Tech It Easy (Text only version. All pictures and special formatting has
been removed)
Access Technologies, Inc
November 2015 Edition
Editor: Laurie Brooks
Page 1
Traumatic Brain Injury
Are you or a family member living with a Traumatic Brain Injury? According to the
Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon more than 155,449 Oregonians are living with a
disability from an acquired brain injury. Car accidents and falls are among the leading
causes of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and even a mild brain injury can turn your
world upside down.
The Hidden Disability. After recovering from visible injuries of an accident,
individuals with a brain injury continue to struggle with cognitive difficulties
associated with a TBI; many times unnoticed by people around them, accept for family
members.
Many individuals with a TBI experience cognitive difficulties including short and long
term memory loss, poor concentration, sleep disorders, difficulty processing
information, inability to complete more than one task at a time, as well as
organizational difficulties. Recovery from these cognitive deficits can be frustrating,
but the assistive technology (AT) solutions to accommodate these difficulties should
not be. If you are exploring mobile solutions such as smartphones, tablets and their
apps, learning to use the solution shouldn’t be challenging or time intensive.
Almost every day, we hear about new apps developed for just about everything –
from staying organized to finding pharmacies or restaurants while on the road. But
with so many apps how do you determine which are right for you? Before spending
days or even weeks downloading one app after another, and experiencing that ever
increasing level of frustration trying to learn how to use each one, Turn to Access
Technologies, Inc. for assistance.
This edition of Tech It Easy highlights a number of the over 400 iOS apps ATI has
available for you to explore as you break down barriers and regain independence.
Page 2 -
Memory Apps — Did you forget where you parked your car? Or do you lose your
keys on a daily basis? It happens to all of us at some point.
ATI has a number of reminder apps as well as brain-training memory game apps for
you to explore. Here is a short list:
Word Warp: Create as many words as possible from a selection of letters.
Find My iPhone: Track where your iOS device is and where it has been.
n-Back: Improve your working memory through actively memorizing and recalling
information.
Voice Cards are Not Flashcards: Create voice recordings of your questions and
answers in sets of Flashcards.
Pill Monitor: Reminds you when it’s time to take your medication.
WatchMinder: Great for behavior modification, self-monitoring behavior, anger
management, stress reduction and to improve focus.
Lumosity: Brain exercises for memory attention, flexibility and problem solving.
(Paid subscription available for advanced features)
Communication Apps — Are you looking for an app to help yourself or a loved one
express thoughts and communication needs. Here are a few communication apps you
may explore while borrowing an iPad from ATI.
Proloquo2Go: Natural sounding text-to-speech voices, high resolution, up-to-date
symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a vocabulary of more than 7,000 items,
and advanced word prediction.
Proloquo4Text: Offers customizable single screen layout for easy conversation, free
natural-sounding voices in 15 languages, with sentence and word prediction.
Sono Flex: Turns symbols into clear speech.
Tap2Talk: Push pictures of items to have a voice speak them for you.
Verbally: Enables real conversation by tapping on what you want to say. (Premium
features available with an in-app purchase)
Pages 3 – 7 of this edition of Tech It Easy contain listings of new durable medical
and/or assistive technology devices that are available for sale through our Assistive
Technology MarketPlace.
Page 8 of this edition of Tech It Easy contain our Bargain Basement. The Bargain
Basement section is a listing of slightly used items which are also available for sale
online in our Assistive Technology MarketPlace.
Page 9
Reading and Writing Solutions – These apps are designed to reduce frustration
with reading and writing tasks. Schedule a demonstration of these apps with one of
ATI’s knowledgeable AT Specialists, then borrow an iPad and practice using the app
in the comfort of your home.
AppWriter: Tools and features of this text editor are seamlessly integrated and
comprised of context based word, suggestions, text-to-speech, integrated PDF-reader,
OCR, a custom keyboard and the special Dyslexie-font.
Audiobooks from Audible: Listen to books on your mobile device.
Text Recognizer Pro: Capture printed text that can be edited, copied to the clipboard
or emailed.
TextAloud: Listen to text aloud. Features include word highlighting and adjustable
display colors, brightness, and text size.
