Transcript Slide 1

Developed by:
1023 South U.S. 27 • St. Johns, MI • 48879
Phone: 800.274.7426 • Fax: 989.224.0330
TTY: 989.224.0246 • E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.cenmi.org/matr
Michigan’s Assistive
Technology Resource
1.
The overall purpose of MATR is to provide information
services, support materials, technical assistance, and
training to local and intermediate school districts in
Michigan to increase their capacity to address the
assistive technology needs of students with
disabilities.
2.
MATR’s Web site is: www.cenmi.org/matr/
3.
Services to schools are FREE and include:
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Support to IEP team members during the process
of considering AT.
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Equipment loan program to schools for trials of AT.
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Software loan library for parents and school
personnel.
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Training/inservice - inservice workshops,
intensive trainings, and development of training
materials.
This document was produced and distributed through an IDEA
Mandated Activities Project for Michigan’s Assistive Technology
Resource awarded by the Michigan Department of Education. The
opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or
policy of the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan State
Board of Education, or the U.S. Department of Education, and no
endorsement is inferred. This document is in the public domain and
may be copied for further distribution when proper credit is given.
For further information or inquiries about this project, contact the
Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and
Early Intervention Services, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, Michigan
48909.
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW
The Michigan Department of Education complies with all Federal laws and regulations
prohibiting discrimination, and with all requirements of the U.S. Department of Education.
Compliance with Title IX
What Title IX is: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is the landmark federal law that bans
sex discrimination in schools, whether it is in curricular, extra-curricular, or athletic activities.
Title IX states: “No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or
denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity
receiving federal aid.”
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is in compliance with Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. (Title IX), and its implementing regulation,
at 34 C.F.R. Part 106, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. The MDE, as a recipient of federal
financial assistance from the United States Department of Education (USDOE), is subject to the
provisions of Title IX. MDE does not discriminate based on gender in employment or in any
educational program or activity that it operates.
The designated individual at the Michigan Department of Education for inquiries and complaints
regarding Title IX is:
Ms. Roberta E. Stanley
Director
Office of Administrative Law and Federal Relations
Michigan Department of Education
Hannah Building
608 West Allegan
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: 517.335.0436
E-Mail: [email protected]
1023 South U.S. 27
St. Johns, MI 48879
Phone: 800.274.7426
Fax: 989.224.0330
TTY: 989.224.0246
[email protected]
www.cenmi.org/matr
Keys to Success:
Assistive Technology for
Reading
Objectives
• Define Assistive Technology.
• Identify persons who could benefit from
supports for reading.
• Define access to text, adaptation of text,
and copyright protections.
• Gain knowledge of assistive technology
continuum of reading supports.
• Define Universal Design for Learning.
What is Assistive
Technology?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act IDEA ‘97 (Public Law 105-17) mandates
the provision of assistive technology and
offers clear definitions of assistive
technology devices and services.
Legal Definition
Assistive Technology Device
Any item, piece of equipment or product system,
whether acquired commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve the functional capabilities
of children with disabilities. (Section 300.5)
Legal Definition
Assistive Technology Service
Any service that directly assists an individual with a
disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an
assistive technology device. (Section 300.5)
• Evaluating
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Providing devices
Selecting, Designing, Customizing
Maintaining, Repairing
Coordinating
Training/Technical Assistance – student,
family, and school service providers
IDEA Facts
• Schools are required to provide AT at no cost
to the parents if it is needed for a student to
receive a free appropriate education.
• The IEP team is responsible for determining
whether a child requires assistive technology
to benefit from their educational program.
• IDEA ‘97 requires IEP teams to consider the
assistive technology needs of students during
the development of an IEP.
What is Universal Design
for Learning?
(UDL)
Universal Design
for Learning
(UDL)
The central practical premise of UDL is that a
curriculum should include alternatives to make
it accessible and appropriate for individuals
with different backgrounds, learning styles,
abilities, and disabilities in widely varied
learning contexts.
Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), 2003
UDL
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Teacher adjustments for learner differences
should occur for all students, not just those
with disabilities.
Curriculum materials should be varied and
diverse including digital and online resources,
rather than centering on a single textbook.
