Thanks again Joyce!

----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce notte <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: hello


> Actually, I'm Joyce, Bruce's wife! Our email comes up with his name. Good
luck
> to you. I call all of my experiences with Anthony adventures! He has taken
us to
> places we never thought we would visit and has definitely enriched our
lives.
>
> Eve wrote:
>
> > Bruce,
> > Thank you so very much for your letter.  It is so important that I hear
the
> > parent's perspective.  Fortunately for me, I have a very open line of
> > communication with the father of this student, and hope to have the same
> > with his mother as the year progresses.  I think the need to balance
> > independence and frustration is the key...I am working on assessing my
> > student's ability level so that I can challenge him, yet not leave him
> > feeling frustrated or inept.  He is expected to participate fully in all
> > lessons in my classroom, and with the assistance of his aide and his
> > in-class support teacher, seems to be learning.
> > Also, the links you sent me are wonderful!!
> > Thanks for taking the time to "teach the teacher"!
> >
> > Eve
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Bruce notte <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 2:09 PM
> > Subject: Re: hello
> >
> > > Eve,
> > >
> > > We are in New Jersey too. I live in Tinton Falls and overall my
district
> > has
> > > been very supportive of Anthony's needs. They are truly committed to
> > including
> > > him in almost everything. We don't always agree on every issue but
they
> > are
> > > trying very hard and they really care about him. He is thriving in a
> > regular
> > > fifth grade class with a one on one aide. He has spastic quadriplegic
cp
> > and
> > > uses a power chair for mobility. He's bright, verbal and a typical 10
year
> > boy
> > > in many ways.
> > >
> > > As far a the expectations of the student,  I would expect the child to
do
> > > whatever the rest of the class is doing. Since the child is in sixth
> > grade, I
> > > would let the child tell you when he or she is being pushed too much
or be
> > > observant of signs of frustration. So often children with disabilities
are
> > not
> > > expected to do much. I would also communicate with the parents on
their
> > > expectations of the child.
> > >
> > > I'm glad to hear you have the Intellikeys keyboard. Anthony has been
using
> > it
> > > for years. It's pretty amazing. There are many features that are
available
> > with
> > > the keyboard such as adjusting the required lift off time (amount of
time
> > to
> > > take your fingers off the keyboard) you can turn the repeat off
(that's
> > useful
> > > when a child leaves their fingers on the keyboard for a few seconds
after
> > > typing) and there are various overlays. There is one that can be used
> > instead of
> > > a mouse. It's the one with large arrows on it. Anthony prefers to use
a
> > > microspeed trackball instead of the overlay but it can function as a
mouse
> > to
> > > allow you to move the pointer on the screen.
> > >
> > > There is also a numbers overlay to be used with math programs. We are
> > waiting on
> > > the new release of Math Pad plus which is supposed to include
fractions
> > and
> > > decimals. It is scheduled for release in November of this year.
> > >
> > > There are keyguards available for the keyboard too. That is an acrylic
> > overlay
> > > that has holes in it to isolates your fingers as you are touching the
> > keys. This
> > > is good when you are reaching for one key but accidentally hit the one
> > next to
> > > it. Anthony used it when he was younger and it was very helpful but
now he
> > is
> > > faster on the keyboard without it.
> > >
> > > Anthony just got Co Writer this year and has limited experience with
it. I
> > saw a
> > > demonstration of it and I was very impressed. For Anthony, we have it
set
> > at the
> > > intermediate level. That programs predicts words based on frequency of
> > use, how
> > > recently it was used and grammar. You have the ability to add words to
the
> > > dictionaries. This might be useful for units you may be covering in
the
> > future
> > > that may have words that would not be a part of the standard
dictionaries.
> > I
> > > have high hopes that this program will encourage Anthony with his
writing.
> > > Typing is tedious for him because his upper body is involved and he
tires
> > > easily. We still uses dictation when ever needed - he dictates to his
aide
> > or to
> > > me when doing homework. I'd rather see him more independent on the
> > computer, but
> > > when he gets frustrated or tired, we switch to dictation. You need to
> > balance
> > > the need for independence and frustration. To me, what's important is
> > capturing
> > > his thoughts online rather than always focusing on the physical act of
> > typing. I
> > > know he will never be able to make a living as a typist so I keep that
in
> > the
> > > back of my mind.
> > >
> > > Also within Co Writer, try experimenting with color combinations for
the
> > fonts
> > > and backgrounds. I believe the book suggests certain colors for
certain
> > > disabilities. We let Anthony choose his colors. He picked black fonts
on a
> > green
> > > background.
> > >
> > > My dreams are that voice recognition software will be easier for him
to
> > use by
> > > the time he reaches high school. We've looked at a few programs, but
they
> > are
> > > very cumbersome to use. You need to train the software to learn your
> > speech and
> > > then correct (edit) all the mistakes it makes as it types what it
thinks
> > you
> > > said on the screen. To use this software, you need to have good
editing
> > skills.
> > > Since Anthony is only 10 years old, he doesn't have the greatest
editing
> > skills
> > > so we are not using this type of software yet.
> > >
> > > For assistive technology resources in NJ check out the following:
> > >
> > > www.CaineAssociates.com
> > > www.Techconnection.org
> > > Lakeview School in Edison.
> > >
> > > We've used all three and have been please with all of them. Good luck
to
> > you and
> > > your students. Hoep this was helpful.
> > >
> > > Eve wrote:
> > >
> > > > Joyce,
> > > > Thank you so much for your reply.  I teach 6th grade in New Jersey,
and
> > > > there is an abundance of support form the district and the parents
in
> > > > setting up this program. What state are you in?
> > > >  We will be using Write:Outloud, and Co Writer, along with
IntelliKeys.
> > > > Several of the teachers who will be working with my student were in
a
> > > > training session, and will continue to be trained with the
technology
> > > > throughout the year.  I have an open line of communication with the
> > parents,
> > > > and they are extremely supportive of our program.   Some of my
question
> > is
> > > > related to my expectations of this student, because it seems the
more I
> > > > convey that I expect, the more he pushes himself.  However, I want
to be
> > > > realistic while setting high expectations.  I also do not his aide
to do
> > his
> > > > work, and "enable" him.
> > > > Thanks for any suggestions!
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Bruce notte <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > Sent: Friday, September 29, 2000 8:45 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: hello
> > > >
> > > > > I would love to help you. My son has been using assistive
technology
> > since
> > > > he
> > > > > was 18 months old and he is now 10 1/2 and in a regular 5th grade
> > class.
> > > > Can
> > > > > you please tell me what grade you are teaching because the
technology
> > > > changes
> > > > > as children grow. Also knowing what state you are in would be
helpful
> > in
> > > > > referring you to local resources.
> > > > >
> > > > > You also might want to check with the parents. They could have a
> > wealth of
> > > > > knowledge. I had to introduce my son's district to to the concept
of
> > > > > assistive technology. Of course that was 7 years ago and there was
> > > > > significant resistance from our district at that time.
> > > > >
> > > > > Joyce, mother of Anthony
> > > > >
> > > > > Eve wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >     Hello all!
> > > > > > I have just joined this list, as I am a mainstream classroom
teacher
> > =
> > > > > > with two children with Cerebral Palsy in my classroom this year.
I
> > am =
> > > > > > presently being trained in some assistive technology, and would
> > welcome
> > > > =
> > > > > > any suggestions!