The end of the school year is happening this week for some of the schools in Indiana.  Others will end next week and a few others, the week after.  It is a time of good-byes and new beginnings for children changing buildings, seniors starting their post secondary adventures and teachers, administrators and other school personnel who will be packing up their classrooms and offices and moving on to other adventures of their own.  Education is an on-going process.  We do not start over with ABC’s and 123′s at the beginning of each year.  We review.  So, with that in mind, it is important for those who are moving on to leave some of the knowledge that they have gained for those that will come after them.  If you are one of those professionals that has had a relationship with PATINS and is now leaving for retirement, or another post, we want to thank you for all you have done for your students.  If you have borrowed assistive technology, called/emailed questions or attended our conferences, you are marked as an educator who will go to any length to facilitate your student’s needs.  We also have a favor to ask.  Before you leave, please leave some wisdom for the educator who is following in your footsteps.  Leave them a note filled with some of your favorite tips and tricks and let them know how PATINS can help.  Thank you.

An important PATINS email should be coming to you soon!

In it will be a survey that will help to develop the interstate assistive technology and universal design for learning webinar series for the 2013 – 2014 school year. All responses are confidential, and we would like to receive it back by May 31, 2013. This interstate webinar project is a collaborative effort among Indiana (PATINS), Ohio (OCALI), Michigan (MITS), Texas (TATN) and Minnesota Department of Education. The survey has 2 questions so it won’t take very long to complete.  When you get your email, we encourage you to forward this survey to all of your colleagues, including general and special education teachers, building level, district level, and special education administration, related services professionals, IT professionals, AT consultants, etc.   Thank you in advance for your feedback!

What’s that you say?  You want to take it right now?  Well, Ok, just click on the red “I Can’t Wait!” and the survey is all yours!

I Can’t Wait!

Speaking of surveys… our app this week is AnswerGarden.  It is a simple app that can be used as a feedback tool.  As people answer the question it creates a word cloud of the answers!  Please click on the icon below to view my question for you!

News

The Autism Society of Indiana in partnership with the Indiana Governors Council of People with Disabilities is presenting in 2013 the 1st Annual Indiana Youth Leadership Forum (IN-YLF), which is based off of the California Youth Leadership Forum.  The program is an exciting five-day leadership program for students with disabilities (any and all types) where students will learn everything from technology to resource agencies to creating a “Personal Leadership Plan” to help reach education and career goals.  In addition, the students and their peers will be able to meet and interact with leaders in the State; professionals and role models from the “disability community”.

We need your help in getting the word out to students that you know that fit the criteria for the forum. The students are to be between the ages of 16-21, in 11th or 12th grade in high school and have a disability. The disability may include a variety of disabilities such as learning, visual, mobility, mental health, developmental, hearing, and neurological impairments.  In addition, the students have to show leadership at school and/or in the community.  Please visit our website at to learn more http://www.inylf.org/ our program.

We will be selecting, from all the applicants, 25 students that will attend this year’s forum which will be held July 27th – July 31st, 2013 on the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus in downtown Indianapolis. Please help us by spreading the word to any organization, group, or school that you know in your area that may have students that qualify. Any way that we can help you spread the word such as a newsletter or website blurb that we can provide for you, please let us know. Attached is the student application. Please help us by forwarding the application to anyone that would know of a student that could meet our criteria. It is also available online electronically – this is the preferred method of submittal. The applications are due May 24, 2013.

Please feel free to contact me or Jennifer Coffey, IN-YLF Coordinator (Jennifer@inautism.org or 1-800-609-8449 x66) if you have any questions or would like to be involved even as a volunteer for the event. Anything I can do to help you and your organization to spread the word, please let me know. You can also follow us on Facebook (Indiana Youth Leadership Forum) or Twitter (@inylf) for updates about the event as well.

via: David Goetz, david@inautism.org Rural Outreach Ally, Autism Society of Indiana,  1800 – 609 – 8449, ext 333

CIESC and Apple partnered to offer a Train-the-Trainer Summer Camp June 18 through June 21 for Technology Integration Specialists to further support innovation in schools with iPad 1:1 digital learning initiatives. The Apple courses to be covered are iOS Creativity , iOS Productivity, iBooks Author, iTunes U Course Manager.

Register at http://bit.ly/Y406Cq or www.ciesc.k12.in.us. Only 20 registrants are accepted. Send a Team! For more info see flyer: http://t.co/0HBPvWmgCf 

WE HAVE ONLY 8 SPOTS LEFT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU!

