Sharing for the Unique Learning System at Adapted Learning

Are you using the Unique Learning System curriculum this summer or next school year?

There is now a group at Adapted Learning (the free Boardmaker sharing community) to share materials and have discussions about implementing Unique.

Log into Adapted Learning and the go to the Unique Group and join in with us!

Switch Adaptable Online Spinner, Calculator and More!

Tripico a site that designs e-Learning content has an eight section spinner or a four section spinner that can be run by a switch set to mouse click when the pointer is over the spin button. You can put any text you wish in the eight sections, if you have less than eight things to spin for you can put in "spin again", "lose a turn", or you can duplicate some items. Should be super fun with an LCD Projector on a "Big Screen" or on a SMART Board.

Also completely there is an amazing calculator that works using switches set to tab and enter to enter what you need to solve your math program. Imagine a FREE, ONLINE accessible, scanning calculator! Of course it also works with a mouse, touch screen or on a SMART Board.

Also at Tripico you can find:

Switch Adapted, Touch Screen, SMART Board or Mouse:

• Probability Spinner
• 4 Space Spinner
  
• Quiz Spinner (put in any four questions you wish)
• 1-8 Spinner
  
• 1-16 Spinner
  
• Role Selector (pick classroom jobs!)
• Simon Style Memory Game (set switches to tab and enter)
  

Touch Screen, SMART Board or Mouse

• Online Timer (counts up or down)
  
• Word Magnets
• Word Mix
• Plot It! Interactive Graph
• Swing O Meter
• One Minute Timer
• Image Match
• Score Board
• Match It
  

Communication Magnets

Although Velcro is our most frequent way of storing and arranging symbols for communication in our classrooms there are some benefits to thinking outside the box and turning to magnet symbols among them that using magnets generally won't ruin as many pairs of scissors, with magnets you don't need to remember the "soft stays" Velcro rule to avoid having incompatible sets, and the fact that most of use have metal desks, magnetic dry erase boards and/or other metal furniture in out classroom we cab turn into "word walls" using magnets symbols. Last year I kept magnetic picture symbols for eat, drink and the most common items we had in our classroom mini-fridge attached to the door and was thrilled to see one of my students take to that system without any training.

Here are some resources for moving to magnet based communication symbols:

Pre-Made Communication Magnets

• Barker-Creek PCS Magnets (also vended by Say-It-With-Symbols a local {for me} company run by a parent of a child with disabilities)
• CommuniPix (photo cards)
  
• IncredAbilities Magnetic PECS (PCS Symbols)
• Label and Learn Sign Language Magnets
  

Do-It-Yourself Communication Magnets Materials

• magnetic paint (you can use it on walls, table tops, tri-wall built items, easels, wooden clip boards or wheelchair trays and more)
• printable magnet paper
• Magnet Store (magnetic materials vendor)
• magnetic clipboard
• magnetic lapboard (great for on-the-run communication or choice boards)
• magnetic table top easel
• magnetic mats
• magnetic tri-fold boards
  
• MagnaTag Store

Since I am thinking about magnets...

• online alphabet magnets
• online word magnets
• online magnetic poetry
• online magnetic poetry for kids
  

Save Those Receipts

The end of this school year I left my job of the past eight years for a summer of working 12 hours a week instead of 40 and a new position in a new agency. Sadly, because of political circumstances at my old job I was forced to leave behind the collection of materials a teacher gathers over the course of more than a decade. From a box of bulletin board borders, Boppy Pillows, drawers and drawers of files and a hand adapted globe for the blind to a huge bin eBay assisitve technology purchases I made (because I love to disassemble and reassemble old devices - yeah, call me a geek) I left it and so much more behind. And yes, because I was asked by a reader, all 17 of my Donors Choose grants were left behind as well.

As much as I am grieving leaving my students and my friends I am also grieving leaving behind the memories in the things I left behind. There were files of bulletin boards I made as a resident advisor in college and re-used periodically in my classroom. There was work samples of former students. There were non-discarded communication boards and books I labored on for days and always imagined some other student might use.

Yet, I have decided this is to be a learning experience. I have already advised a graduate student finishing her degree to inital and scan onto a computer receipts for anything she buys out of pocket and then laminate the receipt and attach it to the item.

That is my plan from now on as well. Though I have changed teaching jobs twice before this job change I have never had this issue before, but I certainly want to be ready if it happens again. I plan to purchase (again, since I left one behind) a Mini-Laminator and a Neat-Co Receipt Scanner.

What will be fun about this is thinking of all the other ways I can use the Receipt Scanner in the classroom. (This being my second mini-laminator I already know how I will use that - laminating quick symbols, name tags and IDs, photographs of students family members and more.)

Weighted Blankets and More

This is another parent request for a post, this time I was asked about weighted blankets. Here are some articles that reference weighted blankets:

• AOTA Presentation about Weighted Blankets
  
• Blankets with Weights Help Calm and Sooth Mental Health Patients
• Calming Effects of Deep Pressure Touch
  
• Exploring the Safety and Theraputic Effects of a Weighted Blanket
• Hospital Trying Blanket Therapy
  
• Soothing High Anxiety with a Huggable Blanket
• Understanding Sensory Stimulation
  
• Weighted Vests and Other Sensory Interventions at the Dentists Office
• Weighted Blankets can Increase Melatonin Production
  

Here are companies who sell weighted blankets and other materials (price listed is for a twin size blanket):

• Affordable Weighted Blankets
• Bella
  
• Cozy Calm
  
• Dream Catcher Weighted Blankets
• Quiet Quilt
  
• Salt of the Earth Weighted Gear
• Sammons Preston
  
• Sommerfly
• South Paw
  
• Special Creation
  
• Therapeutic Threads
• Therapy Threads
  
• The Magic Blanket

Here are directions to make your own.

Although most studies seem to find weighted blankets to be safe there is a need to follow some guidelines with there use. The most important thing to remember, in my opinion are that weighted blankets are a sensory tool, NEVER a restraint or punishment. Here are the recommendations made by the Autism Society of Canada:

• A health professional’s advice must be obtained to ensure that the use of the blanket is suitable for the child
• The weight of the blanket must be in proportion of the child’s physique and weight
• The child’s head must never be, or be able to be, covered by the blanket
• Vital signs should always be observable
• The child must never be rolled in a blanket (unless a therapist is constantly at his or her side)
• A child must never be left unsupervised
• The child must be able to easily slip out of the blanket if he or she wishes to do so (it is not a confinement)
• The child must express his or her consent to this, even if it is not verbal

(Autism Society Canada, 2008)

Ning into Action

Feeling like you want to get back into the groove and excitement of teaching? Feel like you want to connect and share ideas with other educators, specialists and folks who are committed to working in the strange and wonderful branch of special education known as intensive, severe or multiple special needs?

Time to join (or come back to) the TLWMSN Ning!

Terri Trotter, a special education teacher of learners with multiple special needs at Carbon Lehigh Intermediate District is the TLWMSN new administrator and is working hard to make our Ning a place we can all turn to share information ask, questions or tell a funny story.


