Information from the INDATA Project is now available via podcast! Every Friday, the INDATA Project will release two podcasts featuring new assistive technology projects. The podcasts are available for viewing on the INDATA Project website and on iTunes. The “Assistive Technology Update” is a fast-paced weekly update for AT professionals and enthusiasts. The “Accessibility Minute” is designed for all listeners to provide assistive technology tips and tricks.
May 172012
With the evolution and progress of screen reader technology, it seems that they get more and more sophisticated all the time, Window Eyes from GW Micro is no exception.
“Window-Eyes gives total control over what you hear and how you hear it. Plus, with its enhanced Braille support that control is extended to what you feel as well. On top of all that, the power and stability of Window-Eyes means that most applications work right out of the box with no need for endless tinkering in order to get them to function properly.” – www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes
Window Eyes converts components of the Microsoft operating system and synthesizes it into speech so the user can have complete access and control over their information and computer. The idea is that modifications to the operating system will be minimal, because Window Eyes was designed with Microsoft in mind, the transition should be seamless with minimal configuration necessary.
Window-Eyes Feature List
Custom apps (and support for app development) provide users with the tools to enhance the accessibility and usability of third party applications, the operating system, and even Window-Eyes itself. GW Micro is also proud to offer App Central, a centralized app repository where both users and developers can gather to distribute and discuss Window-Eyes apps.
Support for Excel 2000/XP/2003/2007/2010 Support
Support for Word 2000/XP/2003/2007/2010
Revolutionary PowerPoint 2000/XP/2003/2007/2010 Support
Complete Access to Microsoft Outlook 2000/XP/2003/2007/2010 Calendar and Email
Easily Read and Access Email Headers (including Attachments) in Outlook and Outlook Express
Powerful Internet Support with Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox
Remote Access with Citrix Metaframe XP!
Tip of the Day
Powerful Set File Manager
Remote Access with Microsoft Terminal Services!
Multiple Keyboard Layouts
Remote Access with Microsoft Windows XP Remote Desktop!
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced Menu Levels
Includes Microsoft Speech Software Synthesizer!
Includes DECtalk Access 32!
Includes Ten Eloquence Voices!
MSAA (Microsoft Active Accessibility) Support
Support for all video systems
Ability to read text under the mouse pointer as it moves
Switch Braille displays on the fly
Switch synthesizers on the fly
More Supported Braille Displays than the Competition
Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7
Mobile and Network Installation Options
Text, PDF, Windows Help, Daisy, HTML Documentation
Works with many applications “out of the box.” Little or no extra configuration required.
No Authorization Keys (applies to U.S, Canada, U.K., Australia, New Zealand)
First to support Adobe PDF, Macromedia Flash, and more
Unprecedented Stability and Performance
!Feature available at no extra cost.
May 162012
Seriously, the list of apps goes on and on. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming, so here is a list of a few apps specifically meant to help children with autism.
While the apps are educational in theory, they are also a ton of fun and great for children with autism or are neurotypical. Fun for all!
Faces iMake – Lite $.99: Faces iMake is all about stimulating the right-brain and giving kids a fun and playful educational environment. The app encourages kids to solve problems creatively; to innovate; to see things from a different perspective; to create forms with the most unexpected combination of objects. Faces iMake piques the curiosity and helps develop your child’s mind.
iEarnedThat $1.99: Designed by a Pediatrician and parent, iEarnedThat is an amazingly simple motivational tool to help children develop desirable behaviors by working towards tangible goals. The app rewards the user for good behavior and actions by offering them puzzle pieces to put together. Turn any picture of a desired reward into a 3D interactive jigsaw puzzle of up to 60 pieces! Set the goal and have your child EARN their reward one puzzle piece at a time.
iWriteWords $2.99: Through playing a game, children learn how to write letters correctly. How do you play? Help Mr. Crab collect the numbered balls by dragging him with your finger – and drawing the letter at the same time.
Once all the letters in the word are drawn properly, a cute drawing appears. Slide the letters into the spinning hole and advance to the next level.
Shape Builder $.99: Shape Builder educates & entertains your little one with easy to move shapes that snap into place on top of silhouette puzzles. Each puzzle has 5 to 10 pieces & after positioning all of the pieces, the real image is revealed along with a professional voice recording of the word spoken by Jill Dews, a licensed speech therapist that specializes in early child development. Shape Builder encourages cognitive thinking & fine motor skills plus exposes young minds to new music instruments, animals, produce, objects & the alphabet.
Whizzit 123 $.99: Two games in one! Whizzit 123 is a super-fun counting game that features great music, fun sound effects, lively animations, and cute graphics. Your children will love to count the toys, flowers, blocks, and other items because every touch causes a unique animation and a silly sound effect. They’ll enjoy setting into motion the spinning spirals, growing flowers, bouncing balls, and giggling monkeys while hearing the items counted aloud. Plus, an all-new balloon-popping mini-game challenges your little one to pop a specified number of floating balloons at the carnival.
Spring has sprung in Indiana and a lot of us have the fever to get out and enjoy some outdoor recreation. For many folks, they define a day of finding springtime serenity as “gone fishing”. The desire to get out and go fishing may be a little more challenging for someone with a disability. Fortunately, there is a non-profit organization that believes everyone should be able to enjoy one of life’s simple pleasures. Fishing Has No Boundaries, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose goal is to “open up the great outdoors for people with disabilities through the world of fishing”.
Their goal is to provide fishing opportunities for any person with a disability regardless of age, race, gender or disability. They do this by providing education, training and the use of adaptive angling equipment. They use a lot of different angling equipment such as pole holders, accessible boats and different kinds of electric reels even ones that may have a joystick or chin operating system to accommodate their fishermen.
For anglers with disabilities in NW Indiana and beyond who are interested in spending a weekend on or near the lake attempting to catch “the big one”, Fishing Has No Boundaries, Inc. plan to hold a Chapter Event on May 19th & May 20th; 2012 at Pearson’s Marina on Lake Freeman. Through the use of adaptive equipment, participants will be assisted in getting out on Lake Freeman for two relaxing days of fishing. No matter the size, or if you catch one at all, this event aims to provide a good time for all the volunteers, sponsors and participants.
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteer or participant opportunities contact:
Fishing Has No Boundaries, Inc.
Steve and Mary Linder
P.O. Box 325
Battle Ground, IN 47920
1-765-567-4021
May 142012
Watch as one of Easter Seal’s occupational therapists, Karrie Veteto, shows us around the autism multisensory room.
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Information from the INDATA Project is now available via podcast! Every Friday, the INDATA Project will release two podcasts featuring new assistive technology projects. The podcasts are available for viewing on the INDATA Project website and on iTunes. The “Assistive Technology Update” is a fast-paced weekly update for AT professionals and enthusiasts. The “Accessibility Minute” is designed for all listeners to provide assistive technology tips and tricks.
AMO050-Accessible Playground.net