Abilipad- My new favorite writing app

There are a lot of really great note-taking and word processing apps available for the iPad.  These apps are great, but they work best for students who are already proficient at writing.  What I feel has been missing from my iPad experience up to this point is a solid app that helps students with the complex and sometimes difficult task of written composition.  To my delight, I recently learned about a great writing app for the iPad called Abilipad. This app has a lot of great features that make it a very nice adaptive writing tool for struggling or emerging writers. Those features include:
-word prediction (does a nice job with creative spelling!)
-auditory feedback (can be set to read aloud each letter, word, sentence, or paragraph as you type. Will also read your entire passage back to you. )
-easy and intuitive file management system.
-(perhaps my favorite feature) the ability to create and download custom keyboards with letters, words, phrases, or pictures!

All of these features make the writing process accessible for all developing writers.  With the ability to make custom keyboards, complete with pre-made word, phrase, and picture buttons, you could even use this app with emerging scribblers.  Also, the developers of the app have created a way to download and share custom keyboards made by other users from the Abilipad online keyboard library.  I checked out the library, and found something for everyone, even OT's and SLP's!

The variety and quality of features available in this app really makes it a stellar writing tool for anyone working with struggling or emerging writers.  I would really encourage you to check it out on the App Store.  It costs $19.99. For a more detailed explanation of the app, and to see examples of how it has impacted student progress, check out this great blog post.

Bookshare tutorials

This post will share some tutorials we have made or found that will walk you through some of the basics you will need to know to use bookshare.org with your students on a PC or Mac.  If you do not know what Bookshare is, please click here.

Note: Bookshare can also be accessed via iPod/iPad and Android powered phones and tablets.  For more info about these platforms, click here.

There are two basic processes involved in using Bookshare:
1) Download books from www.bookshare.org and save them to your computer
2) Open the books using DAISY reader software and read it.

One of the most popular DAISY reader options available today is called ReadOutLoud Bookshare Edition.  You can download the program for free from the Bookshare website (if you are logged in as a member).  To see a tutorial on how to download and install the program, click here.

To see a tutorial on how to Download books from the website and save them to your computer, click here.

To see a tutorial on how to Read books you have downloaded, click here.

I hope you will find these tutorials helpful.  Please let me know in the comments section if you have any questions or problems with accessing or using the tutorials.  Good luck using this wonderful resource with your students!

Mobile Bookshare Apps for iOS and Android devices

Bookshare.org is a wonderful resource for students with print disabilities.  If you have not yet heard about what Bookshare is and how it can change your student's lives, please check out www.bookshare.org, or check out our Bookshare post. 

Students wanting to access free books from Bookshare on their iPad, iPod, iPhone, or Andoid phone or tablet can now do so with the help of a couple of nifty apps.  These apps will access the bookshare website directly from your device, download books directly to the device via wireless internet, and read them aloud using synthetic computer voices.  They are very easy to use and a great tool for mobile device users.

The Bookshare app for iOS devices is called Read2Go.  It costs $19.99 on the iTunes App Store and is compatible with any iOS device.  The app comes with high quality voices pre-installed.  You can change the font size and screen/text/highlighting colors, as well as the speed, pitch, and gender of the voice.  You will need to access a wifi network to download books to your device, but do not need to access wifi to read books already downloaded to your device.

One Caution: In order to use Read2Go, you will need to sign in using your Bookshare username and password.  This means that if students do not have an individual Bookshare account, they will need a teacher to sign in and download books for them using the Teacher's Bookshare username and password.  (Teachers, be careful with your password if using this option).  I have had several families who, once they purchased the app on a personal device, and got set up with an individual Bookshare account, take off and use the app completely independent of the schools, which can be a very powerful thing.

If you are an Android user, there is a free, open source Bookshare app called  GoRead.  The basic setup and idea is similar to the Read2Go app.  You will still need wifi to download books, but not to read, and you will still need a Bookshare username and password to use the app. 

There are still no direct solutions for reading Bookshare books on a Kindle, Kindle Fire, or Nook.  These three devices do not support the DAISY format and, (to the best of my knowledge) do not have DAISY apps available like iOS and Android.  There is a way to convert DAISY books to the Nook's ePub format using a $99 software program called DAISYtoEPUB.  Since the Kindle uses a proprietary book format, you have to then convert the Epub file to a MOBI file using a program called Calibre. or convert it to plain text (.txt) format.  Hopefully these devices will become more user friendly in the future for Bookshare members.