Visit TLWMSN

Tobii ATI Retires Mercury/Mini-Merc

Tobii ATI has announced the retirement of the Mercury/Mini-Merc series of AAC devices. The Mercury/Mini-Merc has been phased out for the new Tobii ATI C-Series and Sono devices.

Options for Writing with Word Prediction, Symbol Support and Writing Grids

Recently I needed to create a list of software program that had word prediction, symbol support and writing grids. I thought others might be interested, so here it is:

Software:
Clicker5 by Crick
-symbol supported writing/literacy
-grid based writing
-no word prediction unless you also purchase PenFriend
-free 30 day trial
-free sharing community with many pre-made grids

Classroom Suite by Intellitools
-grid based writing
-integrated word prediction
-picture symbols supports (but not as many as other programs without additional purchase)
-includes a virtual manipulative program for math that is great for those with fine motor issues
-work beautifully with the Intellitools keyboard which can be a standard keyboard with enlarges keys or can use overlays to match whatever software you are using
-free 30 day trial
-free sharing community with many pre-made grids and activities

Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro
-the ultimate in symbol resources
-word prediction (only in Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamicall Pro, not Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus)
-grid based writing
-free, active sharing community
-extensive add-on software avaliable for every area of the curriculm and things that are just fun like coloring books and games (some very cool programs can be added on)
-free 30 day trial

Communicate: Symbols by Widget (Distributed in US by Mayer-Johnson)
-symbol supported writing
-writing grids
-as far as I know, and I could be wrong, no word prediction
-free trial

BlinkTwice and Dynavox Merge

DynaVox is the leading provider of symbol-based communication software and speech generating devices for children and adults with speech, language and learning disabilities. Blink Twice is the developer of the Tango, an innovative, synthesized symbol-based communication device designed primarily for children and teens. Today's merger reinforces our joint commitment to providing the appropriate communication solution for each client's unique needs.

DynaVox recognizes that augmented communicators have different needs, and our goal is to offer the right product to best meet the needs of each individual. DynaVox is excited to have the Tango as part of its product offering. We admire the innovative approach that Blink Twice has taken towards creating an easy to access, aesthetically pleasing device, along with engaging symbols and voices which are particularly appealing to children and teens. For more information about the Tango, please visit the DynaVox Website dynavoxtech.com. Read the press release » Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions » Sales, support and manufacturing activities for the Tango will be integrated into DynaVox, with all key employees of Blink Twice joining the DynaVox team. With the Tango as part of the DynaVox family, customers will enjoy the benefits of DynaVox's industry leading support capabilities - what we like to call the DynaVox Difference. Tango customers will now benefit from: Increased local support through our team of over 100 North American Sales Consultants - find yours online at dynavoxtech.com Enhanced technical support coverage, now provided by the DynaVox Tech Support team, from 8 AM to 7 PM Eastern time. 866-DYNAVOX (396-2869) Expedited and accurate management of the reimbursement process, with the DynaVox Funding Team handling all Medicaid, Medicare, and insurance processing. Tango's inclusion in the DynaVox DREAM and rental programs. High quality manufacturing and the DynaCare service you've come to expect from DynaVox. We're ready to assist you with all of your needs for the Tango. All new orders should now be placed with the DynaVox Customer Support Team at 866-DYNAVOX (396-2869). We are also working to expedite the delivery of all Tango devices currently on order.

Making Websites Easier to Read (or have read to you)

A number of options exist to decrease visual clutter on websites, which in turn makes it much easier to use a text-to-speech reader to read the website to you or simply to view the site without distractions or to customize how the site is seen for easier reading.

Online or Bookmarklet Options

• Readability
• All Text Paper
• Tidy Read
• Textise (makes site text only, does not allow formatting changes etc.)
  

Browser Add-Ons

• Tidy Read for Firefox
  
• Textise for Firefox (see above ntoe about Textise)
  
• Clean Page for IE
  

De-Clutter Specific Sites

• Quiet Tube for You Tube
• Easy You Tube

Also useful: Directions on Re-Formatting Websites for JAWS

iPod Touch/iPhone App Round Up for Users with Significant Disabilities

AAC

• Expressionist - is a soon to be released app by Adastrasoft it holds 120 common expressions in 7 catagories and 1000+ nouns using photographs as identifiers in addition to a black and white line drawing of a cartoon-like person to create "composite images", the system design is a little baffling to me just looking at the screenshots and videos (no word on price yet)
  
• iConverse - this is a "you get what you pay for" augmentative and alternative communication solution, offering six choices with a decent voice and clip art icons and a horrendous text-to-speech voice for user created buttons ($10)
  
• Look2Learn AAC - yet another "you get what you pay for" ap, this one is photo based (comes with 80) and allows you to change sizes of the images, basically this allows the user to communicate "I want" messages only (only 4 buttons with vocal output). ($25)
  
• MobileTTS - by Gus Inc. a text-to-speech application for iPod Touch, iPhone and Blackberry designed as TTS AAC (not yet available)
  
• Proloquo2Go - a complete augmentative and alternative communication solution using SymbolStix with a high quality voice and many customizable features ($150 until July, $200 after July) see TLWMSN review
  
• Talk - by AlterMa Inc is a text-to-speech application ($0.99)
  

Prompting

• Halo Talk - by AdstraSoft this forced choice/prompting app is designed as pairs of opposites to use to offer choices from a field of two photos or to prompt to using a field of two photos, like the other AdstraSoft applications this uses the cartoon drawing of a person as well as photos ($33)
  
• iPrompts - this is a new (and somewhat buggy) an ap allowing you to use photograph or clip art symbols to make visual schedules, pair with a count down time or make basic choices from a field of two (without speech output)($50) see TLWMSN review
• Picture Scheduler - this app shows a visual reminder (photo or video) at a specified time as well as playing a voice note to cue the user ($3)
  
• Step Stones - by AdastraSoft is a new app for visual schedules using photos the current version has 12 visual sequences, the new version to be released will add 15 more and allow user made sequences, the user can check off each step as it is done ($29)

Other

• A Special Phone - this is an app that allows dialing without looking at the key pad and a shake of the phone instead of pressing dial, additionally you can program six dial by photo numbers that allow dialing without knowing or mathcing numbers ($0.99)
• Behavior Tracker Pro - allows the users to log ABC, frequency or duration data and then see it graphed, supports multiple data collections at once ($9.99)
  
• Speaking Images - shows a screen full of clip art images, press anyone to hear its name and see it bigger ($0.99)

Picture and Photograph Symbols Sets

Picture Symbols
Alexia (free)
Bliss Symbols ($) (available as Boardmaker Add-On)
Do2Learn (free)
Dynasyms ($)

• Boardmaker Add-On
  
• Dynavox Devices
  

Mayer-Johnson Picture Communication Symbols ($)

• Boardmaker, Boardmaker Plus, Boardmaker SDP
• PRC Devices with BM Symbols
  
• Dynavox Devices

Imagine Symbols (free)
Northumberland LEA (free)
Overboard Symbols ($)
Pictos/PictoCOM ($)
PRC Icons

