Team of Advocates for Special Kids
Technology E-Newsletter

April 2015

TASK LOGO
 Name the E-Newsletter Contest!
   
We are looking for a name for this new publication. Please e-mail your suggestions to [email protected].
 Thanks!

 

 

Upcoming Assistive Technology Workshops

 

 

Fabulous Freebies: Assistive Technology at No Cost and Adaptation Ideas for Very Low Cost

Friday, April 17

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

North Los Angeles County Regional Center

Van Nuys

Call Theresa Quary at (818) 677-6854 to register.

 

Apps for Older Students

Saturday, April 18  

10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Down Syndrome Association

Van Nuys

E-mail the Down Syndrome Association at [email protected] to register.  

 

The ABCs of AAC

Wednesday, May 6

9:00 - 11:00 am

TASK Anaheim

Call (714) 533-8275 to register.

 

AAC Competencies...What Are They Really?

Friday, May 8

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Emmanuel Baptist Church (hosted by Jeremiah's Ranch)

Fallbrook

Call Lenila Batalia at (949) 233-6515 to register.

 

APPsolute Fun: Apps for Early Learning

Wednesday, May 13

9:00 - 11:00 am

Norwalk-La Mirada USD

Norwalk

Call (562) 926-7256 to register.

 

AAC Competencies...What Are They Really?

Thursday, May 14

10:30 am - 12:30 pm

IRC Family Resource Library

San Bernardino 

Call TASK San Bernardino at (909) 890-9630 to register.

 

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 Brenda Smith, our Acting Executive Director, at (714) 533-8275 for more information about this exciting opportunity or to request a board packet. 

 

Happy spring! This month, I have some GREAT technological finds for you. First off, it's Autism Awareness Month, which also means that LOTS of vendors are offering deep discounts on their apps and other products - many up to 50 percent off! Check our Facebook page for posts all month about apps on sale. We will share them as soon as we find out about them!

 

TECH Center Service Spotlight: CONVERSATION STATION

 

Get your ticket and board the language express to Conversation Station!

 

We are THRILLED to announce Conversation Station, which is part of TASK's Project: Communicate! Conversation Station is a safe environment where individuals with complex communication needs and their support network can come together and engage in purposeful social activities that will allow them to use their augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) systems and strategies for a variety of purposes.

 

They can learn from models or serve as role models for good communication skills while interacting with other AAC users and those with communication needs. Most importantly, they will use their language to have fun while improving their social skills.  

 

Where is Conversation Station held? TASK's Anaheim location: 100 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, CA 92805.

 

When? The fourth Thursday of every month (except *where noted), from 3:30 to 4:15 pm. The dates are:

  • April 23
  • May 21
  • June 25
  • July 22 (*Wednesday)
  • August 27
  • September 24
  • October 22
  • November 19*
  • December 10*

Who should attend? Anyone with communication needs, whether you use an AAC device or natural speech. Communication partners (including parents, siblings, caregivers and others). This group is facilitated by a Speech Language Pathologist and AAC Specialist and is intended to encourage language and communication.

 

If you want to practice your language skills in a fun and safe environment, CALL TODAY! RSVP by calling (714) 533-8275 to come and join the fun!

Free online resources:

 

Accessible Television Portal for Children with Unique Learning Needs 

The digital age has made it possible for children with visual or hearing disabilities to be able to watch shows like Ocean Mysteries, Magic School Bus, Bill Nye the Science Guy and more. Thanks to the Department of Education's Accessible Television Portal project, teachers and school personnel, parents, and other professionals working with qualified students can apply for access to the portal.

 

Federal Resources for Education Excellence

Federal Resources for Education Excellence (FREE) is an online teaching and learning resource from federal agencies. Parents and teachers, go to the FREE website for more information.

 

Free Printable Planners and Spring Coloring Pages

FreePrintable.net has done it again. They have a huge variety of printable planners, from bill planners to student planners and beyond! Visit PrintablePlanners.net for tons of free planner designs. FreePrintableColoringPages.net has some wonderful spring coloring sheets, and the mother site, FreePrintable.net, has everything from printable maps to pie charts and everything in between. Did I mention that it's all FREE?

 

GCF LearnFree

I have spoken about this amazing website before, but I wanted to let you know that some great topics have been added, including Computer Basics! Some of their other topics include a Free Typing Tutorial, tutorials on Online Safety, and information on Everyday Life skills (such as cooking, health and safety, money and work skills). If you haven't tried this site, please do! You will be amazed at the amount of topics you can address, all for free! 

 

Creating a Vision Statement for Your Child's IEP: Free Printable Workbook

Once you learn that your child has a disability of some kind and qualifies for special education, there is much to be done. This free printable workbook will help you create a "vision statement" for your child.  

 

Top 15 Free Apps for Learning Emotions (for iOS and Android)

Smart Apps For Kids created a nice list of apps that address learning emotions.

Apps that help with auditory processing and listening skills:

 

Phonetic Birds, by Sockel Lernmedien

Recognizing and comparing sounds is a skill that lays the foundation for speaking and reading. Phonetic Birds is an auditory training app that uses game play to help children learn to listen for changes in sound patterns. If your child is showing a delay in this area, or if you just want to reinforce your child's auditory development, this app will help you accomplish your goal.

 

Processing Pow-Wow, by Synapse Apps

Processing Pow-Wow targets auditory processing and memory skills. It is appropriate for ages five and up. There are a total of six levels and a barrier game activity. Each level has up to 50 different stimuli that are presented in a randomized order. "Wait time" is embedded in the app, following the presentation of auditory information, in order to allow the user time to process the information before using it. Data tracking capability is also included.

 

Hear Coach, by Starkey Hearing Technologies

Hear Coach is a suite of listening games developed by Starkey Laboratories; it features games that challenge both your cognitive and auditory sharpness. Individuals with hearing loss tend to have increased difficulty understanding speech in noise, and as a result experience communication breakdowns. Tasks like the ones in this game have been shown to help improve listening abilities in noise. When people have improved listening in noise, they don't have to work as hard to hear and can relax and participate in conversations without straining, even in loud and busy environments.

 

Dyslexia Quest, by Nessie Learning

Climb the mountain and play the yeti games. Each game will test memory and learning skills. The games in Dyslexia Quest are designed to assess working memory, phonological awareness, processing speed, visual memory, auditory memory and sequencing skills. Dyslexia Quest has been developed, researched and tested at the Bristol Dyslexia Center. The app is designed for a single player and does not support simultaneous multiple users.

Do you need community services hours for high school or college?

 

If your school requires you to complete volunteer community service hours, TASK is the place to complete those hours! Even if your school doesn't require the hours, community service can make a big difference when students are applying for admission to colleges and trade schools. Please make sure to obtain the Community Service Verification Form and find out the specific requirements from your school.

 

While there are benefits to being a volunteer, the greatest reward is being part of a team that helps deliver the best service possible to those in need. If you are interested in doing your community service hours at TASK, please e-mail [email protected].  
That's all for this time! As always, please feel free to call (866) 828-8275 and make an appointment to come to the TECH Center or e-mail me at [email protected] with any questions you may have.

 

Happy spring! We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

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.