/

I just read an interesting entry on assistivetek.blogspot.com about Context Discovery. It's a website summarization tool. You enter a URL into the program and it makes a summary for you from key words. Brian Friedlander shows screenshots and describes the process on his iPad here: http://assistivetek.blogspot.com/2010/07/context-summarizer-on-ipad.html.

By the way...his reviews are pretty good, and he shares his experiences, often with screenshots. Look around the site while you're there!

(Sometimes you just have to ask.)

We answer that question here: http://www.vcu.edu/ttac/assistive_technology/about.shtml.

There are so many reasons why you might want to create a screen recording:
- Help students show what they know
- Provide directions for independent work
- Provide tutorials in using software or exploring/using internet sites
- Provide background knowledge for tutors, families, and others who support students
and more!

Want to know how? Click here: http://ttactechtuesday.pbworks.com/Windows+Media+Encoder