Assistive+Technology


 * ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY**


 * TECHNOLOGY - iCommunicator**

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 * Katie Rowell**

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iCommunicator was originally designed to aide the hearing impaired when a translator is not readily available. It is a type of communication technology that is used to foster literacy enhancement and independent communication. In this video people of different ages are shown using the iCommunicator in their everyday lives in all natural environments. The video tells a story about Morgan Greene who is the first high school student to use this device. The video does an excellent job of giving an overview of what the iCommunicator is and how it works. Stated below is more information that I gathered through research about the device as well.=====

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This device can be used in K-12 education, post-secondary institutions, government, and public access venues in both the United Stated and Canada. The youngest known user of iCommunicator is in third grade. Before someone can use this device they should be either formally or informally accessed to make sure that the device is a good match for them. The device is not intended to replace sign language interpreters but is intended as another form of interpretation. iCommunicator is a software that gets downloaded to computer. The device can be used in conjunction with other assistive technologies for example the website states, "The iCommunicator's use of computer software and hardware to interface with the end user's hearing aids, cochlear implant speech processor, or FM system positions the product squarely within the guidelines of the federal regulations mandating the delivery of assistive or accessible technology by our public school systems, as well as every other federal or state government agency nationwide"=====

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Version 5.0 released: Supports Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 9. This software program has a built-in dictionary and thesaurus. It offers a 30,000 word signing library as well as a 250,000 English word library. One nice feature to the software is that the signing speed can be adjusted to best fit the user. This is done through accessing the Signing Options Menu. The speed works as followed: the lowest level is the actual speed at which the video sign was filmed. The speeds on signing increases incrementally depending on the users comfort level. Here is an example of how the speed works: speed two equals about one and a half times the actual film speed. Speed three equals two times the actual film speed and so on. Most users prefer to use speed four or five. Research shows many positive improvements in independent communication from iCommunicator users.=====

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Comment By: Melissa Dantro I really like how the video for the icommunicator has closed captioning. That was a smart idea on their part becuase they are promoting a device for the deaf, hard of hearing, or someone with speech problems. This is a really good device and I think it would be very helpful to someone who struggles with hearing. One thing I did notice is that the young man Morgan Greene featured in the video seemed to be getting greaa use out of the device. However did you notice that it looked as though he was in a one-on-one classroom with the teacher? I wonder how well this device would work in a classroom full of students. It would be nice if the device could assist in hearing by sign langauge and closed captioning all while including the student in the regular classroom. I like how the device offers not one but 2 options for students to follow along. They can read what is being said, or they can watch the woman on the side who is signing as well. This is good because it offers different ways to reach the students or people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

media type="youtube" key="rIEO1bUFHsI?version=3" height="315" width="560" Gabrielle Larson For my assistive technology I chose a video that features an upcoming application for Apple products. People who wish to use this app would touch six dots on a screen that correspond to Braille letters. This technology would be useful in classrooms because students who have vision problems would not have to use special equipment just to use the same technology as their peers. In addition, once someone learns the letters, this method is quicker than traditional QWERTY keyboards; which can provide incentive for other students in the classroom to learn the Braille alphabet. Comment by: Christina Caporale This technology really caught my attention. I really like how it is just an app on an Iphone, this makes it much more inexpensive, granted some people may not be able to afford an Iphone, but is better than buying the $1,700 keyboard. Comment by: Emily Rissinger It is a better idea than the iphone keyboard. The Braille touch is an interesting invention. It is great that it rotates to where you need it. It would be convenient for users to quickly take notes or text in Braille form. It also is a good point for people to not think they can just use it to get away with texting and driving by letting them know why it won’t work. It would be cool for a whole classroom to learn it. Does it come with a cheat sheet of Braille for those trying to learn it? Comment by: Jenna Kopf I think this would be a great way to teach children how to write in braille and is also beneficial to visually impaired students who already know how to. I enjoyed that the video did not talk about just visually impaired people using it but also those who can read text. It was a good to point out that it is not a solution to texting while driving. The price is just right compared to the keyboard and I think it would be beneficial to use this technology in the classroom. However, I think a cheat sheet of Braille would be needed for those who do not already know Braille because I was confused about how what he was typing correlated with a letter of the alphabet. Comment by: Amanda Henry I really enjoyed hearing about this piece of technology. This would be an ideal tool in any aged classroom for students that have a disability. The disability that would affect these students would be vision impairment. Students that cannot see well will be able to use the Braille letters on a touch screen. Comment by: Hillary Schwartz I agree with everyone! The iPod touch is becoming an everyday tool that people have. It is so easy for students to get their hands on it that it can be convenient for all students, not just the visually impaired. I think it would be incredible to be able to have an iPod for every student in the classroom. To teach every student how to read Braille would be wonderful because they could communicate written words with their visually impaired classmate. Comment by:Tracy Hutchins This is just another example of a helpful but constructive use of technology allows an application or skill to be utilized that previously has kept doors shut for those with disabilities. I would have liked to see a more detailed explanation of how it works or possible other features. It would have also been interesting to see what a text from this application being received would look like. Does the braille message come out in braille to the source it is being sent or regular text to those who receive it? Also do the other people also have to have this app on their iphone to receive an incoming message from there.

media type="youtube" key="lLaUx7BJ4r0" width="425" height="350" Allyson Ferraro This is a great way for children who have a visual impairment to be able to use to computers. At this school, the computers have an extra keyboard attached to the laptops which includes braille. They also include a software that will read the students what is written on the screen. For those who are not completely blind, but have impairments, such as glaucoma, there is a program downloaded for them to be able to make specific things on the screen larger. They are able to make the curser and arrow enlarged so it would be easier for them to find on the screen.

Comment by: Amanda Henry I was completely blown away by this technology. Along with the video above, this is another technology that can be used by those who are visually impaired. This technology really reaches out to students who have a disability. It allows them to see the image on a larger screen, making to much more visible for them.

Comment by: Emily Litchford This keyboard is so amazing. I like how it works in a variety of different ways to assist each individual student. My only concern with this would be the cost of the technology because it seems so high tech I can’t imagine the device is cheap by any means. I think it is a great idea but I think it is sad that mostly only schools with a high budget will be able to afford something like this.

Comment By: Kristy Kupinewicz

I watched this video and was really impressed by all the different technologies that were available for visually impaired students. Ive never seen anything like the braille on the keyboard. I think that's an awesome idea. Also i feel like the way the students can enlarge the text so much can be super helpful. It gives the students that are visually impaired a chance to feel normal, as i they can see like other students. There are so many things out there today that it just amazes me. Who knows what will be available in a couple years.

Comment By: Kristen Keaser I think it is really important to have technology to enhance students’ with visual impairments ability to read on and use computers because they are becoming so abundant in everyday life. They are being incorporated more and more in classroom settings so being able to have the software and the technology to assist them is crucial to them succeeding. I like the various things that the computer provides so it can really be personalized to aid the student in exactly what they need.

Comment by Carolyn Metz While watching this video I was astonished by all the different technologies available. The different combinations of technologies and computer programs provided a personalized aid for the students. A boy in my high school had the braille keyboard and it was really cool to watch him use it. All of these technologies are being seen in classrooms more often.

Comment by Brittnee Munchel I really like that the text is enlarged for the children that have some visual problems. I really like that it has Braille so that all children can use it and get some understanding of Braille. I also liked that you could use it and print it from everywhere in the school. The reason I liked that was because they can move around and work with others and print it out to show the teacher when done. The one thing I didn’t see in the video was how much it would cost but I think it would be a positive thing to have.

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//**Amanda Henry**//

Sometimes, there will be students in a classroom that have a difficult time seeing and can be considered legally blind. This piece of assistive technology allows students with this problem to view the lecture or presentation in the classroom and take notes onto a computer. The benefit to this piece of technology, is that the student can carry it around in their backpack. It is not a huge piece of equipment that is difficult to lug around. As far as setting up the note- taker, a simple plug is all you need to get the technology running. The note-taker hooks up to a touch screen. This touch screen allows the student to zoom in our out, depending on what their need is in order to be able to see the presentation. One thing that I really like about the note- taker is that the notes can be taken right on the touch screen. A special pen in used on the screen to write down the information that the students wishes to store in their notes. Again, this is a great way for students with a difficult time seeing to take notes and zoom in on the presentation, making it more visible for the student.

Comment By: Allyson Ferraro I was really amazed to see that someone thought of an idea as useful as the note taker. It is really cool that people are able to take notes by watching and re-watching a lecture. The fact that someone is able to retrieve images from a “second or two ago” incase there is some sort of object that was moved in front of the board.

Comment by: Emily Litchford The note taker is such a great idea. The coolest part of the technology is that the student can watch the lecture over again and take notes slowly. I know that most students learn the best when they take the notes themselves. I think it is a great technology that gives visually impaired students the same chance of success as any other student.

Comment By: Kristy Kupinewicz This really amazed me as well. It really makes it easier for the student and the teacher to learn. It does not require any extra work from the teacher which is great because they are pretty busy already. A for the student, it simply makes it easier for them to learn even with their difficulties. It seems like a great product that could help all kinds of students.

