5 Great Summer AT/AAC Online Trainings!

Looking for some continuing education opportunities to learn more about assistive technology and AAC while you are wrapping up your "lazy" summer? :)  Check out some of these great online webinars to stay in the AT loop!

1.  ATIA Online Webinars

ATIA is offering some great topics over the next month, including "Challenges to Using Apps as Assistive Technology"

2.  PRC Online Professional Development Trainings

PRC always hosts some great AAC trainings to support not only their products, but the AAC evaluation and treatment process as a whole.  They have a few nice online trainings coming up, including one on successful AAC report writing.

3.  The AAC Institute

Offers a nice, comprehensive listing of CE opportunities in the areas of AT and AAC, including online/webinar trainings.  

4.  The Assistive Technology Training Online Program (ATTO)

Although not a live webinar or a course offering CE credits, this site has some amazing online resources to help new professionals in the field of AT get their bearings.  

5.  Closing the Gap

Although they have not posted any new, live webinars since May, you can access all of their archived webinars for some really great information.

I will update this as I come across new opportunities.

Have a training, online course, or webinar you'd like to share?

Software & Online Games for Children with Visual Impairment

Not everyone has a mobile tablet (iPad, Android tablet) and for some kids with special needs, especially those with visual impairment, tablet activities may not be the best choice for all occasions.  Personal computers are readily available in many classrooms and homes and there are lots of great software programs out there for kids with special needs!  I often hear parents and professionals say "Why would I spend $200.00 on a software program when I can get an App for $2.99?".  This is true, many of these software programs require a bit of an investment.  however, more often than not, the programs available will grow with your child and can be used across his or her development.  Furthermore, the development of these products involves extensive educational research and product support and in my opinion, that often justifies the cost!  Lastly, for kids who use switches, personal computers offer a much wider variety of educational programs and games than mobile devices.  Here are a few resources to find software and online activities/games that can be used on laptops or personal computers for children with a variety of special needs, including visual impairment: (PS:  Some of these are free!! :)

Software

7-128 Software for Blind & Visually Impaired Kids
This company makes simple, low cost games that you can download directly form the site or obtain on a CD.  The games were developed to be accessible to children with special needs at a variety of ages and stages.  The company uses an accessibility rating system that is helpful when choosing the right program(s) for your child.  There is also some free stuff on the site, definitely worth checkin out!

Inclusive Technology
This company offers a variety of accessible software for entertainment and education and also has some great Apps for iPad and Android tablets.  Many of their software programs and apps are also switch accessible.

Intellitools Products
A great source for educational programs like the Intellitools Classroom Suite.  This company also offers an activity exchange area where users can share the activities they have created for Intellitools programs.  One of the things that makes Classroom Suite a great tool is your ability to create custom activities for your child's needs.  They also have a braille learning program, IntelliBraille.
Free trials are available for download on the company's site.

Laureate Products
These programs focus on language and communication development.

Softtouch Products
Switch accessible programs for cause-effect learners and academic subjects (reading, match).

There is also a great list of Switch Accessible Software at Marblesoft

Online Activities

Starfall
Focus on literacy with activities for kids at all stages of reading development.

HelpKidzLearn
Free online games from cause and effect to problem solving.  Most games are switch accessible and all visually simple with high contrast.

Symbol World
Online newspapers for kids and adults using symbols to enhance literacy.  Free to access and the site offers accessibility settings like high contrast and large print.  Unfortunately, no voice output yet. :( But they're working on it.  Read more about it here.

News-2-You
Another symbol-based newspaper with a variety of reading levels (even appropriate for really young children).  This one is subscription based and comes with companion activities in each issue.  Also has voice output :)


Kneebouncers
Fun learning games for tots and preschool kids.

Looking for resources for older children and teens?
For some great resources for teens and adults, visit Wonder Baby's list!

What software and online activities do you enjoy?

