Bridging the Gap with Technology

On My Honor....

2011-10-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

This week I was invited to a Girl Scout meeting. It's been many years since I attended one of these. The topic: technology. So, with speech generating devices and an iPad in hand, I did a show-n-tell with augmentative communication devices. Also shared video of some of my students using switch-adapted computers. As a result, this group is going to make some PowerPoint slide shows for my students to "read" using a switch. Topics like "A day in the life of my ferret" with photos and narration by the girls will make great stories for my students to read. By setting a PowerPoint show to advance each slide and play recorded narration with a mouse click and using a switch interface and switch, kids will be able to "turn" the pages and listen to these stories. Thanks, girls!

More Resources for iPad/iPod Apps

2011-09-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

The people at AAC TechConnect have a great summary sheet on their website listing over 100 communication apps. These are listed by pictures and text. The challenge is separating out the good apps from the not so good ones. Many app developers have created apps that let you take a photo and use a voice, or provide symbols for use with speech. It takes a real evaluator with knowledge and experience in AAC techniques to wade through the many apps and find the ones that provide enough language and flow for communication use. While those at the basic choice-making or cause effect levels may benefit from any of the many apps that pair a photo with voice, individuals in need of a variety of language structures, lots of vocabulary options, and the ability to combine symbols for phrases need a more sophisticated system. Keep this in mind as you consider apps for communication use.

Back to School with Technology

2011-08-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

New backpacks, binders, a lunchbox and a pack of #2 pencils used to be the hallmark of school supply lists. Tech savvy students add mobile technology to that list. Cell phones (even a regular ole' cell phone that doesn't have apps) can help students stay organized. The camera feature can be used to capture classroom assignments or a 20 second video of the teacher doing a math problem example. The notes and audio recorder features can be used to record information.

iPods, iPads and other tablets offer numerous options for organization, schedules, and educational support. Fall is also the time to check the vocabulary in the augmentative communication devices of your students - make sure the ages, names of friends/teachers, and personal data is current. If the student has transitioned from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school look at the language and make sure it is age appropriate. While it sounds cute to hear a preschool say "yucky" it sounds off for a teenager.

So, as you head back to school think about the way technology can play a role in helping your students be organized. As for me, I am going to see if I can find my old Smurf lunchbox - what goes around, comes around!

Hamilton County Autism Support Group

2011-06-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

The weather really came through yesterday for the Hamilton County Autism Support Group Race and Motorcycle Run. Despite what started out as cloudy sprinkles, it was a sunny day for all those who came out to participate. There were many vendors sharing resources and services for families as well as fun activities for kids. Walkers, runners, bikers, trikers, riders in wagons and other wheeled vehicles participated in the race. It was great to share information about simple assistive technology devices and strategies with others. Thanks to all who stopped by our booth. I even found myself talking to one of my former clients whom I worked with to help develop his augmentative communication system when he 7! He's 30 years old now and very accomplished. I am really proud of this young man and it reminds me what an honor it is to be a part of people's lives.

The First 'Appy Hour

2011-06-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the first 'Appy Hour and it was great fun! Over food and drinks at Kona Jacks we talked about ways to use built-in apps like Notes, Maps, and the Clock. We also went through the settings menus and talked about using Spotlight search and emailing information to yourself using the Notes app. Attendees were amazed to see all the ways that they can use the camera - from taking photos of receipts, your license plate, items at home for insurance purposes, the location of where you parked your car and more. One of the my newest finds is the Keyring app- take a photo of your rewards card barcode and get rid of all those cards on your key ring.

More fun apps, food and drinks are waiting for you at the next 'Appy Hour - join us at Kona Jacks, 96th and Meridian Street - Indianapolis - Tuesdays in June 5-6 PM. $30.00 per session.

Summer Fun

2011-06-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

With summer finally here it's time to stop and smell the roses! Of course, those of us who are technology junkies simply bring up a photo of flowers on our iPad, take a whiff, and move on. Join me for summer trainings to jump start your new school year. The Assistive Technology For Struggling Students Summer trainings will be great - I've wrangled several of my outstanding colleagues into sharing their knowledge with us. We still have spots open so it's not too late to register. Also, I will be running a social group for anyone who wants to learn more about using their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad - it is called 'Appy Hour - and it will be Tuesdays in June from 5-6 PM at Kona Jacks, 96th and Meridian Street, Indpls. Learn new ways to use your iDevices while having fun with friends. For additional information and fees, email me at beth@bethwaitetech.com

Now, I'm off to plant a virtual garden on my iPad.......

