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Have you seen Advice please? This thread was updated by p.a.taylor Yesterday, 3:36 PM EST and has 0 replies.

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p.a.taylor

Advice please

Yesterday, 3:36 PM EST by p.a.taylor

invisiblebloke

Re the SimplcITy computer for the elderly

Dec 1 2009, 10:59 AM EST by invisiblebloke

johntlamb

Windows 7

Nov 20 2009, 6:36 AM EST by johntlamb

nabileid

ICT for Development Persons with Disabilities

Nov 20 2009, 4:32 AM EST by nabileid

portagewestkent

interactive whiteboard software

Nov 18 2009, 11:37 AM EST by invisiblebloke

douglas.silverstone

Electronic Magnifier via USB

Nov 12 2009, 6:22 AM EST by douglas.silverstone

timkraft

I-Phone applications for memory aid and "to do" lists

Oct 8 2009, 3:33 PM EDT by timkraft

SLPinOhio

Classic Intellikeys Keyboard: Need old software

Sep 28 2009, 6:03 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

akmrail

Qualified to do AT Assessments or not?

Sep 28 2009, 5:50 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

Thread started: Sep 27 2009, 10:00 AM EDT Watch

I have been trying to find out for a few years now what qualifies someone to do an "AT Assessment/Eval" and keep getting mixed messages. I have a strong background in technology and accessibility but I am not an OT, PT, SLP, etc.. I have received my ATACP through CSUN and am currently working on my ATP through RESNA. I am certified through several of the major AT manufacturers and have been working for my state's AT program (funded by the Tech Act Grant) for the past 5 years. Recently an SLP spoke to a group of state leaders and announced that if someone wasn't a certified OT, PT, or SLP they are not qualified to do an AT Assessment nor make recommendations on appropriate AT. I rarely work with students, usually just as awareness or training for the district therapists. The majority of people that I work with are adults that are needing to get back to work or living independently. Our office does not deal with insurance, not even Medicaid or Medicare.

Now that I've given some background, I'm curious what other professionals backgrounds are and how qualifications are being addressed.

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RE: Qualified to do AT Assessments or not?
By: invisiblebloke, Sep 28 2009, 5:50 AM EDT

My own route into AT assessment was via a University degree in IT and Communication. At some point in the future I would like some kind of official accreditation in AT work. A colleague with many years experience in AT assessment offered the following view:

There are limited avenues to qualifications that are purely for assessing – that’s why we developed the Accreditation Scheme internally.

There are also many ways that people come into assessing - Some people go through the degree route, some through other hands-on qualifications, but these aren’t always “assessor’s qualifications”. In the United Kingdom, OT’s, SALTS or other professionals can and sometimes do assess, but in my experience they admit to lacking in assistive technical knowledge and also they are assessing client/physical responses and posture etc and not how technology interacts with the client.

One place that might be of interest is to look on the FAST website – This gives information about all kinds of qualifications ranging from Masters/degree to level 1/2..

http://www.fastuk.org/services/trainingcourses.php This also mentions courses for the US.

The difficulty is that there is such a broad range of areas of AT that it would be difficult to have such an umbrella award...eg to get a PGC/PGD in Education with deaf children would not automatically give you an assessment qualification, but that may be part of your job..A SALT would have a degree qualification in Language Therapy and Communication Aids including some technology but will not go into the physical access side of accessing technology nor in many cases computer based AAC.....and so forth.

Many Assessors would probably say that they have varieties of qualifications and experience/skillset to show their knowledge of AT/ICT and also ‘Assessing’ or “training” .....

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invisiblebloke

On screen keyboard review

Sep 2 2009, 4:01 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

p.a.taylor

Laptops help dyslexic dyspraxic children to access the curriculum

Sep 1 2009, 2:43 PM EDT by p.a.taylor

Thread started: Sep 1 2009, 2:43 PM EDT Watch

As the parent of a dyslexic and dyspraxic child who uses a personal laptop and assistive software for all of her school/homework I thought it might help other parents to start a thread on this subject. The benefits we have found in using a laptop are: printed work can be easily read by the child, free software can be downloaded for proof reading, a child who has experienced repeated failure with handwriting often finds word processing motivational, word processing gives the child independence from a TA scribe, touch typing provides finger memories of spelling, using a keyboard improves fine motor control and the child gains self esteem and confidence as their computer skills develop. .
some dos and don’ts
A child with fine motor control difficulties would be unlikely to be able to touch type at speed for quite some time.
Do not accept slow touch typing speed as an excuse for the school to limit the amount that the laptop is used, stress the importance of your child being able to access the curriculum independently.
Do work with the school on a joint touch typing programme, but remember that to develop a fluent word processing style opportunities must be made available and encouraged within subject lessons and be part of their normal day to day recording.
Do arrange a meeting with the SENCo and have targets set for when and where the laptop will be used written into the IEP.
Do try to get the LEA to commission an ICT audit of your childs needs . Use the ICT report to secure you the schools permission and support for its use.
Do impress on the school how important it is that your child is given every opportunity to use their laptop at school even in the early days.
School staff or the childs TA should provide ongoing support for its use

