Autism Acceptance Month - Deep Discounts with Assistiveware

To celebrate Autism Acceptance Month AssistiveWare will be offering a 50% discount on 4 of their popular AAC apps: Proloquo2Go®, Proloquo4Text, Pictello and Keeble. Gateway to Language & Learning©, the core word vocabulary available through an in-app purchase in Proloquo2Go, will also be at half price.

The discount, available worldwide on the App Store, will be in effect from April 2nd until and including April 4th.

If you buy more, you save more

The discount also applies to Apple’s Volume Purchase Program for Education. When your school or educational organization purchases 20 copies or more, you get an additional 50% off!

Spread the word

Do you know people who could benefit from these apps? Make sure you share the news about this limited-time discount!

If you have any questions about the discount please contact the AssistiveWare support team at support@assistiveware.com

* Please note: The discount percentage is based on the US App Store. Exact prices vary from country to country. Bundles will not be discounted during this promotion.

Just Say Hi - Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation created the "Just Say Hi" campaign to address the awkwardness and reduce the stigma some people feel when engaging in conversation with individuals with disabilities. Visit the CPF website to see the many celebrities and CP advocates who lent their time to support this exciting cause. Also, read the "Nice To Meet You" infographic below created by the Ross Feller Agency.

Source: Cerebral Palsy Foundation; Ross Feller Agency

Understanding CP....Diagnosis and Treatment

To print or view larger, click on the image. 

To print or view larger, click on the image. 

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month - The Neuroscience of Learning

March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

According to the United Cerebral Palsy website:

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a broad diagnostic term used to describe a problem with movement and posture, due to damage or abnormalities in the brain that makes certain activities difficult. It is the most common motor disorder and the second-most common disability found in children.

Although many children with cerebral palsy face wide-ranging challenges, with the help of assistive technology, CP patients not only have the ability to overcome difficulty with mobility, but they also address difficulties with hearing and speech. As stated on the Cerebral Palsy Group website, assistive technology holds the potential to inspire:

Confidence – Physical and neurological impairment frustrates development for CP patients. Assistive and adaptive devices boost function, allowing for increased confidence and acceptance in their newfound abilities.
Self Sufficiency – The more a child contributes to his or her care and well-being, the less it falls upon parents and caregivers to cover every need.
Independence – Emotional and physical independence develop at their own pace. Assistive aids ensure the road to independence is not blocked by CP challenges.
Quality of Life – Equipped with assistive devices, CP patients experience life to its fullest. Custom adaptive equipment speaks to the needs of children of all ages, and evolves with them as they develop.

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation's goal is to provide education through interactive resources with regard to the profound impact proper interventions and support can have on those with Cerebral Palsy. As part of the site, the video library gives viewers access to the insight of experts. Today's blog post highlights one of the videos focusing on the effective ways to support a developing brain. To learn more about the neuroscience of learning, visit the CPF website and watch the brief video of assistive technology consultant and expert, Karen Janowski.

Source: Cerebral Palsy Foundation; Cerebral Palsy Group; United Cerebral Palsy

Motivational Monday

Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative

Learning Ally is known for their subscription based human narrated audiobooks and vast professional development opportunities. However, when I recently attended the Dyslexia: Making It Personal session with Mark Brugger at the Everyone Reading Conference in New York there were several "hand outs" available for participants to take at the conclusion of his session. As all like-minded educators do, I naturally I grabbed one of each and began looking them over. Although all were excellent (and will be shared at a later date), one in particular caught my eye with its simplistic, yet incredibly insightful graphics focusing on the identification of dyslexia and varying methods of support. I have posted it below with a link should you be interested in printing it for yourself. 

Click here to download this infographic

After scrolling through the information and graphics, at the bottom of the page I noticed the link to Explore1in5.org, so naturally I did what most of us would do and I visited the webpage. Little did I know what lie ahead...

