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