Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

One of my favorite things about the iPad is that it brings a whole new world of “age appropriate” leisure activities to people with more significant disabilities.  There are many conversations to be had around “age-appropriate” and what it means, but this is one tool that can help put that conversation to rest for at least a little while. The iPad is appropriate for a wide variety of ages, and thanks to the wide world of wonderful programmers and their interest in everything from farts to classical music, there are a large number great cause and effect apps out there for folks with significant disabilities.  (Most programmers probably had no idea we’d hijack their apps for this use, but I thank them any way!)

So without further ado some of my favorites!

Big Button Box (Pro, HD, etc)$.99-$2.99
Category- Lifestyle
for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
Love this!!  Some may find a few of the sounds inappropriate depending on the age group but my son (turning 23 this weekend) and one of my teenage clients love it!  I am using the iPhone/iPod version on my iPad and it works fine although every once in a while the 1x button does get hit shrinking the App.  I’m not sure it’s worth the extra $2 to upgrade to the HD version but maybe next paycheck!  You can set it up to play one sound at a time or several.  I prefer one at a time and it is like having a whole bunch of “BIGmacks” http://www.ablenetinc.com/Store/tabid/205/Default.aspx?CategoryCode=105 programmed with really cools sounds!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/big-button-box-pro/id346513173?mt=8#  

Balls $1.99
Category- Music
for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
Turn it on and it responds to iPad movement and even more dramatically when you simply touch your fingers randomly to the screen.  The faster you move the faster the music!
http://iotic.com/i.balls/

Doodle Buddy $.00-$.99
Category- Lifestyle
for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
Easy, kid-friendly drawing program, very similar to the all-time favorite Kid Pix.  Great sound effects, large tool bars, and minimal distractions. 
http://www.pinger.com/content/home.html

Enjoy!

Getting to the Core of Communication.

This post is dedicated to Patty Cassidy, who made me a believer to the core!

A quick post so I can throw up a couple of screen shots of my current Proloquo2Go project.  As you may know I love my iPad! I recently responded to a post on the P2G website about using a core words type of set up with P2G but couldn’t attach a picture. So I said I would write a blog post about some of the work I had been doing with a preschool student and the iPad as an AAC device.  There are lengthy discussions to be had about the iPad and P2G or any of the other communication programs as AAC devices, but for the sake of this post let’s just say, that proper and ongoing evaluation, a team approach, and a realistic look at the many, many intricate factors of language, communication, social development, and more are all vital.  First and foremost however is that people can COMMUNICATE!!
I am a big believer in the use of core words and in teaching AAC users how to wring the maximum amount of conversation and information out of the minimum of real estate and symbols.  For some excellent resources check out:
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2009/090414/f090414c.htm Great article about core words
http://www.aaclanguagelab.com/other/core-vocabulary   Great intro to Core Words, designed for the Unity System used by PRC devices, but great ideas that can be modified to be used with any system.
http://www.vantatenhove.com/showgroup.php?id=43  The handouts section from Gail Van Tatenhove’s site. 
So, now that you have read all of these resources, and learned about core words, here is what I have done with P2G.  Look at each board and try to figure out how many sentences you can make without even leaving the board.  The number goes up exponentially by branching to one of the categories and coming right back to the main board.  What are some of the sentences you made?

The main board that P2G opens to.
   I like it.  I like you.  I want it.  I want go.  Do you want it? Do you like it?  Do you get it?  I get it.  You get it.  Go get it.  Go see.  Go see it.  It. Not It. Do it. Stop It.  Do it again.  Shall I go on?

The Aquarium board, under places.

 

The Play Doh board, under "play."

I see a turtle.  I see crab.  I see jellyfish.  Fish swim.  Penguins don't swim.  Sharks eat fish.

I want Play doh.  You cut Play Doh.  I squish it. Don't squish it.  Make it thick.  Make it again. Roll it again.  Don't do it.  etc.

These are a few of my favorite apps!

Okay, so I've taken some time off, but after a friend made me watch "Julie and Julia" I feel motivated to write again. Okay, she didn't force me to watch it, but I have this thing about Meryl Streep. Anyway, I have been totally obsessed with my iPad, this technology has the power to change the world! I am fascinated with looking for Apps, considering whom they work for, why, and what else needs to be done to improve accessibility. Other than the obvious lack of switch interface (which I know RJ Cooper is working on) I have found it to be amazingly durable and useful for a wide variety of students.