As always, please let me know about any problems or questions in the comments section, and thanks for reading!

Bookshare- Free Digital Accessible Books for Students with Disabilities

I count my ability to read as one of the greatest joys and blessings in my life.  Reading provides me with opportunities to learn, think, escape, relax, and grow.  Sadly, there are people who cannot fully enjoy reading due to visual, physical, and learning disabilities.  That is why I love to tell people about a resource for free accessible books called Bookshare.  Here is a description of what Bookshare is, taken from their website (www.bookshare.org):

Bookshare® is an online library of digital books for people with print disabilities. It operates under an exception to U.S. copyright law which allows copyrighted digital books to be made available to people with qualifying disabilities. In addition, many publishers and authors have volunteered to provide Bookshare with access to their works. By requiring individuals to register as Members and provide a Proof of Disability, Bookshare ensures that only qualified individuals use the service.

Bookshare Members download books, textbooks and newspapers in a compressed, encrypted file. They then read the material using adaptive technology, typically software that reads the book aloud (text-to-speech) and/or displays the text of the book on a computer screen, or Braille access devices, such as refreshable Braille displays.

Through an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Bookshare offers free memberships to U.S. schools and qualifying U.S. students

Bookshare opens the door to the enjoyment of reading for people who cannot otherwise access text because of disability.  In order to qualify for a free bookshare account, a person must be a student (K-12 or higher ed) with a qualifying disability.  Students can qualify in one of three ways:

1) be unable to see a book because of blindness or low vision

2) be unable to hold a book or turn pages because of a physical disability

3) be unable to read a book because of a learning or reading disability.  For more info on who qualifies, click here:

  

  They can then qualify for a organizational membership through a participating school and/or an individual membership.  Members who already have an organizational membership simply need to send in a form to bookshare to request an individual membership.  For more info on membership options, click here

 Over the next little while, I am going to work on producing some simple tutorials as a resource to download books from bookshare.org and read them using assistive technology.  So stay tuned and please check out www.bookshare.org for more info!

Text to Speech Roundup - Pros and cons of 3 Free computer text reader options

In the last few months, I have blogged about some great computer text reader options available for teachers of struggling readers.  The main idea behind all of these options is to have a computer program read text to students who are unable to read it themselves.  This makes them more independent, confident, and successful.  This blog post today is a round-up of some of the free options available.  Each option I will discuss is free, and each has particular advantages and disadvantages.  Here is the list:

1) Free Natural Reader 11.  This is a free computer program that you download from the internet and install on your computer.  It provides 2 ways to read text: 1) a window that you can copy and paste text into from another document or application, or 2) a floating toolbar that  "floats" over any open doc or application.
-Pros: 

• When using the copy and paste window option, text is highlighted as it is read. (multi-modal learning!) 
•  Floating toolbar is convenient
• Can adjust the rate and pitch of the voices

-Cons:

• You may have to put in a tech request to get this installed, as it is an actual software program
• You can only use the digital voices that come pre-installed on your computer, which may be lower quality voices
• It can be a little tricky to change voices or adjust the speed of the voice

2) Read&Write for Google Docs.  This is a free study skills toolbar that is available as an extension to the Google Chrome browser.  It works very nicely, but ONLY works with text in the Google format.  Click this link to see about converting existing docs to Google docs format.
-Pros:

• Highlights words as it reads (multi-modal learning!)
• Better quality voices
• Since it is an extension to a browser and not software, you don't need a password to install it.
• Other study skills options, such as highlighting, dictionary, and collect highlights

-Cons:

• ONLY works with Google docs format
• ONLY works on Google Chrome browser
• MUST be connected to the internet for it to work

3) Speak tool in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).  Most folks are unaware that Microsoft office 2010 and 2003 come with pre-installed text reader tools. You just have to know where to find them. (NOTE: Office 2007 offers the Speak command in Excel, but not in Word)   To see a tutorial for Office 2003 click here.  To see a tutorial for Office 2010, click here.  To see a video for office 2010, click here. or click here for an alternate video (in case the first one didn't work).
-Pros:

• Don't need to convert your documents to another format
• Students can be trained to do this with any computer they use.  No special software is needed.
• Don't need to access any other program to hear your text read aloud.

