Free Open-Source Tools for Student Accommodation

1.     Freemind – mind mapping/idea webs for writing http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

2.     Hottnotes – sticky notes and alarms and checklists for organization http://www.hottnotes.com/

3.     Click n Type re-sizeable on-screen keyboard

http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/

4.     Virtual Magnifying Glass http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/

5.     Sonar Cursor Ring http://www.fxc.btinternet.co.uk/assistive.htm

6.     VuBar  http://www.fxc.btinternet.co.uk/assistive.htm

7.     DSpeech talking word processor and text converter to Mp3

http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/

8.     Lingoes Talking Dictionary: http://www.lingoes.net/

High-end user supports:

9.     Periodic Table Classic http://www.freshney.org/education/pt/index.htm

10.                        Speedcrunch On screen calculator http://speedcrunch.org/en_US/download.html

11.                         Converber unit converter http://www.xyntec.com/unit-converter-download.htm

Here are some great sites for fun and speech:

Noggin Paint and Draw

  Designing Interactive Computer Activities for   Switch Accessibility 

Presenter: Lon Thornburg

My blog: http://nolimitstolearning.blogspot.com

This lab session will explore software that can be used to build interactive activities that can be switch-activated. Programs used will include MS PowerPoint, My Own Bookshelf and Test

Me, Score Me. Hands-on activities will include setting up a switch interface and switches for direct scan and step scan, building talking books, and using narration. Lessons and assessment potential will be explored with pros and cons of using different software programs. Learn how to use branching links and animation, to turn Powerpoint into learning tools for assessment as well as the traditional slide show presentations. Explore the resources from online video that you can embed in activities. Examples will be shared and a work session lab time will be given for implementing your own ideas. If you have a story or activity in mind, bring digital images on a CD or jump drive to use during the day.

Objectives:

• Be able to compare and contrast various software components that support text to speech,

   assessment, and interactivity.

• Successfully set up a switch interface and a switch for computer access

• Design a basic Power Point activity and operate with a switch

• Record a narration in a Power Point and other software examples

• Understand the assessment and data collection potential of software presented.

• Understand how to download/convert free-use video online and use in presentations

Schedule for day:

Activities:

1.     Set up switches w/ interface - make sure everyone is comfortable with using.

2.     Open and Use My Own Bookshelf - look at a page or two of a book with scanned images - explore.

3.     Use Test Me Score Me - design a short 2 slide assessment. Give tutorial.

Break

4.     PowerPoints and Interactivity:

a)     Adding sound/recording narration for an ebook - look at Powertalk as well.

b)    Adding Video (use samples).

c)     Branching activities

Activity One: Create a PP slide with a recorded sound (Audacity), a narrated slide and a video. (3 slides)

Activity Two: Add a slide with a question and two choices for answers that are branching.

Activity Three: Build a sample AAC board with images

(We will work until lunch and finish afterwards

Lunch

Afternoon Session:

5.     Introduction to Free Blog as a tool for interactive activities - video, text to speech and answers and response in comments.

Example:

http://accesstolearn.blogspot.com/2008/08/lesson-on-starfish.html

You need:

1.     Gmail account set up: http://mail.google.com

Email:

Password:

1.     Blogger Set up:

https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount?naui=8

Should be same as email above for user name/ password.

Youtube video searches:

http://www.youtube.com/

Student-driven Accommodation:

Provide this List of software for Your Students, teach them how to use these as tools for specific needs they have and watch how they can accommodate the material for themselves.

First, read this article on "Planning for Access" by Ira Socol.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): UDL research demonstrates that the challenge of diversity can and must be met by making curriculum flexible and responsive to learning differences.

UDL:

Universal Design for Learning Book Editions by CAST - This site is a cooperative effort between Texthelp, CAST and Google to bring some free literature together with the supports needed for students in the way UDL would envision it.

Look at the example pages. Explore them for a few minutes and think about what elements make this universally supportable for students. What do you see?

This site has the following UDL features: individualized support for struggling readers, and added value features that engage novice and expert readers alike. This makes the text adaptable to all levels of learners not just students labeled "learning disabled".

