iScan iPod: Control an iPod with a Single Switch!

This is just awesome! A company in Australia has developed a switch interface that adapts an iPod to be used with a single switch! It is called the iScan MP3 (formerly known as the Switch Pod) I have at least one, possibly more, students I want this for. The adapter works best on older version iPods, but if you don't need auditory scanning you can follow these directions to use on a new iPod. In the US it is avaliable from Enabling Devices for about $210.00.

Social Stories Site

When I was an undergrad Social Stories were the new, hot technique for teaching students with Autism to hand different situations, especially social situations. I ran across this website, from the originator of Social Stories today and want to share it.

I found the sample social stories to be particularly useful in showing me some new ideas for ways to use them. There are also some ideas for writing your own and items for purchase.

Reading the site made me think about one particular time that using a version of a social story worked when nothing else had. The student was having a hard time differentiating between real and pretend, as well as talking about age appropriate topics. Note that the story was changed from 3rd to 2nd person for confidentiality, stories should not generally be in 2nd person. The story is below (or download in MSWord with pictures*):

Real and Pretend for _____.

Some things are real and some things are pretend.

REAL

PRETEND

Read the word real.

Read the word pretend.

You are real.

Batman and Spiderman are pretend.

College wrestling is real.

Pro-wrestling is pretend.

Our school is real.

Angel Grove School is pretend.

Karate teachers are real.

Ninjas are pretend.

Orcas are real.

Free Willy is pretend.

Power lifting is real.

Power Rangers are very pretend.

Adults learn that things that are real can be fun!

Babies and little kids like to think about pretend things.

Which one do you want to be?

We talk about things that are real in high school.

*file download available for 30 days, after which comment for the file to be e-mailed

Can't cope with the paper work?

Take a break. Check out Bored.com.

Interesting and Little Known Concepts in Visual/Pictoral Communication

This is a pure AAC geek entry with little to no practical value for the intensive special needs classroom.

That being said here are some interesting, little known, non-standard visual/pictoral communication systems for all the other special education teacher (and speech therapist) geeks to peruse.

Elephant Memories is "a pictorial language consisting of more than a hundred and a fifty combinable graphic elements (pictograms and ideograms). It invites people from various cultural backgrounds to communicate and explore a new means of expression." I can't even begin to explain this system. You have to check it out.


Phonetic Picture Writing is another completely unexplainable system. The website states, " A phonetic picture-writing is a picture-writing, which also can be read phonetically. For its ideograms (picture symbols) are composed of special letters."

Sign Writing is a system for using pictoral images to "write" in sign language. The sign is mainly about writing in ASL, but has many links to sign writing based on other sign languages. The site is extensive, with downloads, lessons, links to other sign writing sites around the world, and information about other movement based writing languages. The associated site, Sign Puddle, has dictionaries, translation services and a sign writing e-mail service. Another useful sign writing web site is AT-Links Canada. Set aside a bit of time to explore these sites.

Instant English is an icon based system that is intended to use picture icons to teach English in a multi-sensory manner. There are free online English lessons using the system and downloads of the icons. The lessons are designed to show the images and read the text aloud.

Medicaid Funding Changes for 2007

Medicaid issued a number of funding changes that can (and probably will) impact our students. While teachers may have little interaction with applying for these benefits it may be worth letting physical, occupational and speech therapists know about the changes to power wheelchair funding, AAC device funding and the "cap" process for therapeutic services.

The information is summarized here:

• Association of Assistive Technology Act Policies

Website of the Day - Awesome Library

Awesome Library is a resource of 33,000 articles and resources, all reviewed, pertaining to education. A large section of these are about topics in special education. What makes Awesome Library truly unique is Awesome Talkster. Awesome Talkster is a free talking web browser. It is a full browser with all the features any student will need to search the web. Awesome Talkster is windows only software. There are also links to many e-books that Awesome Talkster can turn into audio books.

Yet Another Bunch of Symbol Systems

I have discovered more picture symbol systems to share with you all. The first is the Bonnington Symbol System out of Edinburg, Scotland. They currently have 600 symbols with plans to expand. They also offer a variety of free symbol based activities. The Bonnington Symbols are ment to expand other symbol systems and are compatiable with MS Word and Boardmaker. There list of links is worth checking out.

The Simplified Sign Lexicon now has a library of 800 free black and white images of American Sign Language words to be used when working with learners who have intellectual disabilities. The dictionary is arranged in alphabetical order. There is also a teaching manual, and everything is free of charge.

Tangible Symbols Systems offers texture, miniature objects and partial objects. They have many resources to be explored.

There are two companies making customized cards Squarepics and Goosie Cards. Both are worth taking a look at.