Making a Promethean Board flipcharts (smart board) accessible to blind students

How many out there are in school districts where a smart board or  Promethean board with flipcharts are used? These are graphic pictures that anyone with sight can easily see, but to a blind student, it is empty space. Many paraeducators have to take the pictures and turn them into text or braille for the blind student to read. There is the long way to do this, typing one character at a time ( as you cannot copy the images)  or a fast way.

Here is the fast way. You can download a personal  viewer from the company to load on your machine. Open the viewer then the flipchart, go to file, then to print. When the print box opens, you will see the "export as PDF" so save it as such. Place a folder on the desktop with these PDF files, so they are easy to find, especially if you are going to teach the blind student how to do this, and after all, that is what we want. Open Openbook or Kurzweil and go to open file. Go find the file on your desktop and have your OCR program open it. After it opens, go to launch it into word and it opens in Word. All the great text is there. Now be aware, all those pictures will not translate...they will turn out as a list of letters and symbols, so just go through and delete out what was meant for a picture. Now, all that needs to be done is those pictures are created 3-D by the para to go with this work.
One huge advantage I have discovered is on test day, the students can use their notes. If the flipcharts are in text format, then the blind student can do a quick "find" command on their computer and jump to the theorem they need ....actually faster than a sighted student pouring through their notes visually. Once they have the theorem, they alt+tab back to the exam and continue on answering all the problems.
Now this is just 1 way, but where there is a will there is a way to make the world more accessible.

Watch Video: Dr Robinson teaches-Making a Promethean Board flipcharts (smart board) accessible to blind students

iPhone, iPod Touch-VoiceOver, using Notes and the refreshabraille

Many students were fortunate and acquired an iPhone or IPod Touch for Christmas. Frustration soon turns to success with a few lessons. Learning how to use features in Notes makes these students successful any where else on their iTool. Once they can learn how to Turn contractions on and off, use auto correct features, use the rotor, move around with characters, words, lines,  edit, copy, paste, delete, move and undo mistakes, then Email note to whomever they desire their frustration turns to joy, then they stretch their wings and begin exploring other parts of their iTool.

Lesson at: iPhone, iPod Touch-VoiceOver, using Notes and the refreshabraille

Speech Recognition and Word-using numbers and words-audio/visual

Learn how to start using Speech Recognition, which is already built into Windows 7. You will go into word and begin to learn how to speak numbers and words and then how to correct any problems. Move around easily, copy and paste items you need.
Train your voice first and get set up on Speech recognition, as the more you train the better the outcome when you speak your commands at this lesson-just click to learn: Speech Recognition and Word-using numbers and words-audio/visual

Using a Braille display in WORD

Many students want to just use their adapted laptop or refreshabraille display to braille in content and move around. Click on this link: WORD and BRAILLE DISPLAY to see lessons to help you and your students learn how to
Go in and out of typing mode or braille mode
Using contracted and uncontracted mode
Navigating your pages
Moving around characters, words, sentences
Selecting and unselecting characters, words, sentences
Save, open and print
Moving around the ribbon and inserting a picture

Speech Recognition-give your computer verbal commands to make it move

Speech Recognition has come a long way. If for any reason you cannot use your hands or fingers, giving verbal commands to make your computer do what you want it to do if just a matter of learning the commands. If you are blind and need the same benefits. J-SAY provides both speech recognition and verbal feedback.
This is a quick demonstration of the power of speech recognition. This program is already built into Windows 7 already, so get going.

Watch  video at : Dr. Robinson teaches Speech Recognition

Keystroke Lessons at yourtechvision.com

For lessons on using only keystrokes, go to yourtechvision.com

If you want to advance in your computer skills and do it the fastest way possible through keystrokes, then this site is for you: yourtechvision.com shows you fast access to everything on your computer

At yourtechvision.com hundreds of lessons are ready to download, on Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word, other lessons on Braille Note and other blind technology under Blind tools TAB and Mac-iTools for for Mac -iPad- iPhone users-skills to learn yourself or teach a student. All lessons are compatible with Jaws talking software or Window Eyes too.

If you are low vision, there are dozens of lessons to see your computer better too. yourtechvision.com under the Low Vision Tab

If the lesson is not there that you need, make a request and it will be written up for you and added to the site

With any purchased lesson, you can go to contact page and request a private free lesson to get you up and running and answer your questions.

Braille Note-Learn how to use this adapted laptop for the blind

The Braille Note is an incredibly easy technology tool for the blind. Light, fast on and off; create file, folders, recordings with quick keystrokes. you can do math calculations and insert the problem with answer write into a document. The new Apex has a fast connection so you can answer all your emails directly from it as well as surf the Internet.

If you would like multiple lessons to get you going on how to do these skills, then here is the lesson for you: Braille Note Lessons to take you through the Basics to more advanced skills

How to teach touch typing to students or yourself using a Braille Display

Using simple methods, a student learns the keyboard quickly within 5 hours over 5 days. By the next week, they will be in their classroom typing their lessons...slowly at first, but you will see the speed pick up quickly as they do their work everyday on the computer. Before you know it, they will be typing faster than everyone else. It is daily typing that makes the difference.
Watch video at: How to teach touch typing to students or yourself using a Braille Display

Digital Handwriting -change to Text on a computer with a Tablet and handwriting software

One of the greatest problems for blind students in school is how to get handwritten notes as the teacher writes them in the front of the room. Now they can get those notes on a digimemo and can translate them into text that their talking software will read INDEPENDENTLY. They just hand the writing tablet to a sighted student who is taking notes for themselves anyway. They finish the notes, take their copy and hand the pad back to the blind student. The blind student takes the pad and uses a computer to translate the handwritten notes into text for themselves.
Yes, a para educator can do all this, but it will not make the student independent and the para educator is not going to graduate and do all this when for them in college or at their job. Using the DigiMemo and the handwriting software now gives a blind person the opportunity to get the information they need and translate the handwriting by themselves using a computer. This works with Mac also.

Watch Video: Digital Handwriting -change to Text on a computer with a Tablet and handwriting software

Biology, Chemistry-The Sciences for the Blind

Starting in the education field of the blind over 20 years ago, I depended on wikki sticks, beans, marshmallows, and any other type of object to put together to represent a cell or chemical bond for a blind student to touch and try and understand what was going on in the microscope that the sighted student stared into and went "Ah ha".
How do we give our blind students that "AH HA" moment? We can now.
A Japanese plastics company has created all types of plastic shapes, so all the student has to do is put them together to make the model that is requested by the teacher, to understand what is going on. Or if they are really young, a para educator or teacher can do the same for them, hand it to the child and explain all the parts as the child feels the model. Just so many more options now.
HGS HINOMOTO PLASTICS CO., LTD. has all types of models and shapes to aide in the creation and design of simple to very extensive models for blind children to see. Actually, sighted children find these models very helpful also. What helps one child, always seems to help the other too.

If you need need ideas on how to take notes and data independently, go to Independence Science and see the vast ways of possibility.

How to find a picture and save it from Internet Explorer 9 using JAWS

Take control of JAWS and GO  find pictures on the Internet using IE9--Internet Explorer 9 is a more accessible browser than others  to use these tricks--- save them and use them in your working documents---or just save as a beautiful background on your desktop
Step by Step instructions on how to access those graphics, routing cursor using the right click on the numpad, then saving the picture. Open Word, find the picture and insert it into a document.
This is an -audio/visual lesson for those who want to see and hear instruction. You can find the lesson at: Take control of Jaws in IE9- save pictures from Internet-audio/visual lesson

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!