• used on PRC Devices
• download free for use in other programs

Scelra Pictos (free)
Slater Symbols/PixWriter (free and $)
SymbolsStix

• News-2-You
  
• Tobii Communicator
• Jabbla and Tellus Devices
  
• Proloquo2Go
• PCI Symbol Products

Tango Symbols (only on the Tango device - $)
Tech/Syms (AMDi) (free)
Universal Icon Maker (Enabling Devices) ($)
Widgit Literacy Symbols ($) (also available as Boardmaker Add-On)


Photos
Ellie Cards ($)
Goosie Cards ($)
Life in Focus Software ($)
Photo Sentence Maker ($)
Picture This Series ($) (also available as Boardmaker Add-On)
Pics4Learning (free)
Language Maker ($)
Mrs. Riley (web-based subscribtion $)

Tactile Symbols
Object Symbol Resources ($)
Tactile Symbol Directory (free)
Talking My Way by Adaptivation ($)

Some Software for Arranging Symbols (making boards and more)
Boardmaker, Boardmaker Plus, Boardmaker SDP ($)
PhotoSYMS (free)
Picture This Series ($)
Tech/Syms (AMDi) (free)
Universal Icon Maker (Enabling Devices) ($)
Widgit Literacy Symbols - Communicate in Print ($)

Teaching Summer School?

Check out the Summer School for Special Education Ning.

P.S. I am still looking for someone to take over the Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs Ning.

Headphones Options for Special Needs

Many times our students can't tolerate headphones to listen to music, be it because of sensory reasons, positioning reasons or something else entirely classroom staff and families run out of options after trying the standard options of ear buds, headphones and behind-the-neck-headphones. After moving up the ladder to the expensive ultra padded options and having those fail as well sometimes you need to explore other choices:

Headbands

• Music Infused Headbands
• Vonio Bone Conduction Headband
• Sleep Phone Headband
• EarMuff Headphones
  

Hats

• Headphone Beanie Hat
• Nike Hatphone
  
• Do It Yourself Headphone Hat Instructions
  

Unique Earphones

• Custom Earmold Earphones
• Ear Canal Options
  
• Bone Conduction Headphones
• Water Proof Headphones
  

Pillow Speakers

• Memory Foam Pillow Speaker
• Organic Sherpa Pillow Speaker
• Fuzzy Pillow Speaker
• Neck Pillow Speaker
  

Other options include child size headphones (if sizing is an issue), speaker stuffed animals and speaker cases and bags.

Congratulations Colleen!

Colleen Kelley* was one of my first students at the agency I currently work at, and will be leaving in about a week. This past Friday Colleen graduated from Perkins School for the Blind. Her family and friends gathered yesterday to celebrate her success.

Colleen came to my class a 13 year old with a spirit that filled the room, but ready to meet some challenges facing her. She was not yet reading or writing, could count but not problem solve in math and had not yet learned many life skills. Luckily, Colleen is by far one of the hardest working students I have ever had and would succeed at these things and more.

Colleen spent grades 8-12 with me and by the time she moved on to Perkins was reading and writing on a late second grade level, could accomplish most basic math problems including time and money, could navigate her power chair independently in the community, had accomplished the most important of life skills and had the beginnings of accomplishing communication competency using her ChatPC.

At Perkins Colleen excelled at Horticulture and enjoyed OT. She was a cheerleader, loved music and dances and just hanging with her girlfriends in her cottage. She is hoping to keep working with plants and flowers in the future.

Colleen has been my teacher as much as I was hers. I feel blessed that Colleen has remained a part of my life after she moved on from my class. Colleen taught me so much, including:

• nothing is more important than positive expectations, especially when matched with a positive attitude - keep that bar raised high!
  
• a good laugh makes it easier to learn anything (especially if you are laughing at people or things falling over)
  
• slow and steady does, indeed, win the race
• it is never too late to learn new skills, even if everyone else says you can't
  
• unless you try, and try again, you never know what you can accomplish

Congratulations Colleen, and thank you!

*Colleen's name and photographs are used with both her permission and that of her guardian. The top photo is Colleen at age 21 at her graduation party, the bottom photo is Colleen at age 13 in her first year in my class.

Online Jukebox (scan songs with your switch)

Fred Flare, a favorite novelty shop, has an online Jukebox with age appropriate music for teens and young adults.

However, there is cursing in some songs, you need to pre-view before allowing students to use it.

The music changes every month and there are several play lists to choose from. Position your switch over the "next" button (green with yellow arrow) and your switch user can DJ the music!

Updates to Permanant Posts

The following permanent posts have been updated:

• AAC Devices - Dynamic Display
• Autism and Related Disabilities
  

What should I get for my new room?

I have a feeling I have answered this before, so fogive me, but I have been e-mailed a couple of times recently by new teachers or teachers changing to a new population asking what they should ask for as the building blocks of adapted devices/assistive technology for their new classroom of learners with severe or multiple disabilities.

Although the specifics will vary depending on the age group, the budget, the computers and other educational technology available in the room and other variables here are the items I would ask for:

• switches at the very least a Big Red and/or a Jelly Bean and possibly a wobble switch such as the Ultimate Switch or if you wish the Jelly Beamer Switch eliminates wires.
  
• switch mounts if your population with need them such as the Universal Mounting Arm
• Boardmaker Plus is the one piece of software that you MUST have in the intensive/severe special education classroom, it can be used for everything from printing out picture symbols and board, to creating interactive books and curriculum to sharing everything you can think of on Adapted Learning
• Classroom Suite is the next must have and with the exception of printing symbol/boards it does everything Boardmaker Plus does and then some
• Choose It Maker is another piece of software to consider
  
• a sequenced voice out put switch such as the Little Step-by-Step
• a two choice voice out put device such as the iTalk2
• a switch interface to attach a switch to the computer such as the Don Johnston Switch Interface Pro or the new Ablenet Hitch
• A Powerlink or similar device to allow students to use a switch to control small appliances like blenders and radios
  
• battery operated switch scissors make cutting possible for switch users
  
• a pouring cup on a flew mount can be used for everything from watering plants, to cooking, to pouring paint to mixing solutions in science and is a must have in most room and many teachers don't even know it
• battery adapters and a notching file to adapt any battery adapted item yourself
  

Note: try using the search feature to search this blog for ways to use any of these items.

Other fun things to consider:

• the Webber Functional Communication Game gets TONS of use in our classroom (I won it as a door prize at a conference a couple of years ago and it is one of my most prized possesions)
• All About Me, All About You and Yes or No also get lots of use (although I often re-word questions based on the student to allow them to be answered using a particular communication system)
  

Some friendly advice:
Make sure you know the warranty and repair policies of the companies you are ordering from as well as their reputation for making durable products:

• Ablenet Warrenty and Repair Info
• Enabling Devices Warrenty and Repair Info

Also keep in mind pretty much every AT company require a return authorization number for returns or repairs - so call first!