Comment by Hayley Helmich: This technology is a really great idea. I think it’s awesome that the student can take notes right next to the text on their own little screen. I also think it’s great that the teacher doesn’t have to do additional work and that the student can be more independent and not rely on others to take their own notes for them or help them. I also think it’s great that you can retrieve info from before a teacher blocks the view of the notes and that the notes can be brought up later on a regular computer.

Comments by Nicole Guy I thought this technology was very cool. I liked the way that you can record each lesson and put it into a specific category for each class you are taking. I think it is really neat that you can take notes right next to the lecture and notes on the board. It is a great technology for students who have visual impairments and I think it can help any student who has trouble taking notes. My only thing about this technology is that I do not believe that I would use it in any of the very young grades. I think that this would be a technology better suited for older students.

Comment by Brittnee Munchel The one thing I really loved was that it was very compact and you could put it in your book bag when you’re going to class. I really liked you could drag the screen. You can take notes with a prompt and you can also delete when you are done that class. I also liked it could connect right to your computer for when you are doing work at home and at school.

Comment by Tracy Hutchins I found this video interesting, in fact I had initially looked at this video as well to post. My impression was though this is just a prototype they are experimenting with and it is not currently available to purchase or use. Its application, and possible implications and uses are phenomenal. I like the idea of being able to go back when the view is blocked to view the material and that they can replay it over and over again. I thought it was important that they stressed that this technology allows the user the independence and not have to depend on someone else. Its compactability was also a nice feature. I wonder how much this technology will cost when made available to purchase.


 * Tracy Hutchins**

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 * Ghotit Software for Dyslexias or Those with Severe Spelling Problems by Tracy Hutchins**


 * Ghotit Writing Assistive Technology**

Target Audience: dyslexia, ADHD, learning disabilities, ESL
This assistive technology is a piece of software that can be used in conjunction with your word processor to help with dyslexics, dysgraphics, ESL, ADHD/ADD, or those with severe writing, spelling difficulties or other learning disabilities. This video demonstrates the use of the software as someone is trying to write a piece. It highlights some of the features and how to use them.

This is like a spell checker plus, because it utilizes a contextual spell checker, a phonetic spell checker, and punctuation and grammar checker, providing word recognization and corrections for spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes according to the intended meaning of your text. It provides suggestions, and you can read them or hear them using the text to speech features. You can also use tool personalization changing the fonts, font size or color of text and/or background to assist with the contrast difficulties often occurring with dyslexia.

This software could be used within a classroom or at home wherever the student is using a computer. Since it is software it could be probably installed onto laptops, notebooks, iphones, tablets, etc. to make it more portable.

The cost is reasonable at $129.99 to buy the software or you can get a monthly subscription for 14.99 or quarterly subscription. I also found free downloads of the software at 

The website to get more information, testimonials, background, demonstrations, blogs, information about dyslexia, links, and etc is []

According to the website, it is currently being used in classrooms, universities, and learning centers and homes.

Some of the limitations I found with this technology are: -does require an internet connection -are able to install it on any number of PCs but cannot use it from more than 1 PC at a time, so it limits the use ability in a classroom with multiple users simultaneously -Can’t be used on newer Macs with Intel processors unless using adaptive software Some of the benefits I found about this assistive technology were -is available with US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand dictionaries -can be used in places where background noise or privacy considerations may make speech to text software not user friendly or as feasible to use -picks up more spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors than spell check or other default programs on your word software
 * Limitations**
 * Benefits**
 * -**its additional features where you can change the color of text or backgrounds, or you can highlight certain words to assist those where contrast of words is difficult

Comment by: Emily Rissinger I like that this device, Ghotit Writing, is more helpful than word alone. The fact that it reads your text to you is very accommodating and the suggestions are very convenient, seeing that it shows a lot more information to let you know you are making the correct fix. It would be very useful for my sister who has dyslexia, since she has a hard time with spelling and meanings of words. It is a shame it can only be used by one computer at a time, seeing as all students could benefit from such a device. I also really enjoyed the set up of your post. It broke it up and made it easy to see each point. Can you still use word features?

Comment by: Jenna Kopf This technology seems like it would be very useful in a classroom with a child who is dyslexia or has learning disabilities. I liked that it can read the text to you so you can phonetically hear how your spelling is not the word you were trying to type. I'm assuming if you hear it and realize your mistake you can go back and correct it manually instead of using the options the computer gives you. I also liked that the possible correct spellings have definitions with them so it is easier for the child to pick the correct word. I do believe that the regular features of Word are available because it looks like the screen at the end has the same set up as a regular Word document would.

Comment by: Hillary Schwarz Going off of what Jenna said, I really like that their are options for the students to choose from. It does not automatically correct their work, This allows the students to use it as an assistive technology and not a crutch. I know how much I depend on Word to correct my spelling when I write a paper because I am a horrible speller, but giving the student the time to figure out their mistake is so important for the learning process.

media type="youtube" key="Mf010cq_Kvk" height="315" width="560" The DynaVox is really an-all around communication tool that students with speech impairments are able to use. It is much like the Proloqu2go tool. There are pictures students can choose to select certain words. In this video, Timmy is an autistic child who is able to use this assistive technology in order to communicate with everyone around him. Once he was able to use the DynaVox it became evident that Timmy was really a very intelligent boy. With the use of the DynaVox he is included in an inclussive classroom for 2 math classes. The level of the classes are 4-5th grade gifted students. This technology is very amazing in that it has so many tools the child can use. There is a camera that allows them to take pictures and program words with them. This helps with putting words with specific memories. There is even wifi and bluetooth so they can send emails,make calls, and text messages through the device. Another tool built into it is that it can program to control household devices. It was created to be very light weight so the student can carry it around with them wherever they go. The main goal of this assistive technology is providing students with the ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
 * DynaVox**
 * Hillary Schwartz**

Comment by: Gabrielle Glenn I really like this technology becasue ti makes the student able to communicate with everyone around them, not just their teachers. It helps them to feel as though they are a part of the classrrom envirnoment and that they are able to play a role when it comes to projects and discussions.

Comment by: Christina Caporale I really liked this story of this boy as well as the assistive technology. The DynaVox seems to be a great communication for him not only in the classroom but all around in his life. I really liked how this allowed him to be included in the classroom, and even in a gifted math program. This goes to show that this tool is really helping him become more involved in the classroom and in his life.

Comment By: Ruth Costanzo I really liked this video! DynaVox’s are awesome! When I was studying speech pathology at bloom I got to work with them a lot and they are amazing in how much they can do for someone that has speech apraxia like Timmy. It is even cooler, not that some DynaVox’s are used through ipads!

Comment By: Paige Roberts I have had the opportunity to observe a child use this technology within a classroom setting. The child I observed was able to easily and quickly communicate with the teacher and students through the device. It is a very productive tool within the settings of school and home. After I researched this device further I discovered that the product is sold in nine countries throughout the world. This is very exciting that such a product is available in multiple languages and assisting children in various areas of the Earth. The aspect of the DynaVox that I appreciate most is the independence it provides the user. Once the child has learned how to adequately use the technology they are able to communicate with little to no assistance. The independence that the device provides will be helpful to the child, especially in the classroom setting.

Technology: Kurzweil 3000 By: Alicia Huber media type="youtube" key="P3KSTxDShZo" height="315" width="560"

Just by watching this video, I didn’t learn much about Kurzweil 3000. There are many tutorials and how-to videos about it on YouTube. This video does show it being used in the classroom though. Kurzweil 3000 was originally used with special education students, but teachers are now finding ways to use it with all students. It can be used anywhere from third grade to adult. From the videos I watched, there are many uses for Kurzweil 3000. One feature is that it can read virtually any text or curriculum, including print, electronic, and web-based material to the students. It highlights a sentence at a time and then in another color, it highlights the word being read. This feature is very helpful for students who may have dyslexia or other disorders that complicate their reading ability. It can also be helpful for students who don’t fully understand the text when they read to themselves. Another useful feature of this assistive technology is that the students can then go back and highlight the main ideas, vocabulary words, or important people. There are four color highlighters, so you can use each color for a specific thing. This helps keep the student’s information organized and easy to study when it’s time for the test. One of the other features of Kurzweil 3000 is that you can put all of your highlighted text into column notes and then print them out. This feature is useful when it comes to studying. You have all of the important information in one place. Another good feature about Kurzweil 3000 is that when you highlight a vocabulary word, there is a button that can read you the definition, give you a synonym, or tell you an anonym. This feature can help expand a student’s vocabulary. When they find out other words that mean the same thing and others that mean the opposite, they can begin to use those words as well. The final feature that I think is important is the bubble note feature. It allows the students to make a concept map of their notes. It shows them how certain things are related to each other, how things connect, and it organizes their main ideas. All of these features can be advantages because they help improve a student’s reading ability, writing ability, and study skills. The main disadvantage that I found was that you have to pay $1395 to get the software. You can get a 30 day free trial though.

