Blog Talk Radio - Exoskeletons: Can Iron Man Support Physical Disabilities?

Blog Talk Radio Interview with Dr. Gene Emmer on the Exoskeleton Monday April 4 at 8:30 am Pacific. The exoskeleton is an outer suit that could take the place of a wheelchair. There are many models, prototypes and neurological extensions being developed. Dr. Gene Emmer has been investigating the research and development of the exoskeleton and has conducted interviews with some leaders in the field. His website is: Exoskeleton-suit.com Reading his research, I have discovered that there are external suits and also "bionic" prosthetics that connect to a brain implant that controls by actual neuropathway synapses. Folks with issues between the brain and body/arms and legs have special challenges in getting neuropathways connected to allow triggers to move prosthetics. There have been great discussions on therapy and use of the exoskeleton for people with disabilities. Below is "Rex", an example of an exterior system that supports the legs. Check out an example with "Rex" shown below and YouTube video: Dr. Emmer and I began to email several years ago when he shared a wheelchair under-carriage LED light system. I posted that on my blog and since then we have kept in contact. Dr. Emmer and I have been working on a Blog Talk Radio interview for some time now and I am excited to share that we will be on for you to listen or call in and chat on Monday, April 4th at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The archive will be available on my sidebar to listen and download as well after the show. The call in number is: 310 982-4116 if you want to ask a question or contribute to the discussion. Hope to see you there! Here is the link to the show: No Limits 2 Learning Live- Blog Talk Radio All the best! Lon Bookmark this on Delicious

Wii Therapy: Mats, Standards and Loads of Fun!

I have been out and about setting up some new Wii systems we were able to purchase from a hospital grant that funds therapy tools for OT/PT in the schools. I went to 2 new schools with new loan systems this week that included:

Wii game module and Wii Sports/Sports Resort
Active Life Outdoor Challenge Game and mat

Wii Fit Board and Fit plus game CD

Wii play game CD

Alternative PE Time and Therapy Rolled into One!

We visited during Alternative PE and showed the Wii Games on a projector/screen. We started by using the mat with Outdoor Challenge to play several games with students in a standard rolled over the mat and locked in place. These games are great for stretching legs, foot movement, eye-foot coordination and motor planning.

Games:

1. Timber Trail - player runs in place and then jumps to go over log obstacles. There is a blue circle target to time the jump.

2. Pipe Slider - we seat the student on the center of the mat with upper body support then physically assist if necessary the hand movements to steer down a water slide and pat the mat to move faster.

3. Mountain Boarder - Again in a standard, the player stands with left foot in the center and right slightly back on a back button. Jump to go up ramps and move a foot to center left or right for tricks.

4. Mole Whacker - Based on the "Whack-a-Mole" game, the player in the standard is rolled and positioned over the mat to try and tap the corresponding target on the mat with foot to the spot where the mole pops up on the screen.

Collecting Data:

We are choosing either a physical - fine/gross motor goal, a cognitive problem solving goal or a social/communication goal. We write down the games that were played, the level of verbal and physical assist, and any notes or observations on set up, progress towards goal, etc.

Note on Outdoor Challenge Game: This game came out in 2009 and is not for sale new anymore. We had no problem buying used ones through Amazon or other searches for about $50-60. They are out there and well worth it!

All the best to you!

Lon

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Using Learning Styles to Increase Effectiveness of AT

