RocketKeys New AAC APP

MyVoice has just launched RocketKeys a new AAC application which allows the user to develop their own unique keyboard. It includes many of the common features in typing programs including word prediction. They analyzed phrases and words used on twitter to make this app more user friendly. It has a number of other unique features as well and supports up to 7 different users on the iPad. I was not able to see if their was a lite edition to try it out. This would be important as it starts at a hefty price of $159 which is similar to the price of TouchChat but still lower than other AAC applications.

Take a look at their website for more information: RocketKeys/MyVoice

Is providing assistive technology and unfair advantage?

Assistive technology is not a new concept. It came to the forefront in our primary federal special education law - IDEA as well as the civil rights statute - the Rehabilitation Act (section 504). Later came the Tech Act which reinforced all of this. In spite of all of the legislative support for the use of assistive technologies (low and high tech), there remains a culture which views these types of support as an unfair advantage. 

IDEA 2004 defines assistive technology as:

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. 

When used correctly, it provides the necessary access to those activities each of us takes for granted. It does not always have to cost a lot but at times does. Having the right access changes our quality of life. Our freedom of movement, engagement and ability to access our education should not be challenge in a way which diminishes our rights and compartmentalizes what we are able to do. This video addresses the need for assistive technology. 

Strategies to Support AAC users

AAC users (augmentative & alternative communication) require individualized supports which allow for enough flexibility to respond and engage in a variety of situations. This involves the early use and introduction of core vocabulary along with some simple strategies. Children are never too young for this to be implemented. Symbols and AAC user strategies must be introduced as soon as we suspect a communication & language concern. For a typically developing child we would read to them from the moment they were born and reinforce all attempts at communication. The same must be done for children with more complex disabilities. This includes the introduction of developmentally appropriate core words and phrases which are used in collaboration with texts and interactions. The sooner this is started, the better. Remember to make your environment symbol friendly as well and to never just include labels. Areas in the environment should allow for spontaneous communication and therefore must have the symbols available to support that. Example: When a child is playing with trucks or cars you could have the following vocabulary available:

Car
Truck
associated colors with the play items
fast
slow
forward
backwards
road
hill

The child does not have to know all of these words. They do need to be exposed to them repeatedly and provided with facilitator support to make meaning out of them. Prepositions and other grammatical structures can be added as well. Here is a wonderful resource which provides instructions, ideas and other sites you can refer to for additional information. TASH 2011

 

Sensory Gardens

Sensory gardens or gardens which are accessible are a wonderful addition to a community, school or residence. Gardening and horticulture related activities is quite therapeutic to many. There are a number of ways to make gardens accessible and year round. The Permaculture Research Institute in Australia has some examples of accessible gardens and therapeutic spaces. For people with more complex disabilities, sensory gardens can improve alertness and overall engagement. This is an article about how sensory gardens support play: Rotary Club - India. Here is another example of a sensory garden which also includes a railroad. It is located in Connecticut: Wickham Park. Sensory gardens should allow the visitors to use all of their senses. Adding chimes, music and other items also improves the experiences. These can be changed seasonally. A bird feeder or waterfall make wonderful additions as well. Here is an article from Exceptional Parent magazine.

Mobile Accessibility

Many people and the majority in some countries carry some type of mobile communication technology (phone, tablet, computers etc.) with them throughout the day. We are constantly sending and receiving information. Most of the major carriers have included accessibility features. The concept of Universal Design is present in most of our new technologies which has supported access to many more users who require diverse interfaces to gain the same efficient and fluid access others have. There is a web accessibility initiative which is looking at this much more broadly. Take a look at some of the things they are doing: W3C Home. CTIA (International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry) has a wonderful resource called Access Wireless. This is a great resource for information. Mobile Accessibility is another place to look at information regarding accessibility features. I have included some links to three carriers (there are many more) who provide information on accessibility. Use of these technology must be explicitly taught in the classroom. These devices (or a version of them) are going to be around for a long time. Our students need support in learning how to use these devices efficiently to support their independence and access. We cannot let our preconceived ideas of who can benefit from this technology cloud the need to learn and access it by almost all of our students in some manner.

Verizon

Sprint

AT&T 

More Free Symbols & Resources

Free Symbol Project Update

Here are two resources of free materials on a variety of topics. The materials exchange allows you to download a number of teaching resources and communication displays as PDF file. Materials Exchange

The second resource: Special Education Technology in British Columbia (SET) has a large selection of free activities across a variety of software programs which are accessible to learners who use symbols and may have varied access methods.

Remember.....it is important to continue to support the Equality Without Words movement. Symbol accessibility and symbol friendly environments are needed and should be much more available across schools and public facilities. When we do not continue to make our environments and materials symbol accessible, we are isolating so many people and perpetuating the barriers which deny access to everyday events and interactions that each of us do not think twice about as we go about our business each day. Start making the environment you are in much more symbol friendly throughout the building and grounds.

 

 

Freedom to Move: Deep Sea Diving in a Wheelchair!

For people who struggle daily with mobility, having the freedom to experience the same types of movement and exploration is just as much of a human need as anyone else. We have come a long ways in how we have made things more accessible but we are no where near where we should be. This is an amazing story and video. Sue Austin shares her experiences on TED. We really just don't understand how much we relay on our freedom of movement each day until it is gone. I absolutely love how she traced her movements and created designs using her wheelchair. This all gives us pause as to what barriers we should be breaking down for the people we support. There are no limits unless we put them there!

DO-IT International

DO-IT International which began at the University of Washington has a long tradition of supporting access to higher education. Long before transition programs were a focus, they provided supports to high school students with disabilities who wished to pursue their education at the university following graduation. Post secondary institutions have made significant headway in how they provide access and support to people with disabilities. Here are some other resources you may be interested in:

College for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders

AHEADD - Autism Supports for College

USCAP Autism Project

People with Developmental Disabilities

AAC Apps in Multiple Languages

No matter where you live or go to school, multiple languages are present and used each day. There are so many second language learners who also require augmentative and alternative communication supports which allow them to access their native language as well as the second language. Second language acquisition poses a number of challenges for students. For those who may struggle with their first language as well and who may also have expressive language difficulties face unique sets of challenges. AbleVox Apps come in 20 different languages. Here is a list of some of the languages and examples of the boards. Languages

The other piece we must focus on is the fact that AAC users may want to learn a second or even third language as a part of their overall education or life long pursuits. In order for this to occur, we need AAC supports and access methods which can facilitate this. If an AAC user is traveling to another country, they may wish to engage in conversations in that language. Universal language access is needed. It is an area we need to continue to promote and work on.This is also a lower cost app (free or full version for $74.99)

Vodafone Foundation Smart Accessibility Awards 2012

Vodafone Foundation Smart Accessibility Awards 2012 for the second year has highlighted some of the most innovative and helpful accessibility apps to support independence and access. There were four different categories of awards: Well being, Mobility, Living & Social Participation. Please take a look at each of the apps. Their innovation and unique ability to open up the world through a more mainstreamed efficient route is a direction we must support and pursue vigorously each year. There are many ways we can all work together on this. Most Universities & Colleges who have engineering and computer sciences degrees are more than willing to work on specific projects with the community to support both short and long term solutions to the many accessibility challenges. You need to start with a specific issue which requires a solution. Work with the stakeholders, especially those who are directly impacted buy the solution and team with your local Universities and Colleges. We can start working away at many of theses issues locally and then share them globally. I would also encourage all solutions to be low cost or free when possible.