Comment by Kristina Runyeon Kurzweil 3000 seems like a great all around tool for both teachers and students. I like how the teacher can show what he is doing and how he goes about finding things like the main idea while in front of the class. This gives them the opportunity to see this visually, and for many, this is the best way to learn. It is great that it is accessible to students individually as well. It seems like a great way to pull out and organize information. My favorite tool that I saw being used in the video was also the bubble note feature. This really helps kids with brainstorming and organizing information for papers and presentations. Comment by Jackie Stipe Kurzweil 300 is such a cool technology! I love that each student can have the teacher notes printed out for them instead of focusing on copying them down. I like that students that are blind can hear the words when you touch them as well as synonyms and antonyms. I also really like that you can make extra notes in a bubble near the idea that is being taught. This is a great tool for kids with disabilities as well because the teacher can highlight main points instead of giving them every single detail or vice versa.

Intel Reader By:Carolyn Metz media type="youtube" key="-GNOy5UQ_6A" height="315" width="560"

This video talks about the Intel Reader and how it is a great tool for people with reading problems, like dyslexia. It allows kids to stop harping on decoding the text and start comprehending it. This reading tool allows kids to access reading material at the same rate as someone without a reading problem. This device takes a picture of written text and then turns it into spoken words. Only weighing a little over a pound and it is about the size of a paper back book, this allows the device to be portable. A person can take that Intel Reader wherever it is needed, like home, work, or school. The device doesn't just read but can play MP3, DAISY* books, and text transferred from a PC.

I have seen a device like this used by my grandmother who has recently gone legally blind. She can be independent and doesn’t have to rely on someone to read to her. It is really easy to use and it allows her to read anything from a newspaper, cookbook, or the back of a cereal box. __[]__

Comment By: Ruth Costanzo

This is a really cool piece of assistive technology! It is really nice that the students do not have to spend all of their time decoding the words they are trying to read. It really allows them to focus on comprehending what they are supposed to be reading. It is also really cool that is can do all of those other things besides just reading. That’s neat that your grandmother is able to use a device like that and that it allows her to stay independent!

Comment by Jackie Stipe The fact that Intel Reader reads the book for a child that already knows how to read some and gives them a chance to focus on comprehension is very cool. They have many different stories they can access instantly. I like that they can use headphones in it as well. They copy the books in themselves. If they don’t put it on the Reader then they don’t have it to read so it takes a lot of pressure off the teacher and gives the students some responsibility. I like that it rewards them in a way.

Comment by Joelle Martin: My favorite part of the video was when the teacher said that the Intel readers allows for students to take the responsibility for their education into their own hands. I feel that this is what assistive technology is all about. The Intel Reader helps struggling readers so they don’t have to decode, and makes students feel more independent and so they do not always have to ask the teacher for help. It makes them feel in control and an active part of their education. Students can concentrate on comprehension rather than all their effort focused on decoding. Also it is portable and can turn any written piece of text into spoken word which can be useful at home or at school.

AlphaSmart Neo: media type="youtube" key="r1r3YEK0aBs" height="315" width="560" By:Emily Rissinger In this video, Jordan is a student who has disability where he cannot physically write. AlphaSmart is extremely helpful to his writing, organization, and confidence. With this device, he can keep up with class by taking notes quickly and efficiently by using the AlphaSmart. This can be done with this device’s special feature of having different sections for him to keep each academic subject in. My sister is dyslexic and uses this technology to assist her during class. She cannot read her own notes, so this machine is particularly helpful. She types the notes into her AlphaSmart, which plugs into the computer and puts the words into a Word document. She can than print them out and then has notes that she can now read and study easier. She likes it because it is not as heavy as a laptop and has a nice LCD screen. Her teachers like it because she won't be surfing the web or distracting other children with a glowing screen in class. The Alphasmart is highly durable, made from the same material as football helmets, and is given to schools through grants ("Alphasmart neo," 2008). The benefits of this apparatus are that it has spell check, auto-save, word count, it is battery powered, and it also includes a Spanish-English word lookup. The Spanish-English word lookup could be very helpful for English Language Learners. The negatives are that the screen may be hard for some children to see their writing, since it only displays about four lines of text at a time and sometimes the spell check is a bit off (Bukowiecki, 2005). ). References: //Alphasmart neo//. (2008, September). Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go2827/is_9_38/ai_n30930779/?tag=content;col1

Bukowiecki, E. (2005, February 5). //The hood children's literacy project//. Retrieved from http://www.lesley.edu/academic_centers/hood/currents

Comment by: Christina Caporale My brother is also dyslexic and while he was in school he had a lot of trouble, if he were to have this tool I’m sure he would have greatly appreciated this. It’s great that a person is able to take their notes and directly hook it up to the printer. It is also a lot smaller than a laptop which is a great thing.

Comment By: Ruth Costanzo This is neat piece of assistive technology! I liked that it is so organized and that Jordan can have different sections on his Alphasmart for his different classes. It seemed like it was very easy to use and the students seemed to really like using it!

Comment By: Kristen Keaser I think this piece of technology is definitely beneficial to students in class that have difficulty writing. It is not cumbersome which allows the child to take notes just as efficiently, quietly, and quickly as those who are writing. I think the size of the AlphaSmart really adds to its appeal because it can easily fit into the student’s backpack, locker, or desk.

Comment By: Alicia Huber I really like this assistive technology. I think it's nice how the student can still take their own notes. It doesn't take away their independence because they don't have to rely on other students or teachers to give them a copy of the notes. I also agree with what Kristen said about it easily fitting into a student's backpack, locker, or desk. It's easy to carry around when you have an arm full of books. Another thing I like about this technology is that they can print their notes then.

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 * Eyegaze Communication:**
 * By: Paige Roberts**

The student in this video is using the Eyegaze to assist him in communication. The FDA has approved the Eyegaze as a communication and control device for people with physical disabilities. The system supports adults and children with cerebral palsy, brain injury, ALS, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Werdnig-Hoffman syndrome. People can easily use the technology in homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

Users can operate the system using only their eyes. The individual will sit in front of the screen as a video camera observes the movements of their eyes. The woman in the introduction of this video explains how the student uses the Eyegaze. Within the technology are rectangular keys with words, letters, pictures, and sentences. When the student is looking at the rectangular keys the video camera can identify the keys. The system then dictates the key or keys selected by the individual aloud. The system is synthesizing the users speech. Along with this feature, some advancements in the technology has allowed the system to control lights or bells within the environment, run computer software, type, operate a computer mouse and access the Internet and e-mail.

The system is a highly portable 13.3 inch personal computer and a video camera weighing five pounds. The system must be mounted on a table or preferably a wheelchair. If the user does not have access to a wheel chair this could be a limitation to the use of the device. Also, the system uses infrared light to track the eyes so the system cannot be used in front of a window or in direct sunlight. This limits the technology to indoor and shaded outdoor use. A positive to the technology is that it only takes 15 seconds to calibrate it to be used by a specific user. The user simply secures his or her gaze on a series of circles that are displayed on the screen.

The student in this video is utilizing the technology to communicate with his teacher. He is able to participate in an engaging conversation in which he could not do without the assistive technology. The Eyegaze gives adults and children without the ability to interact through speech or sign an easy and efficient way of communication.

You can find more information on this assistive technology at: http://www.eyegaze.com/content/assistive-technology []

Comment By: Allyson Ferraro This amazes me how the camera can look at the eyes of the person using this technology and know where they are looking on the screen. There are so many types of new technology devices that help those who are unable to speak to communicate with others, but I have never seen something as spectacular as this device. It is astonishing that people are now able to communicate simply by looking at a computer screen.

Comment by Kristina Runyeon This is an amazing technology. I didn't even know this type of thing existed. Seems like there is new assistive technology coming out all the time. Eyegaze gives children and adults the opportunity to communicate, when without Eyegaze, they would not be able to. It seems like you can save favorite sayings and sentences so that the user does not have to identify all the different words. I love how this allows people who cant type for whatever reason or cannot speak gives them the opportunity to talk! I know several people who type on a mini laptop to get a voice to synthesize what they are saying, but for those who can't type and can just move their eyes this is the perfect tool. I'm sure this is expensive which is a downside for many. However, it seems like a great investment for those who need it. It allows them to do things they, or those around them, never imagined possible.

Comment by Carolyn Metz This technology is amazing and fascinating. I can’t believe all it takes is to look at the screen for a certain amount of time to pick the words a person wants to use. It is sad that they can not use this outside because of the sun. Even with this limitation the technology is a great tool for someone to use.

Comment by Joelle Martin I had never heard about the Eyegaze Communicator before and I didn’t know that a technology this advanced existed. I have seen communication boards help students talk before but this technology is so much better. In the video, I love how the teacher can have a conversation and it was very easy for the student to explain about his family. The fact that this technology is very expensive seems to be the reason that it may be hard for school districts or families to be able to afford it. I like how the students can have sentences programmed in so if they say certain phrases often, they do not have to look at individual words to complete the sentence. I just find this assistive technology very interesting and useful!