Pixon Project

2011-04-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

Pixons are symbols representing a variety of language concepts for creating manual communication boards for nonverbal students. I recently saw Gail Vantatenhove explain this kit and the way that her group of developers came up with the symbols. By combining "old school" augmentative communication techniques, including color-coding backgrounds of symbols based on language function (verbs-green, nouns-orange, etc.) and organizing pictures in order to create sentences ( it used to be called the Fiitzgerald Key but no one knows that anymore) she reminds us of the importance of language first. I love all the communication apps that are out there for iPad/iPod Touch........but it is so important to look at the language structure our students need and not just providing basic choice-making. Using manual Pixon symbols can provide core words for teaching a wide range of communication functions and help prepare students for eventual speech generating device use or serve as a bridge to learning language. I've put Minspeak symbols on low tech devices (Go Talk - Super Talker) to teach multi-meaning icons to students but am loving the Pixon symbols for this purpose - either as a manual board or on speech generating devices. Her kit comes with two pre-made boards - one designed as a mobile board with pages in a customized portable pouch - and the other one a one-page board with core and extended vocabulary. You also got 4 CD's that contain numerous pre-made boards and symbols that can be used independently or imported into Boardmaker.
All set to give it a go!

For more information, go to the AAC Institute website Pixon Project informatoin at http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/ProductsandServices/Pixons/PixonSheet.pdf

Lights, Camera, WAIT!!!

2011-04-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

Video modeling is an effective, research based strategy for teaching students with autism and other developmental disabilities. But often people try to put too much stuff into the videos and make them too long. By trying to address too many behaviors in one video, we confuse the learner and dilute the main skills we are trying to teach. Besides video modeling and self-modeling, I've seen students benefit from video prompting (teaching a skill step-by-step) and video feedback (watching a scenerio play out and evaluating self or others). Consider what you want the learner to learn from the video and decide which strategy meets your goal.

Video modeling and video self-modeling works best when you keep these tips in mind:

target 1-2 specific behaviors to address per video
keep the video clips short
overall project should be no more than 2 minutes
storyboard each scene and shoot them separately
use simple narration to explain activity

There are lots of ways to capture video - cell phones, Flip cameras, video features of digital still cameras, and digital video cameras. Free editing programs often come with your camera or can be found in in Mac and Windows operating systems. Tanslating the video format file to put on an iPod Touch or iPad can be tricky. My favorite conversion software is called "Free iPod Video Convertor" at http://www.koyote.com/. You need a program that will convert video to .mp4 - the format used in iPods - if you want to make the video portable. Of course, it can be burned to a CD and viewed on a DVD player (some kids watch them in their parents' van on the way to outings).

To learn more about creativing videos to use with students with disabilites, check out the all day workshop that I'll be presenting with Liz Farmer, Behavior Consultant, this summer in Indianapolis. Details coming soon!

So many apps....so little time....

2011-03-30T08:46:00.001-07:00

Here's a question I get asked a lot:

With tens of thousands of apps for iPod/iPads out there, how do I choose which one you want? It is very overwhelming. And it takes time to find the best fit for your needs. I use the same strategy that I use when considering assistive technology for students with disabilities.

*Determine the need or desired outcome - say "notetaking"

*List the features you want - handwriting recognition, audio recording, online organization, importing from Google docs, etc.

*Search in iTunes for "notetaking" and narrow down the ones that have your features

*Read the reviews and look at the screen shots - go to the app developer's website *Download the "lite" version if there is one

*If you like it and it meets your needs but you need more storage or features - buy it!

Of course...check with others you know or read online reviews as well. Don't just click on the first app that comes along.

Happy app-ing!

Addicted to my iPod

2010-06-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hello, My name is Beth Waite and I have an iPod Touch Addiction. I spend hours on iTunes looking for apps that will meet needs of students with disabilities - and there are so many amazing ones out there! My new favorite is called "Look2Learn" and it is simple communication app for a nonspeaking person. Priced under $25.00, it allows you to load your own symbols and photos representing desired activities and record your own voice. What is so great about this app is that is simple and straightforward - perfect for beginning communicators. Don't forget, with an iPad or iPod Touch you need an external mic - I found a great mic cord on Amazon that plugs into the ear buds you get with your iPod so that you have a mic and earphones all in one - for about $8.00!

