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