How does a Blind person understand how to use a flat surface tool like an iPad?

Blind people that are technology literate do not ask this question. Unfortunately, there are a great deal of blind people (sighted too) that are NOT techie and have a difficult time understanding how to use something like an iPad.

All their lives, they have touched something tactile to give them feedback and now they are trying to wrap their mind around using something with a flat surface.

Enter the solution. By hooking a braille display or external keyboard and teaching them the keystrokes, the light bulb of understanding goes on quickly. They begin to see where icons are and how to activate what they want. Then you move them to the Voice Over finger movements and they truly start to understand how to move around this tool and other flat surface tools like it.

Though I have seen this more in adults than children, some children have the same difficultly and once you connect the braille display or external keyboard, (I always teach both), they catch on VERY quickly.

To help your students or if you are blind and are having a difficult time grasping what to do with this flat surface, you can download lessons at: Mac/iTools

Attach a LARGE monitor to display iPad for Low Vision Students-See how to use the iPad for School

The iPad can store textbooks, books, music, and thousands of types of apps for our students for school and pleasure. For low vision students, you can attach an external monitor to the iPad to enlarge everything so viewing is incredibly easy. Those inaccessible sites are no longer visually taxing as the child can see everything they need too depending on the size of the monitor the iPad is connected to.
For blind students, hook a braille display so they can read any accessible text available. No, they still cannot see the images that will be in the textbooks or web, but they will be able to hear what is going on.
YouTube Video: The textbook. Reinvented for iPad.
For lesson on how to attach a monitor to the iPad, go to: How to project to an external monitor from your iPad
For lessons on how to use the iPad with braille display or external keyboard, go to: Mac/iTools

Take Control of Jaws in Word-Learn the secrets to enable JAWS to speak everything-audio/visual lesson

If you have struggled in any way while using Office 2010 it is because you are not using compatibility mode. If your talking software is refusing to do what you want him to do, this lesson will help you take control. Using this mode permanently will enable you to do what you could not before with ease.

This audio/visual lesson will get you going. This FREE download will get you on your way to understanding more clearly how to control your talking software.

Take Control of Jaws in Word-Learn the secrets to enable JAWS to speak everything-audio/visual lesson

Take Control of JAWS-Lesson 1 the critical commands

Learn how to take Control of JAWS and make him do what you want him to do.

Do you get lost? Learn the tricks to find out where you are at in general and specifically and get him moving in the direction you desire.

Make him repeat information to you with a keystroke

Learn how to move around and find everything you need on your desktop.

Learn how to make shortcut keys to open programs quickly

Learn the quick commands already built into your Windows 7 system to open programs quickly.

Learn where to position JAWS to access him easily and tell him the configs you need for the type of computer you are using.

You will have peace and ease of mind after you finish this lesson, knowing you CAN control him whenever you want.

This is the first series in many lessons to come on making JAWS do what you want him to do

Take Control of JAWS-Lesson 1 the critical commands

God Parting the Sky

Photo taken in Alabama ~

Bob Frew sent this out.

"I took this picture on Int.20, traveling to Leeds , AL . It has given me strength in the times of trouble. I feel I should share it with the rest of the world. I hope it is an inspiration to you. It just goes to show what we already know...We have a God, and he's watching over us.

I e-mailed this picture to News Channel Fox 6. I was contacted by Meteorologist James Spann. He said that this picture of the sky is showing up in all states and around the world. He wanted to know where I was from and where I took it. He saw a similar picture taken in Texas. He said this is amazing to him.

Would you look at this picture? It reminds me of that song 'He's got the whole world in his hands.' He is definitely in control.

Standard Calculator on a PC with talking software-audio/visual lesson

There is a very sophisticated calculator already built in to every PC. Start your students with learning the basics of adding, subtracting, dividing, multiplying, % and square root calculations on a PC. Both desktop and laptop commands are used in this audio/visual lesson for those who want to see and hear the example of all keystrokes.

Lesson:

Standard Calculator on a PC with talking software-audio/visual lesson

How to make a Food Chain, Food Pyramid, Family Tree with talking software

As sighted students go about making fancy graphics for their Food Chain, Food Pyramid, Family Tree, or other diagrams, clicking away with their mouse, adding graphics and colors, our blind students can join in using their talking software. They just need to learn a few tricks.

No longer do our blind students have to sit aside and have a sighted person doing most of the work on a graphic or worse, the student doing something entirely different and then their lack of understanding deepens. If our students do not learn how to do the same things, gain the same skills, whether they can see it or not, how are they going to compete for jobs and the highest honors? Our students can do the same--their knowledge base just needs to grow.

The reminder came up as a distressed student asked me, "How am I going to do this?" Within minutes the student was enjoying the same features to create an elaborate diagram, using the talking software to guide her. She could use shortcut keys to immediately implement a design or change a configuration to finish the assignment on time. As soon as she was done, she emailed it off to her teacher. The teacher used track changes to correct the work and email it back, in which her talking software read all the remarks. A beautiful A to go with the beautiful diagram.

Audio/Visual lessons are now available to help teach your students:

Food Chain-make a creative graphic using talking software and word-audio/visual

Family Tree using talking software, graphics in Word-audio/visual lesson

Create a Food Pyramid with talking software and Word-audio/visual lesson

How to Reset your iPad when it is not working correctly

If you push the HOME button and the options start changing on you, or you just can't get the iPad to work the way you know it should, see this lesson on how to move around and reset those options.
iPad-reset options when it does not work well

Being Grateful For the Simple Things in Life

When I was young, my dad would always point out the sunsets every night with such joy. Every morning I would watch the sunrise as I drove the tractor around the fields and would think “How beautiful” but not fully realizing the meaning of it all. As a typical teen, I was caught up in what I THOUGHT was important—how I looked and what I had.

For the last decade I know what my father was trying to show us---it IS the simple things in life that make the difference. The simple incredible beauty of each morning as I hike with my dog and watch the sunrise; during the summer, the stars are so close and large, gazing down at us, almost as if I could reach out and grab one; or during the harvest moon, so voluminous and glowing that it swallows up the dark. It startles me and brings me to tears many times, as I see the wonder of God. During the day, I get to hear the simple laughter of a child, a friendly hello, receive and give a warm hug. The time I sit out on my porch with my husband and we watch the animals play in the grass, leaping at bugs and floating dust and twirling in circles to see how many things they can attack; The loving wet kiss of our dog over the cat’s head, then the cat coming up for more kisses from us---slobber and all. Children playing water games, spraying each other in the heat of the summer as the animals chase them.

It is the simple things that make us so happy. You buy an expensive item and it makes you happy for the time of the purchase then miserable as you make the payments on it; it is temporary.

It is not the stuff that makes us happy...it is the simple things: the sunrises and sunsets, the smiles, the warm hug from a child or from an animal- wets kisses and all, good friends, being thankful and grateful. Put energy into the things that will have a lasting effect and make a difference!

iPad Low vision app game for young children learning to spell and read

BB lite app offers a wonderful program to help sighted and low vision children a fun way to learn how to read and spell. Watch YouTube video: iPad app games for young children

For children who need help in learning how to speak, Tap to Talk could be your answer.
Tap to Talk is a simple communication device that helps children "talk" to the people around them. You cannot use Voice Over with it, but it has its own talking ability within the program. It works great for Low Vision children and you could use a braille overlay to help a blind child learn where each item is going to be so they could use it too.

Watch a video on this device at: iPad app-Communication Device that speaks

For more iPad app suggestions and lessons on how to use it, go to: iTools

Animals can change a bad situation to something GOOD

For a child that is blind or sighted, an animal can make life more bearable. When depression hits, the unconditional love of an animal can make it all better. When that child just can't explain what is wrong, crying into the soft fur of their beloved pet, can change a frown to a smile.

I do not suggest getting a puppy or kitty unless you are ready to raise another very needy person around your house.....and YES, they become another of the family membership.

