Computer Access For Older Americans

New Software improves computer access for olderAmerican
Product Spotlight

In reflecting on the interview with Richard, there were many things to consider. Richard was concerned that he had lost the ability to read efficiently without tiring his eyes. He was also very insecure about the fact that he could not recognize faces in his social settings, and that individuals would think that he had some sort of stroke or disorder. His life had been significantly impacted by his macular degeneration. In considering all of these facts, I came across an article that highlighted the efforts of an elderly man from south Florida in his attempts to advocate for aging americans that were affected not only by macular degeneration, but also cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. This gentleman was himself suffering from macular degeneration, and was experiencing its negative impacts on his life.

The gentleman, 76-year-old Aaron Beckwith, spends much of his time scouting out new products and technologies for those senior citizens with visual impairments. One particular product that is highlighted in the article is the BigShot Magnifier-introduced by Ai Squared. The BigShot Magnifier is for use on a computer screen, and operates like a virtual magnifying glass. It provides 20 adjustable levels of enlartement, from 105 to 200 percent. Another plus-this product is available at an introductory price of under $100.

In going back to Richard, I think that a product like this could be very beneficial. I know that I am taking a leap in assuming that Richard would have access to a computer, but I feel that having this type of technology at his disposal would be of benefit. It would take some training, just as other products, but as concerned as Richard is with losing a lot of his "social" connections-maybe this could offer a different outlet to the otuside world.

Another reason that I enjoyed this article, was that I felt that it would be inspirational for someone like Richard. It is always encouraging to hear that there are advocates out there working for a good cause. It puts recognition on macular degeneration and other visual impairments that affect aging adults, and gives them a voice.

If you are interested in the full article, the title link above should direct you there.

In watching the simulated interview between Crystal and Richard, I learned a lot about interview techniques, integrating appropriate questions, and using the COPM in an effective way. I feel that the activity was a good demonstration of integrating different models of assessment.

The Writing Process

Scaffolding the Writing Process: How do I move my students from non-writers to independent writers?

As I began to dive into an article search for my first blog review, I quickly became overwhelmed by all of the options. So many great articles and topics! At that point I stopped myself, and truly thought about what I wanted to explore in more depth. What did I experience on a daily basis with the students that I work with? The answer came fairly quickly-difficulty with the writing process!

When you really stop to think about it, writing truly is a complex process, most especially for those individuals with physical and/or learning challenges. It is not only a cognitive skill, but a fine motor challenge as well. It is easy to see why a pencil is not a realistic option for many students, but what about a computer? Very often, the accommodation for a student with written expression difficulty is to omit a lot of the paper and pencil tasks, and assign them to a "computer". Ok, taking a student and putting them in front of a computer for their writing task and expecting great outcomes is not going to happen for every individual. I've tried. And failed. You now have an issue of integrating spelling, typing, and the complex process of putting words together to demonstrate ideas. In those moments, I always felt as though I was jumping from one sinking ship to another.

I enjoyed this article, as it presented a review of scaffolding the writing process to move a child with learning, cognitive, or physical disabilities from being a non-writer to a successful, independent writer-with a little help from assistive technology. On an interesting note, as I read through the article, the topic shifted primarily to literacy and reading skills and it's role in the writing process. Students will not be successful writers if they cannot read. The article reviews the new Classroom Suite 4 software, and the many advantages it holds in addressing this challenge we are faced with as educators and professionals in this field. Classroom Suite 4 contains dozens of templates that directly address the key components of reading instruction to include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The theory is that this will build a solid foundation for students to be able to recognize sounds and syllables, thus developing the ability to connect sounds with letters and to form letters into words.

Classroom Suite 4 also provides a variety of writing templates, that provide the scaffolding necessary to build writing skills. Students are able to experience activities for sentence buliding, vocabulary building, and errorless writing. Students start with putting pictures together in order to build their sentences. Each picture will be read aloud when the student simply glides the mouse over it. There are many features of this program that build upon these skills. There is built-in word prediction. Teachers can add word banks to promote writing fluency. As students progress, so do the leveled templates. Each guides and supports the writing process.

Another great feature of this particular software that the article reviewed was it's accessibility to all learners. Classroom Suite 4 is compatible with the IntelliKeys keyboard or IntelliSwitch-which is a wonderful alternative to the standard keyboard.

The writing process is very complex and poses many challenges to many students. It is encouraging to see products designed to help build these skills. The only possible disadvangage: cost.

Hello and Happy New Year!

My name is Laura and I live just outside of Wilmington, North Carolina. I am a special education resource teacher, serving grades k-2. I love working with this age group (and younger), as I am a big believer in early intervention! I am enjoying learning about and exploring all of the possibilities assistive technology brings to my field.

When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, boating, reading, reality television (sad but true), and traveling. I am married and have a ten year old daughter. She keeps me very busy as well! As a family, we are active in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last year. Research continues to look very promising!

I look forward to working with everyone this semester.