Comment by Brittany Rohrer This assistive technology is incredible in how it works. I have seen a similar product before where they blink like twice to choose what they would like to select instead of staring at it. This type of technology is proof of their understanding and their ability to communicate. The boy in the movie seemed so happy to be able to share his thoughts and communicate with people. This technology is fascinating and I would love to learn more about it.

__**AbleNet SuperTalker and Bookworm**__ media type="youtube" key="R8mbhQ7bkb0" height="345" width="461" By:Stephanie Latschar

This video shows Josh, a young school age child, using the AbleNet SuperTalker and Bookworm with the help of his preschool teacher. Josh is a child with autism and was primarily nonverbal when he started preschool. He avoided social interactions with the other students in his class and kept to himself throughout the course of the day. Josh became frustrated with his difficulty to communicate with his teachers. This prevented him from making any big steps in his academic learning. Josh’s teacher noticed his interest in cause and effect toys, as well as his interest in books. She began to use the AbleNet SuperTalker with Josh to break the communication barrier that stood between them. She was able to present Josh with activity options that he could choose from on the AbleNet SuperTalker based on a picture, and the machine would verbally pronounce the activity. This eliminated some of the social stressors that made communication difficult for Josh. Josh’s teacher also decided to use the AbleNet Bookworm with him. This device allowed her to record a book, and when Josh pushed the appropriate button, the recording would read him the words on the page. This device closely resembles the cause and effect toys that he likes to play with in class. The Bookworm can be used with any picture book. For Josh, the Bookworm helped him to put more meaning with the words and the pictures on each page of the book. Josh began to follow the words on the page with his finger, and he began to start answering questions about the book. He started to say the words out loud and eventually could read the books on his own. He even enjoys reading books to his classmates and teachers. This is an extremely great accomplishment for a student who was primarily nonverbal upon starting preschool. This video clearly demonstrates the benefits of the AbleNet SuperTalker and Bookworm.

The AbleNet SuperTalker is extremely easy to use. It can display two, four, or eight options for the child to choose from at any given time. This device can be adapted to the specific needs of each and every child. For a child with autism, this device allows them to communicate in a very basic way without causing them to stress about the social situations involved with communication. This device would be great to use as an early intervention tool with a child in a preschool setting. It also allows the child to reinforce their own language skills by having the audible sound that they device creates. This device costs $359.00 from the AbleNet online store. However, the costs is minimal when one looks at the great effects this device can have when used as an assistive technology device.

The AbleNet Bookworm is a device that turns any ordinary picture book into a push-button audio book. The teacher can record each page of the book and then place a removable sticker on the page that lines up with the appropriate button for the child to push. This allows the child to work through the book page by page and follow along with the words that are being read to them. Obviously, this device helped Josh tremendously to reinforce and develop his own language skills. This device would be best used in a preschool or kindergarten classroom where the teacher has time to help the student with the device. This type of assistive technology can help a child who struggles with communication and language or a child who has difficulty understanding the reading process. I can see many benefits to this technology for young learners. This device costs $199.00 from the AbleNet online store, but I believe that this is a small price to pay for something that could benefit the learning of a child in such a great way.

Check out these two devices and others on AbleNet's Website

//Comment: By Kayla Stauffer// I enjoyed seeing Josh’s excitement about books grow as he used the bookworm. At the end of the video, Josh was reading to his classmates, which was a huge transition from his past days of isolation. The bookworm seems like a great tool for developing readers to build language skills and confidence in reading. The SuperTalker was a great tool for Josh because it helped build his confidence through basic conversation. If he messed up a word or pronunciation, he had a backup tool to clarify his communication. It’s amazing how simple devices such as the SuperTalker opened up a whole new world of communication for Josh and broke down the barriers that stood between him and his teacher and him and his classmates. Knowing that there are products like this on the market will help us as future educators when we experience similar situations in the classroom. For clarification, can the teacher only record one story at a time into the bookworm? Is there a way for storing the teacher’s voice to save for the next time the student reads the book? If the teacher has to re-record the story each time the child wants to read the book, I see it taking up a lot of valuable time on the teacher’s end. You made a great observation when you talked about the device being used best in a preschool or kindergarten classroom because the teacher has to assist in using the bookworm.

Kayla, Great question! The AbleNet Bookworm comes with several SD cards which can be used to store the audio books that the teacher creates. Additional SD cards are also available for purchase. These cards allow the teacher to manage their audio books and have multiple books recorded at the same time. --Steph

Comment By: Emily Rissinger I think it is so neat that the Super Talker helps Josh communicate and that he can learn from it too is an added bonus. I like that many books can be read by this device and that Josh can respond better to new things. It is exciting to see him making connections between books. It is wonderful that he is communicating better at home too. These technologies really seem to be affecting his progress and helping him to really love reading. He doesn’t even need the device after a while which is remarkable. This would be a great tool to use in a classroom to help a child be more vocal.It is a bit expensive. Is there a way for schools to get a grant for it or have it donated?

Emily, I certainly agree that the cost of this device is a disadvantage. However, schools could do fundraisers or use donations to buy either of these devices.There may even be some grants that would apply for purchasing this type of assistive technology for the classroom based upon the fact that it has been proven to be effective. If a school is able to purchase one Bookworm it will be able to be used with a variety of different students. This was a great question and definitely something for schools to investigate. --Steph

media type="youtube" key="ldjaONMzthc?rel=0" height="315" width="560" Technology: Proloquo2Go By: Kristen Keaser Proloquo2Go is software developed from AssistiveWare that provides communication aid to people who find it difficult to speak. It can be downloaded onto the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad for the price of $189.00. The software uses ordinary sounding voices and has almost 8000 different symbols, conjugations, and a large vocabulary. On the home screen there is a list of categories and topics (words associated with a picture) that lead to more subtopics including comments, help, questions, my spaces, hi/bye, yes/maybe/no, I need, etc.. After choosing one, the category is read aloud and the subtopic items will then appear and also be read aloud after they are selected. The subtopics that are chosen will be added to a message window at the top of the screen in the order in which they were selected. You can add messages to your Proloquo2Go so you do not have to create them every time you want to say them. In a classroom, this can be used in many ways varying from asking simple questions like “Can I go to the bathroom?” to answering discussion questions during class time. It will be a big aide to students who have difficulty speaking because it will allow them to say or ask whatever they want to and eliminates that barrier that teachers are typically faced with. In the video, for example, the teacher uses the software to have the student practice answering questions and giving instructions. This gives the student the confidence to communicate by giving him everything he needs in order to succeed.

Comment by: Gabrielle Glenn I really like this technology because it is not too expensive and can be used through an apple product which many students are now using all the time. This also will really benefit the students because they will be able to have conversations with the rest of the class and will be able to participate in class just like all of the other students. I also like that some statements can be programmed in which can be done by the teacher, helping ths students when it comes to the class and what they may need to ask.

Comment By: Paige Roberts The Proloquo2Go can be a very helpful application to use in both the classroom and home settings. It is an effective way for students to communication their thoughts with a convenient device. The student must have access to an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to use the application, which can be a disadvantage, as many school districts have limited funds to purchase technology. I researched this product and the creator of this application has no intention of expanding it to other platforms, which could be a disadvantage to its use in the home, depending on what platform the family uses. However, through watching the video I fully grasp how useful the application would be to aide a child in communication.

media type="youtube" key="QUgW1GroQ54" height="315" width="420" Technology: Flip Video By: Kristy Kupinewicz

The technology that I found is called the Flip Video. It is a very simple camera that teachers can use to help all kinds of students of all grades. It gives the teacher the ability to video lessons and other things that go on in the classroom like group projects or presentations. One thing this could be used for would be presentations. Instead of having the children take notes on them, you could just have them listen and pay attention. Later on you could upload the videos of the presentations online and the students could go over them at home or at another time so they can review the information. This way the students would not have to take notes and pay attention at the same time. Another way a teacher could use this would be to tape the daily lessons. Things like grammar are very difficult for students and parents to remember. If the teacher could upload the daily grammar lesson the parents would have the ability to learn what the children are doing so they can help them at home if they are having difficulties. One last idea that I had that a teacher could use this for would be a newsletter. Instead of sending home papers every week or month for the parents you could email them all a brief video of what you will be doing and what is coming in the future. You could even get the students to participate in it, which would make it a fun and exciting thing that the parents and children would enjoy watching. They would know what was happening at school then too. This little camera is very easy to use and could help many students, even ones with disabilities because they would be able to review things they learned in class again and again.

