Category Archives: Tools & Resources
Symbols Symbols Everywhere!
Posted in Permanent Resources, Tools & Resources
Katie Lyon February 15, 2012
Katie Lyon February 15, 2012
You really are spoilt for choice these days with a number of symbol sets available, with more being developed all the time. What are the things you need to consider when selecting a symbol set to use with the people you support or in your community projects? Some symbol sets are small with limited vocabulary, some are huge, others have been developed for a …
Useful FREE online resource
Posted in Tools & Resources
Ian Bean December 27, 2011
Ian Bean December 27, 2011
FREE Image Generators This month we’re highlighting this great set of online tools to allow you and your students to create a range of images using your own text. Create a newspaper clipping by simply adding a headline and a story. Great starter for desktop publishing lessons. Lots to choose from; movie clapper boards, banners and even a cigarette packet you can add …
More resources from the Spectronics team including PowerPoint presentations
Posted in Tools & Resources
Barbara Landsberg December 22, 2011
Barbara Landsberg December 22, 2011
We are constantly finding new ways of sharing great articles, links and resources with you, with the Spectronics Blog being the central place for display of all of our resources. We are also adding posts by new Guest Bloggers – including Gerry Kennedy from Australia and Ian Bean from the UK. Did you know you can now sign up to be notified by …
Touch Skills Progression
Posted in Tools & Resources
Ian Bean December 19, 2011
Ian Bean December 19, 2011
Colleagues around the world are using the ‘Switch Progression Road Map’ that I wrote during my time at Inclusive Technology to help them assess, teach and record switching skills. Hilary Norton, an advisory teacher for ICT/SEN and inclusion wrote in an article for MJO, “This book should be in every classroom.” In my latest book, ‘Touch Skills Progression’, I explore the skills students with …
Boardmaker Studio: Multi-site licensing and no more CD in the drive!
Posted in Tools & Resources
Barbara Landsberg December 12, 2011
Barbara Landsberg December 12, 2011
Boardmaker Studio, the first update to Boardmaker for a number of years, was released late last year. It is becoming very popular now, so it might be timely to take another look at why you might consider upgrading your current copies of Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus! to Boardmaker Studio. What are the advantages of Boardmaker Studio? No CD in the drive is required to …
Universal Access to Web Browsers
Posted in Tools & Resources
Gerry Kennedy November 21, 2011
Gerry Kennedy November 21, 2011
1. Introduction As per critical software for users with different access and learning needs, the web browser is most definitely one of the most important. Students now spend so much of their time online inside a browser. When they are on social media sites, chatting, searching, researching and collecting data, emailing, shopping, banking, reading the news, sports, entertainment sections, downloading music and watching videos …
Universal Access to Data Collection and Storage
Posted in Tools & Resources
Gerry Kennedy November 3, 2011
Gerry Kennedy November 3, 2011
1. Introduction Data systems have been important to computer users since the advent of personal computers. My first experience with a computer was the MONECS system whereby IBM Port-a-Punch 80 column punch cards were used. Each line of programming code was made up of cards where a hole was punched to represent the character (e.g. a-z or 1-0) on each card. It was tedious, …
Universal Access to Reading Software
Posted in Tools & Resources
Gerry Kennedy October 31, 2011
Gerry Kennedy October 31, 2011
1. Introduction Students live in a world of symbols, icons and words. Every day they process printed text online and in printed newspapers, journals and magazines, in school worksheets and handouts, in sports reports, recipes, product information, accounts, social web sites, text messages, online chat and/or emails. As emerging readers, they rely on their reading skills, comprehension and experience to understand and interpret the …
Communication resources for adult settings
Posted in Tools & Resources
Charlene Cullen October 10, 2011
Charlene Cullen October 10, 2011
There’s no doubt in my mind that alternative and augmentative communication (AAC ) is an important consideration for adults with complex communication needs (CCN). It is especially essential for encouraging social participation and getting individuals involved in life activities. But finding resources about implementing AAC with adults can be tricky. The DynaVox implementation toolkit has some great newsletters that they release on a regular …
Difference between PCS Thinline and PCS Classic symbols
Posted in Tools & Resources
Charlene Cullen September 26, 2011
Charlene Cullen September 26, 2011
Recently we have had a lot people asking us about the difference between the PCS Thinline symbols and PCS Classic symbols that are available to use with the Boardmaker Software Family. You can read about the new Thinline symbols in a blog I wrote earlier in the year. The new PCS Thinline symbols could be described as age generic, with a more detailed look …
