The Case Against AT

This post is a guest post, which I was asked to write for Don Johnston's blog.  Please take a moment to watch the video and share!  We need to get this information out there!


Patrick


When I was contacted by Don Johnston to write this post, I really wasn't sure what to say...I mean I'm a classroom teacher, who writes a moderately popular blog, and participate in discussions on an email list, why is my opinion important?  Then I watched the video "The Cast Against AT" and realized I'm exactly the person who needs to see it and talk about it.  As "just" a teacher I know the struggles that children with cognitive and physical disabilities face every day.  I've seen first hand how a piece of technology can change a student, allowing them to communicate and participate.

"For students without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For students with disabilities, technology makes things possible." --M.P. Radabaugh

This quote really says everything for me, students with disabilities get more possibilities with technology.  That can be a PECS book, a laptop computer with text-to-speech, or a speech generating device.  Technology is not a crutch to students with disabilities, it is a way to help them be more successful in their life.  Why allow a student to fall behind and try and catch them up, why not help them be successful the first time.  We have the ability, let's take it!  Please take a moment today and share this video with a colleague, we can all make a difference!

Patrick

Patrick Black has been a special education teacher for 10 years and currently teaches students with significant cognitive disabilities in a self-contained classroom in Mt. Prospect, IL, focusing on children with autism and significant cognitive disabilities. He is a "geek" who loves to share all things technology. Over the years, he's integrated technology into the classroom to assist with communication, cognition, and socialization. You can also find Patrick at his blog, Teaching All Students.  You can also follow him on Twitter - @teachntech00 or the Teaching All Students fan page on Facebook.


Share this
Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful? Please forward it to them. Did somebody forward this post to you? Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free. If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers

Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• YouTube - The Case Against Assistive Technology

  tags: assistive technology AT assistivetechnology donjohnston education communication watch video

• What you didn’t hear on Oprah yesterday (Part I) « Failing Schools

  tags: didn’t hear oprah schools education teachers teaching

• What you didn’t hear on Oprah yesterday (Part II) « Failing Schools

  tags: didn’t hear oprah schools education teachers teaching

• A Case for Consultation | ASHAsphere

  tags: case consultation christopherbugaj attipscast asha ashasphere speech slp education

• Official Google Blog: Three million businesses have gone Google: celebrating growth, innovation and security

  tags: blog google official googledocs googleapps editing iphone ipad ipodtouch android education mobile mobiledevices

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

#spedchat

For those of you who use Twitter there is a great new resource for special education teachers.  #spedchat has been started to discuss those issues of special education, assistive technology, and other issues.  You can follow #spedchat by following the hashtag #spedchat every Tuesday evening at 8:30 pm EST.   Also, you can follow links from the hashtag #spedchat at #spedchat daily.

Patrick


Share this
Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful? Please forward it to them. Did somebody forward this post to you? Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free. If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers

Speech as Consultation

Recently a fellow blogger/podcaster, Chris Bugaj - A.T.Tipscast wrote a piece for ASHA about speech services - A Case for Consultation.  In this country the majority of students who receive speech services receive direct service.  Chris challenges this notion, saying that maybe we should consider a new model.  Chris suggests that SLP's can be trainers of staff to better facilitate students communication.  As a classroom teacher I know that 80% of my job is working on communication, having the support & training of an SLP for myself and my instructional assistants would be amazing.  I'd be interested to hear if there are many SLP's doing this?  Does anyone use this model currently?

ASHA Sphere - A Case for Consultation

Patrick


Share this
Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful?  Please forward it to them.  Did somebody forward this post to you?  Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free.  If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers

Nominate a Family for a trip to Morgan's Wonderland!

PCI Education is sponsoring a contest for teachers, students and their parents.  They are offering the winner a trip to Morgan's Wonderland - a full accessible family fun park.  Also, 5 teachers will win free educational products from PCI education.  Check out the details below:

Morgan’s Wonderland, PCI Education and WeAreTeachers announce the launch of a back-to-school contest for special education teachers and their students.  Teachers can nominate a student and his or her family for a chance to win a free trip to Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra accessible family fun park.  

Located in San Antonio, Morgan’s Wonderland is a 25-acre park designed specifically for children and adults with special needs.  The park is completely wheelchair-accessible, and features more than 25 elements and attractions, including rides, playgrounds, gardens, and an eight-acre fishing lake.  Morgan’s Wonderland is a unique oasis that allows people of all abilities to play, learn and share life-changing experiences together in a fun and safe environment.

In addition, the five teachers with the most votes for their nomination will receive free educational products from PCI Education.  A panel will select the family finalist to receive the free trip approximately valued at $5,000.  Online nominations will be accepted until Oct. 1.  For more information, visit www.pcieducation.com/mwpark.  