For some, the school year is winding down for others there is quite a bit left.  Regardless, it is a good time to look at summer camps!

Through the National Federation for the Blind students can attended the BELL Program – Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning   The goal of the program is to provide 2 weeks of Braille instruction enrichment to children ages 4-12 who are blind or have low vision.  The program runs from Monday through Friday for six hours a day and incorporates all of the great summer camp activities like:  crafts, games, projects and field trips.  All of these activities will be related to the NFB BELL curriculum.  THE DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP IS MAY 15th! 

Click here for more details!                     Link for sign-up.

Here are some other links to articles with lists of summer camps for students with disabilities in Indiana.

Friendship Circle Blog list of summer camps

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Summer 2012 Camps and Programs

I get asked all the time, “What is your favorite app?”  In general it depends on what is supposed to be accomplished.  That said, I try a lot of apps!  I do have some that I really like.  I hope that I can highlight some that will help you.  So, to this end, I will be posting an app each time I blog.  This first one is a blockbuster!

Native Numbers  $4.99 

Native Numbers is a completely complete way of learning what a number is and what it represents.  Students will first work with rods, no numbers.  They will be asked to “touch one”.  They will then see a square white rod and will need to touch it to make it continue.  They will then see a rod called 2 (appropriately sized), 3 and 4.  Then they are given the rods in sets of 2 and asked to touch the one that is named.  This goes on through nine.  Once completed they are introduced to sets.  The next lesson reviews and then has them compare rods and sets.  Finally the 4th lesson introduces numerals.  Though the scope of the app they will work with tallies, counting up, counting down and counting on.  The final group of lessons involve demonstrating mastery.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process and would love to see it applied to foreign language, science and anything else the developers at Native Brain can come up with!

Have a great week!

I find many things on line, in blogs I read and in my email.  This is just an eclectic group of things I’ve been keeping to pass along.

A new update to the Kindle app came to my iPhone this week.  It is now compatible with VoiceOver.

Update: National Federation of the Blind comments on Amazon Kindle App: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-comments-amazon-kindle-app

Michigan State University is proud to present an exciting college transition program for high school students with disabilities. The Venture program invites students ages 16-18 to join us for a unique on-campus pre-college experience. Venture offers students the chance to “try on” university life through an interactive experience at MSU. This experience will benefit all students, regardless of whether they are planning on attending a 2 or 4 year college.

Students will:

• Talk directly with current MSU students with disabilities who have “been there” and understand the journey
• Consult with university disability specialists to learn skills for college
• Experience firsthand the latest assistive technology through breakout sessions during the program
• Attend a college class, stay two nights in an accessible residence hall, and build connections with other high school students with disabilities
• Become aware of self-advocacy skills and resources for a successful transition
• Develop a long-range goal that includes a vision of higher education

Learn more and apply now at https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/programs/project-venture!

Do you have information you would like to see in this blog?  Let me know.  Post a comment or send me an email.   sepatins@ciesc.k12.in.us

Just a posting to convey some good news.  An update for Read:Outloud is available that will provide a fix for the dictionary tool.  Click on the big red letters to get to the ICAM page!

This replaces the online dictionary with Thefreedictionary.com, and corrects the inability to add a bookmark for .html/web pages in the Mac OS version.

Download Fix Here

Which is better for students, low tech or high tech?

This is not a standard question to guide your meditation, like “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” but for my mind it works just as well.   So many answers, all right or wrong depending upon the situation.  Consider this example:  A student is having difficulties accessing text.  They can’t see it well enough.  What to suggest?  Zoom Text? iPad? Large Print Texts?  In this case, a slant board was all that was needed.  The student did not have sufficient mobility to manipulate a text to the optimum reading position.  Going high tech would be overkill.  Same question different student, only now it is vision related.  The student can not decode text at the size printed in a standard text book.  Now the questions regarding high tech are appropriate.  This is where the case conference committee must look at what is the least restrictive option for that student.  What options do we have to create an environment where a student’s disabilities become inconsequential. The lowest tech option in this case would be large print, but does that create an environment with the least restrictions?  While it is hard to imagine a big book causing harmful effects, it is easy to understand where it might cause some restrictive differences.  Some to consider are:

• Decreased access to full instructional opportunities;
• Diminished access to the full range of the curriculum;
• Lack of opportunities for social interaction;
• Decreased self-esteem;
• Stigmatization; and/or
• Isolation from peers in the educational setting.

