PATINS PROJECT -Rapid Fire-

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/

ISTEP, Spring Break and winter storms!  Weather wise, the February 26th (close enough) Parent Evening featuring Adapting the iPad for Accessibility at the Logan Center in South Bend, IN iPad was postponed due to inclement weather.  It has been rescheduled for May 6, 2013 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.  Hopefully even South Bend will be snow-free by then.  The good news is that this rescheduling allows us to reopen registration for this event!  There are only 20 spaces available.  To see the information and to register, please follow this link.  A Parent Evening featuring Adapting the iPad for Accessibility

For those of you looking for a parent evening a little further south, March 19, 2013, parent night will be in Greenwood, IN.  There are still spots available.  To see the information and to register, please follow this link.  A Parent Evening featuring Adapting the iPad for Accessibility

The PATINS Tech Expo is getting closer!  The presentation information as well as information on hotel accommodations, and registration for attendees and presenters is posted at:  www.patinsproject.com

I am currently on spring break and had to rely on PATINS Project Administrative Assistant Glenda Thompson, to help me send some information to a director in my region regarding the Fall PATINS State Conference and including PATINS in the Special Education Improvement Award.  Her advice and information were so well stated that I wanted to post it here. “Our PATINS State Conference is coming up November 4 & 5, 2013 in downtown Indianapolis at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The cost is $75/day which covers the catering costs. There will be a full slate of National and Local presenters along with a keynote each day. That Registration will be up by the end of this week and we are firming up our Presenters even as I type-a list for your review will be on www.patinsproject.com very soon.
As you formulate your proposal and allocate your monies, keep in mind our annual Spring PATINS Tech Expo for 2014. This will be held in Indianapolis as well but NO registration cost and complimentary lunch. If you could plan for subs and send some teachers to this event they will have a full day of vendor driven presentations, PATINS staff available for support and discussions and an Exhibit Hall full of vendors to explain their technology and tips. If you or any of your colleagues can come THIS year, please do. It is next month, April 18th and I have included the registration link for your consideration. Register Here! “

For more info on these topics and more, contact your region’s Coordinator and stay warm and dry!

The Indiana Department of Education announced on Friday 2/22/2012 that the Office of Special Education (OSE) will be accepting proposals for a Special Education Improvement Award.  ”Each LEA is invited to submit a proposal to the OSE highlighting how they would use a $70,000.00 award to improve upon their current services for students with disabilities.”  For more information, this announcement can be found on the IDOE Learning Connection Site within the Special Education Community.  www.learningconnection.doe.in.gov

Among the other requirements, the award states that:

“This plan must include at a minimum one of the following options:

• Consultation with PATINS about using the technology in the LEA.
• Proof of registration for members of the LEA to the PATINS conference.
• Monies allocated to the PATINS project for profession development.”

Contained in the materials provided is a template that can be used to create the budget and narrative as well as examples.

LEA’s are going to have to act quickly as the deadline for proposals is the close of business, March 28, 2013.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposal via email to Andrea Lakin at: alakin@doe.in.gov

Contact your PATINS coordinator!  PATINS is excited to be an integral part of this award.  I have been contacted by several districts already and am looking forward to assisting them in this venture!

In other news…

The Central Indiana Educational Service Center or CIESC has a great website http://www.ciesc.k12.in.us/  On there you will find information about PATINS, Indiana Online Academy, Drivers Ed. and a link to their monthly newsletter.  http://www.ciesc.k12.in.us/images/CIESC_Feb_2013.pdf

Another great resource provided by the CIESC is the Indiana Online Academy (IOA).  They are now providing an educator centered site called eDESK devoted to professional development and resources.  http://www.ioaedesk.com/ check it out!

Also, don’t forget the next Parent Night, March 19th in Greenwood, IN!  Click here for the full flyer http://www.patinsproject.com/images/stories/parentnightflyer31913.pdf

Best wishes for a busy March!

Good Day!  Daniel here again, briefly…thought I’d steal a few minutes this week to poke my head back into one of my favorite online hang-outs to thank Sandi Mahl for doing such a great job of caring for the blog these last couple of weeks.  As many of the readers know, I’ve been doing this blog just about every Friday since the Fall of 2007.  We’ve become rather attached, this blog and me, and it was an extended leap for me to ask Sandi to consider blogging in my place.  So, I’ll be back in every now and then, but am confident that the Rapid Fire PATINS Blog is in very capable hands with our SE Regional Coordinator, Sandi!  Please consider leaving Sandi a comment or two on the blog each week.  That’d be swell!

