Team of Advocates for Special Kids
Technology E-Newsletter

September 2012

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Upcoming Assistive Technology Workshops:

 

 

Assistive Technology for Early Learning

Wednesday, Oct. 3

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

South Central Los Angeles Regional Center

Los Angeles

Call Maura McGinnis Gibney at (213) 743-3206 to RSVP.

 

APPsolutely Amazing: iDevices and Apps for Kids with Special Needs

Thurs., Oct. 11

9:00 pm - 12:00 pm

North Los Angeles County Regional Center

Lancaster

Call Kristine Gutierrez at

(661) 945-9598 to RSVP.

 

Appsolutely Amazing: iDevices

and Apps for Kids with Special

Needs

Tues., Oct. 30

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

St. Matthias High School

Downey

Call Sandra Baker at

(818) 786-0007 to RSVP. 

 

 

TASK Membership:

 

 

Please consider joining TASK as a member! Members receive the following benefits:

 

  • Free TECH Labs and access to our lending libraries
  • Bimonthly 28-page TASK newsletters 
  • Membership is tax-deductible

Membership is as low as $35.00 per year, per family. We need your support to continue to provide a central resource center for legal rights and responsibilities information and to continue providing TECH Center services.

 

You can join online; visit the Membership page on our website for more information.  

Greetings!

 

Exciting news!

Tim Jin--friend of TASK and toe-typer extraordinare--will be appearing in a PSA for disability employment awareness! It will be shown throughout October 2012 in AMC theaters, who estimate about 16 million people will see the advertisement. Tim uses assistive technology throughout the day. Most notably, Tim types with his feet on his communication device, the computer, etc., so if you happen to see the PSA, look for Tim and his famous feet! As soon as the video becomes available, we will be sure to post it on our website and Facebook page.

Helpful Website: Help Kidz Learn 

Fun, accessible games and activities designed specifically for young children and those with learning disabilities. This website has both a subscription option and 10 free games and activities to play online.

 

Great News and Offers from Don Johnston:

  1. Don Johnston, Inc. specials for SOLO and Read:OutLoud Unlimited Site Licenses plus Professional Development
  2. Start-to-Finish Books now available online!
  3. Don Johnston, Start to Finish and Building Wings:

    Start-to-Finish is very personal to Don Johnston. As a person with dyslexia who didn't read his first chapter book until age 15, he knows first-hand how it feels to struggle to read. He wrote the book Building Wings to share the story of what it was like to struggle and what he did to become successful. Since publishing Building Wings, Don received over 2,000 letters from students who read his book. The book is free online, and it's one of the special books included in the Start-to-Finish Online Accessible Library.

Assistive Technology Awareness Series Video 

The Family Center on Technology and Disability and PACER Center recently released new assistive technology awareness series, "AT in Action." Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, this fully-captioned video series is designed to strengthen awareness of AT devices that help individuals with disabilities participate fully in school, at home, and in the community. In this first video, you'll meet Sam Graves, a young man with cerebral palsy who, with the help of AT, is a successful college student, blogger and sportsman.

 

New Occupational Therapy App: Shelby's Quest 

Shelby's Quest, designed by an occupational therapist, aims to instill inspiration and enjoyment in education among children. This app, a therapy tool specially made for occupational therapists, teachers and parents, gives the child a fun way to practice fine motor and visual perceptual skills while allowing the ability to store and track their progress. Shelby's Quest guides the child along a journey assisting Shelby the Dog as she helps her forest animal friends overcome their challenges. Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, students will guide Skip the Salmon upstream to help him find his family, assist Samantha the Squirrel as she collects acorns and help Maurice the Moose find his way home. You can view the Shelby's Quest demo video online at YouTube or purchase it directly from the Apple App store.

 

9 Awesome Wheelchair Accessories You Need to Know About: This is a link to an article about some great wheelchair accessories.

An iPod Touch Can Revolutionize Daily Living for the Severely Disabled: This is a link to a very interesting article about a young man who uses an iPod Touch as assistive technology to help him excel at his job. 
 
iOS 6 Is Here!
iOS 6 comes with Guided Access among other impressive features to make it easier for people with vision, hearing, learning and mobility disabilities to get the most from their iOS devices. Guided Access helps students with disabilities such as autism remain on task and focused on content. It allows a parent, teacher or administrator to limit an iOS device to one app by disabling the Home button as well as restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen. VoiceOver, the revolutionary screen reader for blind and low vision users, is now integrated with Maps, AssistiveTouch and Zoom. And Apple is working with top manufacturers to introduce Made for iPhone hearing aids that will deliver a power-efficient, high quality digital audio experience. To learn about other new features, visit the iOS 6 page on Apple's website.
 
Toys "R" Us Guide for Differently Abled Kids Now Available Online! Featuring over 95 toys and play products, this guide is a valuable resource for parents, grandparents, care providers, friends and families of children with special needs that can help you select appropriate toys. The National Lekotek Center works with Toys "R" Us each year to evaluate hundreds of toys for inclusion in this catalog. The result is an informative, well thought out guide that is a huge help in deciding what toys will help build needed skills. The Guide is now available online in English and Spanish. Get yours today!  

As always, feel free to call (866) 828-8275 and make an appointment to come into either of our TECH Centers to try out software, apps, iPads or adaptive equipment. Our TECH Centers are located in Anaheim and South Gate.

 

Here is hoping you all have a wonderful October with no tricks and lots of treats! Happy APPing!

 

Laura Simmons-Martinez

Technology Project Director

Team of Advocates for Special Kids

TASK is a nonprofit Parent Training and Information Center that serves all ages and all disabilities. TASK is funded in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the California Department of Education. The views expressed in this e-mail newsletter do not necessarily represent those of TASK, the U.S. Department of Education, the State of California or any other funding source, nor are they an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before congress. Advertisements or refernces to trade names, commercial products or organizations do not constitute endorsement by any of the above.