There are so many wonderful adult animals at shelters that are ready to love someone, who are obedient and all they want is the chance to give out that unconditional love to a child who so desperately needs what they have to give. An animal helps the child become more responsible without the issues of trying to train a puppy or kitty. Put in a cat window and the litter box issue is immediately resolved and a dog can go 10 hours without a potty break.

Make the difference for a child by getting them a pet and watch the changes that will occur for incredible GOOD.

iPad and typing Spanish Characters

The iPad allows you to add dozens of languages and type in that language mode.

Watch this Youtube video to get you going: Dr Robinson teaches iPad and typing Spanish characters

Then go and download a text lesson to follow through on more steps to help you at: iTools

Helping a Blind Child become Independent

In general, when a child is born blind, parents have a sense of overwhelming grief, fear and a lack of understanding of what to do. This birth is "different" and they are very unsure. One tendency is to do everything for the child. When this occurs, children do not learn the basic skills to move around and do for themselves. If children are sighted and everything is done for them, they can "watch" to see how to do something, if they ever so desire. However, blind children MUST touch the environment and interact with it in order to understand it and learn how to "DO" life.

Many parents may do too much because it is faster for them to do it. But children are slow "at first" and as they do skills, they become faster. That is true for all of us.

Many parents have such guilt of their child being blind that they over compensate by doing "EVERYTHING" for the child, not realizing that they are hurting the child's chances of being "normal" having friends and being able to do for themselves, becoming independent later on.

The last scenario is the one I deal with often. High School students come to me, who have never made a meal, cannot cut their own food, can never be left alone because they would not even know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They do not even know how to carry their books, hang up their coat and get ready for class because their parents have insisted that a para educator be next to them all day long. The student cannot even go to the bathroom by himself or herself. But on a cognitive scale, this child is of average intelligence and has every capability of being independent. Many times this situation will be made worse because the para that was hired for the child WANTS to do everything for the child also because they feel sorry for him/her. Pity kills---kills the spirit and soul....be there no doubt.

Some children completely give into this and just become dependent all their lives. Never going on to college, or a job or living out any potential dream deeply buried within them.

Others and this is most, in High School start to really resent their parents and those around them who refuse to let them do anything. What they did not realize was that all those years they let someone else "do" for them --but then they NEVER wanted to clean a toilet or sweep the floor, so gave in to their parents doing everything for them; they never gained the skills to do what they wanted when the time came. Parents must make this decision as children are in general too fearful or lack desire to confront them on their lack of participation in daily life activities.

When children asks to go on a major High School field trip over days of time, the answer has to be "no" because they have no ability to get around by themselves, or even organize themselves enough to know how to pack, unpack or get ready for bed and wake up and get dressed without constant attention.

Some will go onto training centers for the blind if they get angry enough about their lack of abilities and these people go on to accomplish their dreams. But those who just stay angry or resigned go on to do very little.

A highly skilled teacher of the blind can get this situation turned around. The introduction of technology is usually the first step, as students have great success fast in learning how to accomplish and do their own work. They start to gain the confidence in doing more and slowly but surely start to learn those independent skills. Once the parents start to see the success, they now understand their child can do anything they desire. Hope grows, vision changes and they start to see a new picture of possibility.

We can either make a society of independent people or not. Be careful how much you "do" for anyone. Are you really helping or hurting. If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him how to fish, he eats for a lifetime!!!!

iPad and Low Vision Tricks to SEE Better

The iPad has several wonderful tricks to enable you to see what you are doing while moving around and typing text. Use Zoom, or enlarge Text or use White and Black. You can combine Voice Over to speak the text while using Enlarge Text or White and Black contrast....so many options.

Watch a Youtube video to get you going: iPad and Low Vision Tricks

Other Low Vision Tricks to learn at: Low Vision and iTools

iPad-Communication Device

Tap to Talk is a simple communication device that helps children "talk" to the people around them. You cannot use Voice Over with it, but it has its own talking ability within the program. It works great for Low Vision children and you could use a braille overlay to help a blind child learn where each item is going to be so they could use it too.

Watch a video on this device at: iPad app-Communication Device that speaks

Mac with Voice Over

Mac with Lion OS system and Voice Over are truly giving the PC with talking software a run for its money. Mac has truly become accessible right out of the box. Voice Over is able to access information with a flick of a finger or a key command.

If you are a PC user and want to make a switch, you must be ready for a learning curve as everything you learned on the PC will not transfer over to the Mac, other than you will be using the keyboard. You will also be using the Track Pad. There are great features worked into the Mac that with a simple finger gesture you can sail across a page

To Watch a video demonstration, go to Dr. Robinson teaches-Mac with Voice Over and using Key Commands

To get you going and moving on the Mac with Voice Over, download lessons at iTools at www.yourtechvision.com

iPhone-Voice Over with apps and tricks in the Internet

Watch an easy way to move around multiple HOME pages, try different apps and get into the Internet using tricks to access pages easily. Watch Video at: Dr Robinson teaches iPhone with Voice Over-apps and tricks in the Internet
and acquire text lessons to teach and learn on your own at: iTools

Teaching Print to Blind Children

Learning how to print will enable blind children to understand the world more completely. Whether it is understanding basic concepts, such as a U-Turn, a C-clamp, V-angel, T-intersection and so much more, to advanced math concepts, print will help blind children relate to their sighted peers and understand life's' concepts with more ease. Understanding a T, H and U will really help them travel and navigate the world. If they can comprehend the layout of a building or street, nothing can stop them.

When I was interning decades ago with the most incredible blind teacher I had ever met, he taught me these valuable skills. The teacher or sighted students could easily draw figures on the blind students' hands to describe what was seen. This was especially helpful in math class. Blind children also found it easier to interpret those line design drawings in their braille books if they understood letters, pictures, shapes and designs.


Get Braille Magnetic Letters that can go on the fridge, so while you are cooking, your child can be rearranging the letters and making words. Get the letters that have braille on them, so they can learn the braille and the print at the same time. Flash cards with braille and print shapes make it easy to take learning in the car or working in a room. Creative Adaptations for Learning has many types of options

You can pair up students and each will spell a word then hand the word to the other person and they have to figure out the word. Then they can take a tactile board, such as a Draftsman toolkit and practice writing it out. There are many ways to do this to make learning fun.

Make a Call and contact with iPhone- Voice over and Braille Display

Learn how to quickly dial a number using a braille display (refreshabraille example used) and voice over. Also, learn how to make a contact and find a contact already inserted into your phone book.

Watch an audio/visual lesson  to get you going: Make a Call and contact with iPhone- Voice over and Braille Display

iPhone lessons to help you learn more at iTools

iPad with Voice Over and Bluetooth external keyboard-pairing, editing in Notes word processor and moving around and using the Internet

Learn how to use an iPad with Voice Over and a Bluetooth external keyboard. If you need something more tactile and easy to use, this is it. These lessons will teach you how to pair the keyboard to the iPad, then take you to Notes word processor and show you how to type and edit information. Once you learn the basics of using the rotor and commands, you will then move onto using the Internet and learning about more commands that will help you move faster. These are Voice over commands so can help you use your Mac with Voice Over too.

Text and audio/visual lessons offered  at: iTools

Design a Great Background for PowerPoint presentation

Starting as young as third grade, students are creating PowerPoint's and using them to present information. It is an essential skill as they reach middle and High School. There are many tricks to creating the best background for the information needed to show your class.
Watch Youtube video at: Dr Robinson teaches how to Design a Great Background for PowerPoint presentation
and download a free text lesson to go with it at: PowerPoint-Design a background for slide

Learn how to be the Best Speller

JAWS talking software and a PC offer wonderful options to becoming a great speller....Between the applications key and the numpad, you too can become a stellar speller.

