Home Spectronics and ZYGO Australia Assistive Technology Summits 2000

Read about the Brisbane Assistive Technology Summit

Brisbane: November 1st to 3rd 2000

RiverGlenn Venue in Indooroopilly

The first Spectronics and Zygo Australia Assistive Technology Summit 2000 has proved to be an overwhelming success, due to the keynote speakers Pati King-DeBaun and Caroline Musselwhite. Their vibrant, energetic presentations and plenary sessions were thoroughly enjoyed by over one hundred delegates. They challenged participants to evaluate their practices and invited everyone to consider alternative methods and ideas. Delegates were kept busy as the presenters offered a great deal of information, in a fun and entertaining manner!

Conducted at the RiverGlenn venue in Indooroopilly, other international speakers included Bob Keller (Don Johnston) Kelly Fonner (an independent Assistive Technology consultant and trainer), Mike and Tina Dethridge (Widgit Software). Other presenters included Jane Farrall (Zygo Australia), Michael O’Leary, Barbara Landsberg and Gerry Kennedy(Spectronics). Introductory Macaw sessions were also conducted during breaks by Tracey Bode (Zygo Australia).

Throughout the Summit, numerous web sites were mentioned, shared and published in papers. These were suggested by a number of presenters as well as delegates over the 3 days. As they increased in number, we have progressively posted them to our web site would be advantageous not only to the Brisbane delegates, but also to other interested people who could not attend.

This is a brief list of the various handy resource sites that were promoted by speakers, organisers and delegates. One major advantage in participating at event such as the Summit is the sharing of ideas, strategies and leading practice. If you navigate to these sites, you will find a wealth of information, resources, templates, overlays and practical ideas that you can implement in your setting.

Take time to explore these sites. Some will cater more to AAC or speech pathology, others to teachers in general. These sites will be of interest to those involved in using communication devices and Assistive technology with children and adults who have special access, communication or learning needs.

As more sites and resources are mentioned and offered in Melbourne and Sydney, we will add them to this list.

Please share these resource sites with colleagues, other practitioners and parents.

• http://www.creative-comm.com/ (Pati King-DeBaun’s company website)
• http://www.aacintervention.com/ Caroline Musselwhite’s shared site
• http://www.intellitools.com/ IntelliTools company (IntelliKeys)
• http://www.donjohnston.com/ Don Johnston (Write:Outloud, Co:Writer)
• http://www.widgit.com/ Widgit Software
• http://www.zygo-usa.com/ ZYGO Industries in the USA
• http://www.mayer-johnson.com/ Mayer Johnson Company (Boardmaker, PCS libraries )
• http://www.ablenet.com/ Ablenet
• http://www.attainment.com/ Attainment Company (communication displays)
• http://www.hyperstudio.com/ Hyperstudio Multi-media software
• http://www.lburkhart.com/ Linda Burkhart’s resource site (AAC)
• http://www.sfaw.com/ An open book initiative with reading resource links
• http://www.ldresources.com/ Resources for People with Learning Disabilities
• http://www.poetryalive.com/ Collection of poetry
• http://www.gigglepoetry.com/ Collection of fun poems
• http://www.lyrics.natalnet.com.br/html/main-index/ Song lyrics
• http://www.hiphopraplyrics.com/ Lyrics that can be used with older students
• http://www.bookstone.com/ A place for adventurous readers!
• http://www.frame-tech.com/ Communication devices that are affordable and Inclusive – the site is based in the USA
• http://www.enablingdevices.com/ Toys for special children – the site is based in the USA
• http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/ Useful site for locating software for children
• http://www.readplease.com/ Text to speech application
• http://www.ipl.org/ Independent public library (public domain literature)
• http://www.gutenberg.net/ Public domain literature
• http://www.switchintime.com/ Accessible switch software titles – it includes a ClickIt! Collection as well(for Living Books on the Apple Macintosh platform)
• http://www.wrightgroup.com/ Publisher of Inclusive children’s educational materials (In the USA)
• http://www.rigby.com/ Rigby publishers
• http://www.creativeteachingpress.com/ Education al publishers of materials for early and middle primary aged children
• http://www.closingthegap.com/ Closing the Gap Assistive technology information
• http://www.tucows.com/ Shareware: Eliza (Mac), Analyst Psychotherapist (PC)
• http://www.top3.net/LYRICS Lyrics to popular music that can be used in Music Therapy, classrooms or used on overlays for IntelliKeys, Discover:Board or Macaws

Please Note: There are more links now on the Melbourne and Sydney Summit updates. Happy hunting … tell your colleagues, other parents and your students to take a look, too! Over the three Summits, we have collected a large number of these useful sites. If you find more, please email us.