A not so quick aside: On the topic of switch access, I often hear, “Well, it’s a touch screen, why would you need a switch?” Many of the students I work with can activate the touch screen, but due to their physical challenges cannot see the screen in a location that they can actually activate it. Imagine having the one area of your body that you can control being your toe or your chin; you may be able to activate the iPad with it, but not see what you are doing. For some of my students this is still wonderful as there are tons of great music and cause and effect Apps! Usually these students struggle to activate the screen with accuracy also. “Why use an iPad then, when there are other tools already adapted?” Well, the iPad is awesome! The iPad is light, easy to carry, has WiFi and 3G (optional) access, an excellent high def screen, and thousands of fairly cheap apps. It is something very approachable already has multiple Universal Design and Access features and has tremendous battery life.

Anyway, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite, and on occasion, total fail, purchases and freebies from the App Store!

Today’s selection: Make Dice by hnm
Price: currently on sale for $.99 usually $2.99 (8/12/10)
Dice games are very popular in the classroom, and I have made more than my share of paper dice, put stickers on wooden or plastic dice, and used the dice in Intellitools or other computer based tools. Real dice for kids with gross or motor impairment, attention issues, or mouthing behaviors are very challenging; I love the concept of these! Still a motor component, still a sound, and this App allows you to create your own custom dice. Make them for story starters. PT/OT routines, language games, sight word activities, “Simon says” games, the possibilities are endless! Another option that does not offer the customization but has standard number dice and is free is MotionX Dice HD, great for Yatzee, no dice rolling off the table, although I find the randomization a little suspect sometimes.
Let me know what you make with it!

I want 10!

These were on WOOT! this morning for $38 dollars, including shipping! I can think of so many uses for them. Video modeling for social skills, multimedia projects, behavioral reminders, cool down scripts, the magnetic whiteboard could hold picture symbols, how about a video writing prompt. In a cooking class have the steps to a recipe in pictures, and the ingredients on the white board. As each one is used, erase it. Never mind 10, I want 100! But wait! How about as a way for students to respond to questions, the teacher writes the question, the student responds via video. A talking book? fluency support? language sampler? Who's buying!?
eileen
http://www.woot.com/ (January 18th only)
http://www.amazon.com/Audiovox-Electroncis-Homebase-DPF711K-Digital/dp/B0012M8RE6

Survey

I am playing with google docs. Please answer my survey!
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFR3OEJnSTRMWVltOHRkWS1ScF9RWnc6MA

Thanks!
eileen

Recordable Book

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article|10001|10051|/HallmarkSite/GoldCrownStores/GCS_HOLIDAY_GIFTS_STORYBOOKS

Just saw an ad for these and although they look like they are going to be expensive (about $30 on ebay), I might pick up a couple then cross my fingers and hope they go on sale after the holidays. There are no buttons for the kids to push, the voice starts when the page turns. (Note the little dots on the page, similar to a self leveling product put out years ago by Chuck Frame. http://www.frame-tech.com/Home.htm) You could cover the pages with your own images and the possibilities are endless! So cool!

Red Sox

As FaceBook is blocked at my son's home, and I feel the need to digitally express myself, a short non-AT post.
Dear Boston Red Sox,
I am terribly disappointed in your performance, but am trying rationalize that you simply got beat by a better, more motivated team. I have gotten spoiled by two World Series titles since the turn of the century and should probably look at history to repeat itself and not expect another one til 2012 at the earliest. I am sure I will have forgiven you by spring training, but for now, GO PATRIOTS!
eileen

Thanks!

Thanks to Ricky over at ATMac for his support of Procrastinating. He has a great site, and you should all check it out (if you didn't find me through him in the first place!) http://atmac.org/

I'm baaaack!

Wow, sorry I have been gone so long. Or not, if you find my infrequent posts painful to read. The start of the school year included my son turning 22 as well as the usual work craziness. I've had a thousand different things I've wanted to post on, but not one ounce of focus. Anywho, I've been working on mouse skills in a variety of forms with a number of students recently and here are some thoughts!

Some kids (and adults) pick up mouse skills almost automatically and others seem to need a lot of teaching, tricks, and practice before they become proficient mouse users. I thought I would share some of the things I have tried over the years that have been successful in different situations.