Comment by Bernadette Walsh I think the flip camera is a great idea for any classroom. There are so many ways that this simple device can be used. I liked the idea of a newsletter for the parents. By creating videos and sharing them on a class website, you are saving tons of trees because you’re not wasting paper. It is also a great way to learn by listening and repeating the video as many times as needed. Students tend to lose papers and directions, so with access to a video created by them or just for them, they could never lose it. The camera would be a good way to introduce technology to students because it is small and easy to use. Many class projects could be recorded and shared with parents and even other classes. I think this is a non-expensive and fun device that would greatly benefit students, teachers, and parents. Comment By: Alicia Huber I think this is a really cool piece of technology. Not only can it be helpful for the students, it can come in good use for the teacher. Like it said in the video, the teacher could use it to make a video to review a topic, start a new lesson, or show an example. This technology could aslo be used by the students to make projects fun. Instead of doing a book report that every class has you do, you could use the Flip Camera to make a trailor for the book. I like how this tehnology has many uses. It's also small and easy to use. The only down-side to this technology is that it runs on batteries. The batteries could run out really fast and then you would go through a lot of batteries. Other than that, this is a cool technology. Comment by Tracy Hutchins I really like this technology and think it could be utilized in a myriad of ways, not just for children that needs accomodations. This would be great for those with ADHD, or writing problems. Some other possible ways this technology could be used were if a student was absent they would be able to review the lessons they missed. It would also be great for the sharing of projects or presenting a special project for parents night or parent teacher conferences. I was thinking what if there were three or four of these devices were in a classroom and the students could use these within their groups, for example when they were doing readers theater, or group work. The teacher could review what was done in the groups more carefully instead of missing things as they were circulating around trying to meet with each group. Comment by Pamela Rieder I personally have used this technology and I think it is fantastic! From a teacher standpoint, you can film things to look at later, you can film a lesson for review from supervisors, or you can even create classroom videos that document what you did all year. From a student standpoint, they can create multimedia projects, film a diary, or if they have an interview project, they could do a video interview instead of a written project on the information. Additionally, for students with special needs, they could record a lesson to look at at home in the quiet atmosphere that may help them learn better.

Technology: Head Mouse By: Gabrielle Glenn media type="youtube" key="7V2Fg_soAHI" height="315" width="420"

Head Mouse is a hands-free technology that connects with a webcam to help students who are unable to move their arms and hands connect to a computer to do their work in the classroom and at home. By using the webcam and the “mouse” that is placed on their forehead students with a disabilities are able to use the computer to type out their school work, research, and read along with ebooks with the rest of the class. In order to set up the Head Mouse all a user needs is a computer with a webcam, the dot, and the basic software. Once the software is uploaded to the computer the student is free to use it how they please to accomplish their school work. There are many versions of this technology, some do not even need the dot for the computer, but they all allow the student to be able to use the computer effectively for classroom purposes.

Comment by: Emily Litchford I think this technology is awesome. I know how frustrating it is when you can’t do something for yourself and to not even be able to use the mouse would really bother me. I think this technology is great for students with disabilities so they can demonstrate their knowledge of different concepts. I also think it is very convenient that the user only needs a computer and a webcam. That seems simple enough, so it is not an entire new system you have to set up. I think that is better than having a huge board or something where there is not a lot of room in classrooms for.

Comment By: Kristy Kupinewicz This i thought was really amazing. I've never seen anything like this. It seems really simple to set up and to use. This is great for students with disabilities which limit their movement or even just fine motor skills. If they have difficulty using a mouse this makes it much easier to use a computer. Computers are used for so much these days that its great to be able to find away for even students with disabilities to be able to adapt the computer to fit their needs.

Comment by: Jenna Kopf I think this technology is absolutely amazing. It is perfect for children who are unable to move their arms and hands. I think it would give them a feeling of empowerment and pride they that are able to use a computer without any assistance, like their peers. It seems like it is simple to use and the student and teacher would both be able to understand how it works. I think it is a great tool to use to help students feel independent and it would be great if every disabled child had the opportunity to use this technology.

Comment by: Brittany Rohrer This assistive technology is one that opens up the world to those that use it. It is fantastic how a student was able to write, be creative, go on the internet, and so much more. I loved how the teacher was so excited about the progress of the girl. Through the use of this technology, the teacher was able to learn about the girl’s strengths and the things that she enjoyed, such as being creative. Through learning about her student, the teacher would be able to build off of this for lessons and teaching. This seems like a great piece of technology.

Brittnee Munchel media type="youtube" key="ZvSUI4zmjaU" height="315" width="420"

To help children with Autism or any student it is a cool idea to use the apps on the IPad to help them learn different information by visually seeing it. In the video it shows many different students using the IPad and how it works to get them to learn in different ways. In the classroom they use it to show the students what to do next, and to also show a certain word by the action. It also can be very hands on activity which helps the student put the word with object. You can use the different apps on the IPad for any lesson you have and it is fun for the student to do it themselves. Also if the student can’t talk they can communicate through the IPAD. I personally think every student should have a IPAD in the classroom even if it is not a special education class.

Comment by Carolyn Metz The iPad is a great tool to use in an autistic classroom. This device has unlimited number of ways to use in the classroom. I have seem the iPad used in an autistic classroom for away to communicate and to have there schedule. All of the apps that are available makes it great not just for a special needs classroom but every classroom.

media type="youtube" key="PFmrH1sF_24" height="315" width="560" Tap-it is an interactive learning board that helps many students with almost any type of disability. The Tap-it board is just like a touch screen computer. It has any applications on it, such as calculators, stories, games, etc. that can assist any child in learning or staying up with class. One benefit of TAP-it is that it is a huge screen, so children who are visually impaired can see the material on the screen. Another is that the TAP-it system talks to you. For example, if you are using the calculator on the screen, it will say the number as you hit it. This is good because some students learn better with being able to not only see the answers but also hear them. For the students who have a limited range of motion, TAP-it, is easily accessible. It is large enough so a wheelchair can fit under it but the student can still reach it and see every part of it. The touch screen does not need a device such as a special pen for the student to write. If the student is unable to hold a pen, they can easily use their fingers to write or draw. There is a large number of different devices a student can use, if they do not want to use their hands. As a teacher, for children who cannot hold small things, you can use a large circular mouse that the student can use to write with, until they can eventually work their way smaller and smaller until they can hold the mouse that is the size of a pen. TAP-it has intended touch which is an amazing feature for students in general with or without disabilities. Intended touch is when the computer (TAP-it) knows when a child is writing on the screen or leaning on it. This is a good feature because students often times lean on the screen and computers freeze or get confused at the sensors for the device or fingers. This screen can tell the difference between the supporting hand versus the hand or device that is intentionally interacting with the screen.
 * Emily Litchford**

Comment by: Gabrielle Glenn I really like this technology becasue it can be used by both students who are and are not disabled. It can also help a wide variety of students who are disabled therefore many children will be able to benefit from it therefore making it a great tool to have in a classroom.

Comment by: Kayla Stauffer Watching this clip about Tap-it really impressed me. The ability to categorize applications and programs on such a large screen is definitely a great tool for students with visual impairments or students without fine motor skills. I really liked the intended touch technology that Tap-it uses because the screen can tell if the student is leaning against the board or writing on it. This is especially useful so students can be comfortable with the technology and not be distracted or constantly reminded not to lean/touch the screen accidentally. I also like how you pointed out that this board can be used to teach fine motor skills by starting with a circular mouse and working towards a small pen mouse. Having this interactive learning board in a classroom where all students can participate with it can help students with disabilities feel a part of the classroom and feel more comfortable using this technology. The student doesn’t have to be singled out and all students will enjoy using the Tap-it interactive learning board.

Comment By: Paige Roberts I had the great opportunity to try the Tap-It product at the Council for Exceptional Children National Convention last spring. At the convention are numerous companies that introduce their new products, in which Tap-It was one of the products. I found the technology to be very useful within a classroom setting. The major benefits that I observed was that it can be used by the teacher to teach a student or many students, used by a single student, or used by many students to do multiple tasks. The screen has vibrant colors that intrigue the eye, the screen can move to various angles, and has very simple transitions from one program to another. I would love to use this assistive technology within a classroom setting to really see the benefits it can have on student’s learning. I have never seen a Tap-It used within a classroom, as I imagine it is expensive. I could not find a specific price as to how much the technology costs, but the fact that it is new and not commonly used in classrooms yet, leads me to believe that it is costly. I hope to see these being used in classrooms within the near future.

media type="youtube" key="uBX_raHKhtA" height="315" width="560"
 * Faith Carter: Mimio Interactive Whiteboard**

The Mimio Interactive whiteboard is an assistive technology that can be used for the visually impaired. This technology has the ability to make any whiteboard interactive by displaying what is written on the whiteboard to all of the computers in the classroom. This allows every student to get as close as they need to in order to see what the teacher is writing at the front of the classroom. This technology can be used at any grade level because you can use these boards for practically any topic. This technology could be used for English, math, science, health, social studies, anything. This technology has also been improved to work with Smart boards which are becoming more and more prevalent in classrooms. This video shows how students with vision impairments can use this technology to their benefit. The benefits of this technology are that children with any kind of visual impairment will be able to follow along with the lesson. This will improve these children’s grades and will allow them to succeed. Another benefit is that it is easy to turn your standard whiteboard into an interactive one. All you need to do is attach a fairly small device to your regular whiteboard (the device is the gray bar seen on the side of the whiteboard in the video). Another benefit that was shown in the video is that when the math notes came up on the children’s screens, they showed up as white text with a black background. This is especially great because white and black are the colors with the most contrast, therefore allowing the children to see the information better than if any other colors were used. This technology is also relatively inexpensive, which makes it accessible to many schools. The downside to this technology is that you need computers to use it. If your classroom has a limited number of computers, then you will have to limit the number of students who can use the technology at any given time. This could pose a problem if you have many children in your classroom in need of this technology. Overall, I think this is a great product. It is easy to set up, reasonably priced, can be used at any grade level and for any subject, and is a big help for children who have trouble seeing what the teacher writes on the board. I could find very few problems with this technology, only that some schools might not be able to use this technology if they don’t have access to computers.