How to Begin: Watch video at Youtube: Learn How to be the BEST speller
The student's braille list is brailled out using contracted and uncontracted braille. They practice brailling the words, using contractions on their braille tool, whether a brailler or adapted note taker. Then they go to the computer and braille out the list in preparation of taking the spelling test on the computer. Once they finish taking an exam, they can email the test immediately to the teacher, when the teacher collects the other students' test. It is all about the ability to finish work in the same space of time as their peers. This is a great example to show them they can do a task just as quickly.

When practicing their spelling words, they type out the word, using insert+2 and use the words and characters options, so JAWS speaks every character and every word as the student types. After they type the word, I have them double check it by going to the numpad and hitting insert+5 so JAWS says the word again, then they hit insert+5 twice quickly to have the word spelled to them. If they have difficulty with the word, they will then type it out 10 times to remember the correct spelling.

If the student struggles with spelling, I have them use the applications key which is a standard key on any PC keyboard, so anyone can use this feature. They type a word, hit the applications key which will give them the correct spelling (if the word is not too poorly spelled) and they arrow to the correct options. They then type out the word even more times, then double checking with their brailled spelling list. Of course, they know they cannot use this option while taking a test, but this will be a life long skill to use when writing.

Being dyslexic, reading and writing have always been a struggle for me. When I learned about the applications key, I truly thought this was a gift from God and HIS grace. I teach this option to any of my students who struggle with spelling and the sighted students quickly want to use the same feature. With technology, we can enhance our abilities that are buried beneath us, but we cannot get out for one reason or another. A disability becomes an ABILITY through technology.

Lessons to help teach:
Office 2003-Word-Students who need to create a spelling list

Office 2010-Word-Students who need to create a spelling list
Spell check as you type—finding the secrets to spelling
Word-getting rid of auto formats in documents

Recover a lost file, find it quickly or email it right from WORD

Word 2010 offers some wonderful features to send a file directly from WORD and once you write that document find it quickly in the most recent document area and if you lose or forget to save that file, a way to recover it.

This seems to be an on-going issue with my students. Panic sets in, but as soon as they ask again how to recover or find a file they just cannot remember the name to, relief comes over them quickly. You too, can learn those tricks through:
Sending a file directly from WORD- finding the most recent document, recovering an unsaved document

iPad- Voice Over-Refreshabraille with setting it up, Notes, editing and the Internet

Watch an audio/visual lesson to help you use the: iPad with Voice Over and a Refreshabraille braille display and using the Internet --all braille displays work the same way so you can use the same techniques

Learn the minor and major aspects of using the iPad with Voice Over and the APH Refreshabraille Braille display (commands are similar with other displays also). Learn how to set it up right out of the box then learn more advanced skills like editing in notes and using the Interent.

Continue to advance your iPad and braille display skills and use Notes and edit information within the note, whether deleting, auto-correcting, selecting and unselecting information and the all important, how to undo what you just did when you make a mistake. Continue learning as you go into the Internet and learn how to easily move around pages, select and copy text then paste it into Notes or your word processor program, then edit as needed.
Lessons to help at iTools

Get Perspective. Change your life for the better

Teaching hundreds of students over the past decades has always been exciting. However, when you teach a child with exceptionality, a common “unhappy” phrase comes up over and over. “I want to be like everyone else and I do not want to be different”. I always tell them that the person who is DIFFERENT is the one who typically makes the biggest difference in the world. Then I go on to tell them about some of the people who are different and made life better for all around them due to their hard work and vision of “what if”. It does not take them long to figure out, that special or different can be and usually is a “great” thing, though it will take many reminders along the way of their education.

I want to give them perspective so I begin telling them about the “different” people who made life better for those around them and affected the future of all. It takes a change of mindset and hard work.

Alexander the Great, born in 356 BC was a strong and powerful king of Macedonia, the northern part of Greece. At the age of ten, he calmed and tamed a wild horse that no other could. His understanding of not just animals but people would give him the courage to conquer the world. ...literally. Aristotle was one of his teachers in his academics, which was a great contributor to how he thought about life. There were constant threats and attempts against his life because he was the successor to the throne. He had to overcome fear for his life constantly to move forward. He conquered the majority of the known world at that time and established a common language. Alexander’s joining the world together had even a greater impact several hundred years later when Christ was born. With the majority of the world joined together now with a common language, Christianity was able to spread like wild fire and bring the message of hope and peace.

In 1732, George Washington was the first born of 10 children. His schooling ended in his early teens and he was not good at reading or languages. He got his first job at 16 and became a surveyor: Saved his money and eventually started to buy his own land. He became president through taking on one major job after another and advancing in skill….a lot of hard work. Now think about his health. He was very athletic, but started losing his teeth in his 20s. Through present day laser technology, his past teeth were examined and they were not made of wood, but the dentures were made from gold, ivory, lead, human and animal teeth (horse and donkey teeth were common components). Think of the incredible pain of going through a toothache in that day and age, all the way to losing a tooth, or having it pulled with no painkillers. He was only 45 when he was at Valley Forge fighting battles in the freezing cold and with frozen limbs, but became President at 57. This was someone different who worked very hard to get where he was.

Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809 was poor and worked very hard on the farm as well as took outside jobs to help support the family. The family moved into the wilderness of Indiana and cleared the land to make it their own. Life was hard but made Abraham strong. There was no schooling in the area, so his mom taught and gave him books and the gift of learning and reading. His mother died in his teens and his father remarried with a woman who had three children of her own. He continued to work hard and try many different types of jobs until he decided to get into politics at the age of 25. He suffered from depression and had a difficult marriage. As he grew in ideas of right and wrong in the developing nation, he had his share of great opposition but continued to fight for what he believed was right. One of many famous sayings, “A house divided against itself cannot stand” permeates through what we do today if we want to create a strong team or ideal. Think of his trails along the way, failing to win major offices but finally becoming president only to have states secede from the union…war, the hatred against him, the failed assassinations until a final bullet killed him. Health along the way was impaired by almost drowning, being robbed and almost killed, domestic violence from his wife, dentist broke off part of his jaw while taking a tooth, without anesthesia, malaria, frozen limbs, speculation of syphilis and Marfan syndrome, and more, all based on notes from people who lived with and around him. Hard work enabled him to abolish slavery and make a huge impact on mankind and human rights.

Born 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and later named Mahatma Gandhi meaning “great soul” became the father of peaceful protest. During school, Gandhi had difficulty with math and was a mediocre student in general. He often ran home in fear of other children making fun of him. He was married at age 13 years old. He was greatly fearful of the dark and could not even tell his child bride as he tried to figure out how to be the authority in the family. He was a rebellious teen, trying meat several times, which is forbidden by Hinduism, stole money and lied. When he told his father, whom he expected to be violent, instead he wept and this changed Gandhi forever as he explained, “Those pearl drops of love cleansed my heart, and washed my sin away." Gandhi’s father died when he was sixteen years old. He tried college but struggled and did not like it so dropped out. A friend finally convinced him to go to England for a law degree so he could return to India and help in politics. He left his wife, child and family behind. On passage to England, he was shy because he did not know English well to speak it, nor knew how to use a knife and fork so did not eat with anyone. Indian friends in England took hold of him and guided his progress while there. He became a “dandy” of high society and eventually decided he disliked all the pretentious living, so ditched all the expensive surroundings, dancing and parties and got down to studying law. He decided he wanted the character of a person, not the look. Food continued to have a hold on him, testing and stopping dainties. Through this struggle, he finally proclaimed, "the real seat of taste [is] not the tongue but the mind."—he fought for that and became more austere in his pursuits of life. Because he changed his mindset and determination to do good, he easily passed the bar and set sail for home. When he returned home, he could not find a job. Gandhi did menial tasks for his relatives and the British and grew to hate the arrogance of them. An Indian firm finally hired him to go to South Africa for a huge law case. He left his family again and in Africa, found himself, his philosophy and his following. There he met great prejudice and persecutions that would change his and millions of other lives forever. Gandhi knew he needed to change men’s minds about themselves before change could be made on the outside. Through his practice, he learned it was far better to have people reach agreements, than crushing them. He began working for compromise and rights of his people. It took decades of brutal harm on the Indian population and himself from the British. In 1948, he was shot to death pursuing peace. Gandhi often said that if cowardice is the only alternative to violence, it is better to fight. He fought hard through peace to make a difference in the world.