1. Never throw away an old one button, USB, mouse with a ball! These mice…….. okay, I’m back after a little Google search for the correct way to describe more that one mouse, and the internet overwhelmingly agrees that some people use mice and some people use mouses. I think mice sounds better, so….. anyway, these mice, make great stepping stones between switches and mouse use. I take the ball out of the mouse, use a second mouse to position the cursor over a clickable spot on a web site or game, and then, even if the student moves the modified mouse around, a click still results in a response.

2. Use the Universal Access control panel to modify the size and speed of the cursor to make it easier to see and follow. There are several either free or inexpensive utilities for making the cursor bigger, brighter or more visible that are also useful for this including Biggy Cursor by RJ Cooper ( http://www.rjcooper.com/biggy/)

3. Startrail is a neat utility that adds a visual trial of stars, moon, clovers, and makes your cursor magically delicious, drawing attention to it’s movement across the screen. At $4.95 it’s a cheap fix, and fun, especially when training someone to use a head mouse. Available for the Mac only. http://www.pawn-soft.com/

4. I love the track pad on my MacBook Pro, and have found that several kids that have had a hard time manipulating a mouse, can use a track pad successfully. I also think that it is helpful that the move and click can be separated; I usually turn off tap to click. It is possible to buy a track pad for any computer at a variety of web sites. Cirque/ Adesso is a major manufacturer (http://www.cirque.com/desktoptouchpad/touchpad-mouse-overview.aspx).

5. One last trick for now, is to use a drawing tablet and pen. Some kids pick up on the concept of the tablet as a map of the screen and holding a pen. I also use a tablet and pen to motivate kids to practice writing. Many kids who are reluctant writers will hold the pen for the tablet and scribble and explore in Kid Pix or Tux Paint for long periods of time, when they won’t color or draw with more traditional tools! The tablet I use is the Wacom Bamboo, and it also came with a wireless mouse that uses the tablet. It has the advantage of NOT being an optical (no fascinating red light) or ball mouse (no opening on the bottom), and is only active when on the tablet. This helps to some kids learn how to manage picking up and repositioning the mouse more effectively. (It looks as though Wacom has updated their product line and my exact combination is no longer available, but check out the touch… very cool. Next paycheck!) www.wacom.com

Here are some web sites for learning how to use the mouse or mouse exploration.
Mouse Exercises- http://www.seniornet.org/howto/mouseexercises/mousepractice.html a mouse use curriculum designed for seniors but appropriate for older students learning to use a mouse or learning to use an alternate mouse.

Singing horses- http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf easy, click on horse makes it sing


games- http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/games.htm clicking, rapid-timed clicking, and clicking and dragging, includes classic games such as Battleship, Pong, IQ test etc.

Sebastian Chevrel- http://www.seb.cc/ the experiments area of this site has several Java or Flash experiments that make wonderful mouse exploration opportunities. One of my favorites is “spacializer”, but watch out for “Peep Hole” although it might be motivating for working with older users! (PG not R)

Click and Play virtual instruments- http://monxmood.free.fr/play.htm some of these may be small on the screen, but if you adjust your screen resolution they will look bigger and be better targets!

Neave- http://www.neave.com/ another artistic site, some fun games to click around and experiment in. Some may be a bit visually too stimulating for kids with seizure disorders.

Spider- http://www.onemotion.com/flash/spider/ game in which basic mouse skills control and feed spider.

Have fun and happy mousing!!

Finally, a salad I like!

Game Salad is a free game creation program that offers a potential landslide of opportunities for adapted gaming. It claims to be easy to use, but after playing with it for a while I'd say you need to be somewhat computer and game savvy, but it does not use complicated computer codes and with some practice I am sure that myself, and many others can learn to master this tool and create some really awesome things! I anticipate creating single switch games or games that utilize the Intellikeys keyboard for movement and other actions including blowing stuff up! I can wait to play with it some more, but it is a beautiful day, and I promised myself I'd go outside!
http://gamesalad.com/landing/overview
eileen

iTracker is too cool!

I did a google search for an iSight eye tracking program last week and found iTracker. A sweet little program for the Mac (and PC) that is cheap ($30 for the Mac version) and runs quite well! It is lacking in a few functions, but according to the developer, they are adding them in the next release, but for basic head mouse users, or to just add to your tool box of things to have on hand it is quite functional and worthwhile to have on hand!
http://www.eyetwig.com/151141
Here is some video of me using it with Speaking Dynamically Pro on an iMac. Sorry for the poor quality!
More video of it in use with student soon.
"High-end" technology for the masses! Hurray!

