Assistive Technology for Education

What an excellent idea!

Awesome...

"The technology has many nicknames. Besides “wearable robot,” the inventions also are called “electronic legs” or “powered exoskeletons.” This version, called Indego, is among several competing products being used and tested in U.S. rehab hospitals that hold promise not only for people such as Gore with spinal injuries, but also those recovering from strokes or afflicted with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy."

Excellent advice in this video regarding assistive technology consideration for students.

Here is a link to the Video:

http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources/videos/video-assistive-technology-ld

 Also, here is a link to Assistive Technology and the IDEA Law:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm

Finally! :)

Excellent progress to assist individuals physically. This reminded me of the 6 million dollar man. Ironically, a 1 million dollar man has been engineered named Rex http://bowshooter.blogspot.com/2013/02/robotic-exoskeleton-on-show-in-londons.html

Google Glass for accessibility and mobility, another phenomenal universal design. 

This innovation would be excllent for accessibility in school as well as the community and workplace. Refreshable Braille displays (in conjunction with text to speech) are efficient to use when a book or document is available in electronic format, however so many still remain in paper format, and inaccessible to Blind readers who need Braille. This would provide instant access! While a refreshable braille display offers access to a computer or iPad, this concept (a portableBraille Reader) would continue to provide instant access at school, in the workplace, at a restaurant, in a meeting, etc. 

Excellent, free tool/ software for educators and students, as well as all individuals who may need an accessible format, or those who simply enjoy ebooks.

calibre can convert from a huge number of formats to a huge number of formats. It supports all the major e-book formats.  

The conversion engine has many features. It can rescale all font sizes, ensuring the output e-book is readable no matter what font sizes the input document uses. It can automatically detect/create book structure, like chapters and Table of Contents. It can insert the book metadata into a "Book Jacket" at the start of the book.

calibre can directly connect to all the major (and most of the minor) ebook reading devices, smarthphones, tablets, etc. In addition, using the Connect to folder function you can use it with any ebook reader that exports itself as a USB disk. You can even connect to Apple devices (via iTunes), using the Connect to iTunes function.

"A video game that uses audio cues and computer-generated building layouts has proven to be better at improving a blind person's spatial awareness of that place than does actually walking them through it, according to new research out of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary"

Though these videos are a bit older, they offer a clear picture of how a student can use a Refreshable Braille Display to access every aspect of education; and many educators and special educators are unaware of how this works. A refreshable braille display allows a student or individual to access a computer, iPad, iPod touch, etc. equally to their peers to research the internet, complete homework or handouts, send email, etc., using real-time refreshable Braille. There are many devices and options from several companies (HumanWare, HIMS), this shows one available for free for students who qualify for AIM in their state (from APH). An important factor is that anything a student types in Braille, reflects on the iPad or computer as text, for the teacher to read, and anything the teacher types or scans, shows up as Braille for the student to read. It is typically used with a screen reader such as JAWS, window eyes, or Voice Over on iOS devices, meaning content is also read aloud to a student. I have students in 3rd and 4th grade now using a refreshable braille display to access education; there are no limits with Assistive Technology. :) See the Video above from a teacher, as well as this older one from Chase, a young student: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJWMRlElD1E

Chase now is a teenager using the Braille 18 Plus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28_BvyQR8XA

An excellent Video of the iPad being used for instruction and production, not just consumption (there are many apps that support this type of use) in schools; this one includes a video of a literacy project using the apps Explain Everything, iTunes U, and EverNote.

I like that you can adjust letter spacing, word spacing and Line spacing as well! The dyslexie font is described well in this article  "like a pair of old comfortable slippers for your eyes."

The video shows how the pen will work interactively with books that will teach lteracy skills to young learners. There are also excellent iPad apps that foster literacy for young learners, a few of my favorite are Letter School http://letterschool.com/

Dr. Seuss ABC https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dr.-seusss-abc/id354855128?mt=8

Counting with the Hungry Caterpillar  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/counting-very-hungry-caterpillar/id466899157?mt=8

and Park Math HD https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/park-math-hd-by-duck-duck-moose/id403939208?mt=8

I am very interested in this innovation becoming a reality, and hope that this technology also encompasses Voice Output guidance. Currently individuals who are Blind combine the iPhone with VoiceOver and a refreshing Braille display, it would be excellent to have these features combined in one device, along with tactile images. 

If an individual has difficulty with speaking or communicating due to Apraxia, Aphasia, being deaf or HOH, or even an accident or another condition that may hinder their ability to speak, they may benefit from using these communication apps. Both Assistive Chat and Predictable work very well for someone who may write or type well, and would like to communicate/ converse using text to speech. Combined with word prediction for faster "talking," as well as assistance with spelling, and the ability to add favorite phrases, or use emoticons. Assistive Chat and Predictable apps both offer a person or student the ability to converse with peers socially as they write or type what they want to say and have it spoken aloud. Predictable offers emoticons, handwriting to text, and the ability to send messages via email, text, social networking, etc. 

Assistive Chat: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/assistive-chat/id379891874?mt=8

Predictable:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/predictable/id404445007?mt=8

I am looking forward to attending the Robot Zoo and Science Festival tomorrow!!! Most especially the exhibits from MIT !