The following is a direct link to the form a case conference committee must fill out prior to the determination of large print as the needed specialized format(s) is appropriate for the student.

http://www.icam.k12.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=34

Helping educators to make these decisions by allowing students to try some of the higher-tech solutions available is one of the services the PATINS Project provides.  The Coordinators are always willing to work through meditative debates with educators so that the students receive the education they deserve.

Are you an educator who is using technology to support innovative inquiry-based teaching and learning activities in their classrooms.

Matthew Callison, who helps run the Jacobs Educator Award Program at Indiana University, Bloomington recently posted this opportunity:

The Jacobs Educator Award Program at Indiana University Bloomington recognizes K-12 teachers across the United States who are using technology to support innovative inquiry-based teaching and learning activities in their classrooms.

Each selected Jacobs Educator will receive:

• $1500 stipend at the end of their one-year appointment,
• $1000 to be used to purchase technology resources to support their teaching,
• funds to support travel to Indiana University in order to participate in periodic events throughout the year.

Applications are now open and we are accepting applications until July 15.

Learn more: http://education.indiana.edu/jacobs

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Are you a family member, teacher, therapist or other service provider struggling with the complexities of autism? Need help solving the puzzle? This series of autism trainings was designed for you!

Know Your ABC’s + Technology and Autism

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:

Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 8:30 AM – to - Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 4:00 PM (EDT)

Indiana Wesleyan Education and Conference Center
3777 Priority Way S Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46240

Registration and More Information 

There is a new switch access device for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch from RSL Steeper in the PATINS library.  The Pererro is very small, but has some great features (per RSL Steeper)

• Works with almost any VoiceOver enabled app
• Plug & Play
• Two scan modes; Auto Increment & Press to Increment, enabling you to continue using your preferred scanning method
• Direct input so no Bluetooth battery drain
• Powers directly from your device
• 3.5mm mono jack socket for universal switch input
• ‘Charge through’ ability to charge your device without disconnecting
• Just 36 × 29 × 9 mm

By downloading the free Pererro app (iTunes Store) you can customize the features and settings so that when the Pererro is moved from device to device it will interact with the app to apply individualized settings.

A couple of teachers and I tried it on an iPad and had success in navigating both on the home screens and within some apps.  If it sounds like something you would like to try, contact your PATINS coordinator.  We have them to lend out!

Did your district receive a special ed improvement grant?  Contact your Coordinator regarding your specific training needs.

See you at the EXPO!

Productivity is one of those words thrown around in society that act like a non-specific band-aid for fixing whatever is wrong.  If we increase student productivity…  Teachers need to use their time more productively…  and so on.  Sometimes increasing productivity requires increasing stimulation.  While researching this week’s tip I came across the focus@will site.  www.focus@will.com    The site streams music that is picked to increase productivity.  It has tips running along the bottom, and 8 different genres of music to run in the background.  Listening to music without lyrics works really well for me.  The trick in a classroom is to find a music style that suits the students that need it while not disturbing the ones that don’t.  In this way it becomes yet another tool in your UDL tool box!

This is what I was listening to while writing.

I started out researching “SpeakIt”, a free app on the Chrome Web Store.  For those using the web browser Chrome, once installed, this app will translate all highlighted text to speech while on the internet.  SpeakIt adds a speaker button to the right of the bookmark star just outside of the URL address box on the Chrome browser.  The user just needs to highlight the selection to be spoken and press the speaker symbol.  The pictured box will appear and read.  To get this app, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/home  search SpeakIt in the search window and follow the instructions.  While I would not recommend this app for all text to speech needs, it is free, easy to download and can be used in some non-essential ways.  One of my favorites is for proofreading.  I will let the computer read what I have written while I listen for content.

So how did one thing lead to the other?  I pulled up this article http://edudemic.com/2013/04/cycle-of-productivity/ ”This Is The Modern Cycle of Productivity” by Katie Lepi on Edudemic.  I was testing SpeakIt for this post.  It is a quick fun article and lead me to focus@will.  Try the app on the article and you will notice that the graphic will not read.  That is because it is just a picture of the original graphic.  This is an issue that has been discussed and will continue to be discussed when looking at truly accessible reading material.

Don’t forget that it is Autism Awareness Month.  The Appy Mall as well as Appolicious have been listing several free and reduced autism apps!

