Tobii YouTube Channel Provides Easy Access to Training

I just had a call from our Tobii rep who shared some new training information - a YouTube channel with short videos covering anything from taking a new device out of the box to using eye gaze technology. The Tobii website also has new videos on their Training page, and Webinars are listed under News & Events. Of interest is an upcoming live webinar, September 24th titled "Help! I have an eye-control system in my classroom: A beginning guide to eye control access in the classroom."  Check out these easy to use tools!

Dasher - Zooming Text Entry Interface for Composing Written Information

This method of text entry may not be for everyone, but it certainly holds possibilities for those that have difficulty with a standard keyboard. Pointing to letters creates a zoom effect and the more you zoom in, the longer your piece of text will be. It's actually quite difficult to explain, so the post title will direct you to a YouTube video of the program in action.
This interface was designed for efficiency - probable pieces of text are given more space than improbable words, for example misspellings. The language model learns the way you write and remembers words you've used before. You can train it to your writing style by simply opening a document you've previously composed.
The Dasher project is supported by the Gatsby Foundation and by the European Commission in the context of the AEGIS project - open Accessibility Everywhere: Groundwork, Infrastructure, Standards). Dasher is free and can be downloaded here. http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/

Free AAC Photo Printables, and Much More!

Like British Columbia has SETBC (Special Education Technology BC), the United Kingdom has SENICT (Special Education Needs Information Communication Technology). And like SETBC, SENICT has put together a wealth of resources, many that are free. I just came across their general website of resources that anyone can submit entries to. In addition, they have a site for the SEN Teacher with tons of free printables, downloads and weblinks where you'll find free AAC Photo Cards, Math Activity Printables, Literacy Activities Printables and much more. What's better than FREE? We tried out the AAC Photo Cards and our Speech therapists had good reviews. Worth spending time at, but be warned, you could be there awhile!

Short Videos Demonstrate Enabling Devices Communicators, Switch Toys and more

Have you ever wondered what the Wiggly Giggly Ball does? Or the Laugh and Learn Puppy? Enabling Devices has a plethora of very short 1-2 minute videos that describe all the features of several communicators, mounting systems, switch activated toys and accessibility switches, and they're all in one place! Just click on the post title to be directed to the list of their videos. It really helps when making a choice for your student or child if you can see the toy in action, it's like having an interactive catalog!

Free Switch Accessible Activities to Play Online or Download

This is just one of the many categories of switch, mouse and touchscreen accessible activities you can download from Ian Bean's website. A while back I posted about Priory Woods, a school for children with special needs in the UK, and their free online switch activated videos. Well it turns out that Ian Bean, the fellow that wrote the Switch Progression Road Map (see earlier post) was a teacher and website developer there. He went on to work for Inclusive TLC and now provides training and consulting around the world. I've spent most of the morning on his Facebook page where Ian posts on a daily basis. You may also be interested in his free monthly newsletter.

Switch Progression Road Map - free download from Inclusive TLC

If you're working with a student that's using switches, this is a highly recommended read! The Switch Progression Road Map is a free download published by Inclusive TLC in 2011. Written by Ian Bean, this 60 page resource documents in detail every step of switch skills progression from cause & effect to confident scanning. I'm so glad I found it and can pass it along!

Free Webinars from AbleNet: Live AND Archived!

New webinars from AbleNet, plus view archived webinars for FREE!  Some of the topics are:

• Switch accessible visual scenes using the iPad
• Switch access to the iPad
• Using the TrackerPro with Predictable for Android (this session is also archived)

Plus check out all the archived webinars at AbleNet University.  There's several on assessing for switch use and switch placement.  Each webinar is 60 minutes and FREE!

Free AbleNet Webinars in August!

AbleNet has announced their upcoming online professional development sessions and they're FREE!  For those of us that don't have funding to attend conferences, these 1-hour sessions are essential.  I just signed up for two on switch assessment and switch mounting.  As an added bonus, AbleNet will provide a 10% coupon for future orders after completing a webinar.  

Online Webinars from AbleNet

AbleNet is hosting webinars on a variety of Curriculum and Assistive Technology topics.  Upcoming topics include: 

• Accessible iPod for Music and Audio Books in the Classroom - April 10th
• Switch Access to the iPad for Communication - April 17th

Archived webinars by Kelly Fonner, Elizabeth Rush and others are available anytime.

Free Online Switch Activated Videos

During an eval a few weeks ago, a speech therapist mentioned that she uses free online switch activities with a student. She called it "Priory Woods". Click on the post title to check out these slide shows set to music that can be activated with switches or a touch screen. They are designed to help children understand and generalize cause & effect, and can be played online or downloaded to a mac or pc. If you work with students that use switches and love music, you'll be glad you found this site!

Priory Woods is a school for students with special needs in the UK.

"LINC" - Low Incidence Network Connection

This Area Educational Agency in East Central Iowa has done a marvelous job putting together this site of Resources, Links and Blogs for Low Incidence Students.  Categories include: Adapted Books & Song-boards, AAC, Visual Symbols, Early Intervention, Computer Access, Switch Skills and more!

Resources and ideas for teachers of learners with severe, profound, intensive, significant, complex or multiple special needs.

This is one of the best resources I've seen! It's been added to our list of blogs, along with a few others.

Curious about what's new in speech generating devices?

Tobii ATI workshop in Marquette - Register Now! Click on post title for workshop and registration details.

PS2 to USB adapter (works with old IntelliKeys)

This company has an excellent selection of keyboards, mice and trackballs. One of our Region 1A members purchased a Big Keys keyboard that came with PS2 to USB adapter. As an added bonus, she tried it with the old IntelliKeys and it worked!

Big button iPod remote from RJ Cooper

This iPod remote has switch jacks too, and he's working on a scanning model. He also has a new switch adapted DVD player. Know anyone who loves music and would like to play guitar? RJ has made the popular game, Guitar Hero, switch accessible for the XBox, Wii or Playstation.

Need to Right Click with Camera Mouse?

While trying the new free camera mouse with Clicker 5, we ran into the problem of not being able to Right Click. With Clicker, the Right click is used to listen to the contents of a cell before posting it to the document. The solution is a program called ClickAid. ClickAid is also free and can be run with camera mouse to double click, right click or drag.

Free camera mouse software

Boston College has developed this free technology for people who are physically disabled but have voluntary control of head movement. It requires a webcam and is completely free for download at www.cameramouse.org Please pass this information along!

New switch positioning system

RJ Cooper has a new gadget called a Switch Poser. He's including some industrial strength Velcro with it. It adjusts to any angle - the switch is sold separately.

Virtual Motor Skills - new software from Judy Lynn Software

This program is "designed to give the user with limited motor skills the virtual experience of performing tasks by picking up, putting down, and moving objects around using 1 or 2 switches, a mouse click, or the computer keyboard. In many of the activities, the user controls a life-like hand to complete tasks such as picking up colored pegs and placing them in their matching colored slots."

A free trial version can be downloaded.

Switch mounts with Loc-Line

Linda Burkhart's session yesterday was amazing! Her website has been added to our Links to Resources. Check out the handouts on Key Concepts for Using Augmentative Communication with Children Who Have Complex Communication Needs and Make a Switch Mount with Loc-Line.