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Use of Assistive Technology Curricula & Resources

Contents of this page:

Use of Assistive Technology Curricula

• Braille ‘n Speak Teaching Curriculum

Use of Assistive Technology Resources

• Good Junk + Creativity = Great Low-End Technology
• Tangible Symbol Systems: Symbolic Communication for Individuals with Multisensory Impairments

Braille 'n Speak Teaching Curriculum

B.J. Blazie & J. Dote-Kwan. (1997). Blazie Education Services, Forest Hill, MD. 113 pp.

This curriculum has been designed to allow the teacher with minimal knowledge of Braille Ôn Speak to provide a comprehensive, well-sequenced series of instructional lessons. In addition, by controlling the vocabulary and limiting the number of Braille contractions used throughout the curriculum, a student with minimal knowledge of the Braille code can learn to use the Braille ÔN Speak.

Subjects Covered:

• Getting started: Setting the speech parameters, creating a file, writing text in your file, reading text in your file, editing file using the delete and insert commands
• Moving along and printing: Opening an existing file; more on reading lines, sentences and paragraphs; more editing of files using the delete commands; setting up files to print; Printing files
• Mastering files: Getting the file list, moving about the file list, deleting files, making a file larger, making a file smaller, renaming an existing file
• Advanced editing and speech functions: Setting the speech - all to nothing, about command, copying and pasting blocks of text, using the formatter to get paragraphs, how much to speak
• Time, date, stopwatch, and calculator functions: Pasting the time, pasting the date, setting the time, setting the date, using the basic calculator, using the stopwatch and countdown timer, using the calendar
• Advanced features and functions: Creating the phone directory, using the find command, using the pull down menu, using the help file
• Appendices: Computer Braille Chart, Chart of Nemeth Numbers, Chart of International Phonic Equivalents, Braille Ô N Speak Competency Test, Reference Sheet

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Good Junk + Creativity = Great Low-End Technology

L.A. Rocklage, L.A. Peschong, A.L. Gillett, B.L. Delohery. (1996). L. Rocklage, P.O. Box 971022, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. 75 pp.

Each section of the book provides an overview and discussion of the topic as well as instructions, diagrams, and photos of materials, devices and strategies. While the suggestions in this book are by no means inclusive of the wide array of low end technology possibilities, they are intended as a jump start for individual creativity and designs.

Subjects Covered:

• Single-switching devices
• Communication, Interaction and choice making
• General low-end technology ideas using off-the-shelf materials and toys
• Resources

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Tangible Symbol Systems: Symbolic Communication for Individuals with Multisensory Impairments

C. Rowland & P. Schweigert. (1990). Communication Skill Builders, Tucson, AZ. 61 pp.

This manual accompanies a videotape entitled "Tangible Symbol Systems." It summarizes the techniques shown in the videotape, gives additional background and technical information, and supplies record keeping forms. Many individuals who are unable to communicate through conventional symbols such as speech or manual signs can learn to use tangible symbols, objects, or pictures that bear a concrete relationship to the visual or tactual properties of the entities that they represent.

Subjects Covered:

• Who needs tangible symbols?
• Constructing tangible symbol systems
• Embedding symbol use into functional routines
• Programming for progress

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Last Revision: July 30, 2002