Technology for Kids with Visual Impairment

I was recently invited to be a guest speaker on two teleconferences for parents seeking support for their children with visual impairments. These impairments included cortical visual impairment (CVI) and LCA, a genetic condition which leads to blindness. I really enjoyed participating in these calls and gaining some perspective on the information these families are seeking for their kids. They all had such wonderful questions and I admired their innovation and bravery. Although the focus of this talk was definitely geared more toward mobile technology, we also discussed some great computer and web resources to enhance play and learning for these kids. I thought this information might be helpful for other families supporting children with cortical visual impairment and other forms of low vision and blindness.   I thought it might be helpful to other parents to have some of this info as well.  In a series of posts this week, I will share some further tips and resources on technology for visually impaired kids.  Click on the links below for information related to each technology category .:)  I will try to post these quickly this week so if a link doesn't work today, please try again tomorrow!

App List for Kids with Visual Impairment

Tips for Choosing & Using Apps for Kids with Special Needs

iPad Positioning Tips for Children with Visual Impairment

Tips to Assist Motor Access For iPad

Software & Online Games  for Kids with Visual Impairment

What resources are you looking for to help kids with visual impairment?

UTW Tip #3: Connecting to Special Needs Resources Through Twitter

I have to admit, I have been rather resistant to Twitter, and it isn’t MY favorite way to connect with information. Bu,t for some, it really is a simple, fast, and fun way to explore real-time news. I’m warming up to it . :) Are you using Twitter right now, but you just don’t know how to connect with the special needs related information that you want? Or maybe you have no idea what on earth a Tweet is and you keep wondering what all the fuss is about? In this post, let’s explore what Twitter is, how it works, and how you can get what you need from it when it comes to special needs resources. 

In my last post on Connecting with Special Needs Resources Through Blogs, I tried to paint a picture of what a blog is and what characteristics about blogs make them an attractive tool for staying in the special needs loop. Keeping with that blog theme, let’s think of Twitter as a microblog, a smaller version of a blog-smaller in a few, figurative and literal ways. Straight from “the bird’s” mouth: “Twittter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions, and news about what you find interesting” (Twitter.com). So like blogs, Twitter is focused on topics, and like blogs, twitter brings information to you without you having to visit individual sites when content is updated (i.e., “real-time). So what makes Twitter different form the other social media tools we have discussed so far this week (i.e., Facebook, Blogs)? Twitter brings you a smaller snapshot (a “Tweet”) of a news story than a blog. Again from the Twitter bird’s mouth “At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called ‘Tweets’. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but don’t let the small size fool you- you can discover a lot in a little space. You can see photos, videos, and conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at a glance, and all in one place” (Twitter.com). This relatively smaller scale makes Twitter a nice way to receive small bits of information at one time and then decide which bits to explore further. For those of you in a time crunch, this could be just the ticket. So how does it work and how can you connect with the topics you’re interested in? 

  Here are a few tips:

• First thing, if you haven’t already, open a Twitter account. Like Facebook, it is completely free of change and only takes a moment. Once you have an account, you will have to teach Twitter what you’re interested in. 
• You can share a bit about yourself and your interests in your Twitter profile so that others know what you want to know about. However, this isn’t required to explore Twitter and connect with others, so you can always choose to keep these details private. 
• Everyone in Twitter has a username that is preceded by the @ symbol. For example, the username for SNEAK outside the box on Twitter is @sneakotb. Look for Twitter usernames on many of the printed resources you receive from special needs organizations already. Like with Facebook, most companies, organizations, and even blogs have Twitter accounts that they use to share information. Once you know their usernames, you can “Follow” them on Twitter to stay connected. “Following” someone on Twitter makes you are part of their Twitter conversation. Much like subscribing to an RSS feed (discussed in my previous post), this means that you will see the updates of those you are following right on your Twitter page, making it faster and easier for you to receive information, join in a discussion, or ask a question. Here are a few ways to Follow people who talk about things you are interested in: 
• Click on the Twitter icon on the home page of your favorite special needs websites and blogs to follow the sites/blogs on Twitter. 