Super Quick Post

First product using wide format printer:
I recently began working with a teenager with a traumatic brain injury and thought I would try an eye gaze board with her. I created this by modifying information I found at http://www.cogain.org/faq/eye-gaze-communication-board, printing it out 2x on 11x17 paper instead of modifying both pages, and cutting out the second copy and gluing it to the appropriate spots on the back of the first copy. I won't go into any more details about client for privacy reasons, but I think the board looks pretty cool! And my printer can print up to 13x19. Psych! It's what every living room needs. This is the printer I bought for $40 at the WB Mason warehouse!

What Kind Of Cat Are You?

As I was driving home this evening after visiting my son, I was listening to one of my favorite radio programs, the Playground on WERS (http://wers.org/music/The-Playground.cfm). WERS is available via the internet, I encourage you to tune in to their wide variety of music at all hours! The song "What Kind of Cat Are You?" by Billy Jonas came on and I began to think as I listened to the lyrics, this song would be a great starting point for a really cool Project Based Learning mini-lesson. So, I pondered for the rest of the drive, and I am now going to give you the link to Billy Jonas' web site where you can listen to the song and look at the lyrics, and some of my thoughts about activities and ways to use the song as a curriculum tool. I encourage you to think of more and post them back if you like!
http://www.billyjonas.com/index.php?page=cds&display=13
Click on song title to see lyrics.

Create your own what kind of CVC word are you song. Divide class into small diverse groups. Have them listen to the song and read the lyrics (or use text to speech) Print out lyrics in needed formats (large print, Braille, etc.) Have each group choose (or assign) a CVC word that has multiple opportunities for use in a "Cat Song." Have the students use dictionaries and encyclopedias both paper based and electronic to develop their own "Cat Song" which they will eventually record with Garage Band. Students who use AAC could use their devices to participate. Students who are more significantly involved could use a "Big Mac" or other communicator to lead the call part of the song and peers do the response for the recording. Extension activities could include vocabulary and writing activities with new words learned.

Mr. Potato Head

I am working with a preschool student who is very typical in many ways except speech production. She has a decent sign vocabulary and picked up communication symbols quickly. We began her on a Springboard Lite this spring. I was working with her last week and we were playing with Mr. Potato Head. I decided to model the use of the color page near the end of our session, and after showing her 1x, this is what she came up with, a couple miss hits, then, BAM! "I want blue shoes." Thus our Mr. Potato Head was complete with about 8 arms, 2 tongues, and 2 sets of blue shoes! (This was not a mistake, it was exactly what she wanted, she gives a false name when using the Springboard and thinks it's hysterical!)

What a Bargin!

Guess what, another post about, shopping!! I have been driving by the W.B. Mason Warehouse in South Boston for ages and the other day, purely on a whim drove in, groceries in the car, company coming, a great time for impulse shopping! I wasn't sure if they had office supplies, but the sign said they did, so I just wanted a quick look to see what they had! BONANZA!!!! Print cartridges, binders, desk supplies, all sorts of cool stuff. I bought a dozen small 3 ring binders, great for communication books (8 1/2" by 5 " I think) for 75 cents each! I bought 2 packs of clear ink jet printable window paper for a dollar each, a cartridge for my label maker ( I make my own Zoom caps) for a dollar, and wait for it.... a $300 HP wide format printer open box, but completely wrapped still for $40. I told the lovely folks at the desk I was going to keep this my little secret, but they insisted that it was better for all if I spread the word! So, for all 9 of you that read this and live in the New England area, there are bargain outlets that have supplies in South Boston and New Jersey!
http://www.wbwhattabargain.com/Default.aspx

Happy Shopping!

Leadership Day 2009

This is in response to Dangerously Irrelevant's call for posts... http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/07/calling-all-bloggers-leadership-day-2009.html
Learn to use what is on your computer. Create and utilize policy that will ensure every employee in your district knows what is on the computer in his or her classroom, office, lab, etc. This includes the Internet. School systems spend untold amounts of money on software, tools, technologies, unimaginable amounts of time on recreating the wheel, and store massive amounts of materials, when a good portion of those things are already available on the existing computers. They are the universal design features built into operating systems, the unused tools in standard software programs and suites, freeware, shareware, open source and Linux software, and websites. Allow access to and provide professional development in utilization of Web 2.0 technologies.

