Webinar Wednesday: How to Use Speech Recognition for Writing

Speech Recognition—it's now accessible in a variety of devices and apps including Co:Writer. But, how do we leverage it with students? In this webinar, hosted by Don Johnston, the creater of Co:Writer, you'll learn how to consider, try, assess, and implement speech recognition. You'll also learn how to assess effectiveness.

Presenter: Daniel Cochrane (@DCochraneATP), AT specialist/coordinator for   Community Unit School District 200 in Wheaton and Warrenville, IL.

Presenter: Kelly Key (@KKey_AT), AT Coordinator, Barrington Community       School District 220 in Barrington, IL.

What: How to Use Speech Recognition for Writing

When: December 6, 2016 

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM (CST)

Source: Don Johnston

Embracing Dyslexia

The powerful documentary film, Embracing Dyslexia by Luis Macias, gives viewers an insider's perspective what life is like living with dyslexia in moving testimonials from parents of children with dyslexia and dyslexic adults. Throughout the film they reveal the life-altering impact the word dyslexia had on their lives, including the hurdles each has faced, as well as the success they experienced throughout their journey. Hear from educators, researchers and dyslexia experts as they explain the importance of early detection through screenings and various resources and strategies available once a diagnosis is made. The message that echoes throughout the hour long film is one of hope and that by recognizing and fostering the natural gifts and abilities of a child with dyslexia, they can shift the mindset from feeling stupid and experiencing failure on a daily basis to believing in themselves and knowing that they can be successful. 

If you are interested in hosting a screening, click here for a free printable flyer. 

For more information or to view the film outside of this blog, visit the Embracing Dyslexia website. 

Source: Embracing Dyslexia 

Motivational Monday

A Moment of Gratitude

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported my blog either by visiting, subscribing or sharing the resources I post. It is amazing to see something that was a simple idea only a few short months ago take on a life of its own. I truly feel blessed and thankful to have this platform to share so many valuable resources with all of you, and look forward to what lies ahead...

The Power of Touch for People with Autism

To print, or zoom in to enlarge the text, click on the link here.

Source: Lenovo

Motivational Monday

Friday "Appy" Hour: Reading With Dyslexia Simplified With Pocket

The widely popular app Pocket, known best for its article-saving read-it-later features, recently released a feature that would make it significantly easier for those with dyslexia to use. Pocket's latest version includes text-to-speech functions and enables all users support for the font Dyslexie [sample below], which is designed to create subtle changes in character structure to prevent confusion between similar looking letters.

What Dyslexie looks like on Pocket. buzzfeed.com

Although the update may appear minimal, it is anything but to those who suffer from dyslexia. The update could mean a vast change in reading comfort and speed, ensuring all of Pocket's users the best experience possible when interacting with printed materials.

Read more about the how Pocket can support struggling readers click here.

To watch a demo of the features of pocket watch the video below:

Source: Buzzfeed, YouTube

Using Assistive Technology for Math and Science

Edutopia's 5-Minute Film Festival: The Power of Assistive Technology highlights the benefits of the utilization of Assistive Technology in the educational setting. Often times much of the focus falls on supports for reading and writing. However, the need for support does not end with reading and math, and students often require additional support in Math and Science. The video featured below focuses on successful strategies for applying AT for both Math and Science. Click to access the original video. 

Source: YouTube

Webinar Wednesday: UDL and Cultural Variability

How does Universal Design for Learning (UDL) help educators address the challenges of cultural diversity in the classroom? How can learners’ cultural differences be leveraged to inspire more innovation, creativity, and expert learning?

Join Loui Lord Nelson (@LouiLordNelson), UDL author and consultant, and Joni Degner (@DegnerJoni), UDL specialist and educator, on Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 2:00-3:00 pm EST, for a discussion about using the UDL framework to improve teaching and learning in culturally rich classrooms. The webinar, is hosted by CAST Professional Learning and is free. 

Can't attend live....hear the recorded versions at a later date if you registered. 

Click below to register...

Source: CAST Professional Learning

Webinar Wednesday: Assistive Tech for Writing Worksheets

Join the Learning Ally community on Thursday, November 17, 2016 for a free webinar geared towards parents and educators who work with dyslexic students. When the term dyslexia is used, often times people think this involves difficulty when reading. However, often times students with dyslexia not only struggle with reading, but also experience difficulty with transferring their ideas into written form. Whether it's a comorbid disability like dysgraphia or just a challenge to get thoughts onto paper, there are many assistive technology options that can help.

One of those options is SnapType, which was developed by Amberlynn Gifford, an Occupational Therapy Graduate Student. She noticed students were struggling to complete worksheets. 

By signing up you can participate and ask questions during the webinar live, or watch the recording at a time convenient for you, as the application is demonstrated. Click the link below to register!