• Search for the Twitter username of the organization/etc... you want to follow. To do this, click on the “@Connect” link t the top of your Twitter profile and then type the name you are searching for in the search box on the right. Keep in mind that Twitter usernames don’t have spaces in between words. :) 
• Twitter will also suggest who you should follow based on what it knows about you so far. If you have already started following a few Tweeters, Twitter may suggest some of their followers (the Followers of the Tweeter you are Following-phew, another mouthful :). You can see these suggestions on your Twitter home page each time you sign on. Read the profiles of these Tweeters and see if they are talking about what you’re interested in. If so, Follow them and check out who they are Following, you might want to connect with them as well. These branches are a lot like exploring a Blog Roll on the home page of your favorite blogs, or the “liked” pages of your Facebook connections (see my previous posts on Facebook and Blogs for more details:). 
• As with Facebook and Blogs, you can also search for keywords on Twitter to connect with relevant special needs information. In Twitter, keywords are called “hashtags” and they are preceded by a pound symbol (#). For example, the keyword “AAC” would look like this on Twitter “#AAC”. Hashtags are used by Tweeters to put their Tweets into categories and help other Tweeters find their information. To search for keywords from your Twitter homepage, click on the “#Discover” link and type in your search term in the search box on the right. When you are searching, you don’t have to include the hashtag, but doing so may limit your results to those more specifically related to your keyword. Your search results will include Tweets that were marked with the keyword (hashtag) you searched for. Your results will also include photos and videos that are tagged by this term and a list of People who write write Tweets marked with this topic. This could be a nice way to find People on Twitter who are talking about the keywords you are interested in and Follow them. 
• Twitter also lets you browse categories from your homepage to find information on broader topics like Technology, Family, and Education. If searching for specifics is too overwhelming at first, try to connect with general Tweets by browsing categories first, and then go from there. Save your favorite 
• Twitter searches so you can search those terms often without having to re-enter the keywords. You can save your searches after you search by clicking on the gear icon (or it might look like a sun :) and clicking “Save search”. You can re-visit your saved searches later by clicking on the #Discover link and clicking in the search box. Your saved searches will appear in a list underneath so you can just click on the term you want to search. 

Staying Connected with Twitter on the Go

Now that you have started “following the conversation” on the special needs topics you are interested in, it’s time to figure out the best way(s) to keep yourself connected to your Twitter home page so you can get your information quickly, easily, and frequently! You will always be able to access your information by signing in to your Twitter account on Twitter.com. But, if you are using an iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or mobile tablet, you can also use mobile Apps to get your Twitter feed anywhere. These apps are free and easy to use, check them out here.

Twitter also has a service called Fast Follow which lets you receive notifications and Tweets through text messages (SMS) on your cell phone. You can set this feature up in your Twitter account settings. This will not send you a text message for every Tweet, only those Tweets and other notifications that you specify in the settings.

Visit SNEAK on Twitter to follow posts on technology for special kids and also link to other professionals and parents discussing special needs topics. You can explore the Tweeters SNEAK is following and see if you want to join their conversations. :)

Check out these helpful links for more in-depth information on Twitter:

What is Twitter? Wikipedia

Twitter.com-About Twitter

How To Use Twitter (You Tube Video of the Basics)

How do you use Twitter to find special needs resources?

Untangling "the Web" Tip #2: Connecting to Special Needs Resources Through Blogs

So what is a blog anyway? For a full definition and in depth history that surely goes beyond what you are interested in, check out Wikipedia.:) But in a nutshell, the term "blog" is short for "web log" and blogs are websites where individuals and/ or groups record information, opinions, etc... on a regular basis. The "regular basis" is a key difference between most standard websites and a blog. Many blogs are updated at least on a monthly basis, some even daily, and this steady stream of new content is one reason why blogs are a great tool for finding resources for kids with special needs. Some blogs are about very specific topics (e.g., iPad Apps for Autism) and others are on broader categories of information (e.g., topics related to assertive technology or special education in general). The authors of special needs related blogs are often professionals, parents of children with special needs, or sometimes, companies who offer products and services related to special needs. The language on blogs is informal and the content is usually aimed to create conversation or "commenting". This open-ended nature of blogs makes them not only great sources to receive recorded information written by blog authors, but also amazing outlets for collaborating with others, asking questions, and sharing your own information about a topic.