How do your students learn? Have you taken the time to analyze whether a student you are evaluating for AT is kinesthetic, auditory, tactile, visual, etc?
I was observing a student this week that has a cleft palette. He is a primary student learning phonics and sounding out words. As I watched the class drill sight words flashing on a screen, all reading out loud, this student had delayed response, listening to the class then trying to say the word. It didn't take long before he gave up and was looking around the room completely off task. Now I had sat with him all afternoon and saw that he was a hard worker and was able to focus and do good work - so he didn't have attention deficits. What I did see was a style of expressing mastery of a skill that was actually not his forte. In fact it was his main disability - pronunciation and expressive language. No wonder he gave up!
This prompted me to think about how I watched him learn skills and look at his learning style. After class I asked the teacher how he learns best, what his style of learning is. We discussed it and I challenged her to think of multiple modalities to express mastery and drill and practice. How will this student be able to be successful? If he can't say the word, is he missing a step in finalizing the process neurologically to build those neural pathways and connections? How can he " finalize the learning" in another modality so it seals the deal?
I would challenge you to look at learning styles, differentiated instruction, strategies for multiple intelligences, multi-sensory learning and apply AT that supports finalizing the learning so the concept becomes second nature.
Some resources can be explored at the CAST website where you can explore several self-paced modules that will help you think in this way.

All the best to you!
Lon

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There's An App for That Series: Apps for Students with Learning Disabilities

I have been digging into apps for TBI and for our assistive technology equipment center. We have 3 iTouches and 1 iPad to check out for trials. I came across a terrific series:
There's an App for That - has 5 parts, here is a link to Part One on Organizational Skills for Students with Learning Disabilities. Check out this and the other 4 articles in the series. Excellent work.
All the best,
Lon

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Tools, Apps and Resources for TBI

There are so many tools and places to go online for help with traumatic brain injury. Below is a collection of websites, tools and apps to help support the TBI student.

Check out Papershow, which puts what you write on the screen AS you write. Very cool and according to Brian Friedlander's blog post about it was a BIG hit at MACWorld 2011 in SanFransisco.

Here is a website that has some great tools for families. There are some great videos on how to work through issues in IEP's and school meetings.
Brain Injury Partners: Navigating the School System

Print Disability Tools:

I have found a lot of great helps at CAST and through the AIM/NIMAS links below:
CAST has a new video UDL at a Glance, that explains Universal Design for Learning.

AIM Navigator will help you determine need, what electronic formats are needed, identify textbooks that are needed. There are great summary topics about accessible insttructional tools, what quesations to ask, etc. This is a good tool to use with a staff to line out what is needed, develop a materials list and a to do list for what comes next.

CAST UDL Book Builder is a free book designer program that utilizes Text Help and UDL elements. You can read books that have been built by others or create your own. It allows students to go in and read, take notes online and then save notes to the computer at the end.

CAST Strategy Tutor is a free download that goes on your internet browser toolbar. It gives tips and strategies on how to study at your fingertips when you are studying, doing research, etc.

The CAST Learning Tools area has other teacher support tools.

iPad/iTouch Apps:

I found a YouTube video from Michigan Engineering on a texting tool for the iPad that does auto scanning for texting and email using the on-screen keyboard. It is not available anywhere at this time but keep your eye out for it!


Shapewriter is a touch keyboard that allows you to slide your finger dot-to-dot style without having to lift your finger. I tried to download it and it said it was not available in the U.S. It didn't show up on the app store search either. Two friends have it so if you know how to get it let us know.

App list: You can google these or type them into the app search on iPad/Pod and find them most are free (F)=free - a few I paid for.

Speech/AAC:
Talking Tom (F)
Speak it!
Proloquo2go
Tap to Talk (F)

Study/organization/scheduling:
Dictate, by Dragon Naturally Speaking (F)
Search, by Dragon Naturally Speaking (F)
Dictionary! Auto fills words in list as you type to help spell. (F)
WordWeb Dictionary and Thesaurus, speaks words to help with spelling
iPlanin - visual scheduler (F)
Time Timer -
Class Organizer - has recording tool that syncs with notes and drawing pad, etextbook access and class scheduler homework to-do, etc. (under $10)
Text Expander - create abbreviations to auto fill with keyboard.
Mind Mapping - iThoughtsHD (9.99 and 7.99 versions)

Math:
Talkulator (talking calculator) (F)
Arithmetick (F)
Hot Potato: Algebra (F)
Balance - money tracker accounting app (F)
Dot to Dot Number Whiz lite (F)
Flash to Pass Math

