Apps for Autism - GREAT resource

This blog links to a lengthy list of apps appropriate for a variety of areas related to the needs of folks with autism spectrum disorder, with apps in the following categories:

Art & Music
Basic Learning
Behavior
Clinical
Communication
Fine Motor
Games
Geography
Language
Math and PreMath
Money
Multiplayer
Organization
Reading and Books
Relaxation & Distraction
Science
Self Care
Sign Language
Social Stories
Social Skills
Spelling

Dynavox/AAC training - ATEC, Santa Ana - 9/29

Thursday, 9/29/11, 9 am to 2 pm

ATEC is located at 1601 E. Saint Andrew Place in Santa Ana, CA

Mara Marshall will go over the basics of Dynavox Series 5 devices and answer specific, participant questions regarding Dynavox devices and AAC. 

Petition for AAC telecommunication in CA (STS)

Here's a great way to support telecommunication options for Augmentative and Alternative Communicators - FREE - takes less than 1 minute. 

To support this petition for video supported speech to speech services, follow this link to join the petitioning group - http://www.speechtospeech.org/letter-to-congress.html. 

More about Speech-to-Speech

If you have a speech disability and live in the U.S.A., you can now use a free telephone service 24 hours a day. This service, called “Speech-to-Speech” (STS), provides communication assistants (CAs) to help people with speech difficulty (PSDs) be understood by the public on the telephone.

PSD's can dial toll free to reach a patient, trained CA who is familiar with many speech patterns and has excellent language recognition skills. This CA makes telephone calls for them and repeats their words exactly in a 3-way calling environment.

To try out STS call 800-854-7784 and ask for Dr. Bob Segalman (directly at 916-448-5517). You can also access STS by dialing 711 and asking for Speech-to-Speech.

Thanks to Bob Segalman PhD for working to make this happen!

Thanks to Caroline Musselwhite for the above info, via facebook.

    - SCAAC-N

iPads for Autism - Foothill Autism Alliance - Wed, Nov. 9, 2011

Adaptive Technology: The iPad as a Game Changer for Autism

Family Resource Meeting, 11/9/11

From the Foothill Autism Alliance website:
Dr. Lance Williams and speech therapist Gwendolyn Meier (Villa Esperanza) will speak about adaptive technology, in particular the iPad. There is considerable excitement these days about the iPad for children and adults with autism – and numerous applications to choose from. Come learn about iPad apps and how the iPad has opened up worlds of communication and enrichment for many on the spectrum – whether nonverbal or verbal, severely affected or HFA/Aspergers.

When: 

• Wednesday, November 9, 2011
• Networking at 7:00pm 
• Featured speakers from 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Location:

Pasadena Child Development Associates (home) 620 N Lake Av, 2nd Floor Pasadena, CA 91101 (North of the 210 freeway, East side of the street between Villa St. and Orange Grove) Foothill Autism Alliance Family resource meetings:

FREE! Reservations are NOT required unless otherwise noted. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at PCDA.

AAC Workshop in Whittier, CA, Sept 24 ($70)

WAPADH presents" Working Toward Independent [AAC] Communication"

with the stars of the EXCELLENT film Wretches and Jabberers

Click here to view the flyer webpage

RJ Cooper 1/2 off SALE (thru Oct 1)

RJ Cooper & Associates, Inc.

Half-price sale on selected items, until Oct. 1:

1) Laptop Keyboard Covers at , cover the keyboard when you're using a switch or touchscreen with your laptop.
2) Thunder-RJ at , my inexpensive, and portable, screenreader for blind persons.
3) Flopper-Stopper , my head 'helper' for head 'floppers'.
4) ChinCheeka at , for head control of 2 switches.
5) Switch-adapted Guitar Hero guitars at .
6) Switch-Poser at , for holding switch, game controller, DS, or other small device.
7) Scan-5 at and all the remotes associated with it. This is my auditory scanning EADL/ECU for control over 5 functions of selected remotes/devices.
8) Beeper Box at , used for testing switches or as a call buzzer.
9) EADL Package at , A PC-based full EADL/ECU package for control of entertainment devices and optional X10/Insteon real-world modules. (does not include the PC)
10) Talk-Aid at , for 'low talkers', individuals that can talk, but are soft spoken.
11) WakerShaker at , the ultimate, effective, and extremely low cost switch-adapted cause/effect device.

Find them at  http://www.rjcooper.com/

Assistive Technology Webinar - Sept 8

Success in the General Curriculum: What It Takes  (A follow-up AT Strand from the 2011 Alabama MEGA Conference)

Thursday, Sept 8, 2011
11:30am to 1:00pm

Presenters:
Ben Satterfield, EdD and Pat Satterfield, MA CE
CREATE, the Center for Research & Expansion of Assistive Technology Access

Our diverse classrooms demand that we are ready to meet many varied ability levels and learning styles.  By applying the principles of Universal Design for Learning, using teaching techniques that work for all students, and maximizing co-teaching strategies, teachers can decrease the need for specific accommodations. Educators also need apply their knowledge of specific strategies that are helpful to students with disabilities such as using graphic organizers, previewing vocabulary, and providing multiple ways to complete classroom tasks.  The explosion of Accessible Instructional Materials and wider acceptance of technology tools for reading and writing support will also help overcome the barriers to learning in the typical classroom.  Free Internet resources will be shared. The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can and will be applied in other settings than the K-12 classroom. Counselors & Engineers will find they may invest more resources and time on other higher order rehab services that individual clients require in order to be successful.

Instructions for Accessing Webinar

Credits Offered

• CEUs - Visit the AAC Institute for CEU Info
  
• CRCs - Credits have been requested (If you are requesting CRCs, please email Liz@gatfl.org with your name, organization, city, state and corresponding email address.)

For more information, please contact Liz Persaud – Liz@gatfl.org or visit www.gatfl.org.