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!

Shout out!

To start with I would like to say “Congratulations, and great work!” to Sam Sennott and David Niemeijer at www.assistiveware.com for creating Proloquo2go which takes advantage of many of the iPhone and iPod touch’s advanced features, it totally rocks.

However, I would also like to give a huge SHOUT OUT to RJ Cooper who has been making Pocket PCs accessible for years and whose Point-to-Pictures Mobile software works on PDA devices running Windows Mobile 2003 or newer. He has an arrangement with the folks at Mayer-Johnson and has been able to license some of the most used symbols. His Mini-Auggie is also switch accessible. Half the time when you call for support RJ himself answers the phone. So if you have an old Pocket PC (not a Palm Pilot as he kept reminding me) hanging around, check out www.rjcooper.com . He has some great stuff for kids with a wide range of needs, but in particular for kids with low incidence disabilities.

How cool is it that we live in a day when we have so many potential options? I remember programming the WOLF and thinking it was the greatest thing going!

(image from hawaii.gov)

office supplies

I was doing some shopping the other day, shocking! I know! And came across these cool iPod Touch holders in the office supply store. They are actually a business card holder, desk organizer, and picture frame, but with a little imagination, and possibly some non-slip material, weights, and/or Velcro, make a nice stand for the Touch or other tools. All under $8. App shown is, of course, Proloquo2go which can be purchased at the iTunes app store.

Ta Da!

Okay, I have vanished for a little while for the 5 of you that might follow my blog. Rest assured, V A C A T I O N, is now upon us and I will be blogging like a mad woman, as my pasty pale skin has a tendency toward melanoma. So, in exploring Apps for the iPod touch this afternoon, I came across Type Drawing and its original web site, http://www.storyabout.net/typedrawing/typedrawing.php?requestedID= It's a very neat tool that takes a couple minutes to learn, but might be really motivating for some kids! Much like Wordle.