Sensory Friendly Films from AMC and the Autism Society of America

The AMC Movie Theatre chain and the Autism Society of America have come together to offer families affected by autism a chance to see a monthly new release movie in a setting which is safe and less overwhelming. The call it Sensory Friendly Films. The light in the theatre will remain turned up and the volume of the film will be lowered. Families are encouraged to bring in their own snacks and viewers are welcome to move around the theatre, sing, dance or speak if they wish.

Tickets are $4-6 and can be purchased by calling a local, participating theatre the day of the showing.

Visit the website for dates and times of shows as well as locations of theatres. (The next showing is of The UP Movie and is June 13 at 10 AM.)

If you enjoy the program, wish there was a theatre closer to you or want to comment on the program there is a link to do so on their website.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Rayann Brioche winner of the Stacey P. Ahern award for Disability Advocacy at Middlesex Community College through the TRIO Program.

We are inspired by you and wish you the best!

Throw Paper: A One Switch Adaptable Game

Meant to be a time-killer for bored employees in a cubicle farm this is an easily adaptable one switch game. Just set your switch to left mouse click, press to aim, release to throw and enjoy! Age appropriate for older switch users.

Resources for this Week's News-2-You: Kobe and LeBron

On the Web:

• Basketball.com
• NBA.com
• NBA Kids
• Jr. NBA
  

Adaptive Technology:

• Play Hoop Stars at HelpKidzLearn
• Kobe Bryant Tar Heel Reader Book (search for Tar Heel Reader Books)
• With students create a Power Point, SwitchIt Maker or similar program with pictures of Kobe and LeBron, set to "We are the Champions" or another favorite and run with switches
  

Sensory:

• Basketball Jars/Bottles - using large clean clear plastic jars or bottles (i.e. mayo, peanut butter water bottle or new dollar store jars) make Basketball sensory jars. Option one: offer students small objects to sort into "you find it at a basketball game" or "you don't find it at a basketball game" include things like a small toy basket ball, pieces of a cut up net/hoop, pop corn, a mini sneaker, cheerleader pom pom, etc. once objects are sorted put into jar and hot glue the lid on. Option 2: fill a water bottle with 10 parts water or clear corn syrup. Add beads and confetti from the craft or party store in a basketball theme. Hot glue the lid on and shake away. Sensory Bottles Link.
  

Adapted PE:

• Play table top pong pong basketball
• Play trash can basketball (with or without one of those little clip on hoops you can get at discount stores) or another version of adapted basketball
  
• Have a basketball obstacle course which includes skills appropriate to your population (bouncing, dribbling, lift the ball over head, pass the ball, roll the ball, etc.)
• Play other ball games with a basketball (instead of hot potato play burning basketball, etc.)
  

Arts and Crafts:

• Tissue Paper Basket Ball Collage
• Billy Basketball at DLTK (good project to review body parts)
• purchase a bunch of dollar/discount store toy/mini basketballs and do some "marble" painting
  

Life Skills:

• work on personal information by making "Basketball Trading Cards" that include name, birth date and other "stats"
  

Math:

• while playing any of the adapted PE games or Hoop Stars online keep score and work on counting, adding or probability
• recruit some peer buddies to have a shoot out, again work on counting, adding and probability
• collect various objects about half of which are spheres and half of which are not sort them into "ball" and "not ball"

Don't forget to check Adapted Learning and Classroom Suite Sharing for activities. Join the Adapted Learning News-2-You Group if you make Boardmaker, Boardmaker Plus or Boardmaker SDP News-2-You activities. (You must login in to Adapted Learning and then click on link.)

New Hitch Switch Interface

Ablenet has announced its new switch interface, Hitch, which will be ready to ship in July. Hitch needs no software to be installed (fantastic for those of us who do not have administrator privileges on school computers), can control one to five switches and can be used as a switch driven mouse emulator set to up arrow, down arrow, right arrow, left arrow and enter.

Bonus: Hitch can be set up to make switch hits act as certain function keys (F3, F5, F7, F8) which in secret code means you can use the Hitch to run Clicker5 (which uses F7 and F8 for switches). Until now you had to use a proprietary Crick Switch Interface to use switches with Clicker5 (which was annoying). Yee-Haw!

Hitch will retail at $99.00 (Sixty bucks cheaper than the Crick Switch Box).

Widgit Point: Symbol Support for the Web

Widgit Point is new software that allows website owners to add symbol support for their websites. Visitors to sites that use Widgit Point need only hover their mouse over a word and the symbol or symbols for the word will appear. You can see it in action on the Ability.net website. An introductory video and technical description are also available.

Kudos to Widgit for again harnessing the power of the web for accessibility. Let's hope this is broadly adopted!


(Thanks to Barrie at One Switch for bringing this to my attention.)

Workshops

I have had a few inquiries lately about my availability as a workshop presenter and I have checked my summer schedule and actually have quite a few openings left June-August of 2009.

Here is a list of workshops I have presented in the past:

• Positive Behavior Support for Teachers, TEAMS, Parents and/or Paraprofessionals
• Introduction to AAC for Teachers, Paraprofessionals and Parents
  
• Integrating AAC into the Daily Life of a Classroom
• Introduction to Boardmaker (TM), Boardmaker SDP and Advanced Courses
  
• Introduction to Low Incidence Disabilities to General Educators or Paraprofessionals
• Free and Low Cost Assistive Technology for All Learners
• High Incidence Disabilities and Accommodations for General Educators and Paraprofessionals
  
• Low Cost Adaptations and Assisitive Technology for Learners with Low Incidence Disabilities
• Making Peace with Challenging Parents
  

New this Summer:

• From IEP Objective to Fun Activity for the Classrooms Serving Learners with Low Incidence Disabilities
• Creating A Community Based Instruction Program
  

I am also happy to design new workshops to meet your training needs or fulfill requirements for your grants or stimulus money. Consultation is also available to districts, schools and families.

Please contact me at:


for rates, references and information.

Adaptive Worksheets Website

Silverlining Multi Media, the folks who bring us Picture This and the Picture This Addendum for Boardmaker (which I use all the time) have a new worksheet and photo card download site, Adaptive Worksheets (I can't stop myself from noticing the name's similarity to Adapted Learning). There is a limited free area with just over 30 samples to download and check out.

There is also a paid membership area for $9.95 a month or sign up $39.95 for a 1 year membership. The membership offers access to all worksheet generators and all PDF worksheets (which are added to weekly - although it doesn't say how many a week) and free support. Hopefully someone can comment to offer some specifics around how many free PDF worksheets are there, how the generators work and how many PDFs are added a week, and the quality of support to help folks figure out if the $39.95 is a good deal. (Also you need to pay by credit card, no Pay Pal or P.O.'s that I can see.)

iPrompts iTouch App Review

iPrompts is an application for the iPod Touch and iPhone that offers vertical visual schedule, a countdown timer and a simple choice making utility. It is designed to replace carrying those bulky (and annoying) visual schedules and choice making boards so many of us are used to using. It has recently come down in price and now retails for about $75. This review comes from using it a few weeks in my classroom.