Register Now!

Source: Learning Ally

**I am not endorsed or affiliated with Learning Ally or SnapType. I just enjoy sharing great resources when I come across them.**

Accessibility Features in iOS10

With so many improvements and updates to the latest iOS, this infographic from Call Scotland highlights three, out of the many, improved accessibility features which will provide support to struggling learners. To access a printable version of this infographic click here. 

Source: Call Scotland

Motivational Monday

Honoring All Who Served

The Impact of Assistive Technology

The article featured here on Where It's AT, written by Karen Janowski (@karenjan) , touches upon the important role assistive technology plays within the educational setting. Although assistive technology must be considered for all students based on the unique needs of the student, often times, IEP teams focus on the assistive technology needs of students with severe physical, intellectual, communication, and sensory impairments. With many advances in technology over recent years, the assistive technology has become far reaching and becoming more commonplace within the general education and special education classroom settings.


Through this article you can see the profound positive impact that assistive technology can have on all learners. Read the article below or click here to access the original article.

Does assistive technology make a difference? 

Don't take my word for it.

Ask the fifth-grade student who typically took four months to read one book and was finally able to read four books in one month because of her use of technology (VoiceDream Reader with Bookshare membership). She recommended books to her friends. How do you think she felt being able to do that for the first time ever?


Ask the high school student with written expression challenges who received support through the Insert Comments feature in Google Docs. He stated, "I'm getting help when I'm writing instead of after I'm done."


Ask the high school autistic student who up until that time was dependent on others for being his voice since he wasn't provided with the technology he needed. For the first time, he could use his device and finally tell someone, "Leave me alone!"

Ask the elementary age student who had a meltdown any time he was asked to write. He used recording technology and was able to independently record his thoughts instead of needing to dictate to an adult (which promoted dependence).


Ask the student who is now able to use vocabulary which reflects his superior language skills when composing text instead of using words that he was able to spell independently. (Word prediction or spellcheck built-in Google Docs)

Ask the student who is now recording his thoughts for the first time instead of having to be dependent on someone else who scribes for him.


Ask the 18-year-old student who struggled with significant reading issues (reading at a second grade level) but felt successful when he read grade level text by adjust the visual presentation and reading rate to what worked for him. (Very large font size and focused reading screen with only two words on a line).


Ask the ninth grade student who saw the font size in the print copy of To Kill a Mockingbird and dreaded trying to read through the text on his own and then was introduced to a reading app. He listened to the book while he followed the text and described it as the best book he ever read.


Ask the senior in high school who attends a very prestigious school for students with learning disabilities who was introduced to assistive technology the summer before his senior year and asked, "Why didn't anyone show me these things earlier?"


Ask the middle school student who doesn't want to be seen as different but realizes the use of technology makes learning possible. Why is he in an environment where he is "different"? Why don't we make technology available to everyone, embedded, proactive, universal, adjusting to variability within our classrooms? This is Universal Design for Learning.


Ask the brilliant high school student with dysgraphia resulting in illegible handwriting which interfered with his ability to demonstrate his learning in AP calculus. He was introduced to technology which bypassed his challenges and excelled (Efofex).


Ask the student who was given packets and packets of worksheets and information that was paper-based and was provided a device (iPad with specific apps) which stored all his materials. He no longer struggled with managing his materials and kept them organized in folders on his device. No more zeroes for failing to hand in completed assignments.


Does (Assistive) Technology make a difference in the lives of students? It's a resounding, "Yes!" So why don't all students who need it have access to it? I will try to answer that question in another post.

It is time to ensure all students have access to the technology they need.

Source: Ed Tech Solutions: Teaching Every Student

Why Audiobooks Work Infographic

Often times conversations arise regarding the effectiveness of audiobooks. The following infographic provided by Learning Ally and We Are Teachers debunks many of the pervasive myths associated with audiobooks and highlights the benefits of implementing them within your home or classroom. 

To access a printable version of this infographic click here! 

Source: Learning Ally and We are Teachers

Understanding Assistive Technology

Today's post highlights a Simply Said video, which provides a clear and concise definition to understand Assistive Technology. Simply Said is an ongoing video series designed by the PACER Center to explain complex topics in easy-to-understand language. In addition to the video posted below, the PACER Center's website offers other videos in the series that cover topics from Assistive Technology to AT Loan Libraries and Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM). Visit the PACER Center's website to browse their available resources or sign up for one of their free webinars (featured in an upcoming post).

Source: Pacer Center

Free Expert Chats from Understood.org

Understood.org hosts articles, webinars, and live chats to provide support for educators and parents of students/children with learning and attentional issues. Statistically speaking, one in five children struggle with issues related to reading, math, writing, focus and organization. Understood’s mission is to empower educators and parents to develop a greater understanding regarding these issues and support them with strategies that can allow their children to go from simply coping to truly thriving in school and in life.