You have already started your blog adventure by finding this blog :) Here are a few tips to help your broaden your blogging horizons to find the special needs information and resources you're looking for and to make sure you stay in the loop on current topics related to kids with special needs.

• Since you're already here (and I'm so glad you are!), visit the "SNEAK's Fav Blogs" link on the SNEAK homepage (to the right, and scroll down) to connect with a starter list of great blogs that post information about various topics related to special needs (e.g., speech therapy, assertive technology, AAC, Apps, CVI). I update this link frequently and find these blogs to be top notch when it comes to reliable and innovative information. Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of blogs so keep reading the following tips to find out how to branch out form here! :) 
• Blogs usually post a description of the topics and information you can expect to find on them somewhere on the main page (home page). Once you visit a blog, check out this description to see if the blog is right for you. If it is, you might want to consider subscribing to or "following" that blog. 



RSS Icon 

• Most blogs allow readers to subscribe to their content. This is how you can get updated posts from your favorite blogs without having to check the blog daily to see if there are new posts. There are a few easy ways to get these updates.
• Subscribe by Email: Many blogs allow you to follow them by email. By sharing your email address, you can receive emails from the blog anytime content is updated. Don't worry, most blogs will not send out any emails that are not related to content updates. In most cases, you will get one email per day that lists new posts that were added to that blog and allows you to read summaries within the email and link to the blog website for further reading. 
• Subscribe to Posts/Comments: You might notice this icon on many blogs. This is the icon for an "RSS Feed". An RSS Feed is the way websites and blogs gather new information together and send it directly to you. "It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually." (WhatisRSS.com) In order to receive an RSS Feed, you have to have an RSS Feed Reader. If you use mobile devices like the iPhone, Android phones, or iPad/Android tablets, there are many Reader apps that enable you to receive RSS Feeds from your favorite sites and blogs and read them at your leisure. There are also online RSS Feed Readers that allow you to access your RSS Feeds on your computer by signing into your reader. I have listed some great RSS Feed Reader apps and online Feed Readers at the end of this post. If you are a Yahoo or Google email subscriber, you might already have a Feed Reader at your fingertips and not even know it. :) 
• Facebook and Twitter: As mentioned in my previous post, many websites, blogs included, have a Facebook page and will post the Facebook icon on their home page. For some blogs (SNEAK is one of them:), the updates posted on the blog site will also be shared on Facebook and Twitter (not sure about Twitter and how it relates to you, stay tuned for my next post:). So if you find it easier to just stay connected by these old, familiar friends, make sure you click on the Facebook and twitter icons of your favorite blogs so you can follow them and receive updates. 
• Now that you've explored SNEAK's Fav Blogs and subscribed to your own favorites, make sure you check out the "Blogroll" link on the blogs you visit. Just like SNEAK, many blogs post a link on their home page that lists all of the blogs they support and enjoy (this is called a Blogroll). Just like with Facebook pages (see my previous post for a refresher:), you can connect with many branches of the topics you are interested in by exploring the blogs that your favorite bloggers are exploring (lol, what a mouthful!). 
• Google to the rescue once again! You can search specifically for blogs related to the topics you want to know about right on the Google search page. To do this, go to Google and click on the top menu bar where it says "more". Scroll down the list until you see "Blogs" and click on that to bring you to a new search page ("Google Blogs"). Now type in your keywords in the search box and Google will return only those results that are found on blogs. 

RSS Feed Readers Bring Blog Updates Straight to You!

