Team of Advocates for Special Kids
Technology E-Newsletter

August 2014

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Upcoming Assistive Technology Workshops

 

APPsolute Fun: Apps for Early Learning

Wed., Sept. 10

9:00-11:00 am

ABCUSD, Tracy Infant Center, Cerritos

Call (562) 926-7256 to register.

 

Apps for Older Students

Fri., Sept. 19

9:30 am-12:30 pm

North Los Angeles County Regional Center, Van Nuys

Call (818) 677-6854 to register.

 

AT 101

Thur., Oct. 9

9:00 am-12:00 pm

TASK Anaheim

Call (714) 533-8275 to register.

 

APPtastic Adventures: Fun and Educational Apps for Special Education

Thurs., Oct. 9 

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

IRC Family Resource Library, San Bernardino

Call (909) 890-9630 to register.

 

AAC Workshops with Margaret Perkins/SoCal AAC Therapy:

TASK is thrilled to announce our collaboration with Margaret Perkins and SoCal AAC Therapy! Margaret will be presenting FREE quarterly workshops for parents and professionals on various topics surrounding augmentative and alternative communication. These workshops will be held at TASK's Anaheim location and are scheduled as follows:

 

Parent's Role in the AAC Team: From Assessment to Implementation 

Fri., Oct. 10, 2014

 

Small Steps: How to Integrate AAC into the Day 

Fri., Jan. 9, 2015

 

AAC Apps: The Pros and Cons

Fri., April 10, 2015

 

Transitions: Moving Along with AAC

Fri., June 12, 2015

 

Call us at (714) 533-8275 or download the flyer for more information.

 

For more workshops, including our workshops on special education and parental rights and responsibilities under the law, please visit the full workshop schedule on the TASK website.

   

  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.  

 

 TASK Needs Board Members

  

Are you the parent of a child with special needs? Has TASK helped you in the past? Perhaps you are a professional that has worked with TASK advocates or attended one of our many workshops? TASK is currently recruiting members for our Board of Directors. Make a difference by helping to guide our organization into the future.  Please note that board positions are on a volunteer basis. Board members must be willing to participate in our monthly board meetings via toll-free conference call. Call Marta Anchondo, our Executive Director, at (714) 533-8275 for more information about this exciting opportunity or to request a board packet. 

 

  

Happy August, everyone! Since most of our kiddos are heading back to school or have already done so, here are some assistive technology tools to help them with their school and homework and a few that may be helpful for the adults in their lives as well:

 

Amazing Apps

 

Ten Apps to Help Organize and Complete Homework

Homework...the word alone can make kids groan and parents cringe. In this helpful article from our friends at Smart Apps for Special Needs, they give suggestions for apps that will help with homework and organization.  

 

Why Can't You Be More Organized? Ten Apps to Help with Executive Function

Here is another extremely helpful article from Smart Apps for Special Needs. This time, they are focusing on executive function. Executive function is at the core of our battle with organization. Executive functions are basically a set of mental processes that help us organize our experiences, information and actions. Children and adults with a variety of special needs are impacted by poor executive functioning skills.

 

Forest Fighter, by Zyrobotics

Forest Fighter is a fun cause and effect game. In the game, a forest fire is suddenly raging out of control. Use simple tap or an external switch to drop water droplets on the fire to save the forest. Fun for all children with additional features included to help children with special needs. Fully customizable settings can adjust game options based on the skill level of the child.

 

Bob Books Reading Magic #2 Is Now on Android!

Millions of kids have learned to read with Bob Books. Now Bob Books is available for Android with Bob Books Reading Magic #2. Start your child reading with the free Lite version of this phonics-based interactive game. Even very young children love the simple drag-and-drop interface. Your favorite Bob Books characters and full color animations encourage kids along the path of learning to read. Each game level increases the challenge just enough to keep your child engaged and acquiring new reading skills. Bob Books Reading Magic continues Bob Books' commitment to bringing children a satisfying, successful first reading experience, with easy first steps, wholesome values, authentic hand-drawn illustrations and beautiful full-color animations. If you are interested in the Bob Books Reading Magic app but haven't tried app #1 yet, you can download the Bob Books Reading Magic #1 Lite app and test it out! 

Online Tools

 

Behavioral Interventions Tool Chart

The National Center on Intensive Intervention defines intervention for intensive behavioral needsas additional or alternative interventions or levels of support beyond the core procedures, targeting small groups or individuals with social, emotional or behavioral problems, whose performance is non-responsive to the core procedures.

