Why? * To increase participation and achievement for ALL students including those with significant disabilities * To position ALL students to take advantage of emerging educational technologies in inclusive learning environments. What? * The integration of interactive white boards (SMART Boards), SMART Solutions (e.g., SMART Table, SMART Document Camera, SMART Sync) and other mainstream technology (IPADS/IPODS, Nintendo DSi) with assistive technology for use during whole and small group instruction in all educational settings. The key is including ALL students using a Universal Design for Learning Toolkit (technology, traditional teaching methods,pedagogy) in their current educational setting to ensure meaningful academic and social participation. How? * By using SMART Boards and other mainstream technology as well as assistive technology to facilitate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI) so that learning environments, opportunities and activities are accessible by diverse groups of learners. Understanding how the Participation Model can extend UDL and DI so that the learning and participation of students with the most significant learning challenges are increased and enhanced.

A Google project to "keep tech support a family business" Good for anyone at the tech beginner level

Quick Artic is a free IPhone application for Speech Language Pathologists which contains 566 images tagged with titles and categorized by "phonemes". This easy to use application features a scoring utility which keeps track of the correct and incorrect answers. Quick Artic automatically calculates the score.The application includes ten most common phonemes in all positions of words. It can be used in therapy or for quick articulation screening. To activate the application Speech Language Pathologists must register at Virtual Speech Center Inc. website at: https://www.virtualspeechcenter.com/register.aspx

"With this blog, I hope to introduce you to UDL and why it should be the framework in creating digital learning environments where all students can achieve. Mobile Apps will be instrumental in supporting all learners persoanlizing the learning environment like we have never seen before. But first, an introduction to UDL and why it will most likely create some buzz as we discover how we will innovate new learning environments for all students. "

"Picture Communication Symbol Apps, like Flash Cards, Word Scramble, Match & Memory and Bingo, help different people meet different needs. See how they help students learn vocabulary, language, articulation, cognitive and listening skills and more. Ideal for students with Autism, and those learning new symbols for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). "

Information on mobile phone scannable QR codes including accessibility issues and practical uses of QR code technology to assist persons with disability. Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/apps/qr-code.php#ixzz1Tn8O6JQ2

Since January 1, 2011, The iTaalk Autism Foundation has educated over 500 families, service providers and caretakers on the beneficial uses of interactive technology with children with Autism and varying other special needs. Education is of upmost importance, and will ALWAYS be iTaalk's most important venture. With that said, the cost of technology can be overwhelming for families already struggling to afford necessary therapies. So, iTaalk has made it a priority to offer giving cycles where families in need can apply for iOS technology. In the past year, we have given over 70 devices to children with an Autism Diagnosis and have set a goal to give away 500 by the end of 2011. We

"The Franklin AnyBook Reader is designed to make any book and interactive, "read to me" book. Essentially you attach special stickers to the pages of books and then when you touch the pen to the sticker it plays back a self-recorded message"

"2011 Using iPads and Apps with Children Who Are Deaf-Blind This webinar presents a range of information on the iPad and demonstrate a variety of applications that can be used to promote learning, social interactions, decision making and much more for the child or student who is deaf-blind. "

"Origin Instruments is pleased to deliver the first switch-based access solutions for Amazon's popular Kindle electronic book readers. Our PageBot for Kindle products enable the independent reading of books and other long form documents by people who cannot hold the Kindle or press its buttons. PageBot combines a secure and adjustable mount, dual integrated actuators for the Kindle Next Page and Previous Page buttons, and a built-in intelligent drive circuit that can directly interface to a wide variety of adaptive switches. With PageBot, reading on the Amazon Kindle is accessible to people with motor disabilities"

ShowMe is a global learning community - a place where anyone can learn or teach anything. Our mission is to make learning as accessible as possible, while giving great teachers and experts a platform to reach even more students. Our community has created hundreds of ShowMe's, from chemistry to history to football strategy - and more knowledge is being shared everyday. Join the movement. Help us democratize learning.

"Do2Learn's FREE Emotions Color Wheel links the emotion name to the etymology, color, definition, statement, and photo of a face depicting that emotion. In creating this color wheel, emotions were first divided into six general categories and assigned colors."

"iShare is an adapted electronic communication system that allows students with cognitive impairments to email and post to blogs. Students learn to use a motivating mainstream technology to work on social communication and writing skills. The iShare program includes an interface for clinicians or teachers to send email assignments, post class blogs and evaluate and graph performance on spelling, grammar, content or other domains they are targeting."

"TechMatch is a free resource for clinicians, care providers, and educators. It matches clients and students who have cognitive impairments with computer technologies most likely to meet their needs. TechMatch includes a comprehensive assessment questionnaire that makes it easy to find the right computer technology. It produces a printable pdf report that summarizes the findings and offers clear and straight forward advice about the strengths and weaknesses of each potential technology. "

Like Wikipedia, but uses visual and audio information with text to tell about a topic. Qwiki's goal is to forever improve the way people experience information. Qwiki is working to deliver information in a format that's quintessentially human - via storytelling instead of search. We are the first to turn information into an experience. We believe that just because data is stored by machines doesn't mean it should be presented as a machine-readable list.

"Welcome to VoiceforLiving.com, the official DynaVox blog" Our team of bloggers brings a range of diverse backgrounds - from speech-language pathologists, clinicians, and educators to individuals using DynaVox communication solutions in daily life. Their thoughts are sure to inspire, educate, motivate and give you an insider's view of DynaVox and the lives of those who use our products.

"This unique approach by Pati King-DeBaun was developed to systematically teach communication skills to children who are nonverbal. Highlights will include the Integrated Model of Communication Instruction.Learn more about this model and watch classrooms and students progress"

good stuff

"The AAC self-assessment Tool kit is designed for schools to look at the ways in which they are using Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) within the curriculum as well as for communication"

"Voice Finger is a software tool that enables you to control your mouse and keyboard just using your voice, in the fastest possible way." Voice Finger can also be useful for all speech users, since it gives a fast and direct way of typing, moving and clicking anything. Windows only.

"BlockCAD is a freeware program for building virtual models with Lego-like bricks. You can save your models, or save pictures of them (.bmp, .jpg), even reuse a complete model as a part in another model. Everything can be controlled with the mouse, but it's also possible to use the keyboard for most of the commands, making 'routine building' more effective, and there is a minimum of text involved, to make it easier for kids, "