Beakers

I have learned so much in the 13 or so years in this field. The learning has grown exponentially, especially since I first envisioned an AAC app for the iPhone, which turned into Proloquo2Go, and as I started the PhD program at PSU. Yet, as much as I am seeing, experiencing, and learning from reading, meeting people, attending conferences, classes, researching, and more, I am realizing there is so much more to learn. There is so much to learn about how to assist the people with disabilities I work to serve. The fields of education and universal design are endless, for sure. I now believe that it is going to take more than I thought to truly make a holistic difference in the lives of these people I care deeply about. During this time of reflection in my work and life, I am again asking the question, “What will it take?”.

So with that being said, it is “back to the lab again”, where I will be working on that question systematically over time. What a gift to be here at Penn State! The people here are simply terrific. I look forward to sharing the fruits of our research work with you over the coming months and years.

This blog is very important to me and while the posts have been infrequent recently, look for them to pick up shortly.
photo credit

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Richard Lavoie has posted a terrific resource:  20 Tips to Promote Positive Self-esteem.

There are a few teachers in this world that resonate with me in a way that is hard to describe.  Linda Burkhart, Karen Erickson, David Koppenhaver, Caroline Ramsey Musselwhite, Madalaine Pugliese, David McNaughton, Janice Light, Karen Janowski, Patty Cassidy, Stella Pierce and Dale Gardner Fox are just a few of the people who have inspired me to be a better teacher.  About two years ago, I heard Rick Lavoie speak at Gordon College, where I did my undergraduate work in elementary education, special education, and history.  I had known the F.A.T. city workshop from my beginnings in a community college course I took, back when I was a part of the Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center.  I remember the paradigm shift it created in me.  I had always meant to contact Dr. Lavoie after that.  I had always meant to visit his school on the Cape.  Yet, I didn’t.  Hearing him speak that day at Gordon brought tears to my eyes.  As he spoke about his students and the work, both his heart and his humor came through.  Yet, it was not until today that I realized what it is.  It is that people like Rick Lavoie do two things, they care a great deal and they work hard to help people.  That is why I admire Rick Lavoie and a host of other teachers to whom I am forever grateful for their example.

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All I can say is that I am so thankful for this ride, especially the voyage that began in January and the one that is about to take off…

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X Bar Structure

There is a time for all things under the sun. It has been my time to transition. My beautiful fall and early winter sabbatical was filled with wrestling the new puppy in Vermont, reading linguistics at the Dartmouth College library, and developing an iPhone AAC application: Proloquo2Go. Last week I started my Ph.D. in Special Education and AAC at The Pennsylvania State University. My new mentor said something last week to me that has stuck in my head. He said something to the effect of, “You can only have so many projects going at once…I mean sometimes you don’t have a choice, but….” The point was well taken and giving my self a chance to press pause on this blog for the holiday and my interstate move to Pennsylvania was just what I needed. I care deeply about sharing. Yet, at times it is not appropriate to share. It felt terrific to take a deep breath, export my free wordpress blog and take the leap into full on hosted wordpress. Yes, I was confused at first and true I almost lost it when the posts were not importing correctly. Yet, after some patience and some digging for those helping hands we find burried in support forums and FAQ’s I made my way to a fully hosted blog with the URL I have been hoping to implement for some time: www.alltogetherwecan.com. No I did not jump on the bandwagon for Obama 08! (While I am a huge fan!) I have believed in the concept for quite some time. In fact, the full name of the blog is All Together We Can Do Our Best. It comes from something my mother used to say to me, “…just do your best…” combined with the principles of synergy and collaboration that I see so clearly can help the individuals we serve. To me this blog is both my way to share and my way to process the journey. While I have some very big announcements to share in the coming days, I want to say thank you for visiting this weblog, this journal. I hope you like the new look and feel. Sincerely, Sam

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Saturday…November 15, 2008….North Pomfret, Vermont….thinking….working…communicating

Vermont Mist

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I have had creating a video guide to using a step switch on one of my someday/maybe task lists for a few weeks now. I meant to do this in response to how much trouble people have with using this device, especially when they are learning about both the old and new styles. I was very pleased to stumble upon a set of how-to-videos that highlight a number of Ablenet products. I think this is a terrific resource for AAC or AT labs in SLP, Special Education, AT, OT, and any other teacher training programs that benefit from clear and easily shared training resources. Thanks Ablenet! Click the link or image to play the video.