-Cons:

• You can't choose your voice or the voice rate
• It does NOT highlight the words as it reads.  This makes it harder for students to follow along.
• Different processes to learn depending on which version of Microsoft Office you have.  Not available in Word 2007.

So there you have it.  I hope seeing these three options head to head will give you some ideas of what would work with your students and situations.  Each tool has advantages, and a savvy user would have more than one option depending on the setting and task.  As always, please provide feedback in the comments section.  


 

Some websites you might like

I just wanted to share some nifty websites I recently learned about that are of particular interest to teachers. 

The first site is called watchknowlearn.org.  It is a huge online library of free educational videos.  You can search for videos on everything from the Green Eggs and Ham, to multiplying fractions.  There seems to be more content for the younger grades at this point.  This is a great tool for teachers who are looking to add more visuals to their lessons, or to find videos to go along with a story or poem they are teaching. 

The next site is whatshouldireadnext.com.  This site lets you enter the name, author, or even ISBN of a book, and it will generate a list of similar books.  This is a great resource for students who get stuck in rut with a particular author or series.  You could help them branch out and find new authors to love!

The last site I want to share is www.textcompactor.com.  This site is an auto summarizer tool.  It lets you copy and paste in a block of text, choose what percentage of the text you want to keep, and then it will create a summary of the text based on that percentage.  This is a great tool for taking an expository text on grade level and "cognitively rescaling" the text to better match the reading level of your students. If you used to enjoy the Auto Summary feature available in Microsoft Word 2003, but cried when it was taken out of later versions of Word, then this site is for you!

I hope you enjoy the sites and share them with others.  Please feel free to share YOUR favorite sites in the comments section and I'll get them in future posts!

Word Prediction Options (I made you a list!)

After some recent discussions with different parents and teachers about word prediction software, I decided to compile a list of some common options that are available for PC/Mac/iPad/iPod/Android.  This list is by no means exhaustive and authoritative, but it lists many of the more common options available today.  I have tried to arrange them  in order by price from "Hey, it's FREE!" to "Holy cow, that's half my mortgage payment!"  I have also tried to include websites for each product so you can do more research on your own.  To see the list, please click this link.

I hope this helps when exploring options.  Please feel free to share this list with anyone who you think would benefit.

Dragon Naturally Speaking Quick Sheet

I am hearing more and more teachers interested in speech to text applications for struggling writers.  Speech to text applications allow a user to speak into a microphone, and have the application convert your speech into text on the computer.  Two of the more popular programs available are SpeakQ and Dragon Naturally Speaking (also available as a free iOS app).

Anyone who has used a speech to text program knows there is a fairly steep learning curve, at least initially, to get the program to be functional.  If you are currently using or interested in using Dragon Naturally Speaking, I have created a Quick Sheet that will help you with many of the basics of the program, as well as helpful hints to speed up the program by disabling parts of the program you don't need.

I hope this helps!  I would love to hear feedback in the comments section on how to improve this quick sheet.

Google Docs training resources

I will admit it, I am just barely becoming familiar with Google Drive, which is a free online file storage and sharing system, and Google Docs, which is a powerful online word processor.  If you are new like me, and would like some help getting started, please click here for great getting started tutorials and training videos.

Uploading Word files to Google Drive or Docs

Please check out this great video explaining how to upload your existing Microsoft Word documents into Google Drive, and convert them to Google Docs format.  This will allow you to take advantage of Google's great tools to share and collaborate on documents online.  It will also enable students with reading disabilities the ability to take advantage of the new Read&Write for Google Docs toolbar, which has great study tools and text to speech features.

Read&Write for Google Docs: Free screen reader and study skills toolbar

I was so excited to learn today about a free tool called Read&Write for Google Docs. Read&Write for Google docs is a free extension that can be added to your Google Chrome browser. It
reads and highlights any text in a Google document, along with providing textual and visual definitions, highlight collection, and a nice feature to make a vocabulary list from highlighted words in the doc.

NOTE: It will ONLY work with documents that are in the Google docs format, but it is a fairly easy process to convert existing Word documents and PDFs into Google docs format. To learn more about that process, click here.

To see some good images and videos about Read&Write for Google docs, click here

The second video will how you how to install the toolbar, the first one will go over features in detail.

Switch Prompting Training Video

If you have ever worked with students with severe motor and cognitive disabilities, you have probably had some who used those colorful plastic switches to play games on the computer, speak messages, activate toys, etc.  While switches can be a great way to help students access leisure, communication, and academic activities, it is not always easy to get students to hit those switches when we want them to.