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invisiblebloke

Speed typing

Jul 27 2009, 5:24 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

invisiblebloke

Using the iPhone as an AAC device - the practicalities

Jun 5 2009, 11:26 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

Thread started: Apr 23 2009, 11:25 AM EDT Watch

I asked the makers of Porloquo2Go whether anybody has any experience of using this software on the iPhone to conduct a phone call. This is what they say:

"Let me answer that question. I know that some of our beta testers used Proloquo2Go for phone conversations. There are a few things to know:

1. It is not perfect, but seems to work reasonably well.

2. Make sure you have your speaker volume high

3. You need to first start the call, then turn on Speaker phone on the iPhone and then launch Proloquo2Go

4. You should hold your phone such that it bounces off the speaker sound of your body, a table, or whatever is around. How well your communication partner at the other end of the line understands you is affected by how you hold your phone. If you just hold it in mid-air the voice will not be heard that clearly, but if you bounce it off something (say your body by holding the phone in front of you at a slight angle) it works pretty well. some home experimentation is probably good to find the best way for you to hold your phone.

5. I do not expect it to work very well in noise environments at either end of the phone line, but maybe some people who have used it in practice can chime in here.

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invisiblebloke

New iPhone App being launched 6 June - Colour Blindness Simulator

Jun 5 2009, 10:59 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

invisiblebloke

Turn your whole body into an X-Box controller

Jun 4 2009, 10:12 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

invisiblebloke

Mouse control via a contact lens ?!!

Jun 4 2009, 4:29 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

invisiblebloke

Satogo screenreader

May 22 2009, 7:17 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

invisiblebloke

Electromagnetic sensitivity

May 13 2009, 8:41 AM EDT by BioElectricShield

Thread started: Aug 7 2008, 6:45 AM EDT Watch

A computer user is affected by the electromagnetic fields generated by electrical equipment - especially computers. Their question was whether there is a solution available to overcome or minimise the effects of this sensitivity. From what I have read, it is a very contentious area of ‘disability’ and either not fully understood, or at worst not even recognised in the UK.

The bottom line is, that everyone appears to be affected in an individual way. Those who use computers will need to consider various methods of screening in an attempt to minimise those effects. It will be a case of trial and error, as there is no ‘off the shelf’ package available. There are so called ‘neutralisers’ on the market, which claim to minimise or stop these electromagnetic disturbances, but I am unable say if or how well they work. One of my more experienced and knowledgeable colleagues related a story of one individual we tried to help some time ago. We tried absolutely everything, including putting the computer behind a glass screen in one room while the user sat in another – and still without success.

Here are some useful links to further reading on the subject:

What is electromagnetic sensitivity:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_sensitivity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrosensitivity

http://www.electrosensitivity.org/

Is your home making you ill ? : http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/mindbodysoul/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5580415

Life & Style blog: http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/renovationnation/archives/2007/04/does_the_wirele.html

Neutralising electro magnetic fields at home/work: http://www.nontoxic.com/electromagnetic/neutralizingmagnetic.htm

Bodyshield products: http://www.e-lifeshields.com/products.htm

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invisiblebloke

ModelTalker - Creating your own SAP15 synthesizer

May 8 2009, 4:24 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

Thread started: May 6 2009, 9:09 AM EDT Watch

Worth a look. www.modeltalker.com where you can download a util, record several hours of your own speech, and then upload to the site where they crunch it and create a human phoneme-based SAPI5 synth for you.

Ideal for anyone who is losing their speech, or who has someone they would like to base a synth on. Why not make a synth of your own voice.

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invisiblebloke

There Isn't Any Game that I Can't Play on A PC

May 8 2009, 4:11 AM EDT by invisiblebloke

Thread started: May 8 2009, 4:11 AM EDT Watch

An article written by Corey Krull, Wednesday, 06 May 2009 20:41

Since I am the new person here and this being my first article, I thought that I would tell you about how I play games. Also, to let you know what accessible devices I use and how they are used. To begin with, when I must live in the real world, I need someone to assist me with just about everything. As you know, if you have any type of MD or disability for that matter, everyday there are many obstacles and barriers that we must overcome.

Whenever I live in the gaming world, it's a different story. Once I am setup on my PC and in a game, I do not need anyone to assist me with anything. I have complete freedom and control to do whatever I want. I can become whoever I want to become, live in any world and/or age that I choose and cause all the carnage that I feel. This world is mine; if you are a friend, I welcome you. If you are a foe, you are still welcome to enter but just be ready to defend yourself or it will be your death. Unless, I choose to spare your life, do not expect me to though.

Wow, I think that I must have some kind of God complex or something. But in all seriousness, which world would I rather live in? If you said the gaming world, you have guessed correctly. The only way for this to happen is with the right hardware setup.
Assistive devices, How I Play quadjoy.jpg. Well, you are probably wondering how I am able to play any PC game. Better yet, you may be wondering what assistive devices and software I may be using. Everyone has their own ways of playing games and some setups are better than others are.

Read the rest of Corey's article at: http://ablegamers.com/general-news/542-muscular-dystrophy-doesnt-keep-me-from-gaming.html

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