 

AT Network is Now Ability Tools

Ability Tools, formerly the AT Network, is California's Assistive Technology Act program. They provide a variety of services for Californians with disabilities of all ages. Their services include an AT exchange marketplace, device lending libraries, a financial loan program for AT, information and referrals, a reuse program in affiliation with organizational partners, and much more! Ability Tools offers a FREE membership to anyone interested in learning more about AT and looking to connect with other like-minded individuals via the Ability Tools listserv. 

 

Boardmaker Launches Complete Online System for Special Education

DynaVox Systems, LLC, creators of Boardmaker, the leading symbol-adapted special education software for assisting individuals with overcoming their speech, language and learning challenges, introduces Boardmaker Online. Designed for special needs educators, speech/language pathologists, assistive technology specialists and parents, Boardmaker Online is a new, comprehensive solution for creating and managing special education instruction.

 

App Developed by Johns Hopkins Undergrads Gives Cochlear Implant Users Access to Auditory Training

Cochlear implants--small, surgically implanted electronic devices that enable someone who is Deaf or severely hard of hearing to hear--are used by more than 325,000 people worldwide. While the devices don't restore normal hearing, they provide a useful representation of sounds, making it possible to understand speech. Many people, however, face challenges learning to use cochlear implants, largely because auditory training opportunities are limited.

 

Center on Technology and Disability Coming Soon!

Since 1999, the Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) has been a trusted source of high quality information and resources on assistive and instructional technology for children and youth with disabilities. Now, FCTD, a project of Family Health International, in partnership with the American Institutes for Research and PACER Center, is pleased to announce the launch of the Center on Technology and Disability (CTD). Funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, CTD will provide through its online institute a robust library of multimedia resources on assistive and instructional technology, discussion forums within a user-friendly caf�, in-depth and expert-led learning modules (many available for continuing education credit), and engaging personal and professional development activities. Sign up to CTD to stay informed about their website launch and upcoming events featuring experts on a wide array of assistive and instructional technology topics. You can also follow them on Twitter.

Really Useful STUFF

 

Kinetic Sand, by Wackytivities (GREAT sensory play!)

Wackytivities Kinetic Sand is the squeezable sand where you can FEEL the fun! You've never felt anything like it! Pack it, pull it, shape it and love it, Kinetic Sand is so incredible you can't put it down. It's kinetic, meaning it sticks to itself and not to you! It oozes, moves and melts right before your eyes. It flows through your fingers like a slow-moving liquid but leaves them completely dry! Shape anything you want and use it over and over again! Kinetic Sand never dries out and is gluten-free. This soft and stretchy sand easily cleans up while delivering nonstop fun! It's squeezable sand you can't put down. This was by far one of the favorite activities at Camp TECHie this year! It provides an amazing sensory experience with very little mess.

 

BuddyTag Child Safety System

A lost child is a parent's worst nightmare! BuddyTag is the latest child safety device that helps parents track their children when out and about. BuddyTag is a child safety device that helps parents in keeping their precious children safe. It has out-of-range alerts to help prevent losing your child, water safety alerts to help prevent accidental drowning, a panic alarm for your child to alert you when in a threatening situation, and a personal ID to help reunite a lost child with parents. BuddyTag uses Bluetooth and is NOT a GPS tracker. The BuddyTag disposable wristband package comes with one "non-disposable" tag and five "disposable" wristbands, with choices available in band color. The disposable BuddyTag band is perfect for school outings or any activity that includes small numbers to larger groups. Groups can be uniquely color-coded and connected to a particular leader or chaperon, utilizing the BuddyTag app on smartphone or iPad. BuddyTag is compatible with the iPhone 4S, 5, 5C and 5S and the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note2 and Note3 with Android 4.3 or newer. BuddyTag is also compatible with the fourth iPad Touch. The BuddyTag disposable wristband is designed much like a hospital band, making it virtually impossible to remove without scissors, and it retails with the original BuddyTag "tag" and five disposable bands for $34.97. Additional disposable bands may be purchased in packs of 10, each in a single color of your choice, for $14.97.

 

Life After High School (FREE DOWNLOAD!)

This comprehensive guide, entitled "The Journey to Life After High School: A Road Map for Parents of Children with Special Needs," examines the laws that impact a child with special needs, the importance of the individualized education plan, and the different paths a child with special needs can take after graduating from high school. "The Journey to Life After High School" not only provides the steps that need to be taken prior to graduation but also the preparation required for the new adult's legal and medical rights.

As always, 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.