Assistive Technology 1 on 1

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Assistive Technology 1 on 1

• Nancy Young, Ph. D.Email nayoung_at_irvingisd.net
• Irving ISD
• Assistive Technology Specialist

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AT - Its the law

• Assistive technology device
• any item, piece of equipment, or product system
• whether acquired commercially off the shelf,
  modified, or customized
• that is used to increase, maintain, or improve
  the functional capabilities of children with
  disabilities

• Assistive technology service
• any service that directly assists a child with a
  disability in the selection, acquisition, or use
  of an assistive technology device

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Ability or Disability?

• How do we match technology needs? By ability or
  disability?
• What does the student need to do? Can he do it
  without technology? If not, lets look at what
  we can do to augment his strengths.
• Is it an issue of hardware? Software? Internet
  access? Skill deficit(s)?

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Computers and disabilities

• Different people need different assistance
• Abilities or disabilities?
• IISD history
• Desktops
• Portable word processors
• Laptops

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Desktop

• Freedom of expression using a desktop computer
  and an adapted/alternate keyboard, and special
  picture-writing, talking word processing software
  

Maggies Story
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Portable Word Processors
The Writer from KeyboardInstructor.com AlphaSmart
, Neo, and Dana from AlphaSmart.com LaserPC from
PerfectSolutions.com
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Laptops

• Why were here!

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Individualizing I/O

• Problems with inputting information
• Vision impairment
• Fine motor issues
• Reading and spelling deficits
• Cognitive deficits
• Problems with output
• Vision impairment
• Comprehension challenges
• Reading deficit

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Hardware suggestions for input challenges

• Adapted or extra/external keyboards
• On-screen keyboards
• WindowsXP StartgtAll Programsgt AccessoriesgtAccessi
  bilitygtOn-screen keyboard
• Free onscreen keyboard from Lakefolks.org
• On-screen keyboards and electronic mouse
• Tracker 2000 head pointing from Madentec.com
• Trackball for student with touchpad issues
• Intellikeys from Intellitools.com
• Braille or colored keycaps for keyboard

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• Personal scanning devices
• C-Pen from C-Pen.com

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Software...where to begin??

• Screen reading and magnification
• JAWS for blind students
• ZoomText for students having problems with
  seeing the computer screen

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Print-related Disabilities

• Talking word processors
• Talking word processor from Premiere AT
• WriteOutloud from DonJohnston.com
• Intellitalk from Intellitools.com
• Key2Speak Freeware from Madoogli.org
• Screen readers
• Universal Reader from Premiere AT
• Freeware
• ReadPlease 2003 from Dyslexia.com
• Talking web browser from same site
• Free in applications
• Adobe Reader 6.0 and 7.0
• MS Reader

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Adobe Reader 6.0 and 7.0

• To access the Reading/Text-to-Speech feature
• Toolbar EditgtPreferences or Ctrl-K
• CategoriesgtReading
• Make choices from boxes
• Once choices made, Reading can be turned on by
  ShiftCtrlV

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MS Reader - A free text reader
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Features

• Free!!
• Download to any computer
• Text-to-speech feature
• Plug-in for Word to make any document an e-book
  and thus capable of being read aloud
• URLs on Handout

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Download the installer

• http//www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/pc.asp
• Save to Desktop
• Open and install

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To add Text-to-Speech feature

• http//www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/tts.asp
• Download installer to Desktop
• Install after installation of MS Reader is
  complete

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To edit speech settings
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To add Word Plug-in

• http//www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/rmr.asp
• Download installer
• Install after MS Reader installation is complete
• This plug-in enables the user to make any Word
  document an e-book
• MS Reader will read aloud any e-book

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To add the free dictionary

• http//www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/dictiona
  ries.asp
• Download the installer
• Install the application after MS Reader
  installation is complete
• Encarta Dictionary is available when MS Reader is
  opened

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Where can I find books?

• FREE e-texts!!
• Alex A Catalog of Electronic Texts on the
  Internet http//www.infomotions.com/alex/Catalogu
  e with roughly 2,000 entries of e-texts, mostly
  on gopher servers
• Bartleby Online http//www.bartleby.com/
  Includes American heritage Reference Collection,
  encyclopedias, dictionaries, Roget Thesaurus,
  Quotations, etc.
• Books-Online http//www.books-on-line.com/ Good
  source of free books, many different genres
• Electronic Text Center is another good source of
  free e-books http//etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks
  /
• Internet Public Library http//www.ipl.org/Links
  to picture books, short stories, poetry, myths,
  fables, magazines, and information about authors

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• Word prediction
• Use with students with writing challenges, such
  as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and motor issues
• Dyslexia and dysgraphia use spelling support
• Motor issues, such as cerebral palsy and muscular
  dystrophy, use to save keystrokes
• Can tailor to needs of writer
• CoWriter from Don Johnston
• WordQ from WordQ.com
• Talking word processor 7 from Premiere AT
• Freeware program with onscreen keyboard from
  Lakefolks.org

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Our goal to enable students to participate and
to achieve THEIR goals!
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Resources

• Screen Reading Software
• For Students with Visual Impairment- Both
  companies have demo disks and downloads
• JAWS http//www.freedomscientific.com
• ZoomText http//www.aisquared.com
• Others
• Universal Reader http//www.readingmadeeasy.com
• Adobe Reader 6.0 and 7.0
• MS Readerhttp//www.microsoft.com/reader/download
  s/pc.asp

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• Talking word processors
• Talking word processor 7 http//www.readingmadeea
  sy.com
• WriteOutloud http//www.donjohnston.com
• Intellitalk http//www.intellitools.com
• Freeware
• Free and demo of talking word processor
  http//www.madoogali.org
• Onscreen keyboard and word prediction software
  http//www.lakefolks.org/cnt/
• Screen readers www.dyslexia.com/helpread.htm
• Other
• Intellikeys Keyboard http//www.intellitools.com
• Tracker 2000 head pointer and on-screen keyboard
• http//www.madentec.com/

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• Word Prediction
• WordQ http//www.wordq.com
• CoWriter http//www.donjohnston.com
• Talking word processor 7 http//www.readingmadeea
  sy.com
• Free on-screen keyboard and word prediction
  software http//www.lakefolks.org/cnt/