The Good:

• the visual schedule picture does allow for a much more portable way of carrying a visual schedule for individuals who need it
  
• the choice making feature allows very quick, on-the-fly, choice making from a horizontal field of two of two pictures
  
• the countdown timer could make transitions easier for some individuals and displays an image or photo as well as a numeric and a visual image of the time passing
  
• the price just dropped to about 75 dollars (I paid 80)
• an iTouch is a much more portable and socially acceptable way to present visual scedules and cues to individuals with disabilities, especially in public, especially to older individuals in schools
  
• the product was designed by a family of a little boy with Autism to meet his needs for visual supports and I am all for families creating solutions and sharing them with the world
  

The Bad:

• the software is buggy, closing without notice and refusing import of many images (the company promises a release soon with a bug fix, no word on when)
  
• there is no way to "lock-out" the option menu, allowing students to "accidentally" or "accidentally-on-purpose" change into different parts of the program, put in new pictures or remove pictures
• the choice feature is used up and down to create the choice menu and side-to-side to offer the choices, meaning that for our students who always pick the left on (or the right one) you cannot really switch to a vertical choice (unless you want them to enter the library when they choose)
• the countdown timer sets off warning chimes before the countdown ends which are confusing to many individuals ("why is it beeping if I still have time?") and there is no way to change those settings
• the visual image of the countdown can be confusing (at least it is to my students)
  
• in general the software is not very customizable, sure you can change the pictures in the schedule, choice or timer but beyond that not much else, in our field, with our students being able to individualize is everything and this app just doesn't meet the need - in fact iPrompts does not even appear in the iTouch's settings app
  
• if you use with an iPod you cannot take pictures directly, although you can import from iTunes, but again, that is buggy
  
• according to the website they only trialed the software with about 12 individuals
  
• there are no special education teachers, SLPs, OT, BCBAs, AT specialists or other professionals listed on any sort of advisory board - not that you need to have these people, just that a little input and access to the research you are trying to emulate doesn't hurt (there is an autism specialist in their promotional video)
  
• as far as I know there was no closed or open public beta trial, there was no recruiting of professionals to try the software from places like the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) List Serv, the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) or the RESNA group
• The presentation of the software as "AAC" in some places create the illusion that this is "talking" software when it is not, I fully expected the app to speak and it doesn't, caveat emptor, it was my mistake, but one easily made
  

The Ugly:

• the "stock images" provided are pretty terrible, clip art (and babyish) and not-so-great photos - no picture symbols provided (you can import, with some effort Mayer-Johson Picture Communication Symbols Meta Files (if you own them $199.00 - there are some less um... legal ways to do this of course) or a free symbol set like Imagine Symbols with considerable effort and use of your iTouch memory
  
• although this is not really an AAC application (simple choice making yes, AAC not-so-much - if this app wants to compare itself with AAC it needs compare itself honestly, not with devices that do millions and millions of times more what it does) the website feels the need to "bash" AAC companies with high tech, well developed, specialty products, not realizing, perhaps, that without those companies we would not have the research and development, the knowledge and the ideas to do what we do with AAC and technology with individuals with communication disorders everyday - in addition they state that these companies "prey" on vulnerable school districts and parents, that's a gutsy accusation to make publically when opening a new company
  
• the company uses the term "Social Story" (which is trademarked) in its documentation incorrectly (Social Stories are a very specific format with a very specific focus) and does not credit Carol Grey

In summary, this is a very expensive app for what it offers that is buggy, not terribly customizable and meets very limited needs. However it might be perfect for some individuals who just need those basic picture schedules and simple visual, horizontal two choice options. If you think it might be you should check out the YouTube tutorial video and their website, or download from iTunes. You should also consider using it with the iPhone versus the iPod for the avaliability of a camera to help overcome the lack of symbols.

In some cases it may be best to spend a little more money ($75 more) and get Proloquo2Go (introductory price currently $150), then you will have a high quality, well researched AAC, fully tested application that, when place in "list" format can do the same type of visual scedule and will allow you to create endless "choice" boards (that talk with your choice a top of the line voice) and then just use the regular count down timer on your iTouch for countdowns (the only app Proloquo2Go can't currently do).

P.S. That makes me wonder when there will be a Time Timer app. Wouldn't that rock?

Proloquo2Go hits the big time!

See that, fourth picture down in the iTunes showcase? It's Proloquo2Go! And if you go into the iTunes store from iTunes itself chances are you will see Proloquo2Go featured in the large scrolling gallery at the top.

Right up there with American Idol, Linkin Park and Hotel for Dogs!

Imagine what this could do for AAC users and poternial AAC users!

Help Wanted

For quite a while there has been a Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs Ning (online group), but I have not had time to promote it, manage it or even participate in it the way I envisioned. I am looking for someone who would like to take it over. This would look fantastic on the resume of a special education graduate student or even undergraduate major or might be a great role for many other people. Please comment or e-mail me (my address is way at the bottom of this page) to let me know if you are interested. If I can't find a taker by the end of the month I will likely eliminate the Ning altogether.

New Basic Skills and Switch Accessible Activities at HiYah and Help Kidz Learn

Both Help Kidz Learn and HiYah have posted new basic skills and switch activities on their sites. Just in time for those end-of-the-school year blahs.

Help Kidz Learn has an Early Mouse Movements activity that also works with touchscreen, interactive whiteboard and was super fun on a Tablet PC with stylus for us. It can be set the color changes as you go over the paint spots and you can set it to have additional music or sound effects to add to the fun.

Help Kidz Learn also added a two player switch curling game with is higher level than many of their switch activities both in switch skills and in cognitive ability, but is a nice addition to the library of activities they have online.

Finally Help Kidz Learn has added a textless animated story called How We Used to Wash.

HiYah offers simple spacebar (or switch set to spacebar) programs about basic concepts for download or play online. They have recently redone many of there basic language programs (such as their nouns series) and added some new programs including: Spring, Yummy Tummy, The Earth Revealed...at Last!, Happy 4th of July, Colors-Basic, and Opposites-Basic.

Free Unique Summer Curriculum

Unique Learning System, the standards aligned special needs curriculum from the folks who bring us News-2-You and SymbolStix Symbols, are offering their summer curriculum for FREE! The unit is on science and is definitely worth checking out even if you aren't teaching this summer.

All you need to do is register and then you can download all the bands (grade levels).

FYI - Make One Minute Wonders One Switch Accessible

Did you know you can play BBC's One Minute Wonder Videos with play with one switch randomly? Set the mouse arrow over the lever just where that red arrow points in the picture. You will need to press play on the video screen the first time with your mouse and them replace the mouse to the lever. After that your switch set to "mouse click" will change the video to a new one randomly. Very fun on the "big screen" (LDC projector or SMART board).

