Guest Blogger: Perspective from a High School Student with Dyslexia

Asstive Technology Stories, Easter Seals Crossroads, INDATA 4 Responses »
Aug 112011

I am a high school student going into my sophomore year. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in 3rd grade. As a young kid I was always interested in learning new things. Because I had trouble reading my parents and grandparents would read to me for hours. I loved listening and learning about things that I would not have been able to read on my own, but could understand when someone read it too me. Spelling was also a challenge for me so in 3rd grade I got my first assistive technology devices, the Alpha Smart. The built in spell check feature helped me to express my thoughts and allowed the teacher to understand what I was writing.

Reading has always been and continues to be a challenge for me. I read much more slowly than my peers and stumble over words. In addition to reading more slowly than my classmates I also cannot comprehend the text well when reading on my own. As a result I started to use RFB&D in 5th grade. I started reading my novels and textbooks with RFB&D. When reading with RFB&D I am able to understand what I am reading and read more quickly. I like RFB&D much better than reading and started looking for other assistive technology to help me read and write.

In 6th grade I was introduced to Kurzweil which opened new doors for me. With Kurzweil I was able to read any document I had electronically and it gave me a lot more independence. I started learning about the features of Kurzweil and started using it more and more.

In 8th grade I started to use Kurzweil to take tests and do in class work with Kurzweil. I found Kurzweil to be an indispensible tool that allowed me show my knowledge and not be impeded by my reading trouble.

Soon after I started using Kurzweil I found that my school had very limited technology resources and were unfamiliar with Kurzweil. Luckily I found Brian Friedlander who taught me about Kurzweil many features. Dr. Friedlander continues to help me with assistive technology.

Currently I use Kurzweil, Bookshare and Apps for iPod Touch and iPad to help me. In class I sometimes get class work via emails from teachers, but more often I scan the worksheets myself during class.

My school has been trying to get me to stop using Kurzweil because they are unwilling to email me class work, and leaving class to scan takes too much class time. This year I will have to leave class and scan the documents myself during class time in order to have the document in an accessible format. I use Kurzweil to complete tests, quizzes, worksheets and homework.
Bookshare is another assistive technology software that I use. I read my novels and textbooks on my computer or with the Read2Go app on my iPod Touch. Without Bookshare I would not be able to comprehend books up to my ability.

Because assistive technology has helped me so much this year I decided to help others learn about assistive technology. I started a blog that has information about assistive technology devices and software. I update the blog once a day with a new post about assistive technology. The address of my blog is bdmtech.blogspot.com. In addition to the blog I started a reading group for kids with learning disabilities. The group meets once a week and we share ideas and tips about technology that could help the other members. As part of the reading group I have helped each member sign up for Bookshare and download books to read. With the blog and reading group I hope to help people with disabilities learn about devices that can help them.

-Brian

Posted by Lauren at 9:57 am Tagged with: , , ,

Local Organization Profile: Dyslexia Institute of Indiana

Accessibility Services, Easter Seals Crossroads, INDATA, Organizations No Responses »
Aug 022011

The Dyslexia Institute of Indiana (DII) aspires to serve children, adolescents, and adults with specific language disabilities. DII provides skills, services, and strategies that enable individuals to attain their full potential by learning to manage the challenges of dyslexia and overcome the unexpected challenge of reading.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that results in difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition. Other obstacles for people with dyslexia include struggles with reading comprehension and reduced reading experience. This can slow growth in learning vocabulary. Dyslexia is a disorder involving the understanding of language and difficulties with listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, or doing mathematical calculations.

DII offers numerous services for individuals facing Dyslexia and offers support from family members, teachers and parents. DII provides one-on-one testing, tutoring services and educator training. Each summer, the DII hosts a four-week summer camp, Camp Delafield, for children to increase their academic skills and provide experiences that build self-esteem, motivation and social skills. The “Ready, Set, Read” program is school based and provides multi-sensory instruction during the school day. The “Ready-to-Work” program targets adults to address needs of adults in the community facing Dyslexia.

