OT - But I just had this crazy inspiration that you could help

[lindamh]

I've posted recently about a trip that I'm taking with my husband, but reading this board got me thinking that maybe some of you folks could help me with a professional challenge that I've not been able to solve. I apologize for the non-Disney hijack!

I'm a data/literacy coach at an elementary school and one of my jobs is overseeing school, district and state testing. I've gotten pretty good at accomodations for IEP and 504 kids, but last year things changed. All the county-wide tests went on computers. Rumor has it the state tests are not far behind. My problem is trying to figure out how to make accomodations that were intended for paper tests work on computer tests. Things like highlighting text, circling words, using book markers, etc. just don't work on a computer. I've talked repeatedly with our county level ESE specialists, but this is a new area for them also. Their suggestion is to print out the test, but all my ESE teachers want the kids to have the experience of working on the computer, so that they are prepared to face this in the future.

I thought maybe some of you would have experience with computer accomodations. Do you have any suggestions? Are there companies that make products for computers? (I know about magnification screens, but that's about all) Some kind of write-on wipe-off film you can put on the screen so kids can work on the screen? Something moveable that helps kids hold their place on the screen as they read? I'm hoping some of you parents might have kids who need to work on computers, and you'll have suggestions, or places I can look, or people I can contact for ideas.

This may be a long-shot, but I've gotten really frustrated trying to help these kids succeed! I can picture things in my head that might help them, but I have no clue where to begin! Maybe I'll need to invent something, and get rich in the process!

Thanks for reading, and for any comments of any variety, that you'd care to contribute.

Linda

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and welcome to disABILTIES!

You will find that although the main thrust of this forum relates to Disney World, there are lots of threads on here with no relation at all to WDW but in getting along in the real world. As a general rule any thread which can help people tends to be welcome. As a side note it is also a good place for people with disabilty related issues to let off steam as most everyone active on this board is either disabled in some way or a caregiver (or both) and can provide support and/or advice.

I'm sure that we will have people with situations related to mental disabilities of all type who would be willing to assist you.

 

[Val]

You might want to contact the assistive technology project at Illinois State University. I am not from this department, but I know a bunch of people on the project. My youngest DD is HOH and the center has been a great resource for her teachers.....I know they are on the cutting edge and may have answers for you-

Here is the link to their center Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center at Illinois State University

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

WYNN Wizard (http://www.freedomscientific.com/LSG/products/wynn.asp) would be a program to consider. It reads out loud while highlighting the word.

Christamae

 

[Michigan]

I'm an Information Technology Specialist and any highlighting or anything else on the test will be written in the code of the program that the test has been written in.

Also, not every child will be able to take a computerized test just like every child can't take a written test so I would think there will still be oral testing options for those that can't.

 

[lindamh]

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll be doing some checking into some of the things that you mentioned.

Linda