Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology is a 328-page guide to help educators and other professionals understand how the use of assistive technology can improve the lives and learning of people with disabilities throughout their lifespan, from early childhood through school and into adulthood. The author is an Associate Professor of Special Education at Michigan State University and got her doctorate in special education emphasizing her research and publications on mathematics and functional life-skills education for students with disabilities with a central theme of assistive technology.

This book highlights the support assistive technology can provide to people with disabilities and the purpose for its use rather than assigning technology based on a student's diagnosis. It offers plenty of case studies and activities to do to find the best way to match a person with the technology available. Both advantages and limitations of assistive technology are discussed as well as the range of low to high technology and free to purchasable choices.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

How the special needs brain learns

How the special needs brain learns, now in its 3rd edition, "addresses the causes of common learning disabilities and provides alternative instructional strategies to ensure learning occurs. Discover cutting-edge brain research to help you:

• Effectively instruct students with ADHD, LD, dyslexia, autism, and more
• Utilize assistive technologies to remove barriers to learning
• Differentiate instruction in speech, reading, writing, and mathematics" -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Arts for All Fest

Arts for All Fest is a FREE family-friendly event, designed to ensure access for people of all ages and abilities. During this midweek festival, attendees will enjoy a menu of arts activities including drumming, yoga, clay, collage, and more! A resource fair, dinner, and door prizes are also part of the fun!

When: Wednesday, July 20th, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Where: ArtMix Studios & Gallery (inside the Harrison Center)
1505 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Tickets are free, but registration is required.
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ecqiojxzb77302e4&oseq=&c=&ch=

Mobile App Monday - SkyView® Free - Explore the Universe

"You don't need to be an astronomer to find stars or constellations in the sky, just open SkyView® Free and let it guide you to their location and identify them. SkyView® Free is a beautiful and intuitive stargazing app that uses your camera to precisely spot and identify celestial objects in sky, day or night. Find your favorite constellations as they fade in and out while you scan across the sky, locate the Moon, discover distant galaxies, and witness satellite fly-bys." -iTunes

Great for all ages and abilities!

Want to learn more about it? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id413936865

The survival guide for new special education teachers

"Since its first publication, The Survival Guide for New Special Education Teachers has helped novice teachers bridge the gap between training and classroom practice. This all-new edition, updated to reflect the needs and priorities of 21st-century special educators, offers practical guidance on such topics as roles and responsibilities, school environment and culture, classroom organization and management, collaboration with other professionals, and individual professional development." -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Promoting successful transition to adulthood for students with disabilities

Promoting successful transition to adulthood for students with disabilities "provides practical knowledge and tools geared toward real-world educators. It presents clear guidelines for all aspects of team-based transition planning for individuals with various levels of disability, illustrated with vignettes of three secondary students who are followed throughout the book. The authors describe evidence-based practices for conducting assessments and promoting optimal outcomes in the areas of employment, postsecondary education, and independent living." -publisher

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Using technology to engage students with learning disabilities

Using technology to engage students with learning disabilities is a short 47-page nod to using today’s technology with students who might benefit from it greatly—those with learning disabilities. The book covers why technology, particularly mobile apps with today’s increasing use of iPads in the classroom, can be great tools for students with learning disabilities and suggests some specific apps found to be most useful. It highlights ways text to speech works for reading disabilities and offers websites and mobile apps suggestions for mathematics disabilities.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Special educational needs: A guide for inclusive practice

Special educational needs: A guide for inclusive practice "is ideal for students, teachers, practitioners and specialists, and provides a solid foundation for understanding and supporting learners with additional needs. Covering contemporary policy issues, perspectives from practice and a range of common syndromes and barriers Special Educational Needs presents a wealth of information and guidance for students and professionals on how to achieve effective, inclusive practice." -publisher

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this text or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Mobile App Monday - Cooking Fun For Kids

"Designed for children eight and under, the one-of-a-kind app features a cute cast of silly pea and bean characters who guide users through playful recipes, star in food games and magically appear in videos. The app offers a play-by-play on creating the most popular “Imaginibbles” recipes from Bean Sprouts and the award-winning book it inspired: Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food." -iTunes

Want to learn more about it? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id799530322

Need some help with college?