AIM/ Talking Books:
Storykit (F)
Treasure Island by Flying Word
Speak it! - copy in text to read - great voices
iReader - copy in notes to read (F)

Brain/speed drills:
BrainReactor (F)
Buzzwire (F)
3D Brain (F) lights up, describes and shows sections of brain and turns 3D style

Writing:
Dropbox, free account for file space and storage (F)
Elements, for word processing documents - linked to Dropbox
Zen Tap, word predict tool (F)
Plain Text, free word processing tool (F)

Hope these give you some ideas!
Lon

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Are Textbook Publishers Bringing iPad Apps and E Textbooks to the Classroom?

an Inkling iPad Textbook

Are iPad textbooks and apps by publishers around the corner? Actually they are already here and being developed. Publishers are discovering that there are new ways to represent and explore concepts and information through the app. Read the recent article link here in the Boston Globe about a pilot study in the State of Virginia, using iPads in a fourth grade classroom for curriculum access rather than textbooks. The article also shares the publishers viewpoint about the future of using the iPad and other tablets coming out as a new format platform for marketing their curriculum.
What are the implications for Accessible Instructional Materials? Incredible!

This article from AppleInsider, although a year ago, taps Scrollmotion as a designer of textbook apps that could incorporate, lecture recording, video, interactive models, etc.
The New York Times article by Nick Bilton, "Replacing a Pile of textbooks with an iPad" says:
"Now there’s an iPad application that could further lighten the load. A new company called Inkling hopes to break the standard textbook model and help textbooks enter the interactive age by letting students share and comment on the texts and interact with fellow students."
Inkling says the iPad is the textbook of the future here.

I am looking forward to what we see develop in the next year or so. It will be amazing.

All the best to you,

Lon

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Adapted Wii Games for Students with Orthopedic Impairments

Wii games can be adapted for exercise and play for those with severe orthopedic impairments. As we have been developing Wii therapy for students, our work has been more limited in the area of severe orthopedic impairment but we have developed the use of a game mat with a game called Outdoor Challenge and we have set the accompanying game pad on a rocker board and have folded it around triple thick cardboard custom cut to fit the width of the mat and support a student. We fold it so the middle row with the right and left arrows (like on a dance pad) are across the cardboard and rocker board. We then carefully set the student on the pad and have one person support from behind while others do the hand over hand assist to steer and press. It involves three people so to release 3 para-pros to work with one student is a luxury many teachers don't have. Because of this it is harder to get class time at school when it can be done as a daily therapy tool. We have also set the cardboard and pad on a laptray on a wheelchair and supported the student to use arms and hands to press the arrows down while arms rest on the tray.
The Outdoor Challenge game has a pipe slider activity that allows the player to sit on a sled and slide down a large tube. By patting with the left or right hand on the pad, the player can steer down the pipe slide to run over target arrows lit up in blue that shoot them down the tube faster.

Pipe Slide:

We have used hand over hand assist to work with students that have poor muscle tone and are stiff. We have found that the activity is exciting for the students and allows their mind to be entertained. The distraction helps relax the hand/wrist/arm during the manipulation/assist. We have seen the rocker board help in creating the leaning motion and assist in balance goals.
The game is getting harder to find but can still be found online if you do a search. It is Active Life Outdoor Challenge for Wii.
I have seen recently a switch controller for Guitar Hero. It would be a fun adaption for those with limited hand movement or with a head array. You can see one at Enabling Devices.
Another game a nurse colleague uses with her son who is in a wheelchair is Let's Tap. See the You tube video below:





There are some great games that help strengthen and work on muscle tone as well as have fun, all at the same time. Check them out, but remember to use care and caution when moving and working with children who have orthopedic impairments. If you have any doubts about what you can do or limitations, consult a doctor, specialist, OT or PT before starting any of these on your own.

All the best to you!
Lon

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