Comment by Hayley Helmich: I think this is an awesome idea. The information can be closer to students that have problems seeing and it doesn’t require additional work by either the student or the teacher. I also like that the information can be saved and shared with students to either study from or use to catch up if they missed class time Comment by Pamela Rieder: I think this technology looks like a great asset to a classroom. Students will likely be more focused on the information if it is right in front of them rather than in the front of the classroom. This would be a great technology for kids with special needs OR without, making a very integrated classroom. I know personally, I see white text on black better than black text or color text on white, so this would have greatly benefited me during school.

Technology- Zoo Busy Box media type="youtube" key="uq-zJFagqD8" height="315" width="560" Jackie Stipe

This zoo busy box is a very cool technology! The child that is using it here has the teacher giving him characteristics of the animal and he has to find the animal that was described. When he touches the animal it makes a noise. You can also record your own animal information and press the button to hear it. This machine also allows the child to feel things the animal may like cold air on your hand for the polar bear or vibration from the elephant walking. A downfall to this is that the recording can only be 37 seconds. You can also only teach off the animals given. I would use this in a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten special education classroom. It introduces the kids to animals and gives them a unique learning experience. It also gets them thinking and analyzing what animal is being described.

Comment by Hayley Helmich: I really like this technology, and I think it’s very interesting. It’s a good way to show kids about different animals. I think it’s great that they have the auditory part when they hear the name and sound of the animal, the visual with the picture of the animal, and a tactile part with the different feelings like the cold air. They learn about the animals in a variety of different ways.

Comments by Nicole Guy I thought this technology was very interested. I like how it included not only auditory hearing but it also included the sensory learning with the cold air for the polar bear. This is a great way for the kids to learn about the different animals and a little about their habitats including more than one sense. They only thing I was concerned about with this technology is how easy it is to change the different animals and sounds. It just seemed like it could only be used in limited teaching situations as oppose to some of the other assistive technologies. I also wonder how much this technology costs

Kerri Humbert Smart Boards media type="youtube" key="ke3D6D3uCp0" height="315" width="420"

Smart boards have been around for several years but have only made their way to a lot of schools within the past few years. My personal experience with smart boards came my last year of high school. I was, at that time, shy and intelligent. This combination meant that participation was not an option for me. Once the smart boards emerged into my classes participation increased for me. The activities made possible on the smart board made me excited and felt more purposeful. Activities could be saved and returned to at another time which means it is not simply wasted effort. Computer content can be seen on the smart board, making it easier for teachers to project handouts and demonstrate computer instructions in front of the class. This board also features finger touch options as well as pen and typing input uses. This allows for students of different abilities to participate in class activities. There are also features that has different layouts and tools to help enhance learning. This can also increase focus because a screen has a better chance of catching the attention of young students.

Comment by Nicole Guy I am a big fan of smart boards. Personally in my high school they had smart boards in almost every room and they were always a lot of fun to use. I would have never thought to use them for assistive technology and this video opened my eyes to some ways you could. Smart boards are very user friendly and I think they are a great thing to incorporate into the classroom if schools have the money. I liked how they showed how the smart board can be used to tech not only informational things but can be used to simulate real life situations like the shopping one shown. I love the technology and would love to have one in my classroom but I do wonder how much they cost.

Comment by Bernadette Walsh I am also a fan of smartboards and have been since I saw them in high school. A few English and math classrooms had these devices and I think they really helped class participation to increase. Students who were too shy or intimidated to answer a question could easily show what they know by interacting with the board. I like that it also acts as a projector and the big screen with the bright colors makes it more attractive in appearance. I’m sure they are expensive, but I feel that they would be a great assistive technology to have in a classroom, especially in a classroom of young students who are always eager to get out of their seats.

media type="youtube" key="YM6GtXOi9iY" height="315" width="560" Hayley Helmich The Mountbatten My technology is the Mountbatten Braille Writer. It allows for audio and tactile feedback. The machine writes down the braille that is typed while saying the letters out loud. It can save files, and receive and transfer files to and from computers. It is good for classrooms with both visually impaired and general education students that cannot read braille. The words that are written in braille are also written out on a screen in alphabetic letters. This helps the student participate in class, in groups, and complete the same typed assignments as the other children in the class, making them feel more included. I think this is a great technology, as it would allow blind students to type and participate in assignments in the same way as the other students in the class. It also allows students to take notes during class that they can read in braille later to go over the material. This technology would only be useful to students who were very familiar with braille and they would have to be trained in the placement of the keys, but otherwise I think any student could benefit from this.

Comment by Stephanie Latschar: I really liked learning about the Mountbatten Braille Writer. I like the idea that visually impaired students can be included in the classroom activities. It is amazing that this technology can allow students who are blind to participate in group activities. This would be a great experience for all students involved. I would be interested to know how much this device costs. It is apparent from the video that this device can really help a student who cannot see. I think it is great that the device can transfer files back and forth to a computer. This would allow a student the opportunity to communicate with their teachers and other students. I can see that this device has the ability to break down communication barriers that have previously existed between students who are blind and their peers or teachers. Comment By: Alicia Huber I have never heard about a machine that can type Braile out as you type it. I think it's really cool. When I heard the name, I didn't picture the Keyboard like that. I thought you might just type a letter and it would convert it. Watching this video showed me that you really need to know Braile to be able to use this technology. In order to be able to type on it, you need to know every letter and where the dots are. I feel like it would take so much longer to type notes out, but in the end it would be very helpful. I also like the idea that a visually impaired student can still be included in the classroom. I feel that being included is an important factor. They probably already feel like they are different from everyone else, but when they can do the same activities as everyone else, it helps their self-esteem. Joelle Martin SMART Table media type="youtube" key="i6hGVvXYKc4" height="315" width="420" This is an exciting way to connect students to each other and to learning. Smart Tables are very useful in elementary classroom because they help instruction for students with a broad range of abilities, disabilities, reading levels, learning styles, and other characteristics. The Smart Table is the first multi-touch, multi-user product for primary education. The Smart Table not only is at the children’s level for easy access, but also facilitates group work. It can also be used for multi-age classrooms. It allows for the teacher to choose different grade levels in the lessons by using the software. The SMART Table provides increased flexibility in both content and teaching style. There is a limitless supply of activities for your interactive learning center including ready-made activities or ones that you can create yourself. While working on the SMART Table it allows students the opportunity to build cognitive, social, and fine motor skills. It is a great compliment to the SMART Board because a teacher can introduce a topic on the interactive whiteboard and then reinforce it through group work on the SMART Table. The work that students complete on the Table can then be projected on the interactive whiteboard so that the whole class can see. The technology allows for the students to become excited in what they are learning and it can be used to accommodate students with visual impairments, attention deficits, and other disabilities without singling them out. The use of the technology allows for the teacher to create inclusion in the classroom and gets students excited to learn!

Comment by Kristina Runyeon: This is a neat way to reinforce concepts taught earlier by the teacher. It looks like a lot of students found this technology fun which is always a plus when trying to teach. It is hands on and I saw that they were able to trace and move shapes around. They also could make shapes bigger and smaller. I am sure there are many more activities that can be done on the Smart Table and I think it is a great resource to have in the class. Since children are surrounded by technology already, it is only appropriate that a resource using the newest touch screen technology be used by students.

Christina Caporale

Magical ePENmedia type="youtube" key="pEd9BPgmgeo" height="315" width="420"

The magical ePEN is an educational tool that is in the shape of a pen. This tool speaks aloud the text, images, symbols that are printed in the reading books that are provided. The reading books are once that is supported by the magical ePEN. Audio files that match the books text and images allow the pen to talk, sing and let the children interact in games. The magical ePEN is there to help students who have problems reading aloud. This is also a great tool to help English Language Learners, as demonstrated n this video clip. The young girl in this video is reading a book all by herself with the magical ePEN. As she is reading the story the pen is dictating not only the text but also some pictures with sound effects. As you notice she is reading along, repeating what the magical ePEN is saying. This is helping her learn new vocabulary and allowing her to see pictures and match the words with them.

Comment By: Kristen Keaser I think this piece of technology can definitely be assistive in any classroom. It can help students with disabilities like dyslexia, as well as English Language Learners. I think this can also be used in a Kindergarten or first grade classroom where students are beginning to learn the fundamentals of reading; this may help them to learn how to read left to right and the return sweep.