I eventually came to learn, after visiting several different classrooms and working with several different students,  that many of the things I did to try to encourage kids to use their switches was actually making them dependent on ME to prompt them through the activity, rather than doing it independently because THEY wanted to.

Our AT team made a brief (less than 6 minutes) video last year as a training tool for new people working with switch users as well as a RE-training tool for some of us who have been making mistakes along the way.  The idea behind the video is to prompt students in a way that will encourage INDEPENDENT switch activation, rather than be DEPENDENT on us.  This is a great tool to use with paraprofessionals and peer tutors.  The video will never win any film making awards, but the content is solid, and I hope it helps you evaluate the prompting we give kids. 

Switch accessible apps (and switches) for iPad

For a long time now, students with limited motor abilities have been able to use accessibility switches to access computers, speak messages, and control their environment.  Switch users can now access the iPad as well thanks to the introduction of bluetooth switches and switch interfaces. The switches and interfaces connect to the iPad wirelessly via the bluetooth settings on the iPad.   I have included links to a few different sites where you can check some of them out.  There are other products available as well if you are willing to search for them.  The three products I have listed range in price from $100 to $150.  Each has particular strengths and weaknesses that you will  have to evaluate when choosing.

RJ Cooper Bluetooth Switch Interface ($100)
RJ Cooper Bluetooth Super Switch ($150)
Blue 2 Bluetooth switch ($150, unique foot pedal design)


ONE IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SWITCHES AND THE IPAD:
 In order to use a switch with the iPad, you must be using an app that has been designed for switch access.  There are many apps, especially those NOT designed for special needs, will NOT work with switches, so keep that in mind.  More and more apps are now being designed, however, with switch access in mind, or plan to add it in at some future point in time.  Most apps that are currently switch accesible are cause and effect games and AAC apps.

Click here for a link to a great blog post and a really, really good list of switch accessible apps.

 RJ Cooper, who manufactures some of the products featured in this post, has included a list of apps that are either switch accessible right now, or looking to add it in the future.  Click here to see his list.

Speak Selection in iOS- Make the iPad read to you!

We know that the iPad can fling angry birds against the wall, take notes, play videos, and even speak for you, but one of my absolute favorite features built into the iPad is called Speak Selection.  When this feature is activated, the iPad will read aloud any text that you can select.  I have found it especially useful in Notes, Safari, Email, and Dropbox, but it is limited only to what text you can select.  It is especially useful when paired with the Reader function built into Safari.  (for more info, see my post entitled "A Cleaner and Easier Online Reading Experience...").

To enable the feature, tap the Settings app, and then tap General > Accessibility > Speak Selection.  Turn On the slider bar, and adjust the voice rate.  You only get one voice right now, but it is a good quality voice.  In iOS 6, you also get the option to have the iPad highlight words as it reads.  You also can choose different dialects, just in case you watched Finding Nemo the night before and just couldn't get enough of the Australian accent.

I have included two links to great YouTube videos explaining the feature.  The first video features the ipad, and includes info about the languages and dialects options.  The second video features the iPhone, but it works the same on the iPod touch.





I hope you and your students enjoy this amazing feature.  If you have success stories or creative implementation ideas, please share in the comments section!

The Case Against Assistive Technology Video

I am posting a link today to a great video created by the Don Johnston company entitled, "The Case Against Assistive Technology".  This 4 minute video powerfully explores the attitudes and misconceptions people have about AT and it's proper place in education.  This video is a great tool to have available when discussing AT with colleagues, students, administrators, parents, friends, etc.

 Just go to www.donjohnston.com/new/index.html and find the View Video link.  You can also download the video from the page and play it later or send it to someone else.  I hope that you enjoy the video, that it gets you thinking, and that you are able to share it with someone else with whom it can make an impact!

Free iOS apps available today/ A shout-out to the UCET blog.

I have been a fan for a while of a great blog put out by the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology (UCET).  It is located at http://ucetnews.blogspot.com .  The UCET is an educational technology organization that consists mainly of regular education teachers, but has been expanding more into special education as well as technology continues to bridge the gaps between them.

