Check This out. It doesn't give any of us excuses!
How to Make a Switch Access Help Light
We recently needed a light to velcro-mount on a lap tray with a switch for a student to indicate when he needed help. This light by CatEye is just one of many that can be adapted for switch access. We were fortunate in that when we let our local bicycle shop know why we needed it, he sold it to us for $5.00. Thanks Pendleton Bike and Board!They have a cool website - check it out...
Now I have had my day of using a soldering tool, wire and little copper pieces to make a battery interrupter, but I would rather recommend the store-bought kind. They aren't that expensive (compared to buying a pre-adapted device) and they are sturdier and save a lot of time. If you were blessed with a God-given gift of quick efficient soldering, then I am truly envious! For the rest of us there is the done-for-you-version.
A good source for battery interrupters of various sizes ($9.95 US) can be found at Enabling Devices. The notching file to make a hole for the wire to slip through on the battery cover can be found at ablenet ($9.00). Ablenet has the interrupters too, but they are $12.00. What I did:
I notched the lid of the light so the wire could slip through and placed the metal interrupter disk between the positive end of a battery and the wall with the metal contact. In order to get the light to stay on with a switch connected, I had to place a little metal nut over the rubber on/off switch and use some black electrical tape to hold it down. This way, when I press the connected switch, the light is already on and the switch joins the connection so the light comes on. We are using a leaf switch or ribbon switch that bends easily for this student to access the light.
Mounting: The light comes with a nice slide in bracket so you have something to start with to adapt to a wheelchair bar or velcro on a laptray etc. This is where you have to be creative based on the special adaptation you have to make.
I think this part of assistive technology is one of my favorite parts because I love gadgets and love to tinker. If you have any ideas or successful adaptations you have made let me know or post about them. I would love to share!
All the Best to You!
Classroom Suite 4 By Intellitools Released
New Version of Intellitools Classroom Suite Hits the Market
Version 4 is now available
I have been working on expanding the use of Intellitools Classroom Suite within our districts for the past year and a half. We are seeing great success in using the Classroom Suite activities with special needs students. The most popular feature has been to be able to edit templates and create our own content to meet IEP goals for students in curriculum areas.
Intellitools reaches out to the RTI marketplace
The most recent trend in education is to meet the NCLB goals by developing learning strategies that focus around Response to Intervention and Professional Learning Communities. These strategies are taking the United States by storm as more and more administrators are scrambling to meet the ever-increasing federal demands for higher percentages of student performance scores each year. Intellitools has tweaked the Classroom Suite software to reflect those trends in a streamlined customization feature.
Easier access to customized activities
Version 4 of Classroom Suite allows the teacher to use pull-down menu options to create the number of problems in an activity, the type of phonemic sound or skill, the word list to use, etc.
Once all the choices have been entered and the activity created, it can be saved in a student folder and used by the student. Scores are recorded in a report area and can be used for data collection and re-teaching/reinforcement if necessary.
I would highly recommend downloading the free 30 day trial. I think you will find that this software goes beyond the special needs applications and really does support remedial support for the elementary general education classroom. You can also see free online video demonstrations.
If you have a previous version of classroom suite purchased in August of 2007 or later, you can upgrade for a lower price. Parents: If your student is using this product at school you may qualify for a $99 home purchase. Contact Cambium Learning/Intellitools for more information.
I would love to hear your comments and opinions on this product. You can post comments to share.
All the best to you!
Version 4 is now availableI have been working on expanding the use of Intellitools Classroom Suite within our districts for the past year and a half. We are seeing great success in using the Classroom Suite activities with special needs students. The most popular feature has been to be able to edit templates and create our own content to meet IEP goals for students in curriculum areas.
Intellitools reaches out to the RTI marketplace
The most recent trend in education is to meet the NCLB goals by developing learning strategies that focus around Response to Intervention and Professional Learning Communities. These strategies are taking the United States by storm as more and more administrators are scrambling to meet the ever-increasing federal demands for higher percentages of student performance scores each year. Intellitools has tweaked the Classroom Suite software to reflect those trends in a streamlined customization feature.
Easier access to customized activities
Version 4 of Classroom Suite allows the teacher to use pull-down menu options to create the number of problems in an activity, the type of phonemic sound or skill, the word list to use, etc.
Once all the choices have been entered and the activity created, it can be saved in a student folder and used by the student. Scores are recorded in a report area and can be used for data collection and re-teaching/reinforcement if necessary.
I would highly recommend downloading the free 30 day trial. I think you will find that this software goes beyond the special needs applications and really does support remedial support for the elementary general education classroom. You can also see free online video demonstrations.
If you have a previous version of classroom suite purchased in August of 2007 or later, you can upgrade for a lower price. Parents: If your student is using this product at school you may qualify for a $99 home purchase. Contact Cambium Learning/Intellitools for more information.
I would love to hear your comments and opinions on this product. You can post comments to share.
All the best to you!
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