Reflections on Richard



In our recent assistive technology class a fictitious character, Richard, was introduced to us via the amazing technology of our professor. Richard has macular degeneration, a visual disability that impairs vision to the extent that the only usable vision left is peripheral vision.

The technology with which the case study was presented truly drew me in and made me feel as if I was really meeting Richard. I do not know anyone with macular degeneration and to “hear” Richard talk about his struggles with day-to-day life provided me with insight to this disability. Richard brought to light accommodations he had integrated into his daily routine. The interviewer administered the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure paralled with the Human Activity Assistive Technology Model to target problems areas that were of the most importance to him. She then made recommendations for technology she thought would work for Richard. The technology with which the interview was conducted affords all of us in this class to witness how a COPM should be administered.

In reflecting on Richard and his disability a new low vision auto-reading device called myReader ( www.myreader.com) . might be helpful. It is transportable and compact and eases the frustration of reading for many with visual disabilities. Richard really misses reading for required information but for pleasure as well. Reading materials can be placed on a table and with the touch of a few buttons to customize font size, speed, and colors the work is done! And…it claims to cut the required reading time with a video magnifier in half.

I have been enriched in my knowledge of macular degeneration and technology because I met Richard through some pretty amazing technology.

http://www.closingthegap.com/ctg2/solutions/editorial_detailsinline.lasso?Solutions_EditorialID=E1093&-session=XServeAuthenticate:42A87E66053a02E8A5Tvwl2BDE97 link to article on my reader!

Priceless?

Article : An Evidence-Based Emergent Literacy Model for Students with Significant Disabilities
Using AT Adaptations

http://www.closingthegap.com


If you can read, you can learn even those with moderate to severe disabilities, including autism. Early Literacy Skills Builder is a research –based early literacy program to teach reading to those children who have not yet acquired phonemic awareness or print awareness.
For those of you in education, have you ever sat in a classroom that is rich with pictorial support and print awareness but no rhyme or reason on connecting the two to actually teach reading? ELSB is a language rich curriculum whose goal is to provide a curriculum specifically for children ages five to ten years old presenting moderate to severe disabilities and meets the needs for students that are verbal or nonverbal.
The curriculum is a multiyear program and consists of two major components: Building with Stories and Building with Sounds and Symbols. All the components form DVDs to PDF printables, Moe the puppet, assessments, manuals, etc. can be viewed at
www.AttainmentCompany.com
Item EL-S10A
So where does the Assistive Technology piece of the puzzle fit? AT adaptations can be integrated throughout the literacy program. Picture symbols can be used to provide choices in simple ways such as Velcro on a garden glove, single message voice output devices ( GoTalk One, Big Mac, or Go Talk, Cheap Talk) as well as alternate augmentative communication devices (AAC) for comprehension. Stories are accessible in the Writing with Symbols program available from the Project RAISE Web site www.education.uncc.edu/access/RAISEProject.htm>. All of the features offered on your personal computer such as text to speech and speech to text as well as any tactile adaptations can be added with the use of your creativity.
This curriculum was of interest to me because of the time I spend in classrooms with students that exhibit moderate to severe cognitive deficits. I have watched calendar, weather, and daily routines as well as lunchroom choices and other routine choices be offered through Writing with Symbols but no formal effort to teach these students to read. Alternate communication systems are often used but not in correlation to a reading program. If you have $695.00, this might just be the reading curriculum you have been searching for. And after all, the ability is read is priceless…right?

I begin this blog with the confession that I am not a fan of chat rooms, discussion boards and interactive online communication tools (minus email)! I would never do this unless required to do so! I love people but I love face to face communication!

I began the Masters program in SPED with a specialty in LD Fall, 2007 and am adding on AT Certification. I began this program with virtually no computer skills. I have an itinerant position in our school system coordinating services for hearing impaired students and often miss out on technology trainings . It has been a wonderful experience to have new learning before me. The most new learning has occurred in the technology classes I have taken. I have used so much of what I have already learned and look forward to acquiring more. I anticipate this blog being an avenue to broaden that knowledge and to share new ideas and perspectives in the area of technology that will be pleasurable for me as a learner and to those with whom it will benefit.

In my life outside of graduate school, I work with hearing impaired students from preschool to high school on language, audition, and academic skills. I also serve as lead teacher and as as liaison in our county with the placement of newly identified or incoming students. My favorite part of my job is going into preschool inclusion classrooms. I feel as if I am in a holy place where diversity has no boundaries. The little ones love and accept unconditionally! Circle time, morning songs and books presented in sign language are a great way to start a day!

After school days are over, I enjoy teaching indoor cycling at our local gym on a couple of afternoons or participating in a gym class or going for a walk or run. My passion is backpacking and I hope to backpack trails in and around the Grand Canyon to celebrate the big 50 this year. I live close to the beach and go as much as possible.I have a son and a daughter both of whom are Seniors in college at UNCW. I have a wonderful husband, a wonderful family and wonderful friends. As you, I have had my share of life struggles and a some pain along the way but I truly love life and look forward to new days and new experiences great or small. I look forward to reading and communicating our pleasurable perspectives this semester.

4:29:00 PM
by Jackie Simmons
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