Explore1in5.org exceeded my expectations for a webpage because it is so much more than that. Upon visiting the site, I discovered a community for dyslexic students to learn more about their diagnosis, to connect with others and share their personal experiences. Even if you're not a member of the Learning Ally community, the website and resources available on there are free and accessible for all. Before reading further ahead, I encourage each of you to watch the short video below to see how far reaching Learning Ally's 1in5 Initiative is. 

So what does the 1 in 5 Initiative offer? 

• To start there are bi-monthly student to student webinars about dyslexia related topics. These webinars are created by students and are geared for students. 
• The Tips, Tools & Tech section offers information to promote self-advocacy and understand the impact it has on their success. Here, students can listen to inspirational testimonials from other dyslexic students and be given the tools to overcome stigmas and insecurities. Additionally,  students can learn about various assistive technology tools to support learning difficulties and view demonstrations of the tools in use. 
• Videos and printed resources help explain what dyslexia is by listening to others share their feelings when first diagnosed and the experiences of their personal journey. 
• The Share Your Story section allows students to share their own personal experiences in a safe and supportive community. 
• Through the "Connect with Us" section, there are many ways to keep connected with the 1in5 Community by subscribing to the newsletter, signing up for text tips, participating in a student webinar and creating connections through social media! 
• Additionally, there are resources for parents too through printed materials and online webinars. 

What is the YES! Program? 

Although only available currently in Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Utah, Learning Ally's YES! Program is an in-person program that pairs younger students with learning differences with an older student who is trained to help guide them through a series of goals. The purpose of YES! is to train students with learning differences to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, to help them build confidence and to provide them with the tools to become strong self-advocates. Each student is assigned a Youth Ambassador who will monitor member progress, act as a resource and provide guidance. Through the four annual events, your student will:

• Build Self Esteem and Confidence
• Receive Support and Suggestions
• Expand Communication Skills
• Learn About Dyslexia
• Learn Self-Advocacy Skills
• Build Friendships and Network

Parents will also have the opportunity to attend informational presentations at each event and will have the chance to network with other parents.

So why wait....visit the 1 in 5 Initiative site today and get connected! 

Source: Learning Ally, 1in5 Initiative

Save Bookshare: Have Your Voice Heard

Bookshare is a vital resource, providing free access to digital media to over 400,000 qualifying members. Within its vast library, subscribers have access to nearly a half a million titles available, which include braille, large print, and audio versions of books. Within our federal government, the projected budget appropriations bill in the House of Representatives proposed eliminating funding for Bookshare. Without Bookshare, the consequential impact both financially for local governments and taxpayers, as well as the thousands of users who rely upon the service would be devastating at best. The following passage below is taken from a letter I received in email from Benetech's CEO, Jim Fruchterman. For more information about the proposed bills and the impact this will have on Bookshare, please read below. 

I ask that you please take a moment, which is all that it will take, to click the image (or link within the text) below.  By doing so, you'll have the chance to voice your opinion and urge your members of Congress to continue funding Bookshare. 

Bookshare funding remains in jeopardy as the new Congress considers the budget for both the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years. Your representative and senators need to hear from you. Please act now and ask them to support Bookshare as they consider programs to receive federal funding. As you may recall, the House of Representatives proposed a FY2017 funding bill that would, in effect, defund Bookshare. In recent months, we have worked with Bookshare supporters in specifically targeted states and districts to advocate for funding of the program that funds Bookshare, known as the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials Program. We need your help again to enlist the support of your members of Congress. Please ask your Members of the House of Representatives and Senate to preserve funding for the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials Program. Hearing from constituents is crucial for Members of Congress-it can often mean the difference between their support for a program or not. So, we need your help! Please use this link to send a letter to your senators and representative. We encourage you to customize these letters by including information about the impact Bookshare has had for your child or in your school. This is a critical time for Bookshare, and your help is essential to ensure that the program will continue.

Sincerely,
Jim Fruchterman
CEO
Benetech