Assistive Technology:
Tools for Transition
Presented by:
Team of Advocates for Special Kids
Laura Simmons-Martinez, Technology Project Director
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What is TASK?
 Team of Advocates
for Special Kids
(TASK) is a Parent
Training and
information center
that serves all ages
and all disabilities.
 Serves 11 counties
in Southern
California.
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What Types of Services
Does TASK Offer?
 One on one telephone
advocacy
 Parent education- workshops
& advocacy training
 Legal rights information
 Peer counseling
 IEP consultations
 Information & referrals
 Book & video lending library
 TECH center
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TASK TECH Centers
100 W. Cerritos Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805
(866) 828-8275 Toll Free in CA
NEW TECH CENTER OPEN IN COMPTON:
612 S. Long Beach Blvd., Compton, CA 90221
(310) 604-1015
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TASK’s TECH Center Services:
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TECH Labs (free to members)
Assistive Technology Evaluations
Guided Labs and Teacher Training
Software Lending Library (Over 1,100 titles)
Equipment Lending Library (toys, switches, etc.)
CAMP Techie (July and August ONLY)
Toddler TECH Time
The TECH Connection
NEW! Apps for ALL
Catalogs, Demo Disks, Resources, and more!!!
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TASK MEMBERSHIP
$35.00 per year, per family
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Tax Deductible
FREE Technology Labs
28 Page Newsletter (6 times a year)
Access to our Software and Equipment
Lending Libraries (DEPOSIT REQUIRED)
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NEW! Free Publication from TASK
Assistive Technology focused
E-Newsletter
 Send an email to: task@taskca.org
with the subject line: “E-Newsletter
Add” and we will put you on the list.
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TASK TECH Center
100 W. Cerritos Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805
(866) 828-8275 Toll Free in CA
www.taskca.org
Email:task@taskca.org or Laurasm@taskca.org
Laura Simmons-Martinez, Technology Project Director
Elizabeth Ortega, A.T. Specialist
Eria Miller, TECH Lab Assistant
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What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology Device:
“any item, piece of equipment, or product
system, whether acquired commercially off the
shelf, modified or customized, that is used to
increase, maintain or improve functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”
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Types of AT we will Discuss
Today:
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Low Tech
Hand Held/Portable Devices
Software
Online Resources
Applications (for iDevices)
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Low Tech
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Light/Low Tech Options Include:
Pencil Grips
Hi-lighter Tape
Adapted Scissors
Fidgets
Color Filters (overlays)
Carbonless Notebook
Paper
 Writing Guides
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Organization/Memory Aids
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Low Tech Organization/Transition
 Calendars (for organization)
 Visual Schedules
 Can be complex or simplified
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Visual Timers
Specialized Watches
Tape Recorders
Planners
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Organization/Memory
 Tape recorders, mini-pocket
recorders that allow the user to
verbally store and retrieve
telephone numbers,
appointments, notes, etc.
 Headphones or earplugs to
shut-out distractions.
 Digital Clocks, Digital Watches,
Talking Watches.
 Auditory Cueing Devices
 Visual Schedules/Visual
Directions
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Visual Timers
 Products to Consider:
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Time Timer
Time Timer Watch
The Visual Timer
Kitchen Timers
Watchminder
Time Timer APP
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Visual Schedules
Daily Schedule
 Calendars
Mini Schedules
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Silver Lining Multimedia
Photo Software CDs available are:
 Picture This Professional
 Visual Essentials
 Visual Foods
 Places You Go, Things You Do
 Functional Living Skills and
Behavioral Rules
 School Routines and Rules
Sample picture:
people category
http://www.silverliningmm.com/
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Hand Held/Portable Devices
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Products include:
 Franklin Products
 Dictionaries, Thesaurus, Spell Checkers
 Reading pens
 Quick Link, Iris Pen Express, Wizcom
 Calculators
 Large Print, Talking, See N’ Solve
 Portable Magnifiers
 IPOD or MP3 Player
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Live Scribe Smart Pens
 Smartpens record everything you
hear and write so you'll never miss a
word.
A smartpen lets you
capture words,
diagrams, scribbles,
symbols and audio syncing everything you
hear to what you wrote.
