Motivation to Write
By Sam Sennott
We can share many things when we write. We can share our selves, joy, pain, insights, laughter, encouragement, discouragement, a kind word, information, or curiosity. For many people, being highly motivated to write is an assistance to the writing process. What do you think motivates you most to write? [...]
Poster Boards of Interest at ASHA 2007
By Samuel Charles Sennott
The poster board sessions at ASHA 2007 on AAC, literacy, and special education for individuals with communication disorders were a terrific chance to speak with the presenters and actively engage in learning about the subject presented. I will try to briefly summarize an impression of a few of the excellent mini-lessons, [...]
AAC: Display Characteristics That Support Aided Symbol Use: Color & Animation at ASHA
By Samuel Charles Sennott
This session foreshadows the influence that digital natives will have on the AAC systems and software systems we use in special education. Additionally, the research focus on clearing the unnecessary access challenges with traditional AAC systems is terrific. Seeing the presenter, Lacy Donofrio, speak about authoring her lessons in [...]
Evidence-Based AAC Interventions for Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers with Janice Light at ASHA
By Samuel Charles Sennott
The opening sentiment was: “How do we provide access to the magic and the power of language and communication for young children with complex communication needs who require AAC?”
Dr. Light demonstrated a terrific research project out of Penn State that seeks the answer to this question and lays out a framework [...]
AAC and OT by Aileen Costigan and Janice Light at ASHA
By Samuel Charles Sennott
Seating and positioning often has a significant effect on AAC users. Teachers of all kinds can do a great deal in this domain, but it is important to know when you need the help of an OT or PT. This hour long presentation at ASHA titled: Practical Principles of [...]
Tar Heel Typer: An Open Source Alternative Pencil
by Samuel Sennott
The Tar Heel Typer is an excellent new open source writing tool that is a flexible alternative pencil with word prediction that is both available online and as a standalone download. Created by Daniel Parker, a Computer Science Student at UNC Chapel hill and is a collaboration with The Center [...]
Digital Picture Frame with Switch Adapted Remote Control
by Samuel Sennott
Have you seen a digital picture frame in a catalog, online, or in a store? This emerging technology will make a terrific book reader, photo browser, partner assisted communication tool, and electronic pencil. The good news is that they are quickly shifting to including a remote control with them. [...]
50 Web 2.0 Tools to Tell a Story
by Samuel Sennott
I think that I am going to send Alan Levine some sort of thank you gift. Maybe we should start a pool. Seriously, his wikispaces site highlighting 50 Web 2.0 Tools to Tell a Story is just terrific. This is a great way to share the multitude of tools available [...]
iJailBreak for iPod Touch
by Samuel Sennott
iJailBreak is the automated tool that unlocks and enables your iPod Touch to use installer.app., the third party application installer. It has become very clear that the iPhone and iPod touch can be used as both an AAC device component inside of a holistic AAC system and as a terrific flexible learning [...]
Using the iPhone for Digitizing Books
by Samuel Sennott
We started a E-Book project today that we are correlating with the Building Blocks kindergarten literacy framework. It is very exciting and I can’t wait to share more about it in the future.
So…have you ever come upon a flatbed scanner that seems to be a decendent of a tortoise? Well [...]