The DII hosts free information nights for members of the community to ask questions and gather resources. Information nights are held at Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis. On the DII website, you can subscribe to a newsletter to learn more about the services and events hosted by the organization. The Dyslexia Insititute of Indiana offers a plethora of resources for the community to support people effected by the disorder.

Posted by Lauren at 10:03 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

Brain Balance Workshops

Conferences, Events, News No Responses »
Oct 152010
Brain Balance Achievement Centers

Brain Balance Achievement Centers

Brain Balance Achievement Centers is pleased to announce that Brain Balance Program Founder Dr. Robert Melillo will be the special guest at a three-day grand opening celebration for the Indianapolis center, November 15-17, 2010.

Dr. Melillo is founder of the groundbreaking Brain Balance Program® and author of the book, “Disconnected Kids.” He is an internationally known lecturer, author, educator, researcher and clinician in the areas of neurology, rehabilitation, neuropsychology and neurobehavioral disorders in children. He’s also an expert in nutrition with more than 20 years of clinical experience.

Brain Balance Achievement Centers offer the Brain Balance Program in 37 nationwide locations. This non-medical program has been successful in helping hundreds of children who suffer from ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Open since July, the Indianapolis Brain Balance Center, located at 9510 N. Meridian Street, Suite D, will host a number of events for its grand opening, including:

Monday, November 15

3-5pm: Open House – A Meet & Greet with Dr. Melillo and appearance by Radio Disney, Brain Balance Center, 9510 N. Meridian Street, Suite D, Indianapolis

7-9pm: Parent Lecture at the Renaissance Marriott, 11925 North Meridian Street, Carmel

Tuesday, November 16

10am: Official Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Brain Balance Center in Indianapolis

1-3pm: Parent Lecture at Meridian Hills Country Club, 7099 Spring Mill Rd, Indianapolis

6-8pm: Professional Lecture at Meridian Hills Country Club

All events are free and open to the public. To reserve a seat or for more information, call 317-843-9200 or e-mail Julie Peterson at jpeterson@brainbalancecenters.com.

For more information about Brain Balance Achievement Centers and the Brain Balance Program®, please visit www.brainbalancecenters.com. Find Brain Balance Centers Indianapolis at www.brainbalanceindy.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter at @BrainBalanceIN.

Posted by Sara C at 9:04 am Tagged with: , , ,

Assistive Tech and Learning Disabilities Training

Assistive Technology Products, AT Basics, AT Loan Library, Events, INDATA Projects, News No Responses »
Apr 122010

LiveScribe Pulse Pen

LiveScribe Pulse Pen

WHAT: Assistive Technology and Learning Disabilities Training

WHEN: May 21, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Easter Seals Crossroads, 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis IN 46205

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Parents, students, professionals, educators, and health care providers can benefit from training content.

AGENDA

8 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Registration (To Pre-register online at http://atandlearningdisabilities.eventbrite.com/)

9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Welcome and INDATA Overview

Wade Wingler, Director of Assistive Technology at Easter Seals Crossroads

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Introduction to Kurzweil 3000 Software

Toni Sayers, Sales Executive for Cambium Learning Technologies (http://www.kurzweiledu.com/)

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Breaking Through Your Learning Disability with Assistive Technology

Brian Norton, Manager of Clinical Assistive Technology at Easter Seals Crossroads

12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Lunch Break

1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Digital Talking Book Players and Braille Library Program

Autumn Gonzalez, Indiana State Library (http://www.in.gov/library/tbbl.htm)

2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – INTEL Reader Demonstration (http://www.intel.com/healthcare/reader/index.htm)

Jon Omer, Lab Computers

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Electronic Reading Studies – Using eBooks in the Classroom

Richard Bellaver, Ball State University

CEUs will be offered for this training. For more information, visit www.aacinstitute.org.

Posted by Sara C at 3:39 pm Tagged with: , ,
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