One of my favorite features of the blog is that they will periodically list iOS apps (apps for iPads and iPods) that normally cost money to purchase, but are available for a limited time for free.  I will try to update this blog with links to the UCET blog when they post that info.  To see today's list, go to the UCET blog, or click the following link.  Two that caught my eye were a Cookie Monster app, and a great figural analogy app.

Check them out and bookmark the UCET blog if you like to keep up to date on the latest in educational technology.

A Cleaner and Easier Online Reading Experience with Evernote Clearly and Safari Reader

Here's an interesting experiment to try:  Load just about any webpage you can think of, and count how many different articles, advertisements, animations, menus, lists, pictures, etc. are all calling out for your attention at the same time.  Even on the surprisingly uncluttered Google search page, I counted 17 different options I could click on!

With all those messages competing for your attention, the online reading experience can be difficult and bewildering for somebody with reading, visual perception, sensory perception, or attention deficit challenges.  Lucky for us, there are now tools available for three of the most popular web browsers to filter out all of the annoying clutter and let a reader focus on the main text on a web page.  Aside from making an online article easier to read and understand, it also makes it easier to copy and paste text into another online tool, such as a screen reader or text summarizer.

If you use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, you can download a  tool called Evernote Clearly.  It is available at http://evernote.com/clearly/ .  Evernote Clearly is a plug-in, which means that it simply adds a nifty little feature to your browser.  The good news about this is that you can install this feature yourself without having to call the IT department!!  For Firefox, simply go to the Evernote Clearly website, click the green "Get Clearly for Firefox" button, click the green "Add to Firefox" button, and then click the "Install now" button that will show up in the pop up window.  You will then be prompted to restart your browser to add the feature.  For Chrome, go to the Evernote Clearly website, click the "Get Clearly for Chrome" button, and click the "Add" button on the pop-up window.

Once you have Clearly installed, you will see a little reading lamp icon on your browser toolbar.  If you click that button, Clearly will cut out all of the unnecessary clutter on the webpage and just leave the main text.  WARNING: If you are on a page without an obvious main article, such as the msn.com or yahoo.com home pages, Clearly will have a hard time deciding what the main text is.  But once you click on an article and load that page, the feature will work quite nicely.  You can even highlight text, clip the text to Evernote, adjust the font size, and print the article. 

If you are a Mac or iPad user, then you are already familiar with Apple's Safari browser, because it is the default browser for these devices.  Safari is also available for PC's as a free download.  Safari has a similar "clear away all the unnecessary junk from a webpage" feature called Reader.  When you are on a page that is compatible with the reader function, a little grey Reader button will show up in the left hand side of the address bar at the top of the browser.  Here is a great article to explain more about the Safari Reader:

These tools are easy to set up and use, and I am excited to hear from teachers to see how their students enjoy using them in class and at home, so please spread the word!

Multimedia talking books using PowerPoint

The following is a tutorial created by Kristie Stapler from the Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative.  It is a great step by step walk-through of how to create an engaging and accessible book using Microsoft PowerPoint 2003.  

Note: If you use PowerPoint 2007 or 2010, the concept will be similar, but the commands may be labeled differently or found in different location in the program.

Creating Talking Books with PowerPoint

A.  Create a Folder

1.     Create a folder on the computer to save your talking book files.

B.  Scan or create your Pictures

1.     Scan or create your pictures for your talking book and save to folder.

C.  Create a Talking Book Template

Create a talking book template that you can use with all of your talking books.

1. Open PowerPoint.  It should open to a blank slide.  If not select File-New and select Blank Presentation.
2. Choose the blank page layout and click Ok.
3. Add a forward page turning arrow by selecting the Slideshow menu and click Action Buttons.
4. Click on the Forward Arrow.  The cursor will change to a small cross.  Position this cross at the bottom right hand corner of the page and click and hold the left mouse button.  Drag mouse to draw the button.  Release the mouse button.  Resize forward arrow if needed.
5. Add a Back Arrow following the directions in step 4.
6. Add a page turning effect by clicking on Slideshow – Slide Transition.  Choose a transition effect and click Apply to all slides.
7. Save the slide as a template.  Click File-Save As.  When the dialog box opens, click in File Name and type “Talking Book Template”.  In Save as type: choose Design Template.  Click Save.

D.  Create Blank Pages

1.     Create blank pages for your book by clicking on Insert menu, then Duplicate Slide. Repeat until you have the required number of blank pages (slides) for your book.