$99.00
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Portable Reading Devices
 Portable OCR
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 Intel Reader
 Pearl
Book Readers
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Ipad
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Kindle
Nook
Ibooks
Vbooks
Many more
Classmate Reader
Digital Book Players
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Victor Reader
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Intel Reader
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The Intel® Reader is a mobile
handheld device designed to
increase independence for
anyone who struggles with
reading standard print.
Its unique design combines a
high-resolution camera with the
power of an Intel Atom™
processor that converts printed
text to digital text, and then
reads it aloud while highlighting
the text onscreen.
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Assistive Listening Devices
Devices that amplify sound,
although these are not
hearing aids. Some also
amplify the sound of speech
and filter other noises, so
listeners may better hear
what is being spoken in
larger, noisier environments.
Products to consider include:
 Pocket Talker, HearIt, etc.
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Software
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Computer Aided Reading and
Writing:
 E-books/Audio
Books
 Screen Readers
 Word Prediction
 Talking word
processors
 Contextual Spelling
and Grammar
Checkers
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E-Books/Audio Books
Electronic books called e-texts may provide an
alternative to traditional printed texts for many
readers with learning disabilities. E-texts are books
in electronic form that can be downloaded from the
Internet onto a computer and read out loud to the
user using text-to-speech software.
Including:
 Learning Ally http://www.learningally.org/ (formerly RFBD)
Bookshare.org www.bookshare.org
Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/
Lit 2 Go http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/
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Screen Readers/Text to Speech
Screen Reader = Software that reads the contents
of a computer screen, converting the text to
speech.
Screen Reader Products to consider include:
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Browsealoud (free)
Aspire Reader
Read Outloud
Read Please (free)
JAWS (BLV)
Window Eyes (BLV)
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Portable products include:
 Premier Literacy
 Premier to Go (11 tools on a USB flash drive)
 Key to Access(11 literacy tools plus an MP3
player and digital tape recorder)
 TextHelp

-Read & Write Gold Mobile
 Claro Read USB Stick
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Key to Access
by: Premier Assistive Technology
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By just inserting the MP3 Player into
any USB Port, the floating tool bar
will appear and then you just select
any of the eight different tools. The
software NEVER needs to be installed
on your computer. All your personal
settings are saved on your Key to
Access so that no matter which
computer you use, your access will
be the same.
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Talking Word Processors
Talking Word Processing programs speak
aloud what is typed into the computer. Most
talking word processors also provide
adjustable font size and adjustable
foreground and background colors.
Programs include:
Write:OutLoud
“The Talking Word Processor”
Doc Reader
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Write Outloud Solo Edition
• Talking Word
Processor
• Built in Franklin
Dictionary
• Bibliographer
• Spell Checker
• Homonym
Checker
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Contextual Spellcheckers
These are programs that check grammar, spelling
and punctuation in context of the sentence you are
writing.
 Ginger Software
www.gingersoftware.com
 Whitesmoke Writer
www.whitesmoke.com
 Ghotit
http://www.ghotit.com/
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Ginger Software
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As the user works on a regular text editor, such
as Microsoft Word, Ginger Software
automatically detects and corrects unusual
spelling mistakes, misused words, and
grammatical errors.
Try it free: www.gingersoftware.com
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Word Prediction Programs
Word prediction or word completion
programs predict words on the basis
of the first few letters typed, providing
an excellent support tool to poor
spellers.
Co:Writer
Read & Write Gold
Word Q
Premier Predictor Pro
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Word Q/Speak Q
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You can emphasize words in the
prediction by using topics. A topic is a
list of words that are part of your
vocabulary that will be predicted faster.
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Graphic Organizers
Graphic Organizers, Mind Maps and Concept Maps are
a pictorial or graphical way to organize information
and thoughts for understanding, remembering, or
writing about.
Products to Consider:
 Inspiration
 Draft Builder
 Smart Ideas
 Mind Mapper
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Draft Builder Solo Edition
3 Easy Steps:
Create Outline, Notes, Draft
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Functional/Life Skills
Software
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Independent Living Skills Software
by: Attainment Company
 Including:
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Conversation Skills
Community Success
Information Signs
Grooming for Life
Grocery Words
MANY MORE!
www.attainmentcompany.com
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Read to Learn Software
by Attainment Company
Reads stories aloud to students with
professional narration.