Step-By-Step with Levels Video

Here is the link to the How-to-Videos page on the Ablenet site: http://store.ablenetinc.com/press/multimedia.aspx

“How-To” Videos
All-Turn-It Spinner		Quicktime Movie
Battery Device Adapter with Jelly Beamer		Quicktime Movie
BIG & LITTLE Step-By-Step communicator		Quicktime Movie
BIG & LITTLEmack communicator		Quicktime Movie
BookWorm literacy tool		Quicktime Movie
CRUISE adapted trackpad		Quicktime Movie
FL4SH scanning communicator		Quicktime Movie
iTalk2 communicator		Quicktime Movie
Jelly Beamer wireless switch		Quicktime Movie
Mounting systems		Quicktime Movie
PowerLink 3 control unit		Quicktime Movie
ROCK adapted joystick		Quicktime Movie
Battery-Operated Scissors with Jelly Bean switch		Quicktime Movie
Sensitrac pad with Adjustable Arm		Quicktime Movie
Switch Latch and Timers (SLATs)		Quicktime Movie
Step-By-Step with Levels		Quicktime Movie
SuperTalker progressive communicator		Quicktime Movie
Talking Symbols notepads		Quicktime Movie
WAVE adapted trackball		Quicktime Movie
FL4SH – In-Use Videos
The Out-of-the-Box Experience		Quicktime Movie
FL4SH – A Scanning Communicator		Quicktime Movie
Automatic Overlay Detection		Quicktime Movie
Building Language Libraries		Quicktime Movie
FL4SH’s Adjustable Viewing Angle		Quicktime Movie
Frame Lighting – SEE What You’re Saying		Quicktime Movie
FL4SH’s External Messages Jack		Quicktime Movie
Flexible Communication		Quicktime Movie
Ease of Use		Quicktime Movie
The Benefits of FL4SH		Quicktime Movie
An Unexpected Benefit		Quicktime Movie
Flip – In-Use Videos
Easy to Use		Quicktime Movie
Easy to Set Up		Quicktime Movie
Quiet and Convenient		Quicktime Movie
Accessibility		Quicktime Movie
Flexibility		Quicktime Movie
Shipping Details		Quicktime Movie
Personal Story Videos
Josh’s Story		Quicktime Movie

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Things are changing. The second generation OLPC laptop will have dual touchscreens and will be designed to function like a book. What does this mean for early childhood education, special education, and augmentative and alternative communication? Over the course of this summer, we will be exploring this with the goal of being ready for these new technologies. Also, the goal is to be able to play a part in the universal design for learning of this powerful new initiative. For now, enjoy the pictures of this upcoming device.

This opens up amazing possibilities for customized keyboards for all kinds of learners!

Let’s Chat!

Overall, this is probably the best news we could have heard. As many of us have been holding the OLPC touchscreen vigil, the time is here. Much thanks to Pixel Qi for pushing the hardware design to new levels. AAC stakeholders may be interested in their new motto: The future of portable computing is all about the screen.

Additionally, many will be interested to note that Windows XP will be available on the XO.

I originally read about the update to the OLPC at: Xcomony.

This picture is inspirational when considering the accessible books project we are working on!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nEAIuFMTW4]

Here is a portion of the presentation announcing the update.

Other Related Articles

1. PC World
2. OLPC News

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CAST Joins Google and Partners to Celebrate World Book Day

Releases innovative literacy tools to support reading and learning from books, websites

In partnership with Google, CAST today celebrated World Book Day, April 23, 2008, by introducing two new online literacy tools that provide robust, embedded learning supports for readers at all levels. UDL Editions by CAST (http://udleditions.cast.org/ <http://udleditions.cast.org/> ) are classics from world literature in a flexible online interface that supports and engages novice and expert readers alike. CAST Strategy Tutor (http://cst.cast.org/ <http://cst.cast.org/> ) offers adolescent readers customizable mentoring and support as they conduct Internet research and read websites.

Both UDL Editions and Strategy Tutor draw on CAST’s two decades of research and development of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach to creating inclusive educational environments that lower barriers to learning and while supporting learners’ individual skills, abilities, and interests. Carnegie Corporation of New York provided funding, and both projects are featured presentations of the Google Literacy Project (www.google.com/literacy), a joint nonprofit venture of Google, LitCam, and UNESCO, as part of its World Book Day Innovative Projects page.