Memorial Video for Stacey Ahern

It was my intent to post a memorial for my sister on March 20th, one year after her death, but I just wasn't ready. Today our brother, an Autism Specialist in Hawaii, sent me Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson and the spirit moved me. Searches for my sister's name are about 9% of the visits to this site

Our sister Stacey was a remarkable young lady. She was a disability activist and a gifted writer who over came the odds again and again. When told she would never walk, use her hands or speak she went to go on to do all of those things. When told she may never live on her on and that she would certainly never finish community college she not only lived on her own and finished community college; she also transferred to the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College in New York and, two months after her death last March, received her diploma. That was in spite of an in ability to write by hand (imagine taking math or econ without writing by hand) and a speech disorder. She was also a writer.

You can read about her here:

• Assistive Technology Used During Rehab from Brain Injury
• Eulogy
• Obituary
• "Those Looks" Original Disability Activist Poetry by Stacey Ahern
  

Switch Accessible News Reader

My Blogger pal Barrie over at One Switch brought my attention to the new BBC switch accessible news reader for kids. The website is a well designed interface for children, 'tweens and even teens and adults with cognitive challenges/learning disabilities to read or have read to them via text to speech the news.

Seeing as it is from the BBC the site focuses mainly on UK news, which is why I would love to see PBS, NPR or PRI pair up with BBC and re-create this site with American news (and other countries do the same thing). If that can't happen perhaps News-2-You, who largely ignore access issues, could create something or Ablenet or Mayer-Johnson could leap at the opportunity (which would mean it would not be free, of course).

A great thing about the BBC Accessible News Reader is the level of customization. You can change how many categories of news from 1 to 6, you can use the scan feature or not and adjust it to 3, 5, 10 or 15 seconds for a scan rate. It does not currently two switch scan (except if you turn the scan off and use tab/enter - which means increasing cognitive load as it then scans everything and has no auditory scan). With the scan off you can also use what ever access equipment you have including touch screens, eye or head tracking, alternative keyboard with a custom overlay or a joystick. You can use the text to speech or not and choose from a high quality male or female voice (British accents, of course). You can change the color scheme of the text to high or low contrast or a color overlay for dyslexia (but they do not have a dyslexia friendly font choice in there font choice list). Overall this is an amazing, free resource

Wijits

I learned about Wijits, an adaptation to the wheels of a manual wheelchair that can benefit many wheelchair users and increase self propulsion from Elina on the Youtube video posted on Eric's Speech Pathology Sharing Site. What a super way to promote independence in some of our students!

New Site for Adapting Curiculum for Learners with Visual Impairments

VI Curriculum is a new site from the Maryland School for the Blind focusing on adapting curriculum for learners ages birth-3 who have visual impairment. However, as you explore the site you will find that much of the content carries over into working with students of any age who have multiple disabilities including visual impairment.

Some features of the site include ideas for adapting various common thematic units like "All About Me" and "Insects", adaptations for the curriculum domains and the expanded curriculum domains (including a whole section on switch use and assistive technology), the Tips for the Trenchs Make it Take it Sections with the not to be missed 10 Low Tech Ideas For a Pool Noodle, a blog, and more.

Be sure to add this web site to your bookmarks!

Adapted Learning Print Editor to Go Live Soon

Yesterday I had a very interesting web conference with Bob from Mayer-Johnson about some of the features they are planning for their new Print Editor (which remains in public beta if you want to try it out).

Print Editor is a feature of Adapted Learning that will allow you to open files stored your "my files" section of Adapted Learning and change them before directly printing them. No downloading, no need for you Boardmaker disc. This will eliminate the issues many of us have with not being allowed to download files or not having Boardmaker installed on the same computer as the internet.

Print Editor is a very rich application within an application. Although it shouldn't be expected to do everything Boardmaker does it actually comes very close. The key thing to remember is that it is an editor not a creator (although from what I saw in the web conference you can come very, very close to creating full materials with Print Editor, which is very cool for some of those crazy, last minute kind of days when everything is working against you. The only thing you really can't do is create symbolated text, but you can edit symbolated text). You can change buttons - everything from the symbols in them to the text, to the lines, to symbolation. You can create new buttons. You can clear one button or multiple buttons (allowing you to create a template from a board in one fell swoop).

My favorite thing is that Bob told me the developers are very close to fixing the bug that wouldn't allow you to print out multiple boards saved as one board. I use the multiple board feature frequently.

I have heard from some parents who are worried that teachers will use Print Editor to download boards without changing them and hand them out to kids with out putting any though into curriculum or methodology. I think Print Editor may actually cut down on that. If teachers can easily open boards and change them, without too many extra steps getting in the way, I think they are more likely to customize those boards. At least I hope so. Our time is always at a premium, so the more of it we spend on customizing and the less on saving to flash drives, carrying to another computer, opening in Boardmaker, editting and then printing the better.

Of course the question people ask when something comes out of beta is, "how much?" Print Editor will be a subscription service. It will cost about $80 a year, less if you sign up for multiple years. At first it will be credit cards only, no purchase orders (some kinks to work out of the system before they can offer P.O.s). You will have to have a licensed copy of Boardmaker to subscribe to Print Editor and your subscription will be tied to your Adapted Learning log on (and if you share your log on only one person can use Print Editor at a time - which I think is very generous, they could have made it so only one person can log on at a time).

I know for a fact that Mayer-Johnson reads the comments here, so comment away, you will be heard.

P.S. Bonus nerd factoid - Adapted Learning can track things about the boards we post, i.e. if most of us put a symbolated title on most board then they start thinking, hmmm... how can we make that easier for people. They can tell how many boards are interactive vs. print only, how many use advanced features, how many are for what age groups, what topics and subjects we frequently make boards for then they can use that info to make Boardmaker better for all of us. I am thinking Boardmaker 7 will be, as the kids say, "da bomb!"

(And Bob told me that Mayer-Johnson heard their customers loud and clear about Boardmaker Player on a flashdrive - he couldn't say more and who knows if "heard" means they are doing anything (they would be dumb not to) but I am thinking we should get excited!)

Proloquo2Go in the iTunes Ap Store!

Proloquo2Go, Assistiveware's and Sennott Consulting AAC software that runs on an iPod Touch or iPhone is now officially available to the public at the iTunes ap store online or via your iPod Touch or iPhone. Envision balloons and confetti falling from the ceiling!

I was privileged enough to be the coordinator for a young woman who beta tested the software and let me tell you it is some amazing stuff. Amazing!

The software is sleek, intuitive and well designed. The teacher of the young lady beta testing said to me last week, "Can I just tell you, this thing is the best thing since mayonnaise!" This teacher, AAC user and speech therapy assistant had never really used anything higher tech than a Go Talk 4+. Yet the software is so well designed that the student and paraprofessionals had it figured out immediately. Those of us who have had extensive literacy, language and cognitive development training will take one look at Proloquo2Go and see the lastest research jump out at us. There are no features thrown in because they are the next hot thing (visual scene displays) inspite of very little supportive literature across broad bases of AAC users, there are just many, many features that are supported by well studied aspects of special education, speech and language development, lingiuistics and other fields.

