Check out these videos that highlight the use of assistive technology which dramatically improves the lives of two students. The first video is a bout a six year old with autism who was essentially non-verbal when he entered preschool. The effective integration of the BookWorm Literacy Tool by Ablenet promoted Josh's language development. Click on the picture below to watch this video to learn how.
The second video is about Elina, a 10 year old girl with athetoid cerebral palsy who demonstrates her alternate computer access method, her word processing skills and her use of Clicker 5 by Cricksoft. Thank you to AssistiveWare for creating this video. You can watch it by clicking the picture below.
The ability to communicate with others is something that many of us take for granted.
But, there are students in our public schools who are unable to communicate using their voice, students who are non-verbal and unable to use traditional communication methods. Are there students in your district who depend upon alternative methods to communicate with their peers or teachers?
Watch these two videos that demonstrate the power of voice using technology. The first video was on ABC News and profiles a 13 year old girl who is autistic. It appears that she is using a laptop computer with WordQ, word prediction software which also offers text-to-speech. Even her father was astonished when she demonstrated her skills using technology. She was now able to read, write, spell and articulate her feelings!
How often are we selling our students short? How often are we presuming capabilities far below what our student's actually possess?
I learned about the second video from Kate Ahern's blog. Watch "My Power is My Voice" here:
For additional videos, go to the Assistiveware website to view effective augmentative communication device use by individuals of all ages.
Here is a video showing how Mike Phillips, a teenager with spinal muscular atrophy who can only minimally move his thumb, is able to independently play World of Warcraft. Assistive Technology turns disabilities into abilities. Would you want to challenge Mike in this MMPORG?
Watch some of the other videos on the Assistive Ware website, "Explore the Frontiers of Assistive Technology." They are impressive and truly demonstrate that all things are possible. Assistive technology removes the barriers once again!