You can come to my next iPod University workshop August 3rd for more tips and tricks for using ipod touch, iphone, ipad as assistive technology for people with disabilities.

I wanna iPad!

2010-04-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

They call geeks who stay up hours before a product comes out, waiting in the rain and crowds, just to be among the first to get their hands on a new tech gadget "early adopters". I'm a middle adopter - I usually wait until those early adopters figure out the bugs, write indepth reviews and posts, then a revised version comes out, and I grab that one. With Apple, its a given that even the first run item is golden. I want to see how the iPad looks with augmentative communication apps - see how our students with special needs can access the larger screen. Every day, I'm hearing amazing stories about students of all abilities using iPod apps for communication, learning, and more. The demand for this kind of training continues to be out there - as evidenced by the great response to my two upcoming iPod trainings later this month. Someone needs to make a big enclosed speaker case for the iPad to protect it and increase the volume. Just the other day I got two more of these cases for 15 bucks for the iPod Touch.

It's too late to be an early adopter....but maybe I'll speed up my usual techno pace and grab the next iPad I see.

All In A Day's Work

2010-03-01T13:03:00.001-08:00

As an Assistive Technology Coordinator for 5 school corporations, I get around. Recently when I stopped to look back at the end of a school day I realized that I had:

*been in 5 different schools
*worked with 8 different students/teachers using speech generating devices
*watched as a student with severe physical disabilities seemed to really get how to use auditory and visual scanning on his communication system
*witnessed a student with severe behavior and communication challenges due to Autism use an iPod Touch for the first time to play games.

We all have busy days. When I looked back at the end of this day, I didn't stop and think about how busy I'd been or how tired I was: as corny as it sounds, I thought about how lucky I am to be able to see the progress that these students are making with their communcation. Though their challenges are great - at the end of the day -these kids are kids who want to play and learn and grow. Thankfully, we have the technology,interventions, dedicated teachers, therapists and parents to make it possible.

Teach Language With AAC

2010-01-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

I have several young students who are learning to communicate using speech generating devices. Some of these students are using devices from Prentke-Romich. The icon symbols called Minspeak are used to represent multi-meaning words and phrases. I've used Minspeak symbols since the late 1980's when I had my first AAC student who was 4 and used a Touchtalker. Back then kids, before computers, we had to cut, copy, and paste icons on paper or notecards to make teaching materials. Today, PRC has a great link on their website called AAC Language Lab - it has tons and tons of ready to go materials to teach Unity, the language organization method used in PRC devices. I've found this a great time saver and amazing tool for teachers. Even if you aren't working with students using Minspeak icons, there are still great reasources for language development and teaching communication skills. Check out the stages of language development that can guide parents, teachers, and clinicians in how to introduce concepts.

Go to www.prentrom.com to see this and more!

Wii in Special Education

2009-09-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

We started our Wii project this month at one of my highschools. It has been amazing to watch! The students, who have moderate or severe cognitive disabilities (some physical disabilities also) have taken the Wii challenge and are cleaning up. Each student made their individual "mii" character - a cartoon likeness of him or herself complete with appropriate glasses, hair, etc. This was a great way to learn how to use the Wii remote to access items. We are playing this game as a part of our students' adapted physical education class. Some of the kids have played the game before, but most have not. The first day we introduced playing tennis, one of our students with severe autism who is minimally verbal got the highest score! Another student(who has cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and has limited arm movement) was able to return several serves and got 15 points. By hooking the Wii to a projector and showing it on the wall of the gym we make the image lifesize. It is also incredible to see the patience that the students have when they are waiting for a turn - these are students who have great difficulty transitioning between tasks. We are watching for the reactions of the students who have severe physical and cognitive deficts. Even though they made need hand over hand assistance, the kids are smiling and visually attending to the action. We are investigating adapting the Wii remote for switch use to give these students more options. More updates later!

There's an App for that...