Here are some great RSS Feed Reader Apps (many are completely free!). I personally use Flipboard on my iPad because it turns my feeds into a magazine :)
AppAdvice.com's RSS Reader App List

Here are sine popular online RSS Feed Readers, completely free to use!
Google Reader (If you have a gmail account, you are already on your way!)
BlogLines
My Yahoo (click on the +My Yahoo icon on your favorite blogs to add their RSS Feeds to your My Yahoo homepage)

Hope these tips send you on your way to happy blogging! Next on the agenda for Untangling "the Web": Twitter :)

What are some of your favorite blogs?

Untangling “the Web” Tip #1: Special Needs Resources on Facebook

This week, I am sharing some tips to help parents and professionals make sense of the immense amount of resources on the internet to support children with special needs. I thought we would start untangling "the web" with an easy one. :)

Many of you (if not all of you) use Facebook to stay connected to family and friends. But, you might not have realized that you can also use Facebook to stay connected with information related to children with special needs. In addition to individual Facebook profiles (your “Friends” in Facebook terms), Facebook also offers organizations, businesses, and individuals the opportunity to create “Groups” and “Pages” around specific topics. Anyone can create a Group or Page on Facebook about anything they are interested in. Many companies, organizations, and grass-root support agencies have created Facebook Groups and/or Pages to reach out to parents and professionals on a wide variety of topics related to special needs (e.g., AAC, Cortical Visual Impairment, Autism). Here are some tips to help you connect with the Facebook Pages and Groups related to what you want to know:

• First thing’s first: Sign-in to Facebook. :) If you don’t already have a Facebook account, sign-up for one to check it out. It’s free and widely accessible-you can even download special Apps on your phone that help you access Facebook wherever you are. 
• Use the Facebook Search Box at the top of your Facebook Profile (or “Timeline” as it is now called) to search for organizations by name (e.g., “The Center for AAC and Autism”) or by keyword. A keyword is a word that describes the root of the information you are looking for. For example, if you want to connect with Pages or Groups related to Down Syndrome, you would type “Down Syndrome”. Likewise, if you want to connect with Pages or Groups that provide information related to AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), you could type “AAC” or “augmentative and alternative communication” in the search box. A list of Pages and Groups that are related to your search will start to appear below the search box. Click on them to open the Page or Group and explore further. 
• Groups and Pages are slightly different. Groups are usually created by Facebook users (you or I, for example) around a topic of interest. In order to see the information shared within that Group, you need to be a member of the Group (i.e., you have to “Join”). Groups are not usually focused around a specific product or service, although products and services might be shared within a group if the members post these items on the Wall of the Group. Pages are usually created by businesses, organizations, and corporations. Everyone can view the information on a Page without having to “Join” like in a Group. Each Page will have a category listed underneath it so that you know the type of organization that is hosting the Page. For example, you might see “Product/Service” or “Education”. This will give you an idea of the types of information you can expect to see shared on that Page. Visit Facebook’s Help Center for more step-by-step instructions on how to join a Group and connect with a Page (i.e., by “Liking” the Page). 

• Another way to connect with special needs information on Facebook is to see if the organizations you currently look to for help and information have a Facebook Page. Many organizations will advertise the Facebook icon (pictured above) on their printed media to help others connect with them. If you see this icon in print or other places not online, search for that organization by name in the Facebook Search Box (mentioned above). You will also see this icon on websites from time to time. If you come across the Facebook icon on a website that you like, click on it to follow that organization on Facebook. This is one way to get their valuable information to come to you so that you don’t have to keep going back to the website to check for updates. 
• If you are a Google fan (aren’t we all? :), you can combine your search words to narrow your Google search to Facebook. For example, if you want to find information related to Autism but you only want to see results that are related to Facebook, type “Autism on Facebook” in the Google Search Box. Your search results will list sites that (for the most part) are Facebook Pages. Clicking on the links will take you to each Facebook Page/Group/Profile and you can “Like” the Page, Join the Group, or Send the person a Friend Request (see the Facebook Help Center for further information on these differences :) to connect with this information. 
• One thing that makes Facebook an easy way to receive information is that it pulls everything into one place- the “News Feed”. Every Friend, Page, and Group that you subscribe to becomes part of your News Feed. When a Page or Group posts information on their Wall, it will show up in your News Feed. If you check your Feed often, you will get this information as it is shared. If you don’t, no worries-you can always go back in time on your Feed and read everything when you have a few minutes here and there. 
• Once you join a few Groups and “like” a few Pages, you will be able to see the Groups and Pages that your friends and fellow Group members are connected to as well. These branches are a great way to find new sources of information on Facebook that you might find helpful. Many times, a Page related to a special topic (e.g., Cortical Visual Impairment) will be connected with other Pages that discuss the same or similar topics, and you can see these links on their Page and click on them to explore further (and even “Like” if you want). 
• Facebook is certainly not the only way to receive news and information related to special needs, and it is by no means comprehensive. However, Facebook is a non-intimidating gateway into this new world of sharing information, resources, ideas, and more through social media. I have made connections to many helpful resources by discovering great organizations, professionals, and parents on Facebook who think, discuss, and share on the topics I am interested in. Not only does Facebook connect you with real-time information related to the special needs topics that you find most valuable, but it is also a great place to connect with People who are invested in these topics and experiencing similar struggles and triumphs. 