Albert Einstein was born in 1879 in Germany. Einstein had difficulties in school, especially with his teachers who criticized him and his way of learning. “He later wrote that the spirit of learning and creative thought were lost in strict rote learning.” Without completion of a formal education, he began to write his beginning theories on the magnetic field. After restarting school several times and sitting for exams, he failed in all areas of study except physics and math. Later on, despite receiving a teaching degree in physics and mathematics he could not acquire a job, so went to work as an assistant in a patent office. After work, he constantly wrote about some of his greatest ideas. Many scientists in the field of his day openly disagreed with his theories. Continued hard work in the field proved him correct. He won the Nobel peace prize in 1921. Constant hard work and diligence toward his areas of interest and strength, Einstein is known all over for his intelligence and theory of relatively and great contribution to making this world a better place to live. Through constant hard work and perseverance, his theories proved to be correct and the past teachers who told him he was unimaginative and unintelligent proved wrong.

Billy Graham, born in 1918 on a dairy farm, learned how to work hard. His father forced his sister and Billy to drink hard liquor until they vomited which created an aversion to drugs and alcohol. Now picture him giving his life to Christ at 16. How many times was he called a Jesus freak or beaten up for his beliefs? But Billy Graham kept fighting the good fight of faith to show people the love of God. He published over 30 books and was nominated the "Ten Most Admired Men in the World" from the Gallup Poll since 1948 a total of 54 times, including 48 consecutive years -- more than any other individual in the world, placing him at the head of the overall list of those most admired by Americans for the past four decades. Goal in life: "My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ." He struggled with health issues later in life he began to lose vision and hearing but his strong faith endures forever and he knows that where he is going will be the reward for fighting on here in this world. Hard work and belief in God made him different but he affected and changed the world for better through diligence and hard work.

There are so many more people that could be mentioned on this list, so pick people relevant to your child. Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul, Roosevelt’s, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and too many to name, but in the reality of over 7 billion people in the world, the ones who made the greatest changes are few, but they were DIFFERENT and worked very hard to make change. Being different is a good thing and is a necessity if you want to make a change in your life, but more importantly in the lives around you. Help your child or yourself in your difference. Your difference could mean the greatest reward of all to so many. Just give them perspective.

Standards for Reading Speed

So many people ask, "How fast should my child be reading?" Here are the national standards as presented by Jerry Johns, a leading reading specialist in the country. Click on the link to download your copy Reading Speeds

I use these same standards for my blind and low vision students. If you set high standards then children will meet those standards. I have taken on beginner students and told them how fast they would be reading braille in a couple months, even in middle and high school. At the end of the 2 months, as their fingers would fly across the page reading braille, as I timed them, at the end I would ask, "So did you really think you would be able to read that fast?" They would reply, "Of course, you told me I would be able to."

So tell them, they can, and they will.

Tricks to use
Time them every week, so they see their progress
Have them reread the same material to get flow and fluency
Have them braille the material first using contractions, then read what they wrote

Lessons and articles to help you:

Fast Braille Reading

PowerPoint lesson using only keystrokes

Learn the basics of creating a PowerPoint presentation. Even if completely blind you can align and center text and pictures perfectly. Lessons are done exclusively with keystrokes.

Watch video: Dr. Robinson teaches-PowerPoint lesson using only keystrokes

Full lessons to teach are at www.yourtechvision.com

Deaf-Blind student learns Braille Note, computer with Braille display, amplification for hearing

This video is taken 5 months after beginning instruction. He did not start any type of technology until 8th grade, but once he understood what it would do for him, he learned quickly. Today, he uses wireless to hear JAWS talking software and types his work on a computer with a braille display. He also uses the iphone with braille display. Watch video: Deaf-Blind Student
Lessons to Independence at www.yourtechvision.com

Website that has lessons in teachable immediate download format using keystrokes

A website where lessons are for immediate download in teachable format. All lessons are done completely using keystrokes, so whether you want to become a faster computer user, or can only use the keyboard with talking software, this site will give you the advantage you need to either teach students or learn the skills yourself necessary to compete in life. Hundreds of articles to read on education for the blind and low vision also. www.yourtechvision.com

Watch video at: Website that has lessons in teachable immediate download format using keystrokes

Dr. Robinson teaches-iPad, refreshabraille and using the camera and video

Learn how to use the refreshabraille to operate the camera and video buttons on the iPad.

Watch video for pointers: Dr. Robinson teaches-iPad, refreshabraille and using the camera and video

and download full lesson at iTools

Low Vision-How to enlarge text and wrap it to the window to see easily

Learn how to enlarge text in word to any size and have to wrap to the window so you do not need to use the mouse to scroll left or right. Makes reading faster and easier. Watch video: Dr Robinson teaches how to enlarge text and wrap it to the window to see easily

Lessons that will help teach

How to enlarge text and wrap it to the window to see easily

Just out of the box learning with IPad and refreshabraille

Learn how to pair, to use triple click on the home button to toggle voice over on and off, toggle contracted and uncontracted braille and use notes as a basic editor.

Watch video: Dr. Robinson teaches-Just out of the box learning with IPad and refreshabraille

Download full lessons at iTools

Dr. Robinson teaches How to Learn to Read Braille fast and easily

Simple demonstration on how to read Braille using two hands: Dr. Robinson teaches How to Learn to Read Braille fast and easily

Lessons and articles to help you:

Strategies in Good Braille Reading that leads to Speed

Learning to refreshaBraille with Special Hands

Learning to braille can be done directly on the keyboard using Duxbury braille translation software or a tiny braille display for anyone with special hands, or regular hands. Watch video on Youtube: Special Hands

Lessons on learning how to use Duxbury, the refreshabraille and other products are at www.yourtechvision.com

Lessons that will help you

First Steps in Great Braille Readers

APH Refreshabraille Braille display, JAWS and Word #1

Talking Pen that records what you write

This would be a great Gift or stocking stuffer for anyone who can write and needs that extra feedback to hear the lesson. Great for school and work. Have the information you need repeated when you have time. Anything you write will be recorded in this pen.

Livescribe™ Echo™ Smartpen--Click on link to open: Amazing smartpen remembers everything you hear, say and write, then lets you replay your recorded audio with a simple tap. Save your notes and recordings to your computer, or quickly share them with others as pencast, PDF or audio files. Use the Echo™ smartpen and special dot paper to take notes in meetings or lectures. With just a tap, Echo™ begins recording the audio and digitizing your handwriting--automatically synching the ink and audio. By tapping your notes, you can replay the conversation from the exact moment your note was written, so you never miss a word. The included Livescribe™ Desktop software helps you back up your notes, search them, play them back from your computer, or share those notes with others.

Advanced processing power and substantial memory--all in a Montblanc-sized pen! Watch video of pen: Livescribe
The rechargeable Echo™ smartpen lets you capture and save important data in simple pen-and-paper format, making it easy to access and share. The 4GB of memory can record 400+ hours of audio* and thousands of pages of notes.

Dr. Robinson teaches-Track Changes-inserting comments and editing work

Learn how to insert comments into documents and edit work. The teacher grades the students' work, emails it to them and their talking software goes through every comment and correction. Blind students can now do work from start to finish, hearing their own grade and making changes as requested by teachers.
Send the teacher their version of track changes at the start of the year, so they know how to do this for the blind students in their classes. Watch video: Dr. Robinson teaches-Track Changes-inserting comments and editing work

Lessons to help the student and teacher

Seven Lessons on TRACK CHANGES for students and teachers-everything you need

Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday free give away and contest

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all those constantly increasing their learning and to say Thank You.
Yourtechvision.com is giving a single file lesson to everyone who goes to the site, copies the lesson link they want, paste the lesson link into an email and send it to yourtechvision@gmail.com. The lesson will be sent to you as a gift.

