Happy New Year!

Here's to a happy, healthy and safe new year! I think a great way to ring in 2011 is with an iPad User Group Meeting! That's right - - we are meeting on 1/1/11 from 12-2.  Please feel free to join us if you are interested in networking with folks who are interested in exploring the uses of the iPad for with people with special needs. We are all interested in meeting others with similar needs and interests. Contact me by email for more info on time and location, as it is still somewhat tentative.

Technology Sharing Inservice Day

I recently spent an in-service day with my colleagues exploring iPod/iPad use for children with special needs. The day flew by, we had great positive energy all day long. The SLP's found apps for speech, language and articulation help. The early education folks found apps for the little ones and our physical therapist found apps for children's exercises. How many ways can you say it? "Yes, there's an app for that!"
Some of my new favorites are: Pottery Wheel (recreation), Pickn Stix (perceptual skills), Scratch a Sketch (motor skills) and Pages (a word processing productivity app.) I also upgraded to the full version of Soundrop - - well worth the money! 
On another note, I downloaded Pictello by Assistiveware. It is an app that lets you write social stories. You can bring in your own photos, recorded voice and/or lines of printed text. The huge bummer is that it is not iPad compatible. It will only work on iPod touch and iPhone. After spending $15 on this one, I was really disappointed. I contacted the company, and they replied back very quickly stating that they are working on version 1.1 which will be a free upgrade that will be iPad compatible. No release date on that yet. In the meantime, I will put it onto the iPod touch and get going with it! By the way, Assistware is the company that created ProLoQuo2Go, the most comprehensive speech output app available.
Happy App Hunting!

Exploring ways to Access the iPad

There are so many GREAT uses for the iPad, but accessing it poses challenges for some folks. An immediate challenge is that people with physical limitations may not be able to access the touch screen of the iPad. The screens on iPads and iPods respond to electric impulses in the hand rather than a physical tap (the way a stylus works on a tap pad.) Many people can simply touch the screen with the tip of their finger to access the Apps. For some folks, this can present a challenge, so I have been exploring the various ways to "activate" the touch screen. I purchased an iPod specific stylus on eBay. Actually, I purchased two, one for $1.29 and one for $7.99. When they arrived, it turns out they were the exact same product in two very different packages. Hah!
This stylus has worked well for some folks but not all. I created a cuff for my student to be able to hold onto it more firmly. So far so good.
This next suggestion is a fun one. I get a charge out of this kind of stuff. Dan Gilman shared with me that the wrapper from a 3 Musketeers Bar is "conductive" for some reason, and can activate the iPad screen. I decided to give it a try. So, I bought and ate (what else was I supposed to do with it?) a 3 Musketeers Bar and put the wrapper onto a dowel to create a long handled stylus. My only complaint, I wish Reese's wrappers would do the trick!

iPad User Group Meeting Today

The user group that Jeanne, Emily and I started is going to meet again today. Great minds think alike, and Jeanne has also started a blog! We may look into combining our blogs or creating a separate blog for the user group. Things are taking off!

I learned a little bit about Blogging at VT Fest 2010!

I have been lucky enough to spend two full days at the VITA-Learn Annual Education Technology Conference in Killington, VT this week! My brain is on overload. One of the things that interested me most was Blogging! Many teachers are using blogs to connect with their students' families and caregivers. It is an exciting, fun and easy way to share information.
So I am thinking that it will be really interesting to set up an OT blog and describe how I am using the iPad in my work as an Occupational Therapist in the school setting. However, since I work with students with special needs, I will need to review the best approach for me to blog to be sure to respect the confidentiality of the students with whom I work. So be patient while I figure it out and I will continue posting my progress!