2009-09-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

The iPod Touch and iPhone are amazing assistive technology tools. There are many free applications as well as ones that cost as little as $10.00 all the way to $150.00 that can be use for communication and visual schedules. Proloquo2Go is a full-feature AAC software available for approximatley $150.00. It has a large library of symbols, natural sounding speech, functions of language for sentence construction, and typing view for typing paragraphs. On the other end, there is iConverse, a $10.00 program that lets you load your own photos (or screen shots of Boardmaker symbols) and assign text to the symbol that can be spoken aloud. The speech is more robotic sounding and there is less flexibility for programming, but it is $10.00 and it is a nice beginning step. Or, this is a great option for someone who needs visual prompts or schedules or a portable communication system so they dont' have to carry a larger device around in the community. I'm using this as an evaluation tool for my students before investing in additional applications. One of the snags I've run into with the iTunes store is their complete unwillingness to deal with tax exempt purchases. Public schools are tax exempt; however after lenghty discussion with many people at iTunes (from phone calls to online chats and emails)it is apparent that they don't understand or want to provide their products to tax exempt organizations. My last interaction with them ended with the statement "our products are designed for personal end use only". - I guess that means they don't want to sell to businesses, agencies, schools? Be creative and find a way around it, it's worth it.

How Many Crayons Are In Your Box?

2009-09-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

I like the smell of crayons. No matter how old I am I always have an urge to buy a box of new crayons at the beginning of the school year. And not just the 24 colors - but the great big box with the built-in sharpener. I remember if you had that box as a kid, you were livin' large. These were essential tools in early elementary. While I didn't run out and buy crayons this year, I have been very fortunate to be able to add to my essential tools by purchasing new assistive technology equipment with the Education Stimulus Funds made available to public schools. This has included many useful items that will benefit students of all ages and abilities. There are so many items out there it can be overwhelming to choose. Parents and professionals alike often ask advice on what to purchase. For schools interested in AAC, I suggest looking at www.aactechconnect.com. Debby McBride, CCC/SLP, and her group offer a variety of tools for matching devices with features students need. They list all the major devices and comparison charts. Now, I think I may have to run out and look for crayons...I wonder if they make crayon-scented candles?

Back To School with Stimulus Funds

2009-08-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

It's back to school for many of us. With the Educational Stimulus money made available for public schools, going back to school has a new meaning this year. We are able to provide additional assistive technology equipment and other opportunities for our students. With the equipment comes the need for additional training and staff development; but what a great chance to get lots of new equipment. I'll be writing purchase orders and unpacking boxes for quite a while - more on what our new items will be later.

Rain, Rain, Rain?

2009-06-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

As I sit here looking out my window it is raining AGAIN! Here in Indiana it has rained just about every day the entire month of June. With outdoor activities limited I've been thinking about some of the projects I have brewing. One of them is to present "Switch It Up: Move to Communicate" at the Assistive Technology Industry Association conference in Chicago October 29-31. I love this presentation because it lets me highlight some of the great kids I've worked with who have moved from basic cause and effect with switches to more sophisticated computer and communication device use. Positioning is critical for this to happen. Tiffany, my excellent physical therapist colleague, and I presented this session at the ATIA in Orlando in January and the PATINS conference in Indianapolis in November 2008. If you are a midwesterner - do not miss the Chicago ATIA conference - this is the first year that they are coming to us. Or, if you want a winter break, go to the Orlando version in January. Last January while I was there here at home the kids got 3 snow days and 12 inches of snow (not sorry to miss that). Go to www.atia.org for more information. Wow, I think it has stopped raining? No, false alarm - it just slowed down some. Hopefully next time I post it will be sunny.

Do You Use Audacity?

2009-06-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Have you found Audacity yet? It's the free audio editing software that lets you do so many things. Teachers use it to record podcasts for their students, students can use it at home to record their homework and email it to the teacher for an alternative to writing, and speech-language pathologists can use it for articulation, voice, and language feedback. I use it to add audio to my video clips because it is easy to change your voice pitch and speed - so I can be an entire cast of characters from my voice! Do you work with students who are nonverbal and use digitized speech devices? Instead of a teacher's voice coming out of the Step-By-Step, it is easy to use Audacity to change the pitch of the recorded voice to sound like a child. Then, just play the sound clip on the computer and hold down the "record" button of the device to record the message from the computer. Be careful - too much pitch change it you sound like Mickey Mouse! You can also clip portions of music to use for videos, websites, PowerPoint slide shows, and so much more.

Go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

AAC for your iPod

2009-06-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

The new Prologu02Go software has been released with great reviews! Samuel Sennott,one of the creative minds behind this app for the iPod/iPhone, has several examples of adults and kids using this innovative, inexpensive tool on his website www.alltogetherwecan.com as well as the site www.proloquo2go.com. You can go to the iTunes store to get the app for a reasonable $149.00. The volume of an iPod Touch or iPhone isn't loud enough for communication, so you'll need a small speaker (you can get these for 5-10 dollars at various discount stores. But what a breakthough in technology!