Work to close the digital divides. It still exists in many households. The current trend toward “cloud” based services is going to leave these families even further behind.

Invest in Universal Design for Learning: In addition to encouraging your staff to use more effectively what is already on the computers provide support, training and encouragement, to use those tools to enliven their teaching, and reach and include more successfully a broader range of students. Make sure that every teacher, para-professional, and related service provider can show a student how to make the text larger on the screen, and enable text to speech. When purchasing new materials make sure they meet UDL criteria (www.cast.org).

When the UDL features are not enough to provide student access make a commitment to delivering a full range of assistive technology devices and services to your learners. Have staff dedicated to Assistive Technology implementation if your district is large enough. Ensure that the proper ongoing training for staff, student, parents, and others is provided so that challenges can be resolved and the greatest chance of success is achieved.

Believe in your students.

iReadFast

Another entry in the Freeware/Shareware series.
http://gengis.110mb.com/en/index.php
iReadFast is intended to be for speed reading, but I am somewhat skeptical of it claims. I do think it might be a great tool for kids with tracking problems and as a tool for helping kids develop reading fluency. It has a ton of different settings and variables that I have only begun to explore. I am particularly intrigued by the idea of putting in Dolch or other frequently used phrases or material for kids to practice reading in a kind of fun yet challenging way. Start really slow and speed up, see how many you can get right!

whatever

We wonder why kids have such a hard time learning to read and write. I have been teaching for 20 years. I read and write at a fairly advanced level. I recently got my Masters degree with a fairly high GPA, and yet just spent 15 minutes trying to figure out whether my other blog's name was spelled correctly. Or is that spelt, no that has a little red line under it, therefore it must be wrong, unless I am writing about a certain kind of flour, and if I were, then I did indeed spell it correctly, despite the protests of my computer. And therefor looked wrong without an e at the end but didn't have a squiggle, but I added an e (therefore) and it looked better and still didn't have a squiggle, but now didn't has a squiggle, but squiggle, which really shouldn't be a word at all doesn't have a red squiggle, so when did contractions fall out of use in the English language. Oh, and by the way, it seems that either whiney or whiny is acceptable.
PS Now after previewing my post, it seems that contractions are okay, but whiney is unacceptable, despite the fact that most online dictionaries seem to list both as okay. Auuurrrrrgggghhhh. And yes that has a red squiggle under it!

There once was a young man named Sam,
Whose speech was like that of a clam,
So we got him a box,
With the name, Dynavox,
Now he’s a conversational Grand Slam!

I have been working with a SLP in our district to get a Dynavox for one of our high school students, and it finally came in last week. Sam had been using a laptop with Boardmaker Plus as a communication device while we waited for his device to come in. He is very proficient at locating vocabulary, expressing his needs, and had even begun to create his own boards. He is still working on creating longer sentences, staying on topic, and some of the finer points of conversation. I made a home visit to get the device set up and found that the family had already done a good job of setting up the device, but that the device had not shipped with Speaking Dynamically Pro. We made some initial changes and I gave them a brief rundown of the InterAACT software, but we decided to go ahead and try to get the device unlocked and put SDPro on the device as he was already well versed in its use, but to also try to use the existing software. I did a second home visit today to let them know that the unlock code was on the way and to try to merge his old boards while we were waiting. Sam brought the Dynavox out, and proudly showed me two new boards that he had programmed on his own based on printouts and manual boards from his old system! He used the “my picture” templates built in which we had briefly discussed on my first visit to make boards for his job at the aquarium! Can I just tell you I had goose bumps, I was teary, I was so excited that the family now thinks I am a total nut job! It had to be one of the most amazing moments in my career!
Just wanted to share!
eileen

Super simple free application

I was looking through some freeware/ shareware/ open source/ linux sites yesterday and came across Reading Guide, a simple little application that I am going to try with several kids in the fall. See the video and check it out.
http://download.cnet.com/ReadingGuide/3000-2056_4-203646.html?tag=mncol
I apologize if you can hear Hoda and Kathie Lee in the background, but it is summer vacation after all!