This reasearch has lead to the software has many higher level features that our beta testing student doesn't need, like automatic verb tensing and grammatical features, which will greatly benefit many users. Additionally it is configured to us Goosen color coding out of the box to add phrase and sentence composing users.

The voice is smooth and easy to understand. The symbols are SymbolStix from the News-2-You folks and seem to easily generalize to students who are used to Mayer-Johnson Picture Communication Symbols.

Our beta testing student uses an iMainGo case to amplify the voice and protect against bumps and bangs. I am sure there are other case options out there.

I honestly cannot recommend this software application enough. It isn't for everyone (i.e. not for users who need a keyguard, switch access, eye or head tracking, etc.), but any clinic or clinician should have it on hand to trial (especially at the trial price it is being offered at right now) to test with users who have decent vision and good fine motor skills.

Please remember that like all AAC it is important to properly evaluate the user for an appropriate device, with the right features. It is necessary to collect data on AAC usage, to use a TEAM approach with the SLP as the lead and the involvement of the user and the family during the programming and updating phase (which is much shorter on the Proloquo2Go because it is so well designed). We all get jazzed about cool new tools, but they become old, dusty tools if we get them for us and not the user!

"Kitchen Computers" in Our Classrooms

Most of us in the severe and profound branch of special education were/are bypassed by the netbook phenomenon. (I certainly tried with an Asus eee.) Netbooks just don't met the needs of our students. No CD/DVD drive means no way to easily install specialized software like Boardmaker, Classroom Suite or Clicker5, besides the limited memory means it couldn't handle the software anyways. The tiny screen don't work well for low vision students and after you attach your switches and interfaces all of the extra stuff takes up more space than the actual netbook. Also you needed some serious soldering skills to attach a touch screen.

The next hot new thing in computing looks to be "kitchen computers". These are all-in-one computers that are essentially just large touchscreen monitors with everything inside, often times including wifi, CD/DVD, integrated webcam, microphone and speakers and about 2G of RAM and 160 G or so of hard drive. (Those specs are for the MSI wind.)

The MSI wind shown here can be pre-ordered for $530. The Asus Eee Top costs $600, while Dell's all-in-one machine, (not in the US yet) has been priced at $800 for a touchscreen model.

At those prices, with just the right amount of power and no need for an external touch screen I can see these turning up in many severe special needs classrooms. The nice thing will be when they are broken it won't cost and arm and a leg to replace it.

Another thing to watch might be the new Crunch Pads.

Resources for this Week's News-2-You: City Bikes

City Bikes

General Resources

• Bixi System
• Bixi.com
  
• Bixi on Wikipedia
• Video Clip of Bixi Bike

Science

• EPA Kids Air Pollution Page
• What is Air Pollution? (PDF)
• Clean and Dirty Air
• Air Pollution Reading with Quiz

Life Skills/Social Studies

• Bike Safety
• Street Sign Worksheet
• Sign Shapes
• Online Traffic Sign Quiz
• Street Sign Photo Slide Show
• Street Sign Gallery Quiz

Arts and Crafts

• make street signs (then use in adapted P.E. see below)
  

Adapted P.E.

• make an obstacle course where students follow street signs they have made (can be on bikes if you have any riders
• pedal palooza - have students pedal either using hand pedalers, stationary bikes, adapted bikes or regular bikes - earn points for minutes pedaled and give prizes

Sensory

• set up several fans with switches and attach crepe paper and foil streamers (connection - clean air)
• get some remote control toy bike (toy motorcycles are fine) and adapt for switches or run via IR on AAC devices hold races or derbies

Avoidance, Anemia and Our Kids

This is one of those rare personal posts, skip it if you are looking for all sped info (although there is some towards the end.)

Some of you have noticed and e-mailed me about my lack of posts lately. I have noticed my lack of posts as well. I have just been so tired. I get home from work and fall asleep. I try not to, I try to force myself to do all the things I normally do, but to no avail. I had my yearly physical about six weeks ago and all the results were as they always are: my diabetes is in perfect control (thanks miracle pump!), my blood pressure was good, etc, etc. I had low iron, but I always have low iron and was told to eat more leafy greens and red meat, except I don't really eat red meat in order to keep my cholesterol down.

I thought maybe my fatigue was starting on my allergy medication since it was spring, or maybe it was just the time of the year, but finally I gave in and went to the doctor again on Friday afternoon. This time my low iron had depleted even more and was officially anemic. I was prescribed iron and B-12 and sent on my way.

Since getting home from the appointment 48 hours I have logged 36 hours of sleep. No, I am not kidding. That is how completely exhausted was. Now that I am up and have done a couple of errands I am ready for bed again. I am thinking about my students, about all of our special needs students with communication difficulties.

How would they communicate to us that they are this exhausted? How would they let us know that they aren't just tired, that they aren't just fatigued, that they are exhausted beyond comprehension? It was hard enough to play detective on myself and I live in this body, how do we do it for our students or for our children? I was scolding myself, saying, "Kate, for crying out loud, you just went to the doctor, there is nothing wrong with you, suck it up and get busy!" I was wondering if I was engaging in avoidance behavior and if so what exactly was I avoiding? Now I have a lab slip that says that it wasn't avoidance, it was anemia. Now I can cut myself some slack, take the iron and the B-12, eat a steak and a bowl of spinach, and take a long nap twice a day until I feel like myself again.

I know to rule out the medical first with my students. I teach positive behavior support classes to teachers and paraprofessionals several times a year and I drill into their heads to rule out the medical first, but are we doing a good enough job with that? Are we looking at all the signs in front of us? Are we ruling out the right things? Are we being proactive and teaching our students how to communicate how they are feeling physically and emotionally and what they need?

Are we really looking at what they are showing us with their behavior and demeanor and not jumping to conclusions? Are we thinking outside the box and using our empathy to figure out what is going on? If one of our students were this exhausted would we have figured it out?

What do you think?

Lincoln Logs at Annie's Resource Attic

Annie's Resource Attic has just posted a great new activity around Lincoln Logs and log cabins. She explains it far better than I ever could so head over and check it out!

P.S. As always she has Clicker5, Classroom Suite, Dynavox and PowerPoint versions of various options.

Switch Mixer Lite

Barrie over at One Switch has posted a great new activity called Switch Mixer Lite that plays wav sound effects randomly in a preset order or play the same sound repeatedly by pressing a switch (set your interface to "1").

