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"EduApps is an initiative developed by the JISC Regional Support Centre Scotland North & East and consists of four different collections of incredibly useful software: * AccessApps provides a range of solutions to support writing, reading and planning, as well as sensory, cognitive and physical difficulties. * TeachApps is a collection of software specifically designed for teachers or lecturers. * LearnApps, as its name implies, is specifically designed for learners. All learners or students can benefit from LearnApps. * MyStudyBar is our new kid on the block, providing a suite of apps to support literacy. Currently we host over 90 open source and freeware software applications which can be entirely used from a USB stick on a Windows computer. "

So who wants to test this out and see how it all works? Sounds promising!

Patti, BIll Nellis has develolped PD using these apps. He shows the participants how to create their own Thumb Drive with a collection of AT apps that run entirely from the Thumb Drive. It is a WONDERFUL idea and has tons of application for therapists or AT professionals who travel from school to school.

"There are many apps out there, however, two really stand out as fun, exciting ways to harness the excitement of the iPhone/iTouch while providing valuable learning experiences for students."

"What is the Everyday Life (EDL) Project? The EDL project uses interactive, situation-based lessons to teach functional literacy skills. Each activity provides learners with the opportunity to test their knowledge of real-world situations and to develop the confidence and skills necessary to be successful in everyday life. "

"Custom Solutions has been in business since 1996, originally under the name Computers for Learning. We began by providing assistive technology consulting services to schools and organizations in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, along with supporting software and online services. Through our experiences in consulting, we have developed additional products and services that we are offering to the general public. For instance, anyone who is interested in testing or improving their typing speed is welcome to try out our Custom Typing Training online typing tutor, or our ProveMySpeed.com"

"The Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center at Illinois State University is a community of people working together to help individuals with disabilities realize the democratic ideal through assistive technology (AT). The SEAT Center was approved as a Center by the state legislature in 2001. The SEAT Center focuses on teaching preservice and practicing professionals the skills they need to meet the technology needs of people with disabilities through instruction that is practical, "hands-on", and performance-based. Instruction provided at the SEAT Center emphasizes developing competence in both AT and other types of technology (e.g., instructional technology, adaptive equipment) that can improve the education and quality of life for persons with disabilities. "

"The purpose of this resource is to provide a series of study modules that can be used by practicing teachers who are interested in increasing student outcomes through the implementation of effective best practices regarding instruction and technology. We recognize that individual, and groups of, teachers are in various stages of developing knowledge regarding AT concepts, practices and principles. Depending upon your level of knowledge and your interests, you can go through this manual from beginning to end or self-select certain modules. Each learning module includes: * Selected initial readings * Key ideas * Extension and Reflection Activities * Additional resources Each module is meant to serve as a starting point, only. You and your colleagues are encouraged to review the materials and modify them, as appropriate, or alter the activities, as needed. "

"The following, amazing list was compiled by Carolann Cormier and developed as a handout resource. It is not meant to be exhaustive and is not a suggestion on what apps to download. It is always helpful to review the ratings on apps before purchasing. For review of apps, click on the review button when you are on the app download page in iTunes. If a lite version is available, generally they are free or cheaper, so they can be a way for you to try an app. For children's apps, click on the Apps for Kids category in iTunes sidebar. For books, click on the Books category. Use the search parameters built into iTunes for apps by clicking on the apps button when your search results come up."

"Finding software for the iPod, iPhone and iPad devices specifically to assist those with speech & language difficulties can be a difficult affair. Equally keeping ontop of the rapidly expanding field is hard too. This site, developed to complement SpeechBubble, is designed to help individuals requiring independent information regarding the current apps out on the market."

This toolkit was developed during March 2008 through an online discussion sponsored by the Family Center on Techology and Disability

A manual from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in Victoria

"NCTI assists researchers, developers, and entrepreneurs in creating innovative learning tools for all students, with special focus on students with disabilities."

"CleverKeys for Mac OS X - developed by Dictionary.com - is free software that provides instant access to definitions at Dictionary.com, synonyms at Thesaurus.com and more - from almost all Mac OS X programs, including word processors, Web browsers and most e-mail programs. With CleverKeys, the answers are just a click away."

MrNussbaum.com was developed with the idea that crucial concepts, themes, ideas, and fact sets taught in the classroom can be enhanced over the internet through interactivity. Furthermore, for teachers to have a reliable k -8 internet site to use in the computer lab or in the classroom, that likely covers one or many themes currently being taught. MrNussbaum.com offers dozens of interactive games specifically designed to pinpoint one or several essential concepts taught in elementary years, and dozens of research themes designed to make the process of gathering information interactive and enjoyable. MrNussbaum.com, however, does not just present information, but in addition, provides numerous interactive activities to complement the presentation of interactive information.

"Switch access to Ipads! Plug any switch(es) into it for cause/effect, switch timing practice, AAC auto-scan and step-scan, spelling, and any other apps on the horizon! It works through Bluetooth 2.1 for simple pairing and range of over 50 ft. Any app that has been programmed for switch access can use my iPad Super Switch. And all AAC app developers *are* incorporating switch access, eventually, and will work with my devices."

"HelpKidzLearn is a collection of free software for young children and those with learning difficulties to play online. The software is split into five sections: * Early Years * Games and Quizzes * Stories and Songs * Creative Play * Find Out About You will get the most out of these activities if you play them together with your child. Use them as a focus for chatting. Speaking and listening is very important for young children's educational development, particularly reading and writing."

"Widgit Symbol Resource Packs Hundreds of free and low-cost symbol resource packs, created in partnership with professionals* Widgit produce a wide range of symbol-supported learning materials and symbol stories, including extensive topic-based packs 'ready to go' for special and mainstream education, developed by the Symbol Inclusion Project."

"Through this Joint UDL Project, teams of classroom teachers from general education and special education with the support of principal leadership, university educators with support of university administrators, and RI Department of Education representatives participated in training held at Rhode Island College and conducted by the Sherlock Center and consultants for the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) in January 2008. Twelve universally-designed curriculum units were cooperatively developed as a result of this training. Teachers, university educators, and others are encouraged to use these units as examples and guides for practical implementation of UDL in elementary, middle, secondary, and post-secondary classrooms."

"The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) provides a foundation for professional development for technology integration and a common vocabulary for talking about effective uses of technology in teaching and learning."

"This blog is a spinoff of sorts, a collaboration between four #slpeeps on Twitter, springing from the goal of developing a centralized location for information on mobile devices and their uses in therapy."

Thinking Blocks was developed by Colleen King in 2003 to help students who were struggling with math word problems. Before creating Thinking Blocks, Colleen was using problem sets from Singapore Math texts in a course for accelerated students at a math enrichment center. The model drawing approach in these texts gave upper elementary students a path to more advanced concepts and algebraic reasoning. Colleen sought a more flexible solution for struggling learners and designed a model drawing application called Blocks. The first group of students to test the program often made comments about how smart they were when using Blocks and how Blocks made "their brains work better". Colleen observed students who were reasoning, understanding, and problem solving. Her students were using thinking Blocks. Today Colleen uses Thinking Blocks and, more generally, the Singapore model drawing approach with students who have very diverse mathematical backgrounds. While the concept of modeling word problems is most closely associated with Singapore Math, Colleen has found it to be compatible with all elementary math programs."