The Family Center on Technology and Disability

Welcome to the FCTD resource review database. Hundreds of assistive and instructional technology resources have been identified, reviewed, and annotated for your reference. Direct links to each resource have been provided in most cases. You can target your search by entering a key word or phrase in the search box on the right side of the page, or you can scan through the resources below. The filters beneath the search box allow you to further customize your research by topic, disability, and material type. We are constantly adding new resources to our database, so we hope you’ll return regularly. If you have suggestions for additional resources, please contact us at fctd@aed.org.

The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book

A series of case studies from educators using Web 2.0 projects, The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book offers advice, insight and resources for teachers integrating Web 2.0 applications into their classrooms. This booklet is a great introduction to Web 2.0 and the wealth of resources, classroom-tested projects, and advice from educators worldwide. It helps to make the Web 2.0 approach user-friendly for teachers. The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book is ...

Published: 2010 by Terry Freeman , Reviewed: about 3 hours ago

AIM Factsheet for Parents

Here you will find a great deal of information available in both Word and PDF format about how to qualify for and obtain educational materials in accessible format for students with print disabilities. The information is available from the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials at Cast.org though the AIM Center. The tip sheet clearly links to resources that might be of interest to parents. It provides link to federal, ...

Published: 2010 by National Center for Accessible Instructional Materials , Reviewed: August 11, 2010

National Center on Universal Design for Learning

The website for the National Center on Universal Design for Learning offers users thousands of resources relating to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), including: basic information about UDL and the UDL checkpoints; resources to help schools implement Universal Design for Learning; research articles about the UDL framework; and tools to help teachers create UDL curriculum for their classroom. Most of the resources on the site are free and users have ...

Published: 2010 by CAST , Reviewed: 2 days ago

ReadWriteThink

ReadWriteThink is a collaboration between the International Reading Association (IRA), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Verizon Foundation's Thinkfinity educational resources program. ReadWriteThink is designed to offer teachers free classroom resources for grades K-12 and free professional development resources. The ReadWriteThink website includes a professional library, online professional development courses and seminars, lesson plans, classroom activities, online interactive tools for students and after school resources for parents.

Published: 2010 by IRA/NCTE , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Spectronics Inclusive Learning Technologies

Spectronics is an Australian company that provides assistive technology products, assessments and consulting services to families in Australia and New Zealand. Of particular interest to U.S. visitors, the Spectronics website includes online demonstrations of common devices and software, and a library of product reviews and informational articles for parents, teachers, and AT professionals. The Spectronics Activity Exchange offers free customizable downloads for BoardMaker, IntelliKeys, and DynaVox activities; users can also ...

Published: 2010 by Spectronics Inclusive Learning Technologies , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Shiny Learning

Shiny Learning is a vendor in the United Kingdom who specializes in educational software with an emphasis on design for children with special needs. All of their software can be accessed using a variety of different input devices as well as conventional keyboard and mouse. Skill areas covered include visual-perception, literacy, math, and other early learning skills. The games are fun, visually appealing and target appropriate goals. There are some ...

Published: 2010 by Helen Melhuish , Reviewed: 2 days ago

WatchKnow

WatchKnow is a non-profit community started by Dr. Larry Sanger, co-creator of Wikipedia. It is a collection of more than 18,000 videos and other media, explaining every topic taught to school kids. They are rated and sorted into a giant directory, making them simple to find. Virtually every school subject can be reinforced with videos from this site. WatchKnow is founded on the belief that if you watch something, you ...

Published: 2010 by WatchKnow , Reviewed: August 11, 2010

Mi-Stories

Mi-Stories are training videos for iPod or DVD to be used with teens with autism spectrum disabilities to help teach positive and coping behaviors in what may be difficult environments. These include transition activities such as getting dressed, going out to eat, riding in a car, grocery shopping, and calming techniques. One of the modules addresses how to use the iPod, and another is for caregivers, showing how to use ...

Published: 2010 by KenCrest , Reviewed: about 15 hours ago

One More Story

One More Story is an online library of children's books - classics and contemporary - that can be viewed, listened to or read by users with internet access. There will be a total of 108 books offered on the site in one of two modes: In "Hear and See a Book" mode, words are highlighted as the stories are read to the child. In the "I Can Read It" mode, ...

Published: 2010 by One More Story , Reviewed: about 23 hours ago

Into the Book

Into the Book is a reading comprehension resource for K-4 students and teachers. It focuses on eight research-based strategies: Using Prior Knowledge, Making Connections, Questioning, Visualizing (draw pictures to go with the story), Inferring, Summarizing (Main Idea), Evaluating and Synthesizing through activities in the Student Section. The activities are fun, although they take a while to load. Teachers should try the activities in order to make connections and be able ...