This could be used as a cause and effect or in any or the following ways:

• convert songs to wavs (use mediaconverter.org or similar site) and use as a music player
• do the same with clips of audio books
  
• record a spelling list, math quiz or similar with each question as a single wav file and have the switch user administer the test to peers
• record commands for a game like red light/green light
• play sound effects for a haunted house or similar event
  
• play wavs of jokes
• record the numbers one through six or the colors, set to random and use as an audio dice or spinner
• record favorite quotes from a movie or book and play name the character
• record the opening line or two from songs and play name that tune

Here are places you can get wav files

• 55 Greatest Places to get wav files
• I Love Wavs
• Twow
  

Resources for this Week's News-2-You: We Shall Remain

General Resources

• We Shall Remain Website at PBS
• Apache Information
• Shawnee Indian Facts for Kids
• Kids Info: Native Americans
• Power Points about American Indians
  

Interactive White Board/Touch Screen

• Native Tech
  

Arts and Crafts

• Enchanted Learning Native American Crafts
• About.com Native American Crafts
  

Apapted PE

• Apache Toe Toss Stick and Foot Toss Ball (Scroll Down)
• Music and Movement (Free native music, Buffalo Trails, Last FM - you can use a switch to press play/pause on the computer or with a Powerlink and CD Player)
• Native Ball Games
  

Fine Motor

• Ball and Triangle Game
• Native Guessing Games
• Native Hazard Games
  
• Coloring Pages (with literacy ideas)
  

Cooking

• Teacher's First Native Recipes
• Recipe Links
  

300,000 Visits!

Seriously, I started this little blog as a way to kill time while I mended from ankle surgery three and a half years ago. I never dreamed I would one day have over 700 posts and 300,000 visits to the site! (And if I had known this site would not have such a long address, that is for sure!) Those numbers are just mind boggling.

The benefits of writing a blog as a special educator have been many. I have finally found a way to be a know-it-all and be appreciated instead of annoying. I have met, online and in person, many people, including parents, therapists, people in the curriculum, AT and AAC fields and people with disabilities that I have come to value in my life. I have gained professional knowledge through the research I have done to write posts and respond to questions. I have had opportunities to write articles, give presentations and workshops and participate in beta trials of software and devices I would have never had if I didn't write this blog. (By the way if you need an article, speaker or presenter, drop me an e-mail! I love writing, speaking and presenting!) Most of all I have grown as a teacher. I try new things and reflect more on what I do and how I do it. That is more important than anything else.

Thank you all for visiting and keep coming back!

April 10, 2009 More Reflection on Blogging
Thank you all for your kind comments and e-mails on my 300,000th visit! Keep 'em coming, I need to be able to think about them on those days when I can't think of anything to blog about, don't feel like combing the web or my RSS reader for material and just don't have it in me to do one more thing. Those of you who commented on being budding bloggers, having just established your own blogs - welcome to the party! -Kate

Dr. Seuss's AACs

(A Poem about Augmentative & Alternative Communication)

re-printed with permission from I am Micro-Managing
(Another of my favorite parents of special kids blogs)

Did you know there are some
for whom speaking is tough?
Who use signing, and pictures,
and pointing, and stuff?

But those methods can lack;
They can frustrate all!
(And leave us each feeling
quite helpless and small.)

But there are cool new ways
for a voice to be heard,
and to be understood,
without saying a word!

These high-tech-y tools
are expensive and rare...
but each time I check,
a brand new one is there!

They're newer than new,
and they sparkle and shine,
with computering parts
that are finer than fine!


Oh, the wonderful things these devices can do!
They can scroll straight to "cow"! They can help you say "Moo!"
They can show you a "bowl" or a "sister" or "bus;"
they can help you say "Help!" with such minimal fuss!

Take oodles of photos!
Build word lists galore!
Use the voice of your choice,
speak in school -- or the store!

Give your puppy a name!
Select lunch on your own;
ask for milk, juice, or pop!
Even talk on the phone!

Give your teachers a way
to test how much you know!
Tell your dad that
your shoe is too tight on your toe!

Request movies by name!
Then, just for a lark,
tell your mom that you want
to eat cheese in the park!

Yes, the world is your oyster,
and you are it's pearl;
Communication's the KEY
for each boy and each girl!

It's exciting and fresh --
talking fun that is fun!
But there IS a small catch:
You can only have ONE!

The selection is vast;
the technology new.
Take a carefullish look;
Find the one right for YOU!

Do you need overlays?
Would a camera be nice?
Do you like Unity?
Or would Minspeak suffice?

Are we shooting towards goals
of literacy?
Is it helpful to have
just a small qwerty key?

And how many screens --
sixty-four or just three?

What? What's that? What's that that you say?
You say 64 is the magical way?
Sixty-four will display all the things you might say?

(Are you sure that's not
far too much stuff in the way??)

Or maybe it is?
You really don't know?

How do we decide
which direction to go?

There are all shapes and sizes,
and colors galore!
But we can't try them all,
and they keep making more!

Should one organize words
by theme or by list?
Have a visual base,
or conceptual twist?

And how does it feel?
Does it fit in your hand?
Do you have to sit down?
Will it work when you stand?

Can you use it in rain?
See the screen in the sun?
Can you lock the controls?
Charge it up on the run?

Is it easy to clean?
Will it fit in your bag?
Is there user support
without having to nag?

Is it heavy to hold?
Are there cords in the way?
Can it actually say
all you hope, dream, and pray?

Does it need USBs?
Or expansioning packs?
Is it easy to learn,
yet has challenging tracks?

Is the camera built-in?
Are there symbols or pix?
Can it play any games?
Does it do any tricks?

Will it speak Japanese?
Can it surf on the web?
If I buy the upgrade,
will it dootle or fleb?

Can it dance the fandango
or do the Watusi?
Does it have shoulder straps,
or clip to one's caboose-y?

Is it bluetooth compat?
Does it lay golden eggs?
Can it walk by itself
on its wee robot legs?

Is it unbreakable?
Does it use rocket fuel?
Can it fly on its own
to and from my son's school?

Does it come with its very own echo-locator?
(And if lost, will it come right back --
sooner than later?)
All this pick-y and choose-y
and question-y stuff
makes my head feel all woozy!
ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!

So which choice is best?
Which one passes each test?
Which rises above all the lowlier rest?
From near and from far,
North, South, East, or West,
which one is the
perfectest,
bestliest,
BEST?

How I dread, dread, dread, DREAD
sorting through in my head...
Can't anyone out there

JUST
TELL
US,

instead?

Video of the Day

My class has been struggling with our music video of the day ventures. More and more video sites on the internet are blocked everyday and we have essentially given up on music videos.

An option that was shared on the Free Technology for Teachers website that will fill 13 mornings of "VotD" (Video of the Day) is CBBC's One Minute Wonders.

Each video also has a corresponding quiz.

Power Point Collections

Most of us (I think) have been using Pete's Power Point Station and Jefferson County's Power Points to find Power Points to use in our classrooms. Here are some other Power Point collections to add to our tool boxes:

• World of Teaching
  
• Graves School District
• Houston Public Schools
• Power Point Collections
• Lexington Schools
• Gaston County Schools
• Nebo Schools
• Power Point Activities
  

Icon Talk Fold Up

This Positive Behavior Support came up on the QIAT Listserv the other day. It is from the Icon Talk website. Called a "Fold Up" it has visual cues, first/next, tokens, and more all in one support. Check it out.

Free Picture Symbols

Alexia Symbols are a collection of symbols from France (Translated via Google Translate). They are free for non-commercial use. You can import the symbols into Boardmaker or PhotoSYMS if needed. In addition you can sign up for e-mails of any new symbols.

Thanks to Teaching Students with Learning Difficulties for the tip.