You will also be entered into the contest to win the Mega lessons packet worth over $100 of lessons all based on keystrokes. The winner will be announced on the site December 25th.

Happy Holidays everyone

How to make your Signature Electronic and insert it into a Document

Learn all the skills to create a perfect electronic signature so you can insert it into any document that needs to be emailed, created in Word or other documents. Once the signature is created, you can use it anywhere you need on computer programs. The fastest way to achieve a professional document quickly, especially when your signature is required.

Watch YouTube video: How to make your Signature Electronic and insert it into a Document

For text lesson in full detail of lesson, go to: How to make your Signature Electronic and insert it into a Document

Cooking, Math and Making Learning Fun

Some students have difficulties with math, but when you can apply it to something they love, the understanding kicks in. I use cooking as one of my strategies to learn math skills. They get to eat their results, which is always a big hit.

I have nesting spoons and cups so the students can easily tell which is the correct measurement. For any child that needs a tactile reminder, I have brailled nesting tools, which can be bought at places like ILA or LS&S. We practice with simple measurements using rice or beans.

If you are fortunate enough to get a child young, have them read 1+1=2 and they do the math in braille, then have them measure 1 cup + 1 cup of beans to put in a bowl and have them repeat it with 1 tsp + 1 tsp = 2 tsp and 1 TB+ 1 TB = 2 Tbs. Then they go to the computer and type it out and listen to it while reading from a braille display.

By integrating academic instruction with life, they will see why they are learning certain information in school, so by the time they start to add, subtract, divide and multiple fractions and using higher math skills, they will have gained a great foundation with real life materials...teaspoons, tablespoons and cups, angles, plane, shapes and so on.

What do you do when you Lose Sight Later in Life

Spending lots of time with family and friends over the holidays usually has a person tagging me with questions about someone they know who has just lost sight recently. If the child is younger than 30, they move back in with parents as they try and figure out life and older or married, they become dependent on the person they are living with as they try and figure out life.

The statement I use, I know is bold because no one really likes to leave what he or she know, despite the fact they cannot do what they used to do. However, the people who choose this path of learning blind skills change their lives forever, into the path of being able to do whatever they want.

The statement I use is: They need to go to a training center for the blind, if they truly want to gain the skills they need to be independent. Yes, they can cruise the Internet....with a friend because they do have the skills to do so themselves with talking software, and they can read, or someone read to them about information, but it is slow and arduous and many lose hope because they are not finding the right answers.

There are several good training centers for the blind and most states have them, but if you want to gain all the skills needed to live and learn how to go anywhere you need to go and most importantly gain the confidence and skills you need to get a job and live your dreams as a visually impaired person, go to Louisiana Center for the Blind

I have seen dejected people go in and confident, happy people come out. The difference can be felt because the change is so dramatic.

So what do you do when you lose sight later in life, and you would really like to do it independently? Go to a training center for the blind, but if you would really like to gain more than just basic skills, the Louisiana Center for the Blind is the place to make it happen.

After you get out, continue your education with more lessons at this site: Lessons for blind
Lessons for low vision

Singing the National Anthem for her school

This young lady is demonstrating just one of her many talents. Watch on Youtube: Singing the National Anthem for her school

Dr. Robinson teaches using Virtual Instruction

I (or a teacher) initialize a code at the very beginning of the lesson and then tell the code to the student. The student inputs the code on their computer and I can bring their computer up on my screen, no matter the distance. Some students use Skype, others just use the phone so we can chat while giving the lesson. This lesson is one of my students completing an assignment using excel for her math class. Watch video on Youtube: Dr. Robinson teaches using Virtual Instruction

Duxbury braille translation-Computer tricks, Spanish & English Translation

Type documents in Word and quickly translate them into Duxbury, a braille to print, print to braille translation program. Learn how to double space and insert codes and so much more. Watch video on Youtube: Duxbury braille translation-Computer tricks, Spanish & English Translation

Lesson to go with the video: Duxbury braille translation-computer tricks, Spanish and English Translation

Test your Color Vision

Have you ever been walking with someone or in a classroom and they pointed out a picture or something to look at, but you could not tell what it was, as they described it? Well, you may not have poor vision but poor color distinction or possibly color blind.

Here is a simply test you can do right at home with your computer. Go to the Colorblind Home Page and test yourself. There is nothing that can be done for color blindness, but being aware of it will help in figuring out better strategies in learning. Different colors give different contrast whether color blind or not. Better contrast will lead to better learning.

For low vision, high contrast lessons, click on Low Vision Lessons

iPhone with Voice Over-use same tricks for iTouch & iPad

All the tricks you use on the iphone you can use for the iPad and iTouch too. Voice over helps any blind person use the iphone independently. Watch video on Youtube

Download full lessons at iTools

iPhone with Refreshabraille-basics in moving around quickly and easily

The techniques used with the iPhone can be used with the iPad and iTouch also. You can control the iPhone with your braille display. Watch Video on Youtube.

Lessons on at iTools

Low Vision-paying bills MyReader CCTV

As you start to lose vision, or you are already low vision, it is difficult to pay the bills because of the tiny font. The MyReader is a special type of CCTV-closed circuit television, that enables so many abilities. This is just one. Watch on Youtube

Using Video for an Assessment Tool for Blind Students

A picture is worth a thousand words. How many times have you as a teacher sat in a meeting and showed the team all the paperwork you have collected on the student, or as a parent looked at the paperwork and had no real ability to put all that paperwork into meaning.

A video of the child's progress is very powerful. You can lay out the paperwork, THEN say, here is a video of where Susie was when the school year started. Here is where she was in October and here is she now in December a few days before our conference. Immediately, people on the team can see the progress and what all that data means.

I have used this tool for years. Where people will toss aside all the paperwork because they do not really understand, they thrive on the videos. So I place the paperwork in their files so I can continue to collect it, guiding me in their goals; it is the videos that the parents want to see for clear understanding of their child's progress.

Another great benefit in videotaping is the children watch or listen to themselves also. They can hear their braille reading and then work to improve in the areas they are the weakest. They can hear the flow of their typing on any technology. As a teacher, you can see this also, and then write goals to assist them along on their journey.

Before you begin, make sure you get signed permission from parents and school, then watch the magic happen.

Jaws lesson on selecting words, sentences and moving around page

Learn how to select words, sentences and paragraphs, spell check easily as you go, move quickly around the page--Many lessons to learn all aspects of controlling JAWS and Word at www.yourtechvision.com

Watch Video on YouTube

Lessons to help teach:

Five Lessons on how to change Font sizes, styles and color, including how to control JAWS

Office 2003 & 2010-Change or resize the font and size of letters and words

Word- Move and select text quickly

Office 2003 & 2010-Changing Font and format styles

Office 2010—aligning and moving around text

Word-changing font color in a text document

Kaleigh with special hands learning to type

3 months into learning how to type on a laptop- Watch on YouTube. This is her main tool for outputting work and sending the work to her teacher through email. She knows how to use almost every aspect of WORD to do all types of work. All her lessons can be found on the Word at www.yourtechvision.com

Yes People and No People

There can be a problem and the "YES" people immediately start thinking of a solution. Problems get resolved, with some work behind it, but in general great things constantly occur. The work pays off, people move ahead. This is VERY true where education is concerned. When a problem seems like a mountain, it takes "YES" people to make change.

On the other side are the "NO" people. A situation is presented and an immediate "NO" comes out. Whether they are more inclined toward negatively or just do NOT want to do the work. The first answer and subsequent answers are NO. This too, is devastating where education of children are concerned. It is very hard to move ahead when the "NO" people are constantly putting up roadblocks...even for the people who want to do the work and make the change.