Comment by Jackie Stipe I think the magical epen is good for any classroom and any student. I love that it knows the picture and words that it touches. This is great for ESL students or students that have issues reading. I personally would have this device in every special education classroom in an elementary school. A child could use this during a test if they are having problems reading the words, reading a book, doing homework or even something as simple as doing a worksheet in class. This is a technology that I would spend the money on to have in my home as well as my classroom.

Comment by Brittnee Munchel I think this technology is good for any child who is learning to read. I like that it reads the words for you and they can say the words they are having trouble with. I liked that it is in a shape of a pen which to children will be fun for them to use which will help them have fun reading. I would have this pen in every class because it can help every student.

media type="youtube" key="BAPYHdXCTQI" height="315" width="420"
 * Kayla Stauffer: DynaVox Tango!**

This video is of a boy named Eric who is nine years old. He has cerebral palsy and has trouble communicating verbally. The video shows Eric using the Tango made by DynaVox. Not only can he answer his tutor’s questions, he can also let her know how he’s feeling and let her know when he is tired of the activity. Eric is now able to communicate independently with his Tango device. You can also see the joy in his face as he makes statements to his tutor and answers questions.

The Tango by DynaVox is a communication device designed for children and young adults who have difficulty communicating verbally. The natural sounding voices help the device to be less like a communication device and act more as a communicator. The voice selections range from young child to young adult with both male and female voices to choose from. An adult can also record his/her voice and morph it to make it sound like a male or female child’s voice. Natural communication is encouraged with the ability to shout, whine, cry, and whisper messages. One fantastic feature of this product is that it has character cards, which can be switched out over the years, so the student can keep the same device. The wide array of voices, content, and symbols allow the student to mature with his/her language skills as he/she matures physically.

Tango uses Phrase-first language, which means there are symbols on the Tango that represent whole phrases instead of single words. This helps conversation to flow more naturally instead of having to press each word to build a sentence. The Tango has more than 2,000 phrases common phrases organized by topic for daily communication. It also has word banks that the student can build sentences with verbs, nouns, modifiers, and favorites organized in lists. The Tango even has a built in camera, which allows the user to take photos, organize the photos, and share them with friends and family. The device also has USB, Compact flash, and SD capabilities with even an option to use a keyboard.

After researching the Tango, I have found many parents who appreciate the compactness and accessibility of this device. The $6,799 price tag can be jaw-dropping, but in the world of communication devices, it is comparable to other communication devices. Medicare and insurance often pays for communication devices such as the Tango, so the cost is not entirely on the family. One parent made a tear-jerking statement, “Personally, I'd pay double the price. I'd sell my car and take the bus everywhere if it meant my daughter could play Candy Land with me (her favorite game now) or tell me goodnight and that she loves me. ” For people who have no physical voice, Tango is a great investment in a classroom to communicate ideas, thoughts, feelings, and answers to questions.

Comment by Faith Carter: This technology is really neat! It is a great way for these children to communicate their thoughts and feelings with others. It is also great in the classroom because it allows teachers to find out how well the students know the information, whether they need to slow down, and also lets them know if they need to clarify information. It made me chuckle when he was tired of learning, and pressed the button that said, “How much longer do I have to do this?” I liked that this device has many options of voices for the children to use. This is nice because it allows them to change the way that the device speaks, just like we can change the way we speak. This is a great tool to aid in communication!

media type="youtube" key="Vjh3UdwIC48" height="315" width="420" Bernadette Walsh: Springboard Lite

Springboard Lite, much like DynaVox, is a small communication device used by individuals who have difficulty speaking. It was designed for children, so it’s lightweight and easy to use. This device uses voice output to give users independence in communicating with people while increasing speech and language skills. It includes pre-programmed words and phrases which can be accessed through the touchscreen. You are also able to digitally record your own voice. To use this device, you simply look on the screen for an icon or image that represents what you want to say. You can have any amount of icons on the screen. It can be used in speech therapy or in everyday life. By pressing the buttons, users can make requests, answer questions, and even play songs. It also features activity pages that help with vocabulary. The visual images and icons help users relate the image to the words spoken when they push that button. Not only can users express their needs, but they can also interact socially with others around them and express their feelings. Because the device is lightweight, it can easily be carried around anywhere. You can also add a strap or carry it by the handle. I think this is a great device that looks easy enough for people of all ages to use. It encourages children to be independent, instead of having someone else speak for them. I think it would really help students in classrooms if they can use this to express how their feeling about a project, to ask for help if needed, and even to interact with their fellow peers. Although it can be expensive (around $2,600 each), it could have a big impact on a child’s life. To learn more, check out []

Ruth Costanzo Technology FM systems for hearing aids or cochlear implants media type="youtube" key="Oz9YRj7Ig6k" height="315" width="420" The Video I watched was about FM systems for hearing aids. It talked how the device allows Luis to hear his teacher more clearly because she wears what is called a transmitter which is basically a microphone that allows Luis to hear her through his FM receiver that is part of his hearing aid. Luis also has what is called an icom that allows him to listen to mp3 players of cell phones through his hearing aids. Luis is able to have his FM system through what is called the Patient Assistance Program because they run around 3,000 dollars. The thing that is really nice about FM systems is that the teachers voice stays at the same intensity level no matter where he or she is in the classroom. Along with that, the system allows the teachers voice to be heard more strongly over background noise; which could be a student shuffling papers near by or someone tapping a pencil. To learn more, check out the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website: []

Comment By: Allyson Ferraro this looks like a great source of technology to help children to better hear. The fact that a simple hearing aid has been so advanced that people have been able to discover how to make the system drown out background noise. The fact that it is able to be used through such a popular technology such as an ipod and cell phone amazes me and makes this technology that much more efficient in today’s society. Comment by Faith Carter: This technology looks to be very helpful to children with hearing impairments. I liked that it allows children to hear over background noise. It is unfortunate that they are so expensive and a shame that some students might not be able to get this device because they don’t have a way to pay for it. Finally, I think that it was neat that he could listen to an iPod through his hearing aids. That is a really cool feature because iPods are very popular these days, and it is nice that he doesn’t have to miss out on anything.

comment by: Hillary Schwartz So, I'm incredibly sorry I stole your video. You know it was not on purpose. Anyways... I love this video because its amazing how such a little device can help Luis hear everything that he needs in an everyday classroom setting. Your technology is awesome that it is so simple and can be carried around easily by the teacher. The only problem I can see is coming up with the funds to purchase the tool.

media type="youtube" key="sFrdYuSEZIU" height="315" width="420" The Reading Pen is a great tool for children just learning to read, children or even adults with dyslexia, and students that are not fluent in English yet. The Reading Pen allows a student to scan a word they do not know and the pen will say the word for them. The pen also has an LED screen that shows the word. This could help reinforce spelling, pronunciation, and recognition. The pen will give the child a definition of a word and has 250,000-650,000 (depending on the version) words programmed that have definitions and pronuciations. The Reading Pen can help increase fluency and text comprehension and can even be used at the college level to take notes and give definitions of unknown words in biology or math books. For ELL children, certain versions of the pen will translate a word for them so they can fully understand. The newest and most premium version (which costs $230) lets students actually practice new vocabulary words that they have learned. The Reading Pen does come in many different languages and is a great tool to have in a classroom. If teachers even have just a few of these pens at maybe a center, he or she can have more challenging books at that center and children can use the Reading Pen to help them. In addition, there are some words that are more difficult for dyslexic students than others, and in this situation, the Reading Pen could be of great use because not only will they hear the word, they will also hear the definition and will make a correspondence between the two. Lastly, for deaf children, if they read a word they do not understand, instead of having to use sign language or ask and aid, they can use the Reading Pen. While they will not hear it, they will see the definition on the screen. For more information on all the different types of Reading Pens from Wizcom, go to [].
 * Kristina Runyeon**
 * Wizcom Reading Pens**

Comment by Stephanie Latschar: I think the Reading Pen is a great technology that could benefit a lot of students who struggle with certain facets of reading. I appreciated the fact that the teacher noted how the pen was not a crutch for her students, but actually pushed them to work harder than before. I believe this is a crucial point, because assistive technology is meant to assist the student and their needs, not complete their work for them. These Reading Pens would be great to have for every student in the class, however, at the price they are I doubt that most schools could afford to provide them for an entire class. I really like learning about this technology because I can see that it would have great benefits for all readers. Everyone comes across words they don’t know when they are reading, not just struggling readers. I also like the fact that the pen can talk to the student as well as display text for the student to read. This makes the pen versatile for all different types of learners.

Comment by Joelle Martin:

I agree with Stephanie, the pen is not supposed to be a crutch for the students. It should help them reinforce the readings and help them understand words that otherwise students would have to ask the teacher for help. It would be very useful to have one of these pens in the classroom especially when the teacher was busy with a small group or helping individual students. Instead of interrupting, the students themselves could be proactive in getting the answers of how the word is pronounced and defined. Just one of these reading pens can act as a teacher aid and benefit struggling students. I love how the pen can also help ELL students because there is such a need for assistive technology because the growing number of Spanish speaking children. Also the video states how students with disabilities can benefit from the pen, like for example a child who is deaf. I observed in a classroom with a student that was deaf and it would have been very useful to have this pen so that instead of having to sign to his interpreter, he could just use the pen to read the definition of the word.