Speak It!: Read your text documents, emails, news articles, etc. aloud.
Speller: Check spelling of English or Spanish words.
Location Solutions – These apps provide peace of mind. If you, or a loved one
occasionally gets “turned around” or you just want to make certain your child arrived
at their destination, check out these location apps.
Find My Friends: Locate your loved one by following their locations.
Current Location Pro: Touch SMS or email button to get your current location and
send to someone by message or email.
Glympse: Share your location using GPS tracking in real time. Viewable only by
people you share with.
Where Am I Now?: As soon as you open the app, it will zoon to your location and
display coordinates with address.
Where Am I Parked?: Mark your parking spot on a map, make a text note and even
save a picture taken with the camera.
Life360 Locator: Tack loved ones’ in real time. Features include check-in, and
messaging.
Page 10
Organization Solutions – With these apps it’s like having a personal assistant to
keep you on time and on budget. Schedule time to explore these apps at ATI, or borrow
an iPad and determine which apps best help you stay organized.
DragonDictation: Easily speak and instantly see your words on the screen. Send short
text messages, longer email messages and update your Facebook and Twitter statuses
without typing a word.
Clear Record Lite: Audio recording app that suppresses ambient, background noise
allowing the user to record conversations in a noisy environment while maintaining
clear voices. Slow down conversations to manageable pace for the user.
Inspiration Maps: An intuitive and powerful visual learning app, create diagrams,
graphic organizers and topic outlines.
Inventory Taking Pro: Take stock or keep inventory records.
Jumpsoft Money: Keep control of your financial life. This app allows you to oversee
your account balances, track your income and spending, keep a budget.
Penultimate: Handwriting app that helps you get the fast, tactical gratification or
writing on paper, with digital power and flexibility.
Visual Schedule Planner: Customizable, Visual schedule iPad app that is designed to
give you an audio/visual representation of the events in your day.
Tips for Emergency Use of Mobile Devices – Whether it’s a small emergency
or a large one, consider these tips in preparing your device should the unexpected
happen to you.
Program a list of emergency phone numbers in your device.
Enable your device to receive emergency alerts.
Know how to send text messages.
Know how to use the camera and how to send pictures and video.
Store important documents in “the cloud” which can be accessed by any mobile device
or computer (especially if your device stops working).
Evaluate and know how to use emergency apps that make sense to you.
Page 11
Task Management Solutions – Do you find it difficult to effectively manage your
tasks? Then check out these apps, and consider scheduling time for an assessment to
help identify the best task management app for you.
Here is a short list:
CanPlan: Break down each task into a sequence of easy-to-follow steps, illustrated by
photos and reinforced with optional text and audio.
Corkulous: Collect, organize and share ideas on virtual cork boards. “Pin” notes,
labels, photos, contacts, and tasks. Group ideas visually on one board or spread ideas
out across multiple boards.
Cozi Family Organizer: Family life organization app that includes a shared calendar,
shopping lists, to do lists, and a family journal.
Evernote: Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Take notes,
capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders, and make notes completely
searchable.
Grocery IQ: Build lists from developer’s extensive product database using text,
barcode, or voice search.
Life Balance: Personal coaching software. Adjusts your to-do lists as you check off
lists.
List Master: Create simple or complex lists with due dates and alerts. Design lists with
multiple columns, move information between lists, calculate columns, and even mail
lists.
13th Annual Pacific Northwest Brain Injury Conference 2015
Living with Brain Injury & Neurological Changes: Thinking Outside the
Box
When: March 12 – 14, 2015
Where: Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, Portland, OR
For more information Click www.biaoregon.org or Call 1-800-544-5243
Page 12
Learn about a FREE Equipment Program
iCanConnect—Oregon
If you have significant combined hearing and vision loss, you know first hand that
sending emails or chatting on the phone can be difficult.
iCanConnect offers free communication equipment and training so you can keep in
touch . . . and be more independent.
Contact ATI to learn about the program’s income and disability guidelines. Refer
someone you know or apply for the program yourself.
Phone: (503) 361-1201
Toll Free: (800) 677-7512
Email: info@accesstehnologiesinc.org
Web: www.accesstechnologiesinc.org