"The person who says it cannot be done, should NOT interrupt the one who is doing it." by John Mason

For all those "YES" people who need just a little boost.
"Sticks and Stones Are Only Thrown at Fruit-Bearing Trees" by John Mason

How to SEE your computer better with Low Vision

There is a larger population of low vision people than blind. The low vision population is growing rapidly as people age and have diminished sight. If you wish to continue to use your computer with ease, eighteen low vision lessons to teach you how to download large cursors, enhance contrast on your machine, multiple ways to enlarge text in Word, enlarging text and graphics in the Internet and how to set up a low vision device for students in classrooms that need to see the board has been created for you. This group of lessons that will help you increase your ability to SEE everything on your computer. Go to Low Vision Skills where both XP-Office 2003 and Windows 7-Office 2010 are available for immediate download.

Watch video on Youtube: Dr. Denise Robinson demonstrates Low Vision tricks on the computer
and How to SEE your computer Better

Lessons to help you

Low Vision Skills-Windows 7 Office 2010

Low Vision-XP-Office 2003

Dr. Denise Robinson demonstrates some basic JAWS commands in Word

Learn some basic JAWS talking software commands in WORD. Watch this video that gives you audio information with keystrokes and demonstrates the hand positioning of JAWS talking software commands:

Dr. Denise Robinson demonstrates some basic JAWS commands in Word

Perfect touch typing to type FAST!

If you learn perfect touch typing, always starting on HOME ROW, using a s d f j k l ; your fingers will learn to fly across the keyboard, easily typing over 100 wpm. JAWS talking software is talking in the background. Watch Video on YouTube- Perfect touch typing to type FAST!

Learn how to Read Braille fast and easily

Place all 8 fingers at the start of the top of the braille line, light touch, slightly spaced, slightly arched hands as if you could put a small ball in the palm (watch video at: ). The focus will be on the pointer fingers to read, but all fingers will do something...those other fingers will be giving information back about the braille coming up, lines ending, holding the page in place and so on.. Correct fingering will enable a faster reader.
To start with young children, I straddle their chair (they sitting in a small chair, mine larger so I can sit behind them and reach around them more easily) I hold their hands in the correct position, placing my middle finger in their palm and lightly touching their hands to help them move it across the page and split when they need. This helps them understand the movement and positioning of their hands.

Using 11 x11 paper, as you want them to create flow, both hands start out the line and about 2-4 words in, the hands split and the right hand finishes the line as the left hand goes down to begin reading the next line. I anchor my left finger on the beginning of the line, so it is easy to go back and down to find the next line. Smaller fingers may anchor with their pinky finger, longer fingers anchor with their ring or middle finger, it is up to the child. The right hand joins the left about 2-4 words in (at first this will be VERY slow, that is ok, just keep practicing). When I am guiding their hands, I will actually hold the right hand to stay while the left gets going so the child sees how to finish reading with the right, begin reading with the left, THEN they join and the right hand finishes the line again.

The reason I say read 2-4 words is you will have left dominate hand readers, I allow them to read in further, maybe even half way across the page or more. The left hand will move across faster and get down to the next line more quickly than if you made the less dominate right hand do most of the reading. Be flexible, go with the child's strength so find out which hand is the dominate hand.

To get good reading speed, have them type 3-4 words about themselves over and over.(I like cats.) Half way down the page, have them type another simple sentence (I like dogs.) ...using contractions and similar words. Then have them practice reading it using the above method. You will not have to hold their hands long as they will learn the words quickly and be able to read on their own, practicing the flow of words and movement of their hands.

The repetition of reading the same words over and over at first is needed. You can create different sentences and homework every day and they learn fast. Make it about them and it will keep their interest. Then send it home for homework. They will not do what they cannot read easily, so do not send something they cannot read well yet. This method takes care of that issue for beginners. Back this up with a computer lesson and braille display and you will have an awesome mixture of instruction that will move this child along fast.

Simple demonstration on how to read Braille using two hands-Watch Braille Reading on YouTube

Lessons to help you teach
Braille Reading

Bar Graphs -- XY Line Plot Graphs in Excel

My high school students are required to make Bar Graphs and XY Line Plot Graphs; others also, but these 2 are the most common.

I always start them out doing it the long way. For example, on the bar graph, they learn how to make the title on the left hand side read top to bottom, so the words are flipped. They learn how to merge cells and color them in with their favorite color (Yep, even completely blind students have favorite colors), change font, and anything else the other students are doing.

When they completely learn how to do the graphs the long way, I then show them the shorter way, where they only have to type in the numbers that are going to be plotted. They then only have to select the numbers and insert any type of graph they need. They then can color, change the font, title, lines, and anything else to make it represent exactly as the teacher has requested, but it is a computer generated graph that would be used for business. So they are learning future skills for employment too.

One of my student's paras had posed the question of how her student was going to do a bar graph the other day. When I showed them, the long and short way, she and the student were completely amazed. Even doing it the long way, which took about 4 minutes, and of course you can make the graphs look so beautiful and so readable for the blind student. When the student emailed off the assignment to the teacher, she was amazed too.

Lessons to help you learn
Excel and Bar Graphs

Watch Youtube virtual lesson on creating a graph. Dr. Robinson teaches using Virtual Instruction

Learning Orientation & Mobility Together

One big advantage of grouping students in one school is the increase of social skills. These 2 became a couple because of all they had in common. Yes, they could get around school by themselves, but it is so much more fun when you are in a group of 2. This is in a high school of more than 2000. You need good cane skills. Click on and watch O&M made fun

Blind student using a scanning, OCR-Openbook Program

A blind person can scan any printed information, open it as a text copy on the computer, so their talking software can speak it and the student can read the text with a braille display. Watch Student Scanning

Braille labeling Clothes

There are many methods to labeling your clothes with braille so you can easily know what you are wearing, but here are a few techniques that have worked well.

If you are handy with a needle, you can sew dots right on the labels of the clothes to distinguish color.

If you would like tools that have already been created, here are a few:

Safety pin socks together using Brass safety pins. You will always have a matched pair and before throwing them in the wash,make sure you safety pin them and they will return to you in 2s.

Next, get your closet organized with closet organizer labels. Don't forget the braille label tape so you can put braille labels on the closet organizer tabs that will divide your colors and everyday wear from your dress-up clothes.

Before hanging up your clothes you can add these Color Clothes markers so you can easily tell the color each article of clothing.The advantage of these aluminum markers is when you take off your clothing, clip the marker back on before throwing it in the wash. When washed, it is easy to put back in your closet, especially when you use the organizer labels too.

So there are a few tricks to get you going.

Kaleigh reading with Special Hands

Kaleigh reads with special hands, but nothing stops her. Watch all 3 videos of her progress over a year's time: Kaleigh at month 1, reading her alphabet and numbers, then month 3 follows reading actual stories, then month 13 reading at 115 wpm. Notice in the first 2 videos, she can only use 1 finger to read, then by the 13th month, her other finger on her left hand gained enough sensitivity that she could use it to read with also. Go to www.yourtechvision.com for all video links

Label Maker Templates

Whether you are blind or sighted, having an easy way to write, keep and print out address labels in a simple way is a blessing and saves hours of work.

With this label template, you can type in all your addresses easily, and print them out whenever needed. The template helps you line up all the information as you type. You just TAB to the next label and continue typing in information. As addresses change, you can easily edit the information because it all runs on a WORD template that is accessible with talking software also.

Avery has many types of templates right at your finger tips; fancy designs to plain. I use the template with 14 place holders for addresses. I have all my addresses typed out on several sheets, so any holiday or party that comes along, I can easily and quickly print out all the labels and stick to the envelopes. You will need to buy the labels from Avery or any Office supply store, then you can use these templates for easy label making.

While you are on the site, you will notice there are templates for many other types of labels too: return and shipping labels,business cards and so much more.

Links to get to Avery
Labels
Avery Labels

Spanish JAWS, computer, translation program

Watch video at: Spanish JAWS, computer, translation program
A new Spanish student learns English quickly with Spanish Jaws and English translation online--lessons online at www.yourtechvision.com

Pen Pal Letter Writing with Brailler and Computer

Many of my blind students have never written a letter and sent it in the mail. Many had never received a letter from a friend that they could read for themselves.