Comment by Kerri Humbert: I saw this used by two students in a class I observed last year. The one student was using it as a story telling device because he didn't feel like reading the story. I could hear the other girl attempting a word and only using the pen to check her understanding or as a last resort. It can be helpful with students who truly want to learn and truly want the help. Comment by: Gabrielle Larson I had heard of this technology before, but only as a study tool or technique. It was surprising to me to realize that this instrument would also be very conducive to integration into a classroom, where students who have reading disabilities, such as dyslexia or visual impairments, would also be prime candidates to take advantage of this “reading pen”.

media type="youtube" key="J5nviwgNUas" height="315" width="560" Brittany Rohrer: Braille Notetaker

The Braille Notetaker is a device for someone who is blind, and it is a great tool for a classroom setting. This assistive technology has different variations of the same device; it can range from a general version to a more advanced version. A student is able to use this device for taking notes as well as for other uses. The different devices that it can include are pocket word, excel, the ability to use internet explorer, a braille translator, software for email, and instant messenger. The Braille Notetaker has a braille keyboard and refreshable braille displays for the student using the device. It is used like a keyboard for a computer screen and functions in a similar way, but does not have the different letter keys, and instead has braille keys. A user is also able to save information in a calendar, or in contacts, and can also have access to a calculator with this technology. The device also has many different ports that are helpful in the communication process. It has usb ports, serial ports, Bluetooth and others. It is also compatible with Daisy access. This is a great tool for students to be independent in their note taking and even in their online access.

Comment by Faith Carter: I like this technology and it is amazing that it has all of those different programs available. These programs (Excel, Internet Explorer, Word, Email) are used very often in school and it is nice that students who are blind are able to use these programs as well. I also thought it was neat that there are some with music players (both mp3 and radio) because some children work better with music playing in the background. I also thought it was smart for them to have the feature of a USB port.

media type="youtube" key="LLZ9oZvlnLo" height="315" width="560" Pamela Rieder: eType Word Prediction

eType Word Prediction software can be a very useful tool for children with special needs in the classroom. The program is simple and free. Basically, the student begins typing and after three letters, the software provides suggestions for what it thinks they are trying to type. If the child sees it on the list, they can either click on the word, or arrow down to the word and hit enter. For children with limited motor skills, or limited hand use, this software helps them to do minimal typing but still be able to write papers or things like that. This program is endorsed by the Easter Seals program as a program that is great for people with various disabilities, especially Cerebral Palsy. As you work with the program, it begins to remember words that you use frequently and makes them a top choice. The best parts about this program is that it is free, therefore a teacher can use it without going out of their budget, and it integrates children with special needs into typing exercises and can help them with homework and projects.

Comment by Amanda Henry I think that this is a very beneficial software for students that have limited access to other technologies. Though some students have a disability or a difficult time performing a specific task, eType Word Prediction makes the task a little bit easier. I have an iPhone and you can spell out a few letters and it makes a suggestion as to what word it thinks you are trying to type. Even though I do not have a disability, it is still helpful and it makes me see how this technology for students with disabilities is useful. Since they may have limited gross or find motor skills, this would definitely be something to consider using.

Comment by Kerri Humbert This is great for beginner writers and readers. As teachers we always tell them to sound out what they are trying to spell but sometimes they are just a little off. Also if there a words they frequently misspell it is helpful to see the word over and over until eventually they won't need the extra help.

Comment by: Gabrielle Larson I think that this software is a great idea to allow students with physical limitations to use keyboards more easily. I am concerned, however, that users may become frustrated if they do not see their word on the list. The other flaw that I see in this technology is that, if a student is typing a familiar word that is four letters, the software begins to guess words after the third letter is entered. If the student sees their intended word on the list, they must use the arrow keys to select that word from the list and the push the “Enter” key when they’ve found the desired word. With this process, the number of keystrokes need from the typist remains the same or can even increase, which could be counterproductive.

Comment by: Bernadette Walsh I think this software can be very helpful to students of all ages, with or without disabilities. I like that it is free and easy to use. This is a program that could be used in any classroom since computers are seen almost everywhere and typing skills can be difficult to aquire. This program will save students the time and trouble of typing long words or phrases that they are unfamiliar with. I also like that you can change the suggestions to show up after one or two letters instead of just three. Being able to control this and being able to arrow down the list of words makes this program very simple. media type="youtube" key="h9hdMJmAZ5Q" height="315" width="560"
 * Technology: IntelliKeys**
 * Nicole Guy**

This video goes over the technology IntelliKeys USB which is an alternative keyboard that can be used by children with cerebral palsy. This keyboard was hooked up to various overlays and shows how this substitute keyboard can be used in the classroom to help aid her in the classroom. IntelliKeys is not only a keyboard for children with cerebral palsy but can also be used for any student with a physical disability. Since IntelliKeys offers a wide range of overlays students who struggle with different areas in school including, range of motion, fine motor skills, pre-reading, low vision, and English language learning can also benefit from this tool. IntelliKeys is very easy to install and has a lot of adjustments including, repeat rate for keys, rate of mouse movement, and adjustments to touch sensitivity of the keyboard surface. Along with being able to create your own overlays that apply to your classroom IntelliKey comes with pre-made overlays including, alphabet, math, QWERTY, web, basic writing, and mouse overlays.

Comment by Stephanie Latschar: This video was amazing to watch. It was very obvious that Nicole was very happy to be using her IntelliKeys keyboard. I like how the keyboard could be customized for the individual situation that the teacher wanted. I also liked how much the keyboard allowed Nicole to do. Without this device, Nicole would not be able to achieve nearly as much as she did with the help of the keyboard. This would be great technology to have and use with students who have a wide range of disabilities. It looks like this technology could take a long time to learn for the teacher and student, but I am sure the rewards are worth the time that would be put into it. It seems like there are many different subjects that this device could be used to teach. I am very interested in this technology and would love to know more about how it is implemented into daily classroom use.

Comment by Kayla Stauffer: The thing that impressed me the most about this piece of assistive technology was the ability to create different layouts. This allows teachers to be flexible and teach whatever they need to teach without limitations. The e-mail that we watched Nicole send was set up to help her learn format as well as communicate with a friend. She was able to choose what she wanted to say, but wasn’t given an overwhelming amount of options. I also like that this technology can be used for students with a range of disabilities. A school could invest in this technology and have numerous students with various disabilities benefiting from it. It can be used to teach a lot of subjects and it seems like a very valuable piece of assistive technology.

Comment by: Brittany Rohrer Wow, this is a great tool. I have never heard of anything like this before. The different keyboards are excellent because they are able to be changed and modified. They also help to make the options easier and easy to use. The color coding for the different options on the screen and keyboard is also helpful in distinguishing the different choices. Nicole was able to to things that otherwise would be impossible. It seems like a very useful piece of technology.

Alexicom -- Jenna Kopf media type="youtube" key="-1FUtCzfuRA" height="315" width="420" For my assistive technology I chose Alexicom Tech. This technology allows children to communicate in ways other than speaking. In the video I found, a young boy is learning how to use Alexicom. He seems to have difficulty speaking and is using the technology to answer questions to a book he is reading. I believe this is one of the first times he is using it so a teacher is helping him get used to the program. It is a short video, but it demonstrates how Alexicom can be useful in a classroom if a child is struggling with speech or cannot speak. The technology uses pictures for the child to select on a touch screen and then says the word aloud when pressed. I also saw videos of this being used on an iPad and a smart board. This would be very beneficial with Autistic, Mentally Retarded, or Hearing Impaired students. Benefits listed on Alexicom Tech website include improving socialization, performance at school, and better feelings of self-worth. You could use this software in a classroom to allow students to tell and create their own story, have them answer questions, or allow them to simply communicate their feelings, opinions, and needs. Alexicom is offered for free or you can buy it and have more features.. Some of the features that are free include creating speaking pages that never expire, text to speech, camera image acquisition, and the ability to change the voice/pitch. Some of the paid features include different languages and more pre-made pages of words and images. One feature that I liked and believe is free, is the ability to upload your own images which I think would be a great way to make the technology more personable to the child. The only downfall to this assistive technology that I found is that you have to be connected to the internet to use it. So if for some reason your school doesn't have Wifi and you wanted to use it on an iPad, you wouldn't be able to. Overall, I think this would be a great assistive technology to use in the classroom because it allows all students to participate and have their say even if they cannot vocalize it. Comment by: Gabrielle Larson I think that this technology is great for individual or small group usage; however, I don’t think that using this particular technology in a large group would be the best way to take advantage of this benefits, only because, in an integrated classroom, the students may just prefer to push the buttons on the big screen rather than using the animated voice to construct sentences and allow for increased communication.

References

[] []Comment by Kerri HumbertI worked with a little boy at camp who had a device similar to this. He got excited because he was communicating with everyone so that they could understand him. This is better than signing because not many people know sign language and not being understood has to be the worst feeling. This also makes inclusion more possible.