The Disability Care Center is currently offering two scholarships: The Disabled Student Scholarship and The Special Education Scholarship. All applicants who apply for one of the scholarship programs must be full-time students in pursuit of a college degree. The scholarships can help further the education of American college students who either have a disability or are seeking a degree in special education.

For more information, please visit:
http://usascholarships.com/disability-care-center-scholarships/

Professional development that sticks: How do I create meaningful learning experiences for educators?

"In Professional Development That Sticks, Fred Ende makes the case for a better approach that melds traditional PD structures with personalized learning. Here, school leaders will find a framework for developing professional learning experiences that spark and maintain teacher motivation and lead to real changes in practice. Ende's three-stage professional development for learning (PDL) process covers critical aspects of planning, providing, and following up. In addition, PDL's Think, Act, and Reflect method ensures your teachers will acquire meaningful, deep, sticky learning that lasts." -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Feedback sought on state plan

The Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD) has drafted its 2017-2021 State Plan and is accepting comments from people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, advocates, stakeholders, and the public on its five-year state plan goals and objectives.

The Council is required to create a five-year strategic state plan to address the availability of services, supports, and other assistance for individuals with disabilities and their families in the state. The plan also includes objectives for enhancing people's lives through training, community education, and support. The state plan provides the basic framework for how Council funds will be used and what activities the Council will be involved in.

Your feedback is critical as the Council finalizes its priority areas and focus objectives in order to implement the 2017-2021 State Plan. The council will accept comments on the proposed goals and objectives through July 25, 2016, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

To read the State Plan and learn how you can submit feedback, please visit: http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/2537.htm

Partners in Policymaking class this fall

The Governor's Council for People with Disabilities is announcing that the next Partners in Policymaking Class is scheduled for this Fall. Applications are due by Monday, June 13th. Applicants are strongly encouraged to thoroughly read the program description and commitment requirements before applying.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/2465.htm

Mobile App Monday - ASL Translator

Looking for an app that can translate text to sign language? ASL Translator might be just the ticket. There are two parts to this app:
1. TEXT-TO-SIGN GENERATOR (SIGNED ENGLISH)
2. ASL PHRASES (ASL)

Part One
The TEXT-TO-SIGN portion of this app translates English text into ASL signs and generates sentences in “English word order”. However it is not “Signed Exact English” we improve the translation with our Smart Translation Algorithm.

Part Two
Learn how to sign ASL idioms and phrases. Jessica Tanner (deaf actress) and Dwight D. Godwin, NIC (certified ASL interpreter), translate over 100 idioms and phrases such as “Do you need a doctor” and “train go sorry” into ASL.

For more information about this app, please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id421784745

Designing websites for people with dementia

With an estimated 46.8 million (and rising) people worldwide living with dementia, it is important to think of designing websites that are accessible to them.

"Although many people living with dementia use the internet to access information or communicate with peers, friends or family, actually navigating these digital spaces can become increasingly problematic," according to an article at smashingmagazine.com. The article offers information on colors, fonts, layout and more.

To read the entire article, please visit:
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2016/05/designing-a-dementia-friendly-website/

Utility funding for families

Looking for some help with catching up on heating bills from last winter or with cooling bills for the coming summer? The Arc of Indiana has a program that may help. Called the Utility Support Program, it offers assistance to families that qualify with utility costs, including payment for utility bills, funding to reactivate or prevent disconnection of services, deposit assistance to begin services, and funding to cover back utility debt.

To see if your family is eligible, please visit:
http://www.arcind.org/our-programs/the-arc-of-indiana-utility-support-program/

What's new?

Looking for what's new in the library? Each month we take a look back at the new items arriving in the library. Here's the list for May 2016:

https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/whats-new