How much do we all love getting personal letters? I certainly do. Yes, I love a good email note, which all my students do with ease, but a note in the mail makes me smile. I use this idea for my students to get them motivated to braille on a brailler and use a slate n stylus.

They first take the braille paper and put it in the printer, and learn the format on the computer to print out all their information. When they print it out, they then learn where to begin brailling their letter.

The next part is the actual mailing of the letters. Most have never touched a mailbox or gone to a post office nor know where to even mail a letter. That becomes an orientation and mobility lesson. We plot the course, and then head to the mailbox or post office. They feel the mailbox all around and see how a driver can pull up and mail a letter also, and then they find the slot for the person who walks up to the box and pop in the letter.

The true joy comes when they get the mail, walk into school and announce this. It makes them want to sit down and braille out another letter, just so they can get more mail. A great motivator and a great way to make friends!

For full instructions on now to do this from start to finish, go to Writing Braille Letters with computer and Brailler do a quick CTRL+F for find and type in Writing and pop right to the Office version you need.

Braille Note, Nemeth, Scientific Calculator, Abacus

Watch this video of a student uses her Braille Note to calculate math problems and insert answers into her processor, checks problems on abacus, then emails lesson to teacher.
There are quick methods to hop around your Braille Note to complete math problems and insert the whole problem into a Word Processor.

Abacus is used due to state testing and the state not allowing calculators on portions of tests. The abacus is like doing the problem out on paper with pencil.

Lessons and other articles to help you learn more

Braille Note

Cover Letter & Resume to Get that Job

Starting in high school, students are required to create their first professional letter to introduce themselves to potential employers and a resume to be attached to the professional letter. More and more, potential employers are asking for these documents to be sent to them through their websites or to be emailed to them. After graduation, people need to be able to update the resume and professional letter as they acquire skills.

Your Cover Letter or Letter of Inquiry needs to be concise containing your information, including correct spelling, grammar and format.

Depending on how your resume LOOKS will determine whether that potential employer will even LOOK at the documents. Your experience and education will determine whether the employer will even give you an interview. Both are important.

So if you need simple instructions to follow, along with examples to help your students in school or help yourself find that right job, you can acquire the lessons for both Office 2003 and Office 2010 --Click on Professional Letter of Inquiry and Writing a Resume and you can immediately download a copy for use. All lessons are keystroke based and accessible with talking software.

Making pictures come alive for Blind children

I think all math classes can contribute great knowledge to all children. When parents and teachers ask, "Is it important for this blind student to take Geometry?" which is a VERY visual class, I always reply --YES! Yes, it will be more challenging, but the information they learn applies greatly to life. Blind children should take ALL the same classes as sighted children if they are to acquire the same knowledge.

Here is where talented Para educators come into play. They ask how to design those 1-D or 2-D flat graphics in print or embossed on braille sheets that come from the braille companies (BTW, it is very difficult for blind children to read those flat "embossed pictures") and I describe the methods. We use stiff paper and braille paper works great here for area or a plane, with pipe cleaners sticking through the paper for the angles that will be made. Extra long Slate n stylus embosses the angle points on the paper for the student to read and wikki sticks line the plane or area. This method makes those flat images come to life for the student. The Para holds the design in the air and describes it, as the student feels every angle and area.

In biology and math class, students are asked to draw many figures. A draftsman tool kit is always on hand for these designs that students need to create. The Para assists the student with the design, or if the teacher thought ahead, a tactile design was already created and the blind student can feel it then recreate it on the draftsman. After the student draws the figure, they place the paper in a brailler or use a slate n stylus to braille the labels around the figure.

From kindergarten and beyond, when students can create these figures themselves, they grasp the concepts so much easier. The earlier you start using the above method, the easier pictures will be to understand as the student ages, but that is true for most instruction.

Braille Music and Playing an Instrument

Any blind student that wants to take classes dealing with music should learn braille music to access everything their sighted peers access, giving them the ability to learn anything they wish.

Watch on youtube

Creating BEAUTIFUL Cards using WORD

As the holidays approach and throughout the year with parties, classes make cards for their families and friends. My students need their own fancy way to make the most beautifully decorated cards too.

All this can be accomplished using WORD. Students can insert beautiful pictures, change them to a very light background then type the fanciest script to type words directly on top of the picture.

As soon as the sighted students see how beautiful my students' cards turn out, they too want to learn these tricks, which is great for expanding their social circle. Giving tools like this to any student is a huge self-esteem builder because they know they have the knowledge that others want, so people seek them out for help.

Lessons to help you learn more

Make beautiful cards

Twitter Accessibility with Qwitter

Twitter is very accessible with JAWS talking software. It will just take many keystrokes to get to where you want to go.

However, to make a Tweet, just hit E for your edit box, enter for forms mode on and type those 140 characters, then TAB to Tweet and ENTER to send. That fast and that easy. However, reading all the content is a bit different...that is where all the keystrokes come in.

There is also Easychirp which has all the accessible features.

For an incredibly accessible Twitter, download Qwitter or EasyChirp. It makes everything very accessible in Twitter, just like m.facebook.com does for Facebook.

Braille Reading - smooth and easy

Watch this young lady read braille: Youtube--Smooth fluid motion across the pages of braille. Able to read as fast as sighted peers. Uses Bookshare and other online braille sources to download books constantly to read on her Braille Note.

Never say Impossible

A wild fire is raging toward you and your family as you walk along some very steep cliffs. There is no way out....What do you do?

Never say something is impossible or there is just no way. You must think outside the box...something different. The answer is out there, it is just seeking it out.

Answer for fire: The father took out a match and started his own fire, making a completely burned out area for he and his family to stand in while the wild fire burned out before even getting to them.

There is always a WAY!

Health Insurance for all Children

CHIP-Children's Health Insurance Program is children's medicaid.

Every state has some form of CHIP, so check into your local service

If you have a child that needs medical attention BUT you do not have health insurance, every child is eligible if you earn under $45,000 a year. Check into this program to get their needs met and pass this information along to other parents who need to get eye exams, dental appointments or any other type of medical care.

Virtual Machines--Mac with PC and PC with both XP and Windows 7

Today, you no longer have to have just 1 operating system on 1 computer. Since I am writing lessons for people who use XP and Office 2003 and Windows 7 and Office 2010, I have both operating system on one machine. Windows 7 is my main machine and I have XP running virtually. With 2 monitors, I run XP on one monitor and Windows 7 on the other and can quickly write the lessons needed by having both operating systems on 1 computer.

Mac is the same way. You have Mac OS on one side and with a Command Tab you switch to Windows 7, which operates virtually. This way you can use as many features as you want. You download products according to which side you are using.

What I suggest to people who really want to switch to a Mac but have always been PC users, is...get both. Buy the Mac and put the virtual Windows 7 on it too, so when you just can't get something done while learning the Mac, you can switch to the PC side.

Same thing for switching from XP to Windows 7. Have both and when you just can't figure out how to do it on the Windows 7 side, switch back to the XP side.

Just more options for getting work done.

Mountbatten brailler is great for young children to learn Braille

Little fingers can easily press the keys on a Mountbatten brailler--watch YouTube Video. Learn quickly and easily so by kindergarten blind children can read and write just as much as their sighted peers.
More at www.yourtechvision.com

Blind student demonstrates PowerPoint

Completely blind yet notice the perfect touch typing skills click on Youtube. She knows all the keystrokes to insert videos and pictures into a PowerPoint presentation and complete the perfect slide show. Learn these skills at: www.yourtechvision.com

Accelerated Reader (AR) and access with JAWS and Braille Display

Anyone who has elementary students most likely knows about AR tests. Accelerated Reader (AR) is a program where children read books and then take tests on a computer system called AR. Each book is assigned a certain amount of points depending on their difficulty. Children in class compete to see how many points they can earn within a certain time period and by the end of the year.