Patrick

Share this
Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful? Please forward it to them. Did somebody forward this post to you? Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free. If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers

Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• Templates

  tags: AT templates free education tools ideas

• Google Scribe

  tags: google autocomplete scribe tools writing web2.0 education free UDL

• Harnessing the Power of the Internet for Children with Special Needs :: Home

  tags: internet education specialneeds children parents connecting appointments blog communication

• iTouch for Special Needs [licensed for non-commercial use only] / iTouch for Special Needs

  tags: itouch special needs apps iphone ipod ipad sped education specialeducation wiki

• Joy Zabala SETT Framework

  tags: sett zabala joy joyzabala education AT SPED specialeducation UDL QIAT AIM CAST

• Assistive Technology, Accessible Technology, disability, blind, visually impaired, screeen reader, magnification

  tags: education technology AT accessible assistivetech podcast ipod

• Special Education Apps

  tags: apps education special ipad ipod iphone sped specialeducation

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

#AppMonday - Animoto App

With the update of the iPod Touch just released (Apple iPod Touch), I thought that today's #AppMonday pick is perfect.  Animoto is a web2.0 site for video creation.  Using pictures from your computer and music too you can create a very professional looking video slideshow in under 10 minutes!  Check out my review of it here:  Animoto.

The Animoto iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad app is available only for those devices that are running iOS 4.0, but those that do have a great amount they can do with it.  The first option is to watch videos that you have created online, on your iDevice, you can even download the videos to watch them when not connected to the internet.  You can also use your iDevice to create a new video.  Using photos & music already on your iDevice you can make a video of up to 30 seconds for free accounts, any length for educator accounts.

The update to the iPod Touch is exciting because now students can take photos of a trip, around school, or a project, and use those photos to create an Animoto video.  Just imagine to possibilities available!  I've always felt that iDevices have been great ways to consume content, but lacked a way to effectively create it.  The Animoto app is one app that bridges that gap.

Animoto is a free app from the iTunes store, and integrates with your free or educator account.

Patrick


Share this
Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful? Please forward it to them. Did somebody forward this post to you? Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free. If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers

Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• MyNoteit - An online note taking tool for students - Annotated

  tags: education web2.0 productivity learning notes tools organization notetaking

  • Take, edit and share notes online

    • Take and store your notes online.
    • Edit and revise notes with peers.
    • Look-up and define words with your Workspace Utilities.

  • Easily search and share notes

    • Search and bookmark notes.
    • Share notes with your friends and groups.

  • Manage tasks with your to-do list

    • Keep track of what you have to do, and what you've done.
    • Never forget about homework or a quiz.

  • Don't forget anything with your calendar

    • Advanced calendar for easy assignment management

  • Stay in the loop with class groups

    • Share notes and assignments with everybody in your class.
    • Post questions on the message board.

• BBC - Schools - Dance Mat Typing - Home

  tags: typing keyboarding education tutorial kids interactive elementary fun

• Hamster 100% Free Video converter with video player | Supports Any Video Formats & Easy-to-Use!

  tags: converter free hamster flv video windowsonly windows files education

• Pie chart Colors - PIECOLOR

  tags: charts graphs Tools chart web2.0 generator graph color education

• iWork.com - Presentation 2

  tags: iwork ipossibilities ipad apps students education assistive technology

• iWork.com - iPossibilities copy

  tags: iwork ipossibilities ipad apps students education assistive technology

• iWork.com - iPossibilities

  tags: iwork ipossibilities ipad apps students blog education assistive technology AAC tools web2.0

• iPad Apps for Instructors & Students

  tags: ipad apps students blog education free easy university professors RSS

• The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness: Tutorials

  tags: technology Tutorials blog easy web2.0 education free prezi wordle wallwisher animoto twitter rss diigo glogster youtube

• SMARTInclusion - home

  tags: education smartinclusion wiki SMARTBoard how-to UDL DI differentiated

• Match aPhoto – The memory game you play with your photos! for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

  tags: education fun iphone ipad ipodtouch app matching easy photos

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

iPod Touch updates

Apple recently announced that they would be updating their line of iPod Touches, Shuffles & Nanos.  They've shrunk some devices (Nano), added back buttons (Shuffle), and updated the iPod Touch so it is truly an iPhone without the phone.

The iPod Touch might not be the most radical update (see the Nano), but I think it's the most significant. The iPod Touch will come come standard with 2 cameras, front and back, which will allow it to use Facetime, as well as take video & photos.  This will exponentially increase the usability of apps like iCommunicate, Proloquo2go, First/Then Schedules, iPrompts & Animoto (see why on Monday!), by allowing users to instantly add photos, usually from inside the app.

They have also upgraded the display, the processor & battery life (40 hours for music playback, 7 hours for video) Apple is selling the 8GB iPod Touch for $229, 32GB for $299, & 64GB for $399.

Patrick


Share this
Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful? Please forward it to them. Did somebody forward this post to you? Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free. If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers

Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• Fifth Grade Math Resources

  tags: resources everydaymath ELEMENTARY math education smartboard grade

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.