 Text is highlighted word by word, by line or by
complete sentence.
 A test at the end of each story also provides
speech support plus an optional hint feature
that directs students to the page that
addresses each question.
 Students can access the software by mouse,
touch screen, IntelliKeys or single switch.
Titles include:
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Life Skill Readers
Social Story Readers
Safety Skills Reader
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Personal Success Software
by Attainment
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53 activities illustrated step-bystep, along with additional tips
covering safety and convenience
issues. Activities are organized
into topics: Personal care
(women, men, both), dressing for
success (women, men), and
clothing care.
Instructors can select a
personalized list for each
participant. Students review
frequently performed activities
at the computer.
Use printouts to rehearse
activities or as take-home picture
cues.
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Functional Math Software
 Marblesoft Money Skills
 Attainment Company
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Dollars and Cents
Counting Coins
Calculator Tutor
Time Scales
Match Time
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Dollars and Cents
by: Attainment Company
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Three programs on one
CD!
Includes the intro level
First Money, which
identifies money names
and values, Spending
Money, where the user
goes from store to store to
buy things on a shopping
list, and Making Change,
our most advanced money
program where the user is
a store clerk.
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Attainment Software Job Related
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Connections in the Workplace
Who’s Future Is It?
Towards Independence
Social Skills at Work
Success Stories at Work
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Attainment Company Software
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Community Success Software
45 activities organized by
category: Shopping,
transportation, eating out,
important places and
appointments.
Survival Signs Series
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Basic Signs
Safety Signs
Community Signs
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FREE Online Resources
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Free Learning Styles Surveys:
 www.metamath.com/lsweb/dvclearn.htm
 http://people.usd.edu/~bwjames/tut/learningstyle/stylest.html
 www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm
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GCF Learnfree
 Various topics including:
 Everyday Life
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Telling Time, Job Applications, ATM
 Computers
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Email Basics, Social Media, Internet Basics
 Career
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Career Planning, Interview Skills, Job
Applications, Resume Writing
www.gcflearnfree.org/topics
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Apps for iDevices
Please note: prices for apps are subject to change!
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Apps for Communication
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Proloquo2go $189.99
Tap Speak Choice $159.99
SoMuch2Say - $24.99
Sono Flex Lite (Free)
Tap to Talk (Free)
Talk4Me – 99 cents
Verbally- Free
Yes/No – 99 cents
Small Talk Apps (Free)
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Visual Schedule Apps
 First-Then, by Good Karma- $9.99
 Visual Schedule Planner, by Good Karma
$14.99
 iCommunicate, by Grembe - $49.99
 iPrompts, by Handhold Adaptive- $49.99
 Steps, by Adastrasoft - $9.99
 TASUC, by InfoLounge- $28.99
 Dayleaf, by Friendleaf- $1.99
 Visules, by Dean Huff- $4.99
 Picture Scheduler, by Petr Jankuj -$2.99
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Visual Schedule App Example:
 Visual Schedule Planner, by Good Karma $14.99
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Life Skills Apps
 Conover Company Samplers (FREE)
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Life Skills Sampler
Literacy Skills Sampler
Social Skills Sampler
Work Skills Sampler
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More Conover Company Apps
Hygiene
Grooming
Tools at Work
Shopping List
Coins & Dollars
Grocery Signs and
Words
 Public
Transportation
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Prices vary
from
.99 to 1.99
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AbleLink Technologies
 Everyday Skills
 Features 40 important skills necessary for
living independently and accessing the
community.
 Living Safely
 Includes home and personal safety skills.
 My Health, My Choice, My Responsibility
 Learn how to live a healthy lifestyle
 Visual Impact
 Step by step instructions on common everyday
tasks.
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NeedFood (The Visual Grocery List)
By Available Worldwide
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Browsing visual items can serve
as reminders of what you might
need to buy while creating your
grocery list.
• Create a checklist faster using
visuals instead of text
• Browse through hundreds of
categorized items
• All grocery icons come with labels
that are customizable
• Enjoy a fun and simple grocery
list experience
$3.99
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Any Questions?
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