Tech & Teachers Newsletter
February 2020
Free Training!
Our AT Center has put together a free training called, “Free & Frugal: Assistive Technology on a Budget!” We know it can be heartbreaking to hear about an amazing support for your student or classroom and then find out that the price is way out of your budget—but free is always in the budget! We will cover (mostly) free AT resources to address communication, reading, writing, math, memory, organization, focus, and fun.
If your school is interested in hosting this free training, please contact the AT Center at at.center@ltvec.org.
Novel Effect: Make Reading Fun and Immersive!
Have you heard of the app that provides a soundtrack to your stories? Novel Effect is a free app for Android and iOS that will fill your story time with dramatic music and whimsical sound effects.
This app utilizes a speech recognition technology so that it knows where you are in the story and follows along. You can read as fast or slow as you like!
Just Released: Tar Heel Shared Reader
Introducing Tar Heel Shared Reader!
Tar Heel Shared Reader combines Tar Heel Reader’s library of age and ability appropriate books and a new shared reading interface that supports adults in engaging students more actively and in constructing meaning from texts.
Shared reading is an evidence-based intervention that can help improve language, communication, and interaction skills while building understanding of print concepts. During shared reading, adults focus on maximizing interact page-by-page while working toward helping students lead the interaction.
C-Pen Reader Pen Scanner
C-Pen Reader Pen Scanner
Our AT Center currently has the C-Pen on loan. If you have a student that you would like to try it with, please let us know. We would love your feedback on using this AT support for reading.
Watch the video to see what this pen could do to help your students with print disabilities.
InnerVoice App for Improving Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism
InnerVoice App on Sale Now!
InnerVoice is a unique AAC app that is not meant to be a robust AAC system, but as a tool to improve communication and social skills in children with autism. This app will create a 3D model of your student that can express emotion and speak with those emotions.
In addition, there is a conversation component that allows the child to have a conversation with the avatar. This feature is very similar to having a conversation with Siri or Alexa, but it’s great practice in the back and forth nature of conversations.
Also, the student can take a picture of an object and the avatar will tell him what the object is. This way, the child is in control of finding out what is interesting to him.
If you are interested, this iOS app is on sale right now for only $5, which is a huge discount.
