Information from the INDATA Project is now available via podcast! Every Friday, the INDATA Project will release two podcasts featuring new assistive technology projects. The podcasts are available for viewing on the INDATA Project website and on iTunes. The “Assistive Technology Update” is a fast-paced weekly update for AT professionals and enthusiasts. The “Accessibility Minute” is designed for all listeners to provide assistive technology tips and tricks.

Assistive Technology Update:  Interview: Dennis Lembree from Easychirp, AT conferences, low cost eye-tracking, Braille challenge winners, Windows 8 accessibility, Eyeborg

Accessibility Minute: WAVE Toolbar

If you have trouble viewing these podcasts, please visit the INDATA website.

Text-to-speech software and application systems are priceless to many people with various disabilities. Text-to-speech transforms any text into speech in real time. It uses speech synthesis to create the artificial production of human speech. An internal computer will look at the text on a device screen and use speech synthesis technology to figure out how to pronounce the word and will “speak it” to the user.

This technology is a great tool for people with visual impairments or reading disabilities. People who are blind or have no functional vision or very low vision can use a screen reader such as text-to-speech to access a computer. This would allow someone with a visual impairment the ability to email, browse the web, and use word processing software, et cetera. Text-to-speech is also helpful for people who struggle with reading. For those who have reading difficulty, such as a person with Dyslexia, many are unable to access text information in a written form. When the information is read aloud to them they are able to comprehend the information. Speech synthesis can also help pre-literate young children and those for who English is not their first language.

Text-to-speech has in the past had a robotic computer voice. TSS has improved the quality of voices over the years. They have gone from a robotic computer voice to sounding more like a real person’s voice. This makes the speech easier to understand for the user.

The National Center on Universal Design for Learning is a task force dedicated to giving all individuals equal opportunities to learn. Through that task force the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers an open source website with free resource tools designed for learning. The UDL has compiled a list of many of the free TSS options on the  Free Technology Toolkit for UDL in All Classrooms site. To view the TSS list they have compiled click here.

To learn more about the Free Technology Toolkit for UDL visit their teaching every student blog.


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Information from the INDATA Project is now available via podcast! Every Friday, the INDATA Project will release two podcasts featuring new assistive technology projects. The podcasts are available for viewing on the INDATA Project website and on iTunes. The “Assistive Technology Update” is a fast-paced weekly update for AT professionals and enthusiasts. The “Accessibility Minute” is designed for all listeners to provide assistive technology tips and tricks.

AT Update:  Interview w/Tom Keating, Picture Planner, Google and ACB Survey, Dyslexie font for Dyslexia, Braille iPad and portable Braille labeler

Accessibility Minute:  Universal Design

If you have trouble viewing these podcasts, please visit the INDATA website.

Many people don’t think of American Sign Language (ASL) when considering learning a new language. In reality, it’s just as difficult, if not more difficult to learn compared to a spoken foreign language like Spanish or Japanese. ASL is truly a language because it’s a means of complete communication for a distinct group of people. Because it’s unique to any other language on Earth, it’s challenging to learn and it forces the learner to think differently than ever before. Many resources are available to assist in the learning process to make it easier and fun. We Sign is a company that provides resources for people interested in learning ASL.

We Sign offers products available for children, adults and families. We Sign DVD topics include ABC’s, numbers, colors, animals, rhymes, holidays and others. DVDs are targeted to people of certain ages and focus on vocabulary that is most relevant to people of that age. We Sign offers appropriate signing activities for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary children. A highlight of this product is the interactive movements and engaging songs with sign language for children.

We Sign also provides practical information for parents and teachers for language growth, vocabulary and early communication. This product also provides support and demonstrations for people with no previous signing experience.

We Sign products are available through many different vendors. The company began 18 years ago and has won over 50 national awards for their products.

Image from AbleLinkTech.com

A Personal Digital Assistant, a PDA, is a device that functions as a personal information manager and can be helpful for people with short or long term memory issues or other cognitive issues. The AbleLink Pocket Endeavor Suite is a software interface that is designed specifically for people who need cognitive support. It’s user-friendly and simpler than traditional PDA operating systems.

The Pocket Endeavor is useful to help remember schedules, for example, when to take medicine and other reminders. Reminders are auditory and visual. A picture and voice message is associated with each item on the calendar. When it’s time for the reminder, the picture automatically fills the screen and the auditory cue sounds.

It can provide cues that help complete step by step daily tasks like making coffee or getting dressed. Users can also make “to do” lists with the Pocket Endeavor. Users can speak into the device and say something like, “Pick up the dry cleaning” and it will be recorded. It’s easy to play it back and delete the recording after it’s been completed.

Using different organization systems can sometimes be a process of organization within itself. If you are keeping track of lists on notebook paper, notes in your cell phone, sticky notes, calendars and trying to remember things on your own, it could get confusing.  A PDA and the Pocket Endeavor Suite from AbleLink may be the solution to your organization problems.

The Pocket Endeavor Suite can also be upgraded to use on your cell phone with the Pocket Endeavor Suite – Phone Edition.

AbleLink Technologies aims to use research to create practical useful solutions for people with cognitive disabilities. AbleLink Technologies’ innovations represent a “new class of empowering technology characterized by a person-centered design philosophy that results in making everyday technologies such as phones, computers, and PDA’s accessible to people with cognitive barriers.”

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