Accelerated Reader (AR) tests can be accessed with JAWS and a Braille Display. I had to laugh yesterday as I was teaching one of my students how to move through the pages. She has incredible listening skills and her JAWS works at about 400 wpm. Her fingers cannot read that fast, so she would bypass the braille display and quickly listen to each page and take the test. She could finish 3 tests before a sighted student even finished their first due to the speed at which she operated the site.

Where once upon a time, a sighted reader had to read these tests to our blind students, it is no more, which is true for so many areas of their lives, due to technology.

Lessons that will help you learn

AR, braille display and talking software

Braille Instruction begins at 3 years old

Braille Instruction begins at 3 years old

This young man on the video from the above link, began braille and technology instruction at 3 years old. A year later he knows his braille alphabet and typing on a keyboard. When he reached kindergarten, he had as much reading/writing knowledge as peers.
www.yourtechvision.com

Video Calls on IPhone & IPad

Whether fully sighted, low vision or even blind, I have students and friends who love using the video call feature with the Iphone and Ipad.

The way to make free calls on either device but more importantly you can use this as a phone feature on the Ipad, is to download SKYPE and SKYPE wireless to go with it. Go to the app download section of your product. Once the programs are downloaded, you can use voice over with the programs to make and receive calls with a new twist.

This happens to be a great feature for virtual teaching also. Just another way to connect and do what you need to do to teach a lesson.

Download lessons on Learn how to use iTools

American Printing House for the Blind

If you are looking for a major resource for materials adapted for blind students from the earliest age, The American Printing House for the Blind is for you.

Founded in 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired.

If you need something adapted to blindness or low vision, go to APH.org and there is a good chance you will find it there in their catalog.

Order your free catalog from them to have all this valuable information at your fingertips when a situation comes up and you need a tool.

Schools can use Free quota funds which are designated for blind/low vision children. The government has allocated a certain amount of funds for each child per year, so this helps the districts with their budgets too.

You can also call them at: 1-800-223-1839

Blind Technology-adapted Braille laptop

Teenage student loses sight at 16 and learns the technology to do her work

Watch on YouTube: Young Woman

Click on Lessons on how to learn the Braille Note

Secrets in Office 2010 for talking software or blind users

There are many areas that are inaccessible in Office 2010 for a blind user, but you can make them accessible with a quick command.

As soon as you open a document, do a CTRL+S to save, name the file, then TAB to save as Type and down arrow to word 97-2003 document, then hit ENTER. (You can make this change permanent if it works well for you)
Now, when you want to insert pictures, graphs, Wordart and other graphics, you will have the ability to left, right or center them where you want. If using Office 2010 in the .docx format, you will have to use the arrow keys, which is just guess work if you are blind and you have no idea where you are truly placing your object.

Another trick: Most commands you memorized in Office 2003 can be used in Office 2010. So if you want to insert a picture, Alt+I, then hit P then hit C to clip art and your clip art options open.

Enlarge the screen: Just ALT+V, then hit Z, then hit 2 for 200% and you have magnified your screen.

Just keep moving through the keystrokes and they work with or without talking software

Restoring your Computer to Working Great again

With all the different types of software and downloads from the Internet, you may have experienced your computer crashing or slowing. If you use talking software you may notice compatibility issues after you downloaded a particular program.

Here is a quick easy fix. Every PC offers a restore of your system. If you are on Windows 7, you can just hit the start key and type restore and down arrow to restore your computer to an earlier time. When the dialog box comes up, look back at all the dates and make note of when your computer worked well and restore it to that date. When my talking software stops working well, I can see a particular type of update was made on my computer and now I know which update knocked my talking software out.... I then go and hide that update in my update folder so it will never occur again. You can do the exact same thing in XP but you will have to go into the control panel to do so.

You can also set restore points. Last week, one of my students went on vacation and her laptop had been having major issues, so I took it for the week to overhaul. After I fixed it, I set a restore point with an original name, so as problems occur down the road, I can talk them through how to easily restore her computer back to the date last week. It is like getting a brand new computer right out of the box, but just loaded with all the blind software and ready to use.

Restore is a wonderful feature However: If you set a restore point on your computer on Oct 1 and you loaded another program on Nov 1, found issues on Nov 5 and restored back to Oct 1, any program you loaded after that Oct 1 date will be gone. Your files are still there, it just takes away programs---but the new added program could be what was giving you problems, so this is decision time, if you do a restore. It is something major you are doing to your machine.

Always backup your files before doing something like this. Backup, just means, make another copy somewhere else, like on a thumb drive. You should be doing this anyway because technology crashes and you always want another copy of your files somewhere else.

There are a lot of great powerful features on computers, just learn how to take control of them and use the power to your advantage, instead of them taking control of you.

Guide Dogs help students Compete in LIFE

A young high school woman loses sight but loves cross country running. She gains a guide dog and gains LIFE back. Read her full story at

Teen Blinded by Stargardt's Disease Chases Dreams With Guide Dog

Blind Technology Helps Students Succeed in School

Here is a video of a 4 year old and a 2nd grader racing each other on their Braille Computerized Technology. Learning is fast and fun when you have the right tools and friendships to learn together.

Watch video at: Blind Technology Helps Students

Technology tells Blind students date and time

I want my students to be able to quickly know the date and time at any point during the day. I do not want them to have to ask those around them to keep track of their schedule. One of the first JAWS commands I teach is the INSERT+F12, which will tell them the time, then INSERT+F12 twice quickly tells them the date.

My students have become so astute with what time it is that they don't start checking the time until about 10 minutes before our class ends. I love hearing that time announcement as they are working along. They have taken charge of their schedules and know how quickly to finish work and get it emailed off before the end of the period. With them taking their own time and schedules on, they have become more competitive with completing work at the same time as their peers.

Being aware is the first place to start with making change in how we do things.

Instant Lessons at your finger tips when you need to Teach something

Have you ever sat with a child and thought, "OH, I WISH I had a lesson on this to teach!" Immediate download of Microsoft Lessons, and other blind tools is now available at your fingertips. In addition, there are hundreds of articles on how to teach lessons or what types of lessons to teach for a particular situation. There are also articles on the above products, daily living skills, how to teach math, a foreign language and so much more. All on one site

As a teacher, you can download lessons the day before, the morning of or as you sit with a student who just came to you with a question on, "How do you do a PowerPoint Lessons?" or any other type of lesson. You go to PowerPoint lessons on www.yourtechvision.com and download it digitally within a couple minutes (all depending on the speed at which you use a computer). Lesson planning is now made incredibly easy and simple. You also discover that if a lesson in not on the site, a request on the contact page for a particular lesson will be added to the site within a week for your use.

Parents who are homeschooling also have the same ability. With the ever changing technology and questions on how to use talking software, adapted braille computers, the Internet and the software that goes with it, the answers are in articles and in easy lesson download format with just a click away. Articles to read on how to go about teaching your blind child and which lessons to download with the article are just a click away.

For the Blind user, who wants to learn skills themselves, everything above applies too and a click away is just an INSERT+F7 using JAWS. Everything on the site is link based, using INSERT+F7 you can access lessons and articles. Edit boxes can be accessed using the letter e, and hitting ENTER will turn on the ability to write. If you hit a combo box, ENTER activates that too. TAB always moves you easily through the whole site, every link, heading, and form box. If you want to read the articles on the site, H will jump you to the headings and down arrow enables you to read it. If you bring up your links, just go to the next article with 2, 3, etc, as their are hundreds of articles to peruse.

Education, Instruction and Lessons are now in quick text download format and close to as instantaneous as you can work a computer. Help is always at the contact page and you can request a private free lessons with any purchased product to get you up and running.

Video- Blind student using slate n stylus, the blind persons' pencil

The slate n stylus is the perfect quick writing tool used by the blind: It can be placed in a back pocket or purse and quickly taken out to use. Any piece of paper lying around will emboss or imprint braille using the slate n stylus.

Blind student on Youtube using slate n stylus