So now that you are on your way to exploring Facebook to its fullest, let’s discover another social media tool that can bring valuable information directly to you! Coming up in the next post in the Untangling "the Web" series: Blogs :)


What Facebook Groups and Pages do you recommend?

Untangling "the Web" to Support Kids with Special Needs

As a therapist, I am always searching for new ways to share information with the families I serve and the colleagues I collaborate with.  In fact, SNEAK outside the box (this blog :) came about, in part, from that ongoing quest.  A few weeks before I decided to start SNEAK, I was in between jobs during a transition across the country, and I had some time to start exploring this whole world of “blogs”.  I had never, actively read a blog up to that point, had no idea what an “RSS feed” was, and really didn’t think Twitter had anything to do with me or my thirst for information and continuing education as a professional.      As I embarked on this social media-blogging-Twitter- Facebook-Pinterest  (Pinte-what??) adventure, I soon realized an entirely new world of resources and information at my finger tips!   But how could I make sense of it all?  I have a hard enough time getting through my email inbox, could I find the time to surf the web for hours on end to stay in the loop? Probably not-but what if there was an easier way (or a few easier ways)?  Luckily, there are. :)

And once I started discovering how to organize this www goldmine, I was determined to find out how I could make this whole idea a little bit easier for my families and colleagues to digest.  How can a busy mom stay in the loop about resources, tips, and more for her child with special needs?  How can a special education teacher with minimal planning time keep informed on relevant topics to improve her classroom? What about that SLP with a back-to-back caseload who knows she needs to keep on top of novel therapy techniques and new technology, but just can’t find out how?  In a series of posts this week and next (Untangling “the Web”:  Finding the Information You Need to Help Your Child with Special Needs), I hope to offer some tips and resources to help all of us who serve kids with special needs stay “in the know” without pulling our hair out!    

Although some of you may not consider yourselves “tech savvy”, you are on your way!  Hey, you found this blog, right?  You have to start somewhere. :) Let’s kick things off with something a bit more familiar: Facebook.   Check out the first post in this series:  Untangling “the Web” Tip #1:  Connecting with Special Needs Resources on Facebook

How do you stay in the know?

Webinars on iPad for Special Needs Topics

Closing the Gap is hosting some great, low cost Webinars on a variety of topics related to using the iPad with children who have special needs. Check out the webinar list on their site!
And don't miss this year's Closing the Gap Conference, a wonderful place for learning and networking for parents and professionals who support children and adults with disability. The conference is in Minneapolis in October, check out http://www.closingthegap.com/ for more info!