Instead of remediation for students so that
they can learn from a set curriculum, the
curriculum should be made flexible to
accommodate for learner differences.
Assistive Technology
increases reading
accessibility for diverse
learners.
"The more you read, the more things
you will know. The more that you
learn, the more places you'll go."
Dr. Seuss
Students with a variety of
disabilities and learning styles
may benefit from reading
supports.
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LD or Dyslexic
ADHD or ADD
Cognitive impairments
Auditory learners
Blind or low vision
Poor vision - field cuts, etc.
Students considered “at risk”
Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology is a continuum of tools,
strategies, and services used to support student
success and participation.
Explore possible solutions needed to meet reading goals:
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No/Low-Tech Tools
Mid-Tech Tools
Color coding
• Books on tape
Highlighters
• Tape recorders
Slanted surfaces
• Talking spell checkers,
Reading and
dictionaries
writing guides
Enlarged worksheets
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High-Tech Tools
Text/screen readers
Electronic books
MP3 players
CD Players
Handhelds (palms
and pocket PDAs)
No-Tech
Low-Tech
Options for Reading Support
Always begin with no- and low-tech
options as they:
• Reinforce least restrictive
options.
• Are simple to use and acquire.
• Are more readily accepted by
student, family, and peers.
Consider these options as a backup for mid- or
high-tech options.
Examples of
No-Tech and Low-Tech Options
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Increased light
Slant board
Desk top magnifiers
Magnifying rulers
Page fluffers
Sticky Notes
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Color coded
highlighter tape,
markers, flags, etc.
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Reading guides
Plastic covered
transparencies
Low-Tech Reading Support
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Adaptations for Printed Material
• Large print books
• Picture/symbol
support
• Simplify text
• Highlight words
Mid-Tech
Options for Reading Support
Consider mid-tech options for
increased support:
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Digital recorders
Talking dictionary and thesaurus
Auditory organizers
Talking calculators
Reading Pen
Books in electronic media format
Portable Mid-Tech
Learning Tools
High-Tech
Options for Reading Support
High-Tech Options for Reading Support
• Digital – creation, storage, and
production
• Electronic text (e-text )
• Text Reader software
• Screen Reader software
• PDA-Pocket PC or Palm
• MP3 and WAV file format
• MP3 and CD player
Electronic Text
Text that is in a form that a computer can store
or display on a computer screen. This can also
include PDAs, cell phone, AAC devices.
Examples of electronic text are:
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Word documents
Online newspapers
Web sites
e-mail
e-books/libraries
How can electronic text
support reading?
• Display and content can be separated;
content stays the same but the display can
be manipulated to accommodate various
reading/learning styles.
• Multimedia approaches to reading allow the
reader to hear and see the text at the same
time.
Where to Find E-Text
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Many publishers are making their textbooks available
in digital format, check for availability.
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Keyword search online for e-text by author, title, or
genre.
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Newspapers are available in electronic form. Sections
can be downloaded or read directly from the
computer by a text reader.
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Create e-text by scanning work sheets or books pages
into a computer using specialized software and
hardware.
Adaptations for Computer-Based Reading
• Lower screen resolution of the computer’s
display to increase the size of the icons, etc.
• Block/chunk text into smaller sections
• Change background or font color
• Increase spacing between sentences and
words
Adaptations for Computer-Based Reading
• Increase font size
• Add voice notes or comments
• Highlight text
• Summarize documents with auto
summarize feature
Text Readers vs. Screen Readers
Specialized software, called Text Readers and
Screen Readers use voice synthesis to create spoken
audio from text. Sometimes referred to as text to
speech technology.
• Text Reader: allows for visual enhancements (size,
color, visual tracking, and speech output
modifications. Some programs require text to be
selected).
• Screen Reader: allows for speech output
modifications, provides Braille output. Reads
everything on the screen including active windows
(like web pages).