Boardmaker Plus Player Provides Access

2009-05-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

I blogged about Boardmaker Plus a few weeks ago....but did you know that the Boardmaker Plus Player gives students access to teacher-created activities at home or on other computer stations at school? At approximatley $125.00, the Player version allows you to open any activity made in Boardmaker Plus and experience the interaction without having to have the complete Boardmaker software (which is about $399.00). So, parents can have the Player at home and open activities e-mailed to them or sent home on a USB drive or go to adaptedlearning.com and find free downloads posted by others. Because you can customize the pictures and text, you can create personalized learning activities with your own photos, video clips, and information. This is a powerful tool that can engage students as well as provide access to the curriculum.

Go to www.mayerjohnson.com for details

WHEE! Wii! We!

2009-05-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to WHEE! grant from the Buddy Learning Center, highchool students in our self-contained special education program will be using the Wii gaming system to promote fitness, and increase physical as well as social skills. We are excited to be one of 15 schools out of 200 applicants selected to receive this grant! Students with limited physical access to their environmnent are able to play a piano, race a care, bowl or play baseball with a slight gesture when the Wii interactive remote is secured in their hand. Students with Autism often have limited social skills. Use of the Wii interactive games are visually stimulating and promote turn-taking, waiting for turns, sharing, and good sportmanship. We will be collecting data and providing results to the Buddy Project (www.btlc.org). Stay tuned for results of this project over the next school year.

iPods for Learning

2009-04-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

You can do a multitude of things with iPods/MP3 players to help students with learning, behavior, and communication disorders. I know students with reading difficulties who download audio books and or their text books to listen to, use software to translate text on the computer into MP3 files to listen to, and record teacher lectures or cues to remind themselves how to complete assignments. You can record calming music and add voice to describe how to handle social situations or anxiety-reduction before tests. Students with more severe behavior disorders watch video clips of themselves completing work tasks or transitioning between activities to help them comply with requests. Others listen to music either for a calming effect or with specially written songs containing words reminding them of activities they need to complete.

One of the most exciting new applications for the iPod Touch or iPhone is an augmentative communication software program called Proloque. This will enable a nonspeaking or minimally verbal adult or child with good use of his/her fingers to recall words and phrases pre-programmed in pictures or words to talk. There has never been such a light weight and socially-acceptable option. For those interested, you can go to http://www.proloquo2go.com/

New Features in Boardmaker Plus!

2009-03-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

The new Boardmaker Plus allows educators to make customized computer activities for their students. I have been offering hands-on training to staff in my schools and it is always fun to see faces of teachers when they realize all they can do with this version of Boardmaker. From basic matching and sorting games to reading, writing, and word processing you can really provide access to all kinds of activities for different levels of learning. And, with switch access, students who have limited fine motor skills can use switches to interact with the programs. There are templates for making accessible books, too!

Want to learn how to make your own materials? Go to www.mayer-johnson.com and check out their recorded webinars - watch a demonstration and then try it yourself. Don't have this version? You can download it for free from their site for 30 days. Another great new product is the Boardmaker Player - through the end of March you can get if for FREE if you upgrade to Boardmaker 6 or Plus ($129.00)
The player will enable you to open Boardmaker Plus created activities on a computer without having to have the full version of Boardmaker - so it is a more cost effective option for classrooms and familes.

Little is the new big!

2009-02-15T08:13:00.000-08:00

Great things come in small packages. One of the newest computer crazes is the invention of the netbook - mini laptop computers weighing about 2 pounds. I recently got an Acer Aspireone and I love it. It is easy to carry and I can run powerpoint presentations and any application I need. Another model I've recently tested is the 2goPC - it is designed for children and has an even smaller keyboard. It is rugged and seems durable, but the cramped keyboard makes it difficult for larger hands to use. Thes computers do not have built-in CD drives so an external one is required in order to install software (unless you download programs from a website). Costs run from around $300.00 and up for the computers and external drives are about $75.00 and up. Compact flash cards can extend the memory of the computers (beware some models have very limited internal memory).

ATIA - Great Ideas

2009-02-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the Assistive Technology Industry Association Annual conference in Orlando - it was great timing, since at home all left behind experienced 10 inches of snow!

One of the coolest things I learned was how to make in interactive "Smart" board for about $50.00! Using a WII remote, LED pen, free download software and your LCD projector connected to your computer, you can have an interactive white board for classroom use. For more information, go to alltogetherwecan.com.