I grew up playing Pong, Space Invaders, and PacMan, not the complicated games with virtual worlds of today. Maybe that’s why  Second Life is difficult for me. I just can’t get into it for some reason.

If I could figure it out, it might be neat to create a new persona, perhaps even one without a disability. I have always believed that if there was a magical machine that would take away my cerebral palsy, I would not use it. However, to be able to experience life without a disability in a virtual world might tempt me. Read the rest of this entry »

In the last couple of posts, I have focused on tools to support students who need visuals to learn content. Today, I found a free software program that adds auditory support for algebra, physics, statistics, and other data-based tasks.

NASA’s MathTrax software allows students to see graphs with their ears. This program provides a graphing and data manipulation tool for middle school and high school students to graph equations, physics simulations or plot data files. Robert Shelton, a NASA mathematician with blindness, helped develop the software, which works with screen readers also.

Naturally, this would be great support for students with visual impairments or blindness. However, since many students who do not have disabilities learn best through auditory channels, this would be a terrific addition for the universal design toolbox for math teachers.

It’s not often that a topic relates to both of my blogging topics, assistive technology and teaching online.  Today, however, a news item could fit either here or on the Online Instructors’ Lounge.  That blog needed a post today so I linked to a cool story about sign language captioning on an online course there.  Check it out!

I was just looking through The Web Catcher, a blog by AT consultant and occupational therapist Kirsten Haugen. The Web Catcher highlights educational resources on the web, sorting them by age, accessibility, content, features, and academic subject. It’s great to have sites categorized in so many ways.

In a recent post, Kristen shares two other visual dictionaries that would compliment the Visual Dictionary Online I reviewed yesterday.

Great finds and fantastic blog, Kristen.

Let’s keep adding to the list. Please let me know if you have any other favorite sites for visually enhancing learning.

Those who have visual learners will want to check out Merriam-Webster’s new Visual Dictionary Online. which users to search by choosing icons related to 15 themes or search using a word. There are sub-catagories under each theme. Rather than offering a text-based definition, each entry offers a detailed diagram of the term.

For example, my searched for “butterfly” yielded three entries about the insect and one about swimming techniques. I selected “morphology of a butterfly” and received a annotated diagram in which I could click on each part and read a definition. There is an audio link that prounounces each word.  (This is a helpful feature, but I was disappointed that the entire definition was not read aloud.)

Currently, 6,000 terms are indexed.  This will likely assist teachers needing diagrams and students doing research.  The site does have many advertisements, which may distract some students and could be improved by adding more audio support. Still,  Visual Dictionary Online is worth adding to your bookmarks.

Elina reminds me of myself at her age!

It is great to see a obviously bright young lady have access to technology so early in her life. Note the effort still required for her to write. As I explain to people, technology does not make life easy for those of us with disabilities, but it does make tasks possible and more tolerable.

Check out the other four videos at the bottom after Elina’s for other examples of what tech can do!

I’m a Pepsi addict. When I used to drink down an open can and no one was around to open another, I was not happy. Visiting my best friend one day, I discovered a LIFE SAVER. The Easy Opener from the Pampered Chef has an end to open jars and an end to open 2-litters. There is also a slot on that end which slides over the tabs on pop cans. Pull up, and I’m on my Carbonated, caffeinated bliss!!

It even has a magnet, so you can keep it on your fridge. A bargain at $3.75

Greetings blog readers—Welcome to the Tech-Can-Do blog!

The purpose of this blog will be to share information about technology for people with disabilities. My name is Denise Lance, and I have cerebral palsy. I got my first computer at age 20, and it changed my life! Technology made such a difference that I have focused my career on helping other people with disabilities find technology that opens doors to new independence in learning, working, having fun, and simply living their lives as they want.

In 1999, I earned a Ph.D. in special education with an emphasis in assistive technology from the University of Kansas. I have worked as an assistive technology consultant and frequently publish in academic journals and consumer publications.

If you have been in the field of AT awhile, you may have visited the Virtual Assistive Technology Center site, which offered links to free and cheap software for people with disabilities. Tech-Can-Do is a rebirth and extension of that, but will offer reviews of commercial software, gadgets, other sites, web accessibility tips, and more.

Please leave suggestions for information you would like to read here and questions about assistive technology below.

Thanks!!

Denise