E.   Add Pictures

Click on the first slide.  To add a picture to your slide, click on the Insert menu, then Picture, then From File and choose a picture that you have previously scanned or created.

1.     Insert the picture on the page.  Reposition and/or resize the picture on the page by clicking and dragging on the corners of the picture frame.

F.  Add Symbols/Text

1.     Adding Symbols:  Open your symbol processor and type your sentence. (examples of Symbol processors are Writing with Symbols, Inclusive Writer, Clicker, Intellipics)

2.    Make your sentence large enough but not larger than the computer screen.

3.    Remove the cursor from the screen by hitting the Return key.

4.    Copy the image by pressing the Print Screen button located at the top right of the keyboard.  Usually labeled as PrtScr or Print Scrn.  The image has been copied to the clipboard and is ready to paste into your PowerPoint.

5.    Click back to the PowerPoint where you want the symbol sentence to be.  Choose Paste from the Edit menu.  The screen image will appear on the page. 

6.    The image will be large and needs to be cropped.  Click on the image to get the Picture Toolbar.  (If you do not have the toolbar, click on View-Toolbar-Picture)

7.    Choose the Crop tool from the Picture toolbar. Move the mouse to the edge of your image.  Hold down the left mouse button and crop the image by dragging a corner or side inwards and release.  Continue to crop the image until the desired image has been created.

8.    The image may need to be resized or repositioned.

G.  Add Sound to the Page

1.     Before adding sound to the pages, make sure the microphone is connected to the computer and it is working.  (You can test the microphone by going to Start-Accessories-Entertainment-Sound Recorder and recording a voice test.)

2.    You must also change a setting within PowerPoint.  This allows you to create larger sound files and they will stay within your PowerPoint book.  (This makes it easier to move from computer to computer.)

3.    In PowerPoint, Click on Tools, then Options.  In the popup window click on the General tab.  Click on the Link sounds with files greater than box and type in 50000.  This will ensure that all sound files are included when you save your talking book.

4.    To add sound, click on the Insert menu, then Movies and Sounds and then click on Record Sounds.

5.    Click  in the Name box and rename this sound file. (ex: give more information than slide 1)

6.    Click on the Red Record button and speak the page text into the microphone.  Click Stop when you are finished recording the sound.

7.    Click Ok.

8.    A loud speaker will appear in the middle of your page. This can be positioned anywhere on the slide.

9.    This completes the first page of your talking book.  Click on the next slide and follow the directions in steps E - G.

BOOK OPTIONS

   I.   Automate The Sound On Each Page

a.    Click on the Speaker to select it.  Choose Slideshow menu, then Custom Animations.  To play the sound or movie automatically, click Start With Previous.

 II.   Use Forward And Back Buttons

a.    To set up the show, click on the Slideshow menu, then Set Up Show.  Click Browsed at a kiosk (full screen).  Then Ok.

III.   Combine A Page Turn With Speech

a.    You can set PowerPoint to turn the page and speak the text using a single mouse or switch press.

b.    Click on the Slideshow menu, then Slide Transition.  Click on the Sound box where all your sound files are located.  Choose the right sound for that page and click on Apply, not Apply To All.  Do this for each page.

c.    The cursor must be placed over the forward arrow to allow for switch access.

IV.   Add A Time Delay To A Page Turn

a.    Another modification is to give the forward arrow a time delay.  This prevents students making multiple or rapid presses that would otherwise make the pages turn quickly.

b.    Click on the Forward Button.  Click on Slideshow, then Custom Animations. 

c.    Click on Add Effect.  Choose Appear. Click on the Down Arrow next to the action button in the Animation Window.

d.    Choose Timing.  In the Delay box set time to 2 seconds.  Timing may need to be adjusted according to student.  Click Ok.   

                        

How to make a Choice Making activity using Youtube and Powerpoint.

One of the challenges of working with older students with disabilities is that many computer activities that they used to enjoy when they were younger are no longer age appropriate.  One of the best places to find reinforcing content that is age appropriate for older students is YouTube.  While YouTube is a great resource, it is also difficult to navigate for many students with cognitive and motor disabilities.  

It is possible to use PowerPoint to make a choice making activity where students would click on a button on the screen and it would play their YouTube videos of choice.  This consists of  making buttons in PowerPoint that are linked back to specific YouTube videos.

Watch this video to see how to make your own:

If you prefer a step by step walk-through, click here and select the YouTube Choices activity tab: