Over the last few weeks I have been amazed at how the 
students in the class that I am in have learned how to use the AAC (augmentative, alternative communication) devices to communicate. It is brilliant that communication technology is now available that enhances the lives and expands the possibilities for children, and adults, living with a disability.
TRACKER PRO
One student (D) showed my another brilliant device that uses a web cam device to track the head movements of the person in front of a computer screen with a reflective disk placed in the middle of the forehead, near the eyes. The device is called Tracker Pro. It is used as a computer mouse replacement that enables people with little or no hand movement to perform all mouse actions by moving their head.
Watching (D) navigate his way through literacy and numeracy activities on the computer using only the movement of his head was definately fantastic to watch. The potential of this device opens up so many pathways and opportunities for his future and at the rate technology is heading, there are bigger and better things to come in the near future. These devices enhance and extend the learning potential within the classroom in so many ways. The only limitinig factor is the price of such technology. A speech pathologist within the school filled me in on the long and sometimes frustrating process of applying for funding for communication tools such as these. An upgrade of the AAC device mentioned in the last post (MightyMo) would require the outlay of more than $7000, of which only some is covered by the school. One day I hope to see these devices more readily available to students with disabilities so that access to education and interacting within the wider community is not just a hope but a reality.
Zac Browser
Another fantastic piece of computer software that I have come across in my educational support work in schools fot students with Autism is the Zac Browser. It is a simplified version of an internet browser, that limits the distractions and potential for students to get frustrated and lost while accessing the internet. You can access different games, activities and videos that have been 'specifically chosen for their positive effect on children suffering from Autism' (http://www.zacbrowser.com/).
I'm not so fond of the use of 'suffering' as a term to explain the disability, but this browser is definately worthwhile in a classroom for students that are easily distracted of have limited knowledge about the use of the internet. It is a safe and controlled environment that is geared towards students that have attention difficulties, or other issues that may impair their learning and interaction within the classroom in some way.
students in the class that I am in have learned how to use the AAC (augmentative, alternative communication) devices to communicate. It is brilliant that communication technology is now available that enhances the lives and expands the possibilities for children, and adults, living with a disability.TRACKER PRO
One student (D) showed my another brilliant device that uses a web cam device to track the head movements of the person in front of a computer screen with a reflective disk placed in the middle of the forehead, near the eyes. The device is called Tracker Pro. It is used as a computer mouse replacement that enables people with little or no hand movement to perform all mouse actions by moving their head.
Watching (D) navigate his way through literacy and numeracy activities on the computer using only the movement of his head was definately fantastic to watch. The potential of this device opens up so many pathways and opportunities for his future and at the rate technology is heading, there are bigger and better things to come in the near future. These devices enhance and extend the learning potential within the classroom in so many ways. The only limitinig factor is the price of such technology. A speech pathologist within the school filled me in on the long and sometimes frustrating process of applying for funding for communication tools such as these. An upgrade of the AAC device mentioned in the last post (MightyMo) would require the outlay of more than $7000, of which only some is covered by the school. One day I hope to see these devices more readily available to students with disabilities so that access to education and interacting within the wider community is not just a hope but a reality.
Zac Browser
Another fantastic piece of computer software that I have come across in my educational support work in schools fot students with Autism is the Zac Browser. It is a simplified version of an internet browser, that limits the distractions and potential for students to get frustrated and lost while accessing the internet. You can access different games, activities and videos that have been 'specifically chosen for their positive effect on children suffering from Autism' (http://www.zacbrowser.com/).
I'm not so fond of the use of 'suffering' as a term to explain the disability, but this browser is definately worthwhile in a classroom for students that are easily distracted of have limited knowledge about the use of the internet. It is a safe and controlled environment that is geared towards students that have attention difficulties, or other issues that may impair their learning and interaction within the classroom in some way.
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