Text Reader Software Packages
With scanning feature
Allows printed material to be scanned
into the computer to create digital text
Without scanning feature
Reads only existing digital text
Text Reader Programs with Scanning
• Scan and Read/Scan and Read Pro (Premier
Assistive Technology)
• Read & Write Gold (textHELP Systems Ltd)
• Kurzweil (Kurzweil Educational Systems)
• Wynn (Freedom Scientific)
Text Reader Programs
without Scanning
• Text Aloud (NextUptech.com)
• Text Assist (Mindmaker)
• Universal Reader (Premier Assistive
Technology)
Screen Reader Programs
without Scanning
• Jaws (Freedom Scientific)
• Window Eyes (GW Micro)
• HAL (Dolphin)
Screen Reader Programs
with Scanning
• Openbook (Freedom Scientific)
• Kurzweil 1000 (Kurzweil
Educational Systems)
Test Taking Software Features
• Test sheets can be scanned into a word
processor and read aloud.
• With the use of a software program,
the original text can be locked and
answer blanks inserted.
• Students can manipulate the display
for their unique needs and complete
the test independently.
Test Taking Software
• IntelliTalk II or 3- IntelliTools
• TestTalker- Freedom Scientific
• Kurzweil 3000- Kurzweil Educational
Systems
Converting Text to Audio
With the use of specialized software, text that is
scanned into or already on the computer can be
converted to an audio, .WAV or .MP3 file.
It can then be written/burned onto a CD or loaded
onto an MP3 player.
Software
• Text to Audio (Premier Assistive Technology)
• Read and Write Gold (textHELP)
MP3 Players Using CDs
Examples of MP3 Players
PDAs with MP3 Capability
Copyright Law
Implications for Assistive Technology
Reading Support
Implications for Assistive Technology
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Some students with disabilities may
require access to electronic or
reformatted text.
It may be necessary to reproduce
copyrighted work from the original into
different formats so it can be accessed
by individuals who are blind or have
other disabilities.
This would be considered infringement
but Copyright Law has made an
exception.
Exceptions to the Copyright Law
Law PL 104-197 allows reproduction and
distribution of copies or phonorecords, by an
authorized entity of non dramatic literary
works in specialized formats, exclusively for
use by blind or individuals with disabilities.
Blind or Other Persons with Disabilities…
…is defined as individuals who qualify under,
“An ACT to provide books for the adult blind,”
to receive books or other publications
produced in specialized formats.
(2U.S.C. 135a; 46Stat.1487, March 3, 1931)
Authorized Entities
Nonprofit organizations or governmental
agencies whose primary mission is to provide
specialized services relating to training,
education, adaptive reading, or the
information access needs of blind or other
persons with disabilities.
(Chapter I of Title 17, United States Code)
Specialized Formats
Listed below are examples of specialized formats
considered under the Copyright Law for nonprofit
organizations:
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Braille
Audio
Electronic Text
E-Text Web Sites
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www.etext.org
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www.ipl.org
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www.kidpub.org/kidpub
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www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresources
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www.cast.org
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www.promo.net/pg (project Gutenberg)
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www.bookshare.org
More E-Text Web Sites
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www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites
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www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown
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www.elibrary.com
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http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/english.
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www.candlelightstories.net
Resources
Local
• AT Contact
National
Regional
State
• MATR
• MACUL
• TAM/CEC
• CTG
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ATA
CSUN
WATI
RESNA
UCP
AER
ASHA
AOTA
Resources
MATR (Michigan’s Assistive Technology Resource)
http://www.cenmi.org/matr
TAM/CEC (Technology & Media Division of the Council for Exceptional
Children) http://www.tamcec.org/
MACUL (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning)
http://macul.org/
Closing The Gap http://closingthegap.com/
ATA (Alliance for Technology Access) http://www.ataccess.org/
CSUN (California State University Northridge) http://www.csun.edu/
RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North
America) http://www.resna.org/
WATI (Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative) http://www.wati.org/
ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association) http://asha.org/
AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) http://www.aota.org/
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy Association) http://www.ucpa.org/
AER (Association for Education and Rehabilitation for Blind and Visually
Impaired) http://www.aerbvi.org/
Joy Zabala, Assistive Technology Consultant http://www.joyzabala.com
Assistive Technology –
A LIFE TOOL!
THANK YOU