SNEAK's Top 5 Web Resources for Teaching Language to Kids Who Use AAC

I often encounter colleagues and parents who find themselves stuck at many levels of the AAC and language continuum.  For some of us who support kids who use AAC, getting tangled in the technology can often leave us feeling confused and overwhelmed (Imagine how our kids feel!)  In my own quest for a life raft in this sometimes daunting task, I have found some wonderful resources to support the process of teaching language to children who use AAC! as well as those responsible for teaching them!  Here are my fav 5 web resources for AAC implementation strategies:

 

1.  AAC Language Lab is a site operated by Prentke-Romich Company, an AAC device manufacturer.  Even though the resources on this site are designed to be used with PRC's Unity software on their devices, the activities and resources here can be used to teach core vocabulary to kids who use any device or low-tech system.  Access to all info and teaching resources on this site is completely free!  I use the plans and handouts on this site daily with my kids and families and all of the information is clearly illustrated, in parent-friendly language, making AAC Language Lab an awesome resource for therapy sessions and carryover across daily routines. 

2.  PrAACtical AAC  is an amazing blog and web resource with frequent posts on language building strategies to support AAc users at a variety of levels.  PrAACtical AAC also has an AAC e-Toolbox with tons of implementation techniques, handouts, articles, and videos.  There is a wealth of other valuable information on this site and it is updated frequently with PrAACtical tips :). 

3.  Dynavox Implementation Toolkit  is a site by Dynavox Techno,ogies, another AAC device manufacturer.  This site is intended for use with Dunavox's InterAACt software on their devices.  However, much like the AAC Language Lab by PRC, the principles outlined in this extensive toolkit can be used with other devices and low-tech systems.  I especially like this resource because it has a range of information that varies in detail, making it a great source for pros, teachers, And parents.  You have to create an account to use the toolkit but it is quick, easy, and free to do so.  :)

4.  AAC Intervention provides a Tip of the Month on implementing ASC and archives all other tips for reference.  Eavh tip focuses on a different topic in ASC implementation and most include detailed handouts on what the strategy is, how to use it, and why.  The site is free for all resources and is updated somewhat frequently.  

5.  YAACK: Connecting Young Kids has a wealth of information on  the span of AAC, from defining through assessment, and also has some great, basic information on teaching AAC and building communicative competence in AAC users.  This isn't a site that is updated frequently as it is a compilation of information by Ruth Ballinger, completed for fulfillment of her Masters in Special Education.  BUT, it is an essential reference for anyone supporting an AAC user, especially those who are a little shaky on the subject of AAC.  

Have an AAC site or other resoirce that you depend on for guidance?

 

 

 

 

 

One Place for Special Needs: App List & More

I love this site so much that I had to share it!  One Place for Special Needs not only hosts an extensive, frequently updated list of apps related to special needs, all organized into detailed categories, but also shares tons of other relevant info for families and professionals!  You can view most of the content without registering, but when you register (free and easy), you can get targeted email updates on special needs events in your area, participate in discussions, and more!  Keeping up with special needs related info can be challenging for parents and pros alike!  I think that this site is a GREAT first step to introducing parents and new professionals to how they can stay in the know on great info to help their kids!  I can't wait to explore this site more!

 

More Great Webinars on Apps and the iPad!

Closing the Gap is offering some great, entry level Webinars on the iPad and Apps for special needs.  I think these would be awesome for therapists just getting onto the iPad scene, and also parents looking for some structured, therapeutically relevant information.  They do cost some money, but it isn't much, and pros can get continuing education credit for participating!  Closing the Gap offers new Webinars often so check back regularly.  :)

 

Want the Skinny on Free Apps?

 

Here is a great FREE resource to help you stay in the loop about free apps!  It is updated daily and you can even have alerts emailed to your inbox!