The UDL Editions by CAST (http://udleditions.cast.org) render classic texts from world literature in a flexible online interface that provides just-in-time, individualized supports for struggling readers, and added-value features that engage novice and expert readers alike. Texts include English language works by Jack London, Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln, and Edgar Allen Poe, as well as the Spanish-language classic, The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes. Learning features include:

* Leveled supports to build reading strategies and help readers understand the elements of the author’s craft;
* Texthelp® Toolbar for text-to-speech, highlighting and collecting highlights, dictionary and encyclopedia links, and translation between English and Spanish;
* Embedded coaches guide learners in strategic thinking and planning;
* Context-specific multimedia glossaries and enrichment activities;
* Multimedia background resources, including story links to Google Maps.

The toolbar created by Texthelp Systems, Inc., a leading developer of literacy support software solutions with offices in the U.K. and United States, expands access for all individuals, including Spanish language text-to-speech and other features for Lazarillo.

CAST Strategy Tutor (http://cst.cast.org <http://cst.cast.org/> ) is an online multimedia program that provides diverse adolescent learners with customizable mentoring and support as they conduct Internet research, and teachers with supports for using Web-based resources more effectively in the classroom. Strategy Tutor helps students read, research, collect and understand information better and more efficiently.

Students can store all notes in a personal, sortable electronic worklog that can be viewed from any computer. Teachers can access professional development resources, such as a database of teacher-created lessons, and create their own strategy-supported lessons. Get help from embedded coaches there to guide both students and teachers.

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I feel so thankful to be working with and to have worked with some of the most amazing and terrific people. It is such a gift to be working with the excellent graduate students in my classroom. Every day they come to these children and the work with so much. I remember the hard working staff and faculty at the elementary school, where I led an inclusion program. Their dedication to teaching and their late nights and weekends preparing definitely made me feel better on those Sunday trips to that very special classroom. Yet, nothing can compare to the individuals at the MCL Respite Center in Hopkinton. Forever, the care and true compassion demonstrated there has indelibly marked my heart and mind. The friendships and experiences in that house are the foundation of my work. I feel more than thankful for being a part of that house. From the directors to every one of the staff, the feeling is there.

As I begin to take ever deeper steps into being a teacher, I realize how important my colleagues or co-teachers have been. From the success of a student’s first eye gaze communication choices, to the challenge of the tough days in the classroom, I hear the words of my mentors and the practitioners I listen closely to. From words about two switch step scanning to the dignity I learned about at the Respite, I am so thankful for those words and actions. This post is meant to be a simple thank you for the teaching assistants, teachers, therapists, families, directors, and professors that have and are making a difference in my teaching practice. Thank you.

I especially thank the amazing individuals at Nova Southeastern University who are believing in me, supporting the important work we are engaged in, and caring about me as a person. As I have stepped one foot into the world of higher education, see more clearly the importance of that mission and component of the work. Also, much thanks to my friends and family who are so present to me. To anyone reading this post and considering becoming an educator, one thought to put on the “pro” list is the amazing people you will meet and work with.

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Thursday Morning ATIA 2008 9:45

AAC users as authors is a terrific concept that is incredibly exciting in this age of near instant publishing and really simple syndication. This workshop looks to be a terrific sampling of potent ideas to help us be better teachers of the writing process for our learners who use AAC.

Vocabulary Brainstorming & Rehearsal

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite is teaching us how to help students brainstorm a wide range of vocabulary. She tells about how she learned the technique from Dr. Karen Erickson. She show how creating a web of possible vocabulary is so helpful to fuel the authoring process.

Eye Gaze and Partner Assisted Writing Templates

Use the eye gaze frames and auditory scanning templates loaded with writing set ups that provide tons of vocabulary to use during drafting. This connects with the pragmatically organized communication displays that Linda Burkhart just showed, made by Gayle Porter.

Book Pick

Children with Disabilities: Reading and Writing the Four Blocks Way by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver

10:04 AM

Caroline tells about the portion of the Learning Magic website that helps with the connecting of  the Raps stories into your literacy curriculum.

 Performing Your Works

Seeing the pictures of the young children looking up at the AAC authors presenting their creative writing really drove home the point.   What an empowering process this is!

I am super inspired by this workshop and look forward to the writing camp we are hosting at Nova this summer!

Final video of an AAC author presenting on stage!

10:15 close

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