Technology Toolbox Assistive Technology
Least restrictive - use what is available first.
See also: Massachusetts DESE Assistive Technology Resources
@yourlibrary Assistive Technology ikeepbookmarks
A non-profit corporation whose primary mission is to provide high interest/low reading level digital text to qualified persons with disabilities.Waltham Public Schools has subscribed for each school.Teachers who are using Accessible Book Collections must fill out an application and send it to the district Special Education Office, attention Kathy Horrigan. The 1 page application is here: http://tiny.cc/abook (scroll to page 2) and can easily be filled out on a computer and then printed.
Logins fzlibrary fzlearn maclibrary maclearn nelibrary nelearn pllibrary pllearn stlibrary stlearn whlibrary whlearn kelibrary kelearn mcdlibrary mcdlearn hslibrary hslearn
Bookshare.org works closely with schools, educational agencies, libraries and other nonprofit organizations to provide accessible electronic books to individuals with qualifying disabilities.
The quote below should accompany all purchase orders for textbooks so that the textbooks will then be available to (only) students on IEP plans with a visual disability or a learning disability. The available books will then be available digitally in Kurzweil. These books are available at https://www.bookshare.org/ . The district is responsible for uploading a list of students who should have access to the content.
"By agreeing to deliver the materials marked with "NIMAS" on this contract or purchase order, the publisher agrees to submit a valid NIMAS file set to the NIMAC at the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH). Should the vendor be a distributor of the materials and not the publisher, the distributor agrees to immediately notify the publisher of its obligation to submit NIMAS file sets of the purchased products to the NIMAC. This is page ___ of ___ of this contract or purchase order."
See also: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/assistive/nimas.html
Bookshare Video Tutorials Bookshare - Waltham Public Schools
Boardmaker
A shared CD is available in all elementary school libraries. Use Software Request form to have it installed on your classroom computer.)
Resources for teachers using Boardmaker Boardmaker Share - share thousands of ready-made Boardmaker activities and connect with the people who use them.
Boardmaker Training 1st two videos are open; others require a paid subscription to Atomic Learning
A free online tool to support students and teachers doing reading and research on the Internet, ages 10 and up. Strategy Tutor helps students read, research, collect and understand information. For teachers, Strategy Tutor provides a way to create web-based lessons embedded with research-based, highly effective learning strategy and vocabulary supports.
(limited installations as per Special Education department)
| Resources for teachers using Clicker |
| Atomic Learning - 1st two videos are open; others require a paid subscription |
| Clicker 5 Tutorials - download Word or Adobe pdf versions |
| Clicker 5 Wiki - lots of free resources, links and ideas. |
(as requested - use Software Request form) Co-Writer is a word prediction tool. See Don Johnston website. Kurzweil also provides word predication and is our more up-date software.
(all computers K-12) Two computer-based graphic organizers that integrate visual mapping with outlining to help students comprehend concepts and information. The diagram view is used to create and modify concept maps, idea maps, webs and other graphical organizers, while the outline view helps users quickly prioritize and rearrange ideas. Inspiration license include Teacher Take Home Privileges that allow teachers to install Inspiration on their home computers for lesson planning and preparation. Take home copies (teachers only) are available in each Library. Kurzweil also provides graphic organizers and is our more up-date software.
| Inspiration Tutorial - Atomic Learning |
| Inspiration Tutorial - Learning Electric |
Ideas for integrating Inspiration and Kidspiration into curriculum areas:
| Inspiration Tutorial - Learning Electric |
|
http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/teacherl/lesson_plans/kidspiration/kidspiration_ideas.htm |
| http://www.wacona.com/kidspiration/kidspiration.html |
(PreK-5 SPED classrooms - contact Marcia Delaney for building reading, writing and math skills.)
Classroom Suite Activity Exchange provides hundreds of activities, New features include:
Kurzweil 3000 Version 12
(All computer images going forward 9/1/11) Contact the Help Desk (5485) with your computer numbers to have Kurzweil 3000 Version 12 client installed. See also: Kurzweil Implementation and Training. Home installations.
- Overview
- Kurzweil 3000 official home page
- Kurzweil 3000 how-to videos
- Cambium Learning Technologies YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/cambiumtech
- Video: How to manage assignments in Kurzweil 3000.
- Learn more about Kurzweil 3000 webinars "The Instructor is In" series.
Low Vision tools Recording from the Blind and Dyslexic - Level 2 membership - contact Special Education office (Marcia Delaney)
Microsoft Word (all computers K-12)
| Sound: insert>object>wave sound |
| High Contrast screen for low vision: (left)shift>alt>printscreen |
(All computers K-12) PowerPoint slides read aloud: PowerTalk http://fullmeasure.co.uk/powertalk/)
Microsoft Internet Explorer and Read Please
(all computers K-12 - prior to FY11) Read Please is a free text-to-speech plug-in for IE. http://www.readplease.com/ Kurzweil also provides read aloud using web browsers.
(all future computers K-12 as of 10/3/11) Natural Reader is a free text-to-speech. Plug-in bars are provided in Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, so you can listen to online news, e-mails, e-books, documents, and PDF files. NaturalReader also has the ability to convert any written text into an MP3 or WAV audio file, so you can listen later (e.g. with an iPod). Kurzweil also provides read aloud using web browsers or any digital content that is opened in Kurzweil.
UDL Editions take advantage of the flexibility of digital media to reach and engage all learners. Leveled supports and the Texthelp Toolbar balance challenge and support for each learner. Ages 10 and up. Watch video about UDL.
(all labs and as requested grades K-12)
Write Out-Loud is a talking word processor that supports students to increase writing quantity and improve writing quality through purposeful supports. See also WriteOutloud website. Note: Teachers should also request AT&T Natural Voices to be installed. Kurzweil also provides read aloud word processing.
See also:
