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Assistive Technology Helps ESL Students

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Jul 212010

Assistive Technology Gadgets

A 4^th grade teacher in Montgomery Public Schools in Maryland found a struggle between what her students were expected to gain from reading and what they actually understood. She found the biggest challenge to be apparent among the English Language Learners and English as a Second Language Learners in that they were able to read fluently, but could not understand what they were reading.

She began to take a look and research ways to improve reading comprehension at the elementary level for English Language Learners and English as a Second Language Learners. She chose to use assistive technologies for digital fluency research to answer the following questions:

Would the use of the assistive technology (AT) in small groups improve the reading and writing skills of low to mid-level readers?
Could a text reader improve reading comprehension?
Could the use of AT tools improve students’ attitudes towards reading?
Could the use of word prediction (supportive writing tools) increase writing quantity and improve writing quality?

During her research, she noticed that when students were able to use a text reader to read the information aloud to them, students were able to comprehend the text easier. Students produced higher quality work and showed more motivation while using the text reader. The use of assistive technology helped students to stay focused and improved self esteem.

To find out more about this teacher’s research and the assistive technology she used, visit the Educator’s Royal Treatment Website.

Ms. Wheelchair Indiana 2010

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Jun 172010

Noblesville’s Joey Alise Murello Crowned

People On Wheels’

Ms. Wheelchair Indiana 2010

Presented by Helmer, Inc.

Ms. Wheelchair Indiana 2010

Noblesville native Joey Alise Murello, was crowned People On Wheels’ Ms. Wheelchair Indiana 2010 at Indianapolis Museum of Art ceremonies in support of Disability Awareness Month, on Saturday, March 6th. The event is a People On Wheels outreach to promote the disability community and provide a platform for a dialogue from which disabled women can address their fellow Hoosiers.

Murello is 26 years old and works full time at International Medical Group in Indianapolis. She suffers from Friedreich’s ataxia, an inherited disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system resulting in degeneration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord.

Murello is a graduate of Noblesville High School and attended Anderson University. She spends a great deal of time volunteering and working with children, both as a cheerleading coach for the Upward Basketball season at her church and with the Apprentice Players at the Hamilton County Belfry Theatre. As Ms. Wheelchair Indiana 2010, Joey says she “will promote and focus on the abilities of those with disabilities to help remove the perception that ‘we are different.’ ”People On Wheels’ Ms. Wheelchair Indiana program focuses on the accomplishments of Indiana residents with disabilities. “Our mission is to educate, advocate and raise awareness of the abilities and needs of the disability community,” said.

People On Wheels president, Nancy Cotterill. The titleholder will enjoy a year long reign speaking at various engagements throughout the state. Murello will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan to compete in the Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant 2011, to be held August 9-15, 2010.

People On Wheels, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides the only news, information, research, and accessibility information for and about wheelchair users online at www.peopleonwheels.org with local information on several cities including Indianapolis.

Visit Ms. Wheelchair Indiana 2010 on Facebook.

Talking Book and Braille Library Welcomes Hoosiers with Vision Impairment

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Apr 202010

Talking Book Player

The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) is one of 57 regional libraries that provides FREE alternative reading sources for people with low vision.

The TBBL is a part of the Library of Congress’ National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. They offer large print, braille books, and books on tape to Indiana residents who have difficulty reading standard print. You can even borrow digital talking book players.

TBBL also has a children’s summer reading program, a reference collection on disabilities and services, and publishes a seasonal newsletter that is distributed to over 8,00o agencies and individuals in Indiana.

Read about eligibility requirements here.
Do a basic search through the catalog here.
Read the TBBL newsletter, Indiana Insights, here.
Check out what types of materials you can borrow, including a list of magazines available, here.
Get your application here.

Meet Donald Aills, President of Indiana Deaf-Blind Association

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Mar 182010

Donald Aills

Today we would like to introduce you to the President and Founder of the Indiana Deaf-Blind Association, Donald Aills. Donald is also on a Sub-Committee for the Mayor’s Advice Council on Disability, a member of the the American Association of the Deaf-Blind, and a member of the Indiana Deaf-Blind Task Force.

INDATA: Are you from Indianapolis?

Donald: Yes, I live in Indianapolis.

INDATA: Tell us a little about a day in the life of someone who is Deaf-Blind.

Donald: Well, my life is very boring since I became blind (in 1998). I cannot see to go outside- can’t watch my favorite movies on TV. I started to use the PAC Mate and regular computer in 2006. It helped keep me a little busy, and then I joined a listserv at American Association of the Deaf-Blind and Deaf-Blind Techies.

INDATA: What type of assistive technology devices do you use?

Donald: A computer with a screen reader and a portable note taker that show information in refreshable Braille. I also use tactile alert devices to let me know when someone is at the door or when the phone rings.

INDATA: How does assistive technology increase your independence?

Donald: It’s a big help for more independent living. Most Deaf-Blind people, including myself, love to use email to communicate with each other, and it’s much better than telephone/TTY use. It’s easy to use, and I can save conversations as files (My Documents). Technology has done a lot to help the Deaf-Blind community grow in Indiana.

INDATA: What are some of your favorite activities?

Donald: I play bowling games, cards, and chat.

INDATA: What are some concerns the Deaf-Blind community has?

Donald: The state needs to have a Deaf-Blind services agency. Also, we need some Support Services Providers (SSPs) to help Deaf-Blind people become more independent.

INDATA: What suggestions do you have for hearing and sighted people wanting to interact with the Deaf-Blind community?

Donald: HMMMMM! Meet and tell people who have both hearing loss and visual loss to become involved with us at the Indiana Deaf-Blind Association to help the Deaf-Blind community to build up!

Justine's AT Story

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Jan 272010

Justine and CCTV Her story is one that begins with a love of art and ends with a return to independence.

Justine Horlander is an Indianapolis native diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa Inversa. It is a disease that she was already familiar with. Her mother, grandmother and eight-year-old son, Nathan, all have some form of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an optical disease caused by damage to the retina with symptoms including loss of peripheral vision. But Justine has the inversed form of RP that causes, instead, central vision loss. A 1989 graduate of Herron School of Art with an emphasis in graphic design and illustration, Justine’s artistic abilities were challenged and creativity halted with the onset of RP. Her eye doctor encouraged Justine to work with Easter Seals Crossroads, thus beginning her journey into the world of assistive technology.

Easter Seals Crossroads introduced Justine to her first piece of assistive technology — the CCTV. It uses a video camera to magnify an image, which is then seen on a monitor. Finally in 1994, Justine was able to continue her work in photography with the CCTV. She not only can look at her photos, but also can read mail, recipes and phone lists.

In 2009 when she started working with Belva Smith, Training Coordinator in the Assistive Technology Department at Easter Seals Crossroads, Justine was introduced to ZoomText — software that is used to

magnify what is seen on a computer screen. With ZoomText, Justine can now send e-mails, plan for her family’s vacation to Croatia and organize her thousands of photos.

Before assistive technology, Justine had to put her work on hold whenever someone wasn’t around to help. Now, she can use her CCTV and ZoomText on her computer to help her son with homework, produce her

art and do many other things that people without RP can do.

Justine is extremely grateful for her assistive technology and to Easter Seals Crossroads — this combination gave her back her work, her passion and her life.

This story was first premiered in the INDATA Winter 2009 Newsletter, which you can read as a tagged PDF. Interested in a demonstration of low vision products? Send an email to Carol Girt, device demo pro, at cgirt@eastersealscrossroads.org or call 888-466-1314.

INDATA Receives Award for Assistive Technology Video

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Oct 052009

Indiana Assistive Technology Act

INDATA recently received word that the video, “Connecting the Dots,” won the Organization Contribution award from the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA). All of the Like I Can videos were entered in the ATIA Youtube contest, where videos submitted contained information about assistive technology and various types of disabilities. “Nicholas’ Story” and “Tom’s Story” were given honorable mentions. In this article, the links that are given for the videos take you to the Like I Can Web site where all videos are captioned.

Connecting the Dots will be shown at the ATIA conference this October 28-31 at the Renaissance Schaumburg hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois.