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This article is about how students with learning disabilities can use text messaging, wikis, and blogs to help in the classroom. Since blogging is something we have talked about in class, it's great to see how a tool like this isn't a barrier for students with learning disabilities, but how it can help them shine in a classroom.

Ali- I find your article very helpful. I especially liked the part about Blogging since I am new to the blogging world. I learned that Blogging can be quite helpful for getting teens to express themselves more freely and more frequently. I find it interesting that teen bloggers write more often. I do think that it is hard to get reluctant teens to write...especially with pen and paper. In regards to disabilities, it is very helpful on a personal level. My friend's daughter had surgery called DBS-Deep Brain Stimulation for her condition called Dystonia. She has had to learn to use her left hand, so she has not been writing as often. I am here in Maine with her now and she is recovering beautifully. Blogging would be a great way to get her writing again.Thank you, Ali! My friend Jenny thanks you too.

This article explores the role of virtual learning environments in education. I have some gifted students at my school who find a lot of barriers or restrictions in traditional classrooms, and this could be a way for them to capitalize on their giftedness.

The article describes possible barriers in e-learning and educational technology for people with disabilities. It starts with an overview of the different ways disabled people work with computers and assistive technology. Then several examples of creating accessible content and communication are provided. (This article is helpful because it gives you great examples on making your content accessible for those with multiple disabilities. It also shares how to implement the technology into classroom.)

This site is a great resource for teachers or parents that are unfamiliar with disabilities. It gives background knowledge about learning disabilities as well as, suggestions for schoolwork, homework, accommodations and assistive technology. The assistive technology section has a variety of suggestions, videos, books and apps that are helpful for teachers and parents alike.

This is a great site that you found Kim. As a teacher it is always tricky to address accommodations and adjust to the modifications some of our SPED students need. It also has a lot of information for parents too.

There are lots of reasons why kids are reluctant to read and write- learning disabilities, competition from other activities, lack of interest, school not valued. Students have told me they don't read and write outside of school. Of course they do. They just don't realize it. This blog has a great slideshow near the bottom that outlines how web 2.0 targets reluctant readers.

You know how once in a while you find a resource and you feel like you've won the lottery? That is how I feel about this placemat and I hope you are as excited by it as I am. For those of you who use the iPad to meet the diverse needs of your learners, you MUST check out this list of apps. I hope you are impressed with the layout of the tool and how straightforward it is. I am forever being asked what apps I recommend and often have a hard time to recall all the best. Now that I have the placemat, I have a quick resource that is visually appealing and understandable. Such an incredible resource for including students with very diverse needs using one singular device.

This website is a tool box that has multiple resources about web accessibility. It has articles about accessibility awareness and tutorials for people to get more information about web accessibility. One of the links gives reasons on why website designers and other people need to make their sites more accessible.

This page in particular provides scenarios and accessibility solutions for users of web 2.0 who are disabled. It includes information about color blindness, deafness, classroom student with dyslexia, cognitive disabilities, etc.

Hi Brooke, The section about the classroom student with dyslexia really caught my attention. I saw that text to speech software is used with an option for freezing animated objects. Text to speech software is not only great for individuals with dyslexia or ADD, but it can also be modified for blind or nearly blind students and younger age kids, like kinders or pre-k!

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) contains a wealth of info about web 2.0 accessibility for those with disabilities. My favorite feature is that it provides scenarios of both children and adults who have disabilities, the barrier that they face, and how to overcome that barrier.

This is a great way to learn how to make your Mac help you when you are in need of a little extra

This article highlights many web tools used for disabled individuals. It focuses on web 2.0 tools in higher education, but as we all know, everything on the internet can be adjusted to fit the needs of our students.

I learned about this site from my dear friend who is an Assistive Technologist and is doing her doctoral studies in UDL. I found this site to be clear and not overwhelming. Because of my background in special education I am eager to dig deeper into the law section. I am taking another grad class right now and we are deep in the UDL trenches. Maine AIM Program is administered by the Maine CITE Coordinating Center on behalf of the Maine Department of Education. Maine CITE Coordinating Center, University College, 46 University Drive, Augusta Maine 04330 USA Email: info@maine-aim.org | Phone: 207-621-3195

This article explains what assistive technology is, breaks it down into the specific problems that are addressed and what tools are available for parents, students and teachers.

This site has a listing for a bunch of different apps (free and paid) to help students of all ages with dyslexia and other differences. It also might be a good way to teach or reinforce to students with strengths in the specific intelligences that some apps target. Not all will apply to the age group that I teach, as it seems to have a lot for younger kids.

This is also a great way of incorporating "new" technology into the classroom (such as the ipad) or for differentiating homework.

What's going on in the world of Assistive and Educational Technology. (by Hillary Brumer). Hillary Brumer is a close friend and colleague of mine and I felt it necessary to share her brilliance with you all. Hillary and I co authored an article for an early childhood ed publication and also share a deep love for the iPad and how it impacts individuals with special needs. She is in the midst of her doctoral studies and is a valuable resource to anyone who has learners with diverse needs in their class. Her blog is geared toward app reviews and assistive tech devices.

I follow this site on Twitter and noticed that they had this post. It has resources to make the web accessible to those with learning differences, including voicethread.