Fri, 24 May 2013
Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. In the world of US public education, there is a process that helps students with disabilities get the supports they need. A group of education professionals work with the student and family member to create an Individualized Educational Plan or IEP, which outlines the services and supports that are needed to help a child succeed in the classroom. While developing the plan, the IEP team is required to consider the need for assistive technology -- technology that sometimes crucial to a student's success. Check our show notes for a link to learn more about AT in the IEP process. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Considering Assistive Technology — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities http://bit.ly/16LR6LT |
Fri, 17 May 2013
103-05-03-17 - Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. The Assistive Technology Industry Association or ATIA is a non-profit membership organization of manufacturers, sellers and providers of assistive technology products or services. The group is most well known for their annual training conferences, webinars, and other training opportunities to foster the growth of the AT industry. They also seek to "speak with a common voice" for the Assistive Technology industry and foster dialog with the IT world, government and other entities impacted by Assistive Technology. Learn more at ATIA.org For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Assistive Technology Industry Association (www.ATIA.org |
Fri, 10 May 2013
Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. Many people rely on their smart phone, computer calendar or a schedule written on paper with a pen or pencil to make sure they don't forget their daily activities. Some people with intellectual disabilities may struggle with a traditional schedule and may not have the literacy skills required to interact with an electronic calendar. To help in this situation, it may be useful to create a visual schedule or picture-based calendar. Simple stick figure symbols for wake up, make bed, brush teeth and comb hair may be useful prompts to help with those daily activities. Other times, sequential photographs of a person performing these tasks may do the trick. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Visual Schedules: http://bit.ly/13IYuTo |
Fri, 3 May 2013
Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers are programs that are funded by the US Department of Education. These centers are charged with the task of conducting advanced research in how technology might improve the lives of people with disabilities. These centers are located across the US and here are some examples of the projects they conduct: Accessible Kiosks, Voting Booths and ATM Machines; Talking Signs; and devices to help medical professionals measure therapy goals or hearing levels. Check our show notes for a link to learn more about the RERCs and the important work done there. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers http://1.usa.gov/10pLw95 |
Fri, 26 April 2013
Show Notes (template) Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. Are you a regular listener to our Accessibility Minute? Did you know that this episode marks our 100th episode? For podcasters, 100 episodes is a major milestone. Did you also know that we produce another weekly podcast called Assistive Technology Update? It features the week's news, app reviews and fascinating interviews with thought leaders in the field of assistive technology. We hope that you've enjoyed the first 100 episodes of Accessibility Minute. We also hope that you'll check out the 100th episode of Assistive Technology Update at www.AssistiveTechnologyUpdate.com For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Assistive Technology Update: www.AssistiveTechnologyUpdate.com |
Fri, 19 April 2013
Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. In the US the weather is warming up and many folks are thinking about summertime plans. One of the most popular activities in the warmer months are summer camps. For some people with disabilities, summer camp is a great opportunity to enjoy the out of doors as well as some skill building and social opportunities that are entirely unique to a summer camp experience. Locating a summer camp in your area that meets your needs might be a challenging task. The National Dissemenation Center for Children with Disabilities has a web site that helps you locate a camp that's perfect for you. Check our show notes for a link to that camp listing. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Camps for Children with Special Needs — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities http://bit.ly/ZxsY7E |
Fri, 12 April 2013
Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. Siri is a service built in to many apple products. It allows users with or without disabilities to simply press a button and issue a command or dictate an email or text message. For individuals with mobility challenges it may provide an easier option than typing on a touchscreen keyboard. Individuals who are blind or visually impaired may find it faster than typing long messages. Many learning disabilities can be accommodated by dictating with Siri rather than spelling words individually. If you have an iPad or iPhone you may already have access to this important accessibility tool. Check our show notes for a link to learn more. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Apple - iOS 6-Use your voice to do even more with Siri. http://bit.ly/151Uf9q |
Fri, 5 April 2013
Show Notes (template) (copy) Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. Many times assistive technology is used for the purpose of going to school or performing job functions. Established by a federal law in 1973, Vocational Rehabilitation (which is sometimes called the Bureau of Rehab Services) provides funding and services to assist with that process. If you feel that your disability is preventing you from working, you should consider contacting your local vocational rehabilitation services agency. With the assistance they provide you may be able to develop a plan to work and thereby increase your independence. Check our show notes for more information. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Vocational rehabilitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/11mjcJ7 |
Fri, 29 March 2013
Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. From playing with an adaptive toy to composing your doctoral thesis, these are just two examples of what people can do with switches. Some disabilities mean that physically touching an object, like a toy, or accessing a computer's keyboard and mouse just isn't possible. In many situations a single switch or button can be placed within the user's reach and activated with a hand movement, head movement, foot movement or even a blink. Once a reliable method for activating a switch is determined, the possibilities for using that switch are almost endless. Check our show notes for an article to learn more about what's possible with switch access. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Switch access - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/YFvatc |
Fri, 22 March 2013
95-03-22-13 - Smart phones to communicate with the Deaf in a pinch Show Notes Hi folks. Welcome to “Accessibility Minute”, your weekly look at Assisitive Technology—those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs. Many times people who are Deaf and typically use American Sign Language to communicate find themselves in situations with non-ASL users and unable to effectively communicate. In the past, this situation typically required both parties to pass a pen and notepad back and forth to communicate. Now with smart phones everywhere, that classic method of passing notes is often modernized by passing a smart phone back and forth and the hearing and Deaf person typing notes to one another. In a pinch, it's a surprisingly effective method of communication. Check our show notes for a handy app that makes that process even easier. For more information, to read our blog or to drop us a line, visit EasterSealsTech.com. That was your accessibility minute for this week. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads, in Indiana. Big Note Lite for iPhone on the iTunes App Store http://bit.ly/ZL61id |
