Assistive technology for
students
Joan Green
301-602-2899/ 1800-IST-2550
www.innovativespeech.com
[email protected]
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Welcome
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Families , therapists and teachers need to
support unique learning styles and abilities
Everyone needs more exposure to state-ofthe art tools
We need to empower students with
disabilities as well as special talents to use
technology to maximize learning
Whirlwind tour- this is only the beginning
Start slowly -build gradually
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Think Differently
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Be creative and take the initiative
Collaborate when possible
Use what you already know and have in
different ways
Evaluate what is working and what isn’t
Focus on the goals and find a way to reach
them
Don’t assume that others know all there is
to know
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Twice Exceptional Students
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Students who are “gifted with learning
disabilities” often fall through the cracks at
school.
Students need to be more challenged in
their gifted areas. Disabilities may mask
their strengths.
Kids deserve to be exposed to technology to
improve and compensate for areas of
weakness.
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Tech adds a new
dimension to learning
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enriches teaching
facilitates remediation
makes practicing more fun
Provides structure for working on
goals
offers immediate and nonjudgmental
feedback
Encourages independent practice
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Gifted Learners
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accelerate or enrich learning
Without enough challenge, these kids
can fail to develop their potential and
get bored and develop behavioral
problems.
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Goal areas
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Following directions
Learning grammar and punctuation
Speaking more clearly
Enhancing spelling and vocabulary
Practicing writing
Studying for test
Researching on the Internet
Improving organization, sequencing and
reasoning
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Approach to Treatment
 Generate new
brain connections
to improve areas
of
communication
and cognition
 Help compensate
for daily
challenges
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Rationale
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Brain Neuroplasticity
Treatment Intensity
Compensation and
Multimedia Treatment
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Affordable Goldmines for a
Helping Students
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Mainstream accessibility options
Text readers
Mainstream organization and time
management tools
Drill and practice software
Free and affordable online interactive
programs
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Goldmines Cont’d
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Online local and national support
groups, website with products and
asssociations with information and
research (www.ittsguides.com-links)
Theymaynotknow.com- special reports
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Microsoft Windows and
Word
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Microsoft Windows and Office include
many learning and accessibility
features.
www.microsoft.com/Office/system/acc
essibility
http://www.microsoft.com/enable
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Macintosh
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Built-in accessibility features include:
VoiceOver, QuickTime, Text Track,
Speech Recognition, and Text-toSpeech Synthesis
www.apple.com/education/accessibility
solution.
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Software That Enables
Computers to Read Aloud
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Universal Readerwww.readingmadeeasy.com
WordQ- www.wordq.com
TextAloud – www.nextup.com
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More advanced Text
Readers and Word
Processing
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Word Prediction
Studying help
Writing reports
Summaries
Organization
Speech to text
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Read and Write Gold Mobilewww.texthelp.com
 Kurzweil 3000 USB
www.kurzweiledu.com
 Premier To Go
www.readingmadeez.xom
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Help organizing written
narrative
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Kidspiration.com
Inspiration.com
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Organization and time
management
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Calendar.google.com
Outlook
Docs.google.com
Rememberthemilk.com
Cell phones
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Spelling City
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Spellingcity.com
Create your own word lists
Games
Online
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Study Stack
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Free online study tool
www.studystack.com
Study and play with data online
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Free online interactive
programs
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www.1-language.com
www.gamesforthebrain.com
www.vocabulary.com
www.languagegames.org
www.funbrain.com
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Brain Pop
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Animated education site for kids
Family Access
For 24-hour use on one home computer.
BrainPOP Jr. Family Access is recommended
for Pre-K through grade 3.
Spanish version
$9.95/mo. 12 months required
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Cosmeo
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Cosmeo.com- online homework help tool for report
research, learning games, and more . $9.95 a
month
More than 20,000 images and clip art animations to
use in projects and reports.
An encyclopedia with more than 27,000 full-text
articles.
Over 200 web links to teacher-selected websites.
200+ "Brain Games" — interactive simulations and
learning activities.
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Mainstream Software for
All Ages
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UbiSoft’s Brain Spahttp://digitalstore.ubi.com Also found
at amazon.com
Nintendo’s Big Brain Academy –
nintendo.com-Used on Wii or Nintendo
DS
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Creative Software
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Recipes4Success includes hundreds of
leveled tutorials for common software
tools. It also includes thousands of
reference guides exploring computer
skills for these software tools as well
as important computer literacy topics.
$34.95
Tech4learning.com
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Specialized Drill and
Practice Software
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Linguisystem- www.linguisystems.com
Merit Softwarewww.meritsoftware.com
Time 4 Learningwww.time4learning.com
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Listing of Online
Resources
www.ittsguides.com or
www.innovativespeech.com.
Click on “Helpful Resources.”
 Sites grouped by diagnosis and disability
 Products to promote independent living
 Technology training and information
 Resources for SLPs and other professionals
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Special ReportsTheymaynotknow.com
The benefits of using technology to help
children and adults who have
communication, cognitive and literacy
challenges
10 Top Picks for Free Online Interactive
Programs to Stimulate your Brain
5 Potential Solutions to Ease Homework Stress
and Enhance Academic Success for Students
of all Ages
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MCCPTA Resource Listing
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Montgomery County Council of
PTAs (MCCPTA)
http://www.mccpta.net/specialed.html
Fabulous resource with many sites!!
Lists many area support groups such
as: ADHD/ADD, Asperger’s and
Autism, and Learning Disabilities.
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MCNeeds
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MCneeds.org
Network/support/ advocacy group of
parents with children with special
needs in Montgomery County.
Active listserve and monthly meetings
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Franklin Products
Speaking Homework Wiz
Talking Dictionary
www.franklin.com
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Technology for Communication and
Cognitive Treatment: The Clinician’s
Guide
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www.ittsguides.com
www.ittsguides.com
445 page
paperback
$89.95
Coupon code
“webinar” for 30%
discount
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Online coaching and
training
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Zero in quickly to maximize
time spent exploring software
and resources
Speed up the learning curve
by having software shown to
you without time spent
traveling
www.innovativespeech.com
301-602-2899
[email protected]
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ITTS Webinar Series
Innovative Technology Treatment Solutions
Webinar Series
 The benefit of games and my top 10 picks
for free online interactive sites to
improve communication, cognition and
literacy
 Top tools and strategies to improve
attention, auditory comprehension, thinking,
organization and memory
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ITTS Webinars Cont’d
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Reading, writing, studying and
organizing help for students
To learn more go to
www.innovativespeech.com and click
on “webinars.”
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