There is a Texthelp Toolbar which offers: text-to-speech, highlight and collect highlights features, dictionary and encyclopedia links, and translation between English and Spanish.

The Google Literacy Project: This links gives tools to the teacher on literacy. Make sure you spend some time looking at "Innovative Projects" links.

 Free Text to Speech :

Click, Speak This tool loads on Firefox as a web page reader. It is a toolbar on the browser. Highlight text and then read.

Browsealoud This is another free web text reader

Natural Reader - This tool works with any browser and on any document. It has a floating toolbar that can read highlighted text. A $39.95 upgrade will allow selected txt to be converted to Mp3 files for listening later.

WordTalk  Free for MS Word - "It will speak the text of the document and will highlight it as it goes. It contains a talking dictionary to help decide which word spelling is most appropriate. It sits neatly in your toolbar and is highly configurable, allowing you to adjust the highlight colours, the voice and the speed of the speech. "

PowerTalk Free speech generation for PowerPoint - speaks text on any presentation and waits for animation to finish first. Uses the Windows speech engine.

Free Study Tools:

Merriam Webster Dictionary Tool for all browsers

Ghotit - "Got it" free online case-sensitive spell checker.

Free Translation:

gTranslate for Firefox Browser

Free Vision and Orthopedic Access:

iZoom - a text magnification software for web browser only

Virtual Magnifying Glass - works on text and web, for Win/Mac/Linux

Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard - has scanning option and word prediction add-on.

Text to Speech/Study Software (to buy):

Texthelp

Kurzweil 3000

Wynn Reader

Premiere Assitive Accessibility Suite

Don Johnston Solo

Free Text/Print Access to use with Text Readers:

Bookshare.org - need medical documentation of print disability to qualify

Talking Book and Braille Service - Oregon based, need medical documentation of print disability

Lit2go - University of Southern Florida, Free etext and audio formatted books

Gutenberg.org - Thousands of public domain titles

Knowledgerush - more public domain text

Free Online Blog Services and Social Bookmarking make for a "dynamic duo" for free access.

Blogger is a free tool that links to Google.

Odiogo is a free text to speech widget to put on a blog that allows downloadable Mp3 conversion files.

Also, using Auto-correct as a text entry tool, students can learn shortcuts to help them with commonly used phrases. With a speech generator, they can use the auto-fill for speed entry to common phrases of speech.

Speech and Language Sites

As summer approaches, you might want to refer your students and their families to some sites that can carry over skills you have spent the school year working on.

You can set up a site like this one to share resources. Our ESD Instructional Resources Department would be happy to help you.

Here are four sites that have great interactive aspects for your students.

PHONICS ACTIVITIES 

URL: http://www.nelsonthornes.co.uk/primary/phonics/games.htm

BEGINNING SOUNDS

URL: http://www.kiddonet.com/gb/flash/phonics/Intro.html

THE LITERACY CENTER

URL: http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.htm

BBC WORDS & PICTURES GAMES

URL:http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/index.shtml

If you have any sites you would like to share, you can post them in the comments section below for all of us to see.

Designing Your Own Activities for Computer Accessibility

Presenter: Lon Thornburg;

ME Technology in Education;

Assistive Technology Specialist,

Umatilla Morrow ESD, Pendleton, OR

Lon.thornburg@umesd.k12.or.us

By the end of the day you should be able to:

o   Have an understanding of building books in “My Own Bookshelf”.

o   Have an understanding of building assessments in “Test Me, Score Me”.

o   Have the tools to build a PowerPoint slide show that is switch accessible.

o   Understand the use of recorded media and video in switch accessible activities.

o   Assess the pros and cons of pre-made software for designing books and assessments.

o   Use a switch interface and jelly bean switch to access your own interactive lessons.

Our Schedule

Morning:

·        Overview and introductions

·        View Examples from “My Own Bookshelf”

·        Explore “My Own Bookshelf” and look at extension products/applications for Reading and AT.

Break

·        Explore “Test Me Score Me” and assessment.

Lunch

Afternoon:

·        View Examples from Microsoft Office PowerPoint and touch on elements for switch access and multi media.

·        Open time to play with resources in PowerPoint, My Own Bookshelf and

·        Final Summary and sharing

Online Resources:

Softtouch

ODE Extended Assessment

Video Converting:

Keepvid

flv Player

media convert

“Building Interactive Computer Activities for use with Special Needs Students.”

Lon Thornburg, UMESD Assistive Technology Specialist

This session will explore authoring programs for the computer that build interactive lessons. We will mainly use PowerPoint because it is accessible to you. We will also look at Test Me Score Me and My Own Bookshelf as programs that can be used to build interactive activities.

PowerPoint:

You can assign actions such as sounds, animations and opening other programs or slides to letters and graphics. By choosing the correct graphic or letter, students can move on to other slides. By clicking with a switch instead of the mouse, students can make animations and sound play and move to other slides.

Test Me, Score Me:

This program allows you to create assessments in True/False, Multiple choice and have the assessment read to the student. The program scores the results for that student.

My Own Bookshelf:

MOB allows you to enter text and pictures and build literature selections that are read to students and stored in categories.

All of these programs allow for creativity and authoring by students as well if they are capable of using the computer to create projects.

See tutorials provided for PowerPoint and Test Me Score Me.

Soft Touch Website: http://www.softtouch.com/

“I Have Something To Say!” Augmentative Communication in the Classroom
Lon Thornburg; UMESD Assistive Technology Specialist

This session will introduce techniques, strategies and tools that develop communication for students with multiple disabilities and communication issues. We will look at speech generating devices, software and techniques to use the Picture Exchange System to support communication and educational goals in your classroom.

Session I:

Techniques, strategies and Tools:

I.                    Multiple Disabilities/Identifying student responses through sensory probes and data collection. (Believe they CAN communicate - they just are not able to talk and they have a hard time indicating a response. What would you want someone to try?)

II.                  Building on the identified response: Techniques for using toys and questioning strategies.

A.      Identify a Goal (look at IEP)

B.      Design a strategy based on response indicators found from above

C.      Create variations for multiple reinforcements of synapses and connection building.

Communication Tools:

Pecs/symbols and recognition – developing opportunities for language use and practice for identification, simple requests and communication.

Building a Communication Binder: Student ownership, communication between school and home; memory album for a day, week, weekend, etc.

Developing fluency and 2 parts to language: Subject and predicate with a noun and verb:

Try this! A  Simple subject and predicate game:  http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html

How could we develop a simplified version of this in a game with students?

Session II: Hands on with devices and software

Continuum Picture symbols – aid – tech talk devices – digitized speech – synthesized speech

PECS assists in building a system that can be applied to high end display devices down the road.

Examples:

BOARDMAKER:

Boardmaker symbols only and speech device like a Tech Talk 8

Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro on a computer

http://www.mayer-johnson.com/

Assistive Technology Engineering Labs

Picture Master Language Software

Bluebird: http://www.gokeytech.com/bluebird_ii.htm

PMLS Software: http://www.gokeytech.com/picture_master_language_software.htm

Chatbox by Saltillo: http://www.saltillo.com/products/index.php?product=33&product_id=1

Switch-based communication:

1.      Choose a style of switch and method for hitting the switch.

2.      Choose the medium to deliver communication, i.e. laptop, speech device, etc.

3.      Designate number of choices from 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.

4.      Come up with growth strategies for developing parts of speech, vocabulary, etc.

Speech synthesis: Alphasmart, Fly Pen, etc.

One Handed Keyboarding

Recently one of our staff pointed me to this site where a woman who has use of only one hand can type at normal professional speeds. She sells her CD program with drills and practice and an e-manual. The site also has resources to similar sites and child-sized keyboards to order (like the one above).  She says that with the child-size keyboard and her CD, young students with a one-handed disability can learn to keyboard just as well as the two-handed students.

Here is the link to watch the online video of how it works:

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/video.html

Here is the link to the CD training program with drills and the manual:

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/manual.html

Picture Symbol & Image Sites

These sites are great resources for developing a free collection of sympols you can use:

http://www.pdictionary.com/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html

http://www.bigfoto.com/

http://www.pics4learning.com/

http://www.barrysclipart.com/

http://trainland.tripod.com/pecs.htm

http://www.jc-schools.net/techupdate/classclip.html

http://www.animationlibrary.com