Each month Understood.org posts a calendar of live expert "chats", accessible on Facebook and/or Twitter, which focus on a variety of topics. To view the calendar, click on the link. The image below is a sneak peek at what's to come this week!

Live Expert Chat Link

Motivational Monday

Angelman Syndrome Foundation Webinar Series

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation sponsored a series of 42 webinars last year designed for teachers, therapists and parents of children with Angelman Syndrome. Angelman is a complex neurogenetic disorder found in 1 in 15,000 live births. Characteristics of this disorder include, but are not limited to significant developmental delays,  little or no speech and motor impairments. The video highlighted below is the story of Ever and her journey to a diagnosis. It provides other families and educational teams more information about the symptoms and characteristics of Angelman.

These free recorded webinars might be useful to anyone involved with students who score in the 1st percentile across domains and are emergent in their communication and literacy skills. The topics include: how to get started with AAC, integrating core vocabulary into the school day, shared reading, shared writing, independent writing, and more. The series presenters include Erin Sheldon (ES), Maureen Nevers (MN), Caroline Musselwhite (CM), Mary-Louise Bertram (MB). Follow and click on the links below to view the list of webinars and to access the series on the Angelman Syndrome Foundation's YouTube Channel. 


A list of webinars by topic is here: 

               

Link to Lists of Webinars

The YouTube channel for the series is here

Link to YouTube channel for the series

Source: 

Assistive Tech 101: Basics for Students with Dyslexia

The research is definitive regarding technology and instruction for students with dyslexia. As stated by the Region10ESC website, when students have access to effective technology, their overall performance improves. Technology has many benefits for students with reading difficulties, but the opportunity to access rich content ranks at the top. Technology tools allow students with dyslexia to be equal participants in school-based learning experiences. The goal is to support students in skills not yet mastered by providing access to instructional/assistive technology in conjunction with learning strategies and targeted reading instruction.Effective instruction can help students overcome the difficulties described above, and current research indicates that a wide range of options in technology can be an important part of that effective instruction and an important part of student support. Much of the technology intended for instruction can be used in an assistive manner to support all students, especially those with dyslexia. 

I chose to highlight a Noodle article, written by the dyslexia expert Jamie Martin, where he discusses the available technologies to help increase independence for students with dyslexia. Specific technologies are mentioned that have positively affected many students, however, the list of possible technologies is far reaching. The article helps provide parents and educational teams a starting point on where to begin when considering assistive technology. 

Assistive Tech 101: Basics for Students with Dyslexia Article

Sources: Noodle, Region10ESC

#USSAAChat TwitterChat Thursday November 3rd

Interested in learning more about the importance and roles of AAC in early intervention? Follow along or share your thoughts and questions during the #USSAAChat Twitter Chat taking place on Thursday, November 3rd from 7-8pm EST hosted by Amanda Soper and Lauren Lamore of AACreATively (@AACreATively). 

Webinar Wednesday: Redefining Assistive Technology

Chris Bugaj (@attipscast), host of the A.T.TIPSCAST podcast, shares his thoughts regarding challenges with the current definition of an assistive technology device and proposes a new way to define the term. This is a topic discussed frequently amongst those working in the assistive technology field, as it is commonly agreed upon that using the term "assistive" in front of technology only draws more attention towards the disability, and not towards the notion that the technology is instead leveling the educational playing field for the child. Click on the link below to access the podcast (under 8 minutes in length), to learn more about this hot topic! 

Podcast Link

Be Your Own Superhero: Find Your Student’s Dyslexia Strengths!

Join Learning Ally for one of several events, some in-person and some online, designed to help your student who has dyslexia discover his/her SUPERPOWER! It is an event not to miss!

These events are lead by Learning Ally’s teenage YES! Ambassadors, all who have dyslexia themselves. The events are designed for students in 3rd grade through senior year in high school. We know that is a large age range, but the point is to connect with other students, all age levels, who have dyslexia.

Online Event
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2016
8-9pm ET / 7-8pm CT / 6-7pm MT / 5-6pm PT
Free to attend – supported by Learning Ally’s generous donors!

REGISTER here for the online event

Boston, MA Event
Saturday, Nov 5th, 2016
9am-11:30am ET

REGISTER here for MA Event

Denver, CO Event
Saturday, Nov 5th, 2016
9am-11:30am MT

REGISTER here for CO Event

Princeton, NJ Event
Sunday, Nov 6th, 2016
3-5:30pm ET

REGISTER here for NJ event

Salt Lake City, UT Event
Saturday, Nov 12th, 2016
10am – 12:30pm MT

REGISTER here for UT event

To learn more about Learning Ally or to support any of their other programs, visit the Get Involved page today.

Source: Learning Ally