 

FreeAppAlert.com

 

Symbol World: Symbol Based News for Kids & Adults

If you like News2You, you will love SymbolWorld! "SymbolWorld is a website created by Widgit Software specifically for symbol users. It has material for all ages and includes news, personal contributions, stories and learning materials." (http://www.symbolworld.org/)

Features of this, FREE, web-based program are:

• easy navigatation, with the option to personalize the layout and colors to suit any reader's needs
• you can create user accounts, allowing you to save style settings, access the "Print Friendly PDFs" feature, rate articles and sign up for email notifications
• all links have visual highlights (i.e., a colored border to show where you are on the page) to make the site more accessible for people using switches or who use the Tab key to browse

• at the bottom of every article is a ‘Print Friendly’ button, which will create a print friendly PDF of the entire article for you to save or print directly from your browser

Speech/Voice Output is currently not available on SymbolWorld :(. But they are working on this feature for the near future! The current, non-speech version of SymbolWorld does not require Flash, which means you can view ALL of the features of the site on your iDevice. I was actually able to use the VoiceOver feature on my iPad to select the text on each news page and have it read aloud. I was also able to touch each word in the article to have the VoiceOver engine read each word aloud one at a time. This could be a great literacy building tool for early level readers! The fact that you can print each symbol-based news story to a PDF file gives you some flexibility with regard to speech output. If your child is currently using an electronic reading program like Kurzwell , the PDFs from SymbolWorld could be loaded and read through that or other PDF reader programs. I can even think of some ways to make this happen on iPad…:) Want to know more about that? :)

Great Links for Switch Activities

Use your iPad as a Switch!

The iPad is a great tool for kids with special needs, but it falls short when it comes to switch accessibility.  Fortunately, there are many great websites that offer a nice variety of switch accessible games and activities! 

Here are a few of my favorite places to go for information on switches.  Most of these are free!
Some require an internet connection to play live, others can be downloaded via an internet connection and played offline later.  There is some duplication in links among the sites (sorry!) but each resource provided below has at least one new site to mention. You can use the Attainment Switch App, Blue 2,or other external switches with a computer to access these activities.  Have a web resource for switch activities?  Post it in the comments below! :)

Switch Gaming
Switch Gaming and OneSwitch.org present a wealth of info on a wide range of switch accessibility topics, including questions on switch interfacing, game reviews for switch accessible games,  a single switch game library, and links to other switch game sites.  This site also has information on equipment for making other gaming systems (e.g., Playstation, Wii) accessible via switches and other adaptations.  It is updated frequently so you can check back often for new resources!

Spectronics
Spectronics offers a short list and description of some of their favorite switch sites.  The links include single and dual switch activities, as well as news activities and books that can be accessed via switches.  This post has not been updated recently but the Spectronics Blog itself is updated often and a good source of information relevant to switch accessibility. 

Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs
This site has some links to online switch activities for single switch, single switch scanning, and two-switch use.  The link above is an original post and they have also updated the post this year to include more resources.  This site is updated frequently and also has a lot of other great resources for special education and assertive technology.

VICurriculim.org This site Includes many links for switch accessible, computer games that can be played online or downloaded. The listing iIncludes free activities for single switch use and switch scanning. Cause-Effect and educationally based games are included. It is not updated frequently but is still a great list.

Free Webinar Trainings on Teaching Kids Switches

Spectronics is offering free webinars on a variety of topics for the new year, including a few on teaching switch use!  Check out the link below:
FREE Online Training | The Spectronics Blog

The first two topics are:

Jan 18th 2011: Getting the most from your switches AWAY from the computer
Ideas for using switches away from the computer. Examples will be shown which match the key milestones and small steps from Ian’s Switch Progression Road Map.
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=l3iycnibki6x

Feb 15th 2012: Communication Devices in an Inclusive Classroom
This webinar looks the use of single and multiple message communication devices and how they can be used as an integral part of the school day.
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=h0sos2oupxnl

These webinars are FREE and also recorded, so you don't need to be signed on at the time to take advantage of them.  Follow the links above to register!  Thanks Spectronics!

Online AT Conference-Techknowledgy 2011

Get informed about how to implement technology for your kids without changing out of your PJ's! :)  Check out this cool project shared on The Assistive Technology Blog where you can attend AT workshops online!  Techknowledgy 2011 has a nice selection of topics including "AT Solutions for the Early Childhood Population" and "AT Solutions for Communication and AAC" The conferences are quick and many include vieos!  Super cool, check it out and let me know what you think.