INDATA and Easter Seals Crossroads

What: A “Demo Day” featuring devices that assist people with autism.

When: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Where: Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, 3701 Bellemeade Ave., in Evansville, Indiana.

Why: The “Demo Day” gives individuals who make an appointment the opportunity to experience an abbreviated one-on-one device demonstration, during which they learn how assistive technology can increase independence through a hands-on session with the many low-tech and high-tech assistive technology devices available.

A variety of devices will be demonstrated, with a particular emphasis on autism, including: touch screens, adaptive keyboards, trackballs, Visual and Schedule Assistant and some communication devices.

To register for your free half-hour appointment during “Demo Day,” contact Carol Girt at 1-888-466-1314. Please register by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 4^th. If you are interested in learning about assistive technology devices for other disabilities, please contact Carol Girt.

For more information visit the Device Demonstration Page on the INDATA website.

Eye

Thunder is an award-winning free screen-reader software for people with little or no sight.  The software works well with Windows 7, Vista, or XP. Without needing to see the screen, you will be able to write letters and documents, hear what you have typed letter by letter or word by word, change the speed and voice, and repeat what you have just heard and more.

Thunder can be downloaded from Screenreader.net, a new non-profit community interest group from Choice Technology.  The software is free for individual users but organizations must pay a yearly subscription depending  upon their size for using the screen reader.

Visit the Screenreader.net to learn more about the Thunder software, along with information about FREE web learning days for blind computer users.

Microsoft is pleased to announce the new Microsoft Accessibility Website

Access Button

which was recently redesigned and released.  A key goal of the website is to make it easier to find information either by product name or by type of content such as Tutorials, Guides, and Centers.

The website features information about different types of assistive technology and the ability to purchase those, along with Demos and Tutorials on how to use the products.

Also featured, is the new Accessibility Today video.  You can view this video to find out more about Microsoft’s efforts to create technology that is accessible to everyone.

IBM Lotus Symphony Software

IBM Lotus Symphony software is an office suite for creating, editing, and sharing word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.  The software is available free of charge, and offers accessibility features to support individuals with disabilities.

Accessibility features help users with disabilities to use information technology products successfully.  The following list provides more information about the IBM Lotus Symphony accessibility features:

• Access to all functions by keyboard.
• Improved readability of screen contents.
• Zooming of on-screen user interface for menus, icons, and documents.

Accessibility features of the Lotus Symphony software allows all users to effectively use the software and provides a free software for users to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Visit the IBM website to download the Lotus Symphony software to your computer.

Miata and her Mother at Gadget Camp

Patricia Finkley assisted her daughter in the participation of Gadget Camp during the last week of June.  Gadget Camp was a week long, day camp held at Butler University put on by the INDATA Team at Easter Seals Crossroads to give students with disabilities a chance to grow and have fun at a week of summer camp.  Miata, Patricia’s daughter, and nine other children were able to learn about communication and social skills, along with making valuable friendships throughout the week.

“This was our first time doing something like Gadget Camp, and we loved it!” Patricia said after the completion of Gadget Camp.  She was happy to see the growth in Miata’s communication and social skills throughout the week.  Volunteers at Gadget Camp saw improvement in Miata’s communication skills, and by the completion of Gadget Camp Miata was able to more easily use her communication device effectively.

Patricia also made a point to let everyone know that Miata had fun and made new friends during the week at Gadget Camp. Some of her favorite activities during the week were fishing and singing camp songs.

Stack of Books

The BookSense DS is the only book player to have an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display.  An OLED display can be used to produce higher contrast ratios to help those with low vision.  This new device has the accessibility to read books and word documents, play music, read DAISY textbooks, and play material from the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.  The BookSense has 4GB of built in memory, and it also has the ability to accept higher capacity memory cards for maximum storage of books and music.

The OLED display is great for teachers and students who have learning difficulties.  Teachers are able to use the display to see what students are doing, or see what the BookSense is saying.  Students are able to use the device to follow along on the screen to read a document or textbook.  Students are also able to see or hear textbooks, and they are even able to adjust the reading speed to make reading easier and more enjoyable.

The BookSense is a good choice for educators, students, and any blind or visually impaired person to easily access music, books, and documents.  The item is not yet on the market, and the price is still to be determined.

You can find an educational video on the BookSense and more information on the device on the GW Micro Website.

Assistive Technology Gadgets

A 4^th grade teacher in Montgomery Public Schools in Maryland found a struggle between what her students were expected to gain from reading and what they actually understood.  She found the biggest challenge to be apparent among the English Language Learners and English as a Second Language Learners in that they were able to read fluently, but could not understand what they were reading.

She began to take a look and research ways to improve reading comprehension at the elementary level for English Language Learners and English as a Second Language Learners.  She chose to use assistive technologies for digital fluency research to answer the following questions:

• Would the use of the assistive technology (AT) in small groups improve the reading and writing skills of low to mid-level readers?
• Could a text reader improve reading comprehension?
• Could the use of AT tools improve students’ attitudes towards reading?
• Could the use of word prediction (supportive writing tools) increase writing quantity and improve writing quality?

During her research, she noticed that when students were able to use a text reader to read the information aloud to them, students were able to comprehend the text easier.  Students produced higher quality work and showed more motivation while using the text reader.  The use of assistive technology helped students to stay focused and improved self esteem.

To find out more about this teacher’s research and the assistive technology she used, visit the Educator’s Royal Treatment Website.

Access Button

Hans Hillen from TPG is presenting a Flex Accessibility Webinar in conjunction with Adobe.

What: A FREE Adobe Flex Accessibility Webinar

When: July 21, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. EST

Where: To attend, simply join in the meeting room at http://seminars.adobe.acrobat.com/a11y, no registration or password required.

Captions will be available during the webinar.

You can visit the Adobe website to leave any comments or questions  you may have about the event.

Join the meeting room on July 21^st to learn about web accessibility!

IMA and 100 Acres

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA).  According to the museum, “100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is one of the largest museum art parks in the country, and the only one to feature the ongoing commission of site-specific artworks.”

One of the most interesting pieces of information I received about the art park was about the accessible trails.  The IMA has always done a fabulous job of explaining their accommodations for people with disabilities, and with the recent extension of 100 Acres they continue to keep accessibility in the forefront.

I did take the ADA trails to test how accessible they were.  Some areas of the trails are paved while other parts are packed gravel.  Anywhere there are steps, there is a ramp equivalent.  The ADA trails are also more shaded than the non-ADA trails.

I encourage you to take some time and enjoy the 100 Acres park.  Please read our post about accessibility in Indiana museums while you plan out the rest of your summer!

Group of People Jumping

Bringing the Autism and Vocational Rehabilitation Communities Together

What: Autism Works National Conference

When: March 3-4, 2011

Where: Sheraton Westport Hotel, St. Louis, MO

Why: The Autism Works National Conference is bringing these two powerful constituencies together to learn from each other and to improve employment opportunities for adults with autism.

Topics Include:

• Understanding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process
• What VR counselors need to know about autism
• Job development and work-place supports
• Funding possibilities for employment supports
• Insights from working youth with autism
• New visions of employment futures for adults with autism

For more information visit the Autism Works website.