I had reason this week to send a few emails to participants of a presentation I did recently and realized something that I am quite embarrassed to say I’ve not truly addressed in the past.  I realized that I was sending an email that contained 3 photos in the body,  to a woman who is blind.  True, I try to always provide alternate text for all images in documents and presentations, etc, (as should you), but I had not really ever addressed it in the body of an email before.  So, I did a little research and came up with some good info, some bad news and some good news.  I thought I’d share:

• First, if you use Outlook for your email on a PC, you can simply right-click on the image in the body of the email, then click Format Picture, and then click Alt Text.  This is exactly how you’d do it in MS Word or Powerpoint, etc.  This is the good news!  It’s easy!
• The bad news, is that this isn’t even an option if you use Outlook for Mac.  I could find no way whatsoever to add Alt Text To an image in the body of an email using Outlook 2011 for Mac.  This is VERY disappointing and I hope it gets addressed or that I’m just missing something and someone out there can point out where I’m wrong.
• And here’s some general information to consider for making your email messages more accessible to all users.  This information is from THIS Website.

“Images are frequently inserted to enhance the look of HTML email and drawing attention to required action by hyperlinking graphics or buttons. Screen reader users can’t see the image, their screen reader reads the ALT text.
This is one of the more complex accessibility issues, as the text equivalent required for accessibility, depends on the reason for the image being present rather than just its visual appearance.
As a general rule of thumb, if an image is used as a link, is an image of text, or is used as information needed to understand adjacent text, then it should have a text value for the ALT attribute. Otherwise the ALT should be empty (alt=”").

• Linked images - If the image performs a function, such as being a hyperlink, it should be given ALT text that describes its destination. It should never describe the image, and, unless it is wrapped with link text into a single link anchor, should never be empty.
• Images of text - Best practice is to avoid using images of text – instead, actual text should be used wherever possible. If the text consists of more than a few words, it should certainly be presented in text format rather than as an image. If images of text are used, however, the alt text should be the same as the text displayed in the image.
• Images which convey information - If the actual content of the image is what is important, then that is what should be relayed, succinctly, in the ALT text – for example, “Photograph of the Chief Executive”.
• Purely decorative images - If the image does not convey any information and has no function other than as part of the visual appearance or decoration of the message, simply part of the “window dressing”, it should have empty alt text (alt=”").
• Layout images - These are images whose only purpose is to help define and control the visual layout of the message. Usually they are invisible. These images should be given empty ALT text (alt=”"), so that screen readers can ignore them.

2012/2013 has been a year of new things for many of us.  Tuesday (2/19), NE Coordinator Julie Kuhn will make her PATINS TV debut. This episode will explore some essentials of seated positioning for access to the curriculum.  By the end of 15 minutes, you will know some things to look for to help all students get the most out of seating and positioning, so that instead of trying to overcome gravity or fatigue, the student can spend most of their energy on learning and accessing the curriculum.  The episode starts at 11:45, but the live connection will be open starting at 11:30 am EST.  Log in early just in case.   http://www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=41 

Have you tried the 2013 edition of the Tar Heel Reader yet?  www.tarheelreader.org  It is the same great collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books that can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces but they have made some great upgrades.  All books can be navigated with two switches, more search terms can be used to find books, and collections can be created and shared.  For a complete listing of the updates http://tarheelreader.org/2013/02/06/welcome-to-the-new-tar-heel-reader/  If your computer has problems with the new format, there is a classic mode available.

It’s a new beginning for PATINS TTA (Targeted Technical Assistance) Grants.  Round 4 begins on Monday.  Five school corporations around the state will be working hand in hand with PATINS Coordinators to align their policies and procedures with the 7 AIM indicators.   http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/stateresources/quality_indicators  I will be posting a confidential peek into this process as the weeks go by.  No names, no locations, just a weekly peek into the process.  Stay tuned!

I am Sandi Mahl, PATINS SE Coordinator.  A brief explanation before the blog:   As you know Daniel McNulty, now State Project Director of PATINS usually writes this blog.  He has not given it up; however, he is no longer able to keep it as current as he would like it to be.  So, I will be taking a guest role in writing the Rapid Fire Blog.  It was an easy fill for me as I was just beginning some blogs of my own.  The Rapid Fire Blog will probably change its “voice” a bit, but you will still find the same information here.  With me blogging, the Rapid Fire Blog will become part of a trio of blogs:

Rapid Fire – Just the facts ma’am

smahlthoughts* – A deeper look into the topic with some personal opinions thrown in http://smahlworldindustries.edublogs.org/

smahlstuff* – A more emotional, hold hands and sing Kumbaya look at the topic with lots of opinions and a look at the twisty road my mind travels. http://smahlstuff.edublogs.org

*Any opinions or mistakes expressed on smahlthoughts and smahlstuff are all my own.  They are not endorsed by nor are they intended to reflect negatively or positively on PATINS.

So, let’s get started!

I received notification that the ICAM Dispatch blog had been posted this morning.  I love the way Martha Hammond writes so I clicked on it immediately.  In it she listed some reminders of what different PATINS people were doing and that yesterday was Digital Learning Day.  Very appropriately, I spent 90 minutes listening to an ATIA webinar on tools for storytelling in the 21^st Century.  The content was great I heard about tools that I knew and tools that were new to me.  Webinars are great ways to seek information from others in the least amount of time.  While the ATIA webinars are not free, PATINS and our counterparts in Michigan (MITS) and Ohio (OCALI) have teamed up to present some great FREE webinars.  Here are some of the ones coming this month.

Julie Kuhn – NE Coordinator

2/14/2012, 8:30am – 9:30am EST – AT Feature Match:  Assistive Technology (AT) is not really about the Stuff.  It’s about knowing the student, what’s required and what the desired end result is. This presentation will show you how to get where you need to go.

To register:    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AT_Feature_Match_Registration_2-7-2013

Martha Wells Hammond – ICAM Library Services Consultant

Sandi Mahl – SE Coordinator

2/14/2013, 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST – Early Childhood Indicators of Latent Print Disability:  In this training I will discuss early indicators of possible print disabilities that families may encounter as students begin reading.  This training is not a diagnostic tool, but a guideline to help families/teachers/caregivers be aware of potential problems, and to begin preparing with early interventions if problems do present. Some iPad apps with an Early Childhood focus will also be demonstrated.

To register:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NKY7P8B

2/19/2013, 11:45am – 12:00pm EST – PATINS TV – Another Special Guest today; our NE PATINS Coordinator Julie Kuhn provides some especially relevant insight from the perspective of an OT into positioning for access to the curriculum!

Barb Meier – MITS Presenter

2/21/2013, 3:15pm – 4:15pm EST – Tools to Support Students who Struggle with Math: This session examines FREE (and very low cost) tools and strategies that support student access to the curriculum. Learn about virtual manipulatives, talking calculators, and other items to support students as they access the mathematics curriculum. The focus of this webinar is on students with special needs but these tools support ALL students in the classroom.

To register:  http://tinyurl.com/8ebjug7

These and other Interstate Webinars are listed at: http://www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=40

Accessible Instructional Materials

TTA Grant Applications Due Feb. 7, 2013

 Let PATINS Help Make Your District More Accessible to ALL of your Students

• This is a unique opportunity to have dedicated PATINS Coordinators working directly and intensively with your district to make sure it is as accessible and efficient as possible with regard to the 7 AIM Indicators, which can be found here: http://aimconsortium.cast.org/best_practices/quality_indicators

You SHOULD consider this opportunity IF:

• You have no idea what constitutes Accessible Instructional Materials!
• You’ve run into difficulty finding Accessible Instructional Materials for
  students in your district.
• You’ve not always been able to provide alternate formats of materials in a timely manner.
• You don’t have Policies & Procedures in place regarding the flow &
  Implementation of Accessible Instructional Materials
• You have Digital Rights Managers (DRMs) that are overwhelmed and frustrated.
• You have students not performing to potential because they cannot access
  their curriculum.
• You are not collecting data on Accessible Instructional Materials and their impact on student achievement and behavior.
• You’ve purchased publisher’s materials that are NOT accessible.
• APPLY HERE by Feb. 7!
  http://bit.ly/ttaspr2013 

If you have questions:
Daniel G. McNulty, PATINS/ICAM Director
dmcnulty@ciesc.k12.in.us or 317-387-4153

PATINS TECH EXPO 2013!  REGISTRATION is OPEN!   This year’s Tech Expo will take place on April 18, 2013 at the Fountains in Carmel, IN.  Once again, there is NO REGISTRATION FEE for Attendees!  AND, your lunch is on PATINS and your parking is FREE.

• Register to attend: www.surveymonkey.com/s/TechExpo2013
• Registers for Vendor or Not For Profit Booth Space:  www.surveymonkey.com/s/TechExpo13Booths

Parent/Family iPad Accessibility Evening:  Are you or do you know of a family in the South Bend, Indiana area who could benefit from an evening of Accessibility Training on the iPad?  Check into this free training opportunity on Feb. 26th at LOGAN, co-hosted by the PATINS Project and INSource.  Flyer Here: Parent iPad Night Flyer 2 26 13

iPad: Larger Text: Do you always or occasionally need to see your text larger on your iPad or iPhone or iTouch?  There are a couple of really simple options.  Check out this quick Video: Larger Text on iPad Video 

Follow PATINS on Facebook!  Our SW Coordinator, Sandy Stabenfeldt, does an awesome job of posting great articles, links, videos, and tools to the PATINS Facebook page!  Check it out and “LIKE” it today!   Just click here!   www.facebook.com/pages/PATINS-Project/355404557479?fref=ts