Published: 2010 by Into the Book , Reviewed: 2 days ago

RettGirls AT

RettGirls AT, found at http://assistivetech.ning.com/group/rettgirlsat is part of the http://assistivetech.ning.com/ and was created by Faith Paradis. This group is for people who are interested in exploring and sharing solutions for communication and active involvement of girls with Rett Syndrome through assistive technology. Parents, siblings, and teachers make up most of this group with an emphasis on finding AT-and funding it- that will help girls with Rett Syndrome communicate. At this ...

Published: 2010 by Faith Paradis , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Proloquo2go: AAC in your Pocket

Proloquo2go is a full feature augmentative communication package that can be used on the iTouch or iPhone. With an iPod Touch or iPhone, the program can be downloaded from the iTunes app store for $189.99. The instructional videos are easy to follow. Touted as a way to turn an iTouch or iPhone into a communication device - for a fraction of the cost of many stand-alone devices - it is ...

Published: 2010 by Samuel Sennott and David Neimeijer , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Talking Flashcards-Livescribe Smartpen

The Livescribe SmartPen is useful for helping students who have difficulties in a variety of areas, including notetaking, reviewing information, and much more. This three-minute UTube video shows how to make talking Flash cards using the pen. The video demonstrates how to use the Livescribe Pen’s recording option to make language flashcards for teaching Spanish, in this instance, and could be applied to any other topic of study. Watch the ...

Published: 2010 by Tim Fahlberg , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Set Your Sites on Access

This website was created by Allison McMahon and Maryellen Brogan who are both technology resource room teachers. The goal of the site is to share websites that promote access to the curriculum for all students. There are nine categories of links including electronic books, switch access sites, organizers, applications, instructional supports and subject-related links such as science and math. Everyone will find something useful here.

Published: 2010 by Allison McMahon, Maryellen Brogan , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Webspiration

MyWebspiration.com is a visual learning and collaboration service that helps users create, develop, organize, edit, and review their written projects online with a graphic organizer and outlining tools combined with automatic document backup. The service works with other popular collaboration features in Microsoft Word and Google Docs, and the Inspiration 9 visual learning software. Individual Webspiration accounts are free. Webspiration Classroom Service offers subscription access to Webspiration and additional account ...

Published: 2010 by Inspiration Software , Reviewed: August 11, 2010

Spotlight on Autism

A collection of information and resources related to autism, Spotlight on Autism presents a variety of research topics and autism awareness articles. The site focuses on basic autism information and facts about diagnosis, treatment, and autism statistics. Spotlight on Autism also offers articles about living and working with autism, the autism rights movement, and interviews with Dr. Temple Grandin, PhD.

Published: 2010 by Scitable by Nature Education , Reviewed: 2 days ago

Pass It On Center

For the general AT user, this site can be most beneficial in the links to 'Find AT,' which allows one to search within one's state for used or refurbished AT devices which may be available for loan, rent or purchase. In addition, it is a website that will help reutilization centers to determine if they are using best practices. An online survey is available following the quality indicators for assistive ...

Published: 2010 by Pass It On Center , Reviewed: about 23 hours ago

The Logan ProxTalker

There are many low-tech tools available with recording abilities. The ProxTalker is a unique low-tech device that has the capability of a high-tech device at a more affordable cost. Anyone who can use a picture exchange communication system (PECS) can use this, and it has voice-output. There are standard words included but it has the capability to be customized by a computer or with the recorder that is in the ...

Published: 2010 by ProxTalker.com , Reviewed: July 22, 2010

Pointscribe Interactive Handwriting System

Pointscribe, a scientifically based software program developed to help students improve their handwriting through a multisensory approach, was developed by UltraThera Technologies. This interactive software can be used to develop or re-learn handwriting in regular education, special education and in rehabilitation situations. The software creates a multisensory experience and also collects data that can be used to document progress. The program requires a touch screen, tablet PC or interactive white ...

Published: 2010 by UltraThera Technologies, Inc , Reviewed: about 23 hours ago

Mighty Book

Mighty Book offers families and teachers a subscription service to access e-books and reading resources. The site includes games, hundreds of Flash-animated e-books, and dozens of stories, songs and activities for kids ages 2-10. New items are available every month. The "Parent & Teacher" section of the site offers lesson plans, activities, and stories written by kids. Subscriptions vary from $24.95/year for a household to $999.95/year for a large school ...

Published: 2010 by Mighty Book , Reviewed: about 15 hours ago