See you at the PATINS Tech Expo!

PATINS 2013 Tech Expo

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Fountains
502 East Carmel Drive
Carmel, IN  46032

In the case of a zombie apocalypse it would be important to have a stockpile of things you would need to survive.  The school year is no different.  Time and money are limited commodities.  According to apple.com there are over 300,000 *apps.  It is getting hard to sort through them.  There are several ways to search for the app you need.  Here are some sites that are categorizing and rating apps (android too) that can help you save time finding what you need.

• http://www.appolicious.com/
• www.freeapps.org/
• http://www.appymall.com/#
• http://theappyladies.wordpress.com/
• http://appadvice.com/appnn

17 Days until PATINS Tech Expo!

Check out the CIESC Newsletter here:  http://www.ciesc.k12.in.us/

Let me know some of your favorite sites for searching for apps!  I know I missed some good ones.

See you at the Expo!

Sandi

 * as of 3/26/2013 Mac User Magazine reports - Apple’s iOS App Store passes 800,000 available apps by KENNY HEMPHILL on MARCH 26, 2013

mrrrrr apps! (Zombify Me – app used for picture)

Did you know that there are 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays in March this year?  A Facebook “friend” sent me a message that this phenomenon would not happen again for 823 years.  That just is not true.  Any month with 31 days will have 3 consecutive days that occur 5 times within that month.  The next time March will do this is in the year 2019.  Hmm, that doesn’t seem like 823 years.  Not even in dog years.  Internet sites like Snopes www.snopes.com and Hoax-Slayer www.hoax-slayer.com are the first places I go when I want to validate information on the internet.  Skepticism is one of those skills we all need to hone as information becomes more readily available.  Many argue that our students need to be taught the ability to find information instead of memorizing facts.  Along with that ability comes the need to verify facts or to know where to find reliable confirmation of facts.

With the Tech Expo around the corner I would like to spotlight some of the “Not for Profit” organizations that will be lending their expertise to the Expo this year.

• Achieve 3000
• Best Buddies Indiana
• Down Syndrome Indiana
• Effective and Compliant IEP Resource Center
• INDATA Project at Easter Seals
• Indiana Center for Accessible Materials
• Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services
• Indiana Resource Center for Autism
• Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Indiana Educational Resource Center
• Indiana School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library
• PATINS Project
• Refurbished Computers

As you can tell from the list this is an impressive gathering of expertise.  Another reason to attend the PATINS Tech Expo!

It doesn’t seem that the month of March is going to be easy to categorize weather-wise this year.  Hang in there, and be glad there weren’t 5 Mondays this month!

There are several adjectives that describe March, the one I’m going to use today is…BUSY!

Tuesday, State Project Director, Daniel McNulty and I will be hosting PATINS TV at 11:45 – 12:00.  This week we will be talking about PATINS conferences.  They are two very different conferences.  The Tech Expo is just around the corner on April 18th.  The program description is posted here, http://www.patinsproject.com/images/stories/vendorpresentationdescriptions.pdf in pdf form, and as a downloadable epub on the PATINS Project home page www.patinsproject.com  The fall conference is scheduled for November 4th and 5th.  For more information check out the PATINS Project home page and take a look at the flyer and call for presentations at http://www.patinsproject.com/images/stories/2013stateconf.pdf  This episode will hopefully illuminate the different aspects of Assistive Technology (AT) and the role that it plays in creating a curriculum rich in Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) which as we know is critical for the achievement of all students.

As many districts continue to research and prepare proposals for the Indiana Special Education Improvement Grant the PATINS Coordinators are excited about the role we get to play.  One of the things I love to remind corporations is that PATINS’ services are always FREE.  That includes training.  The only thing that costs is the admission to the fall conference.  We have been doing lots of iPad training recently.  With so many teachers using this tool, I’d love to hear some of the great uses you have found for it.  Maybe it is a quick tip, like how to take a picture with the volume control on the earbuds or a way they have worked within your classroom.  Send me a quick note, sepatins@ciesc.k12.in.us I’ll pass it on!

With ISTEP, spring break, basketball, mid-terms, 3rd quarter report cards and the regular daily activities taking up your time, you may be wondering, “How much more can we cram into one month?”  My feeling is, “We will never know if we don’t try!”  Hang in there!

For more on utilizing your iPad as a tool in your classroom go to: http://smahlworldindustries.edublogs.org/2013/03/17/what-is-this-madness/