iPad, Apps and Deaf-blindness

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iPad, Apps and Deaf-blindness

• Gloria Rodriguez-Gil
• California Deaf-Blind Services
• In collaboration with
• Susan Hiscutt, Aaron Hiscutts mother
• Cristi M. Sailor, DHH itinerant teacher

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Content

• Children who are deaf-blind with additional
  disabilities
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Considerations
• Video clips with Aaron and his mother Susan
• Aarons basic information
• Video clip with Johnathan
• Johnathans basic information
• Video Gloria Featuring Several Apps
• List of additional apps and new website

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Children who are DB with Additional Disabilities

• Who can use their vision to see the images on the
  screen
• Who may also be able to listen but not critical
  if they can see the images- to the sounds,
  recorded or synthesized voice
• Who has the dexterity to tap, swipe, pinch,
  un-pinch images on the screen

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Advantages of the iPad

• Students show interest very quickly when showing
  them the iPad
• Immediate response when using it
• Only requires a light touch
• Its use is very intuitive in comparison with
  other devices
• Very portable
• Reasonably sturdy
• Easy to change levels of difficulty

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Advantages of the iPad (Cont. 2)

• Can use own digital photos that specifically fit
  a given activity when app allows it
• The cost is lower than traditional communication
  devices and you can do more than just use it for
  this purpose
• The size is good - bigger than iPod Touch or
  iPhone so you can enlarge things more
• The clarity of the speech is better than other
  devices - it sounds more natural and when you
  record your own voice it picks up the nuances
  such as intonation

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Advantages of the iPad (Cont. 3)

• For the children it looks "cooler" and more "like
  everyone else" rather than the more traditional
  communication devices
• Child can hold iPad as close as she need to
• Present crisp images and well contrasted
• Provides accessibility features (e.g. voice over)

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Disadvantages

• The screen is made of glass and its very glary
  and reflective
• If you go outside it may be too shiny
• It is thin and light and sometimes its difficult
  to set it up for the student when she cannot do
  it independently

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Disadvantages (Cont. 2)

• Keeping the iPad from falling when the child taps
  hard against the screen
• It may be difficult for the child to find the
  icon when they are several icons on the screen,
  the same can happen when she needs to touch a
  specific button
• Sometimes the "page" will turn when the student
  or the adult points and moves the hand
  accidentally

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Disadvantages (Cont. 3)

• Sometimes its hard to find the right apps in the
  iTunes store
• It would be helpful to be able to try out apps
  before buying them, so many are so new that they
  don't have reviews.

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Considerations

• Try to avoid reflection of external light on the
  screen. For example, need to be careful with the
  reflections on the screen from the lights above
• Make sure the set up of the iPad its appropriate
  for the child (e.g., put the iPad on a slant so
  kids can see it better and place a non-slip
  material on the slant so the iPad does not slip).
• When recording your voice on the iPad make sure
  to make it loud enough

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Considerations (Cont. 2)

• If the student uses a FM system, place FM
  microphone near the speaker so the child can hear
  better
• When creating new pictures make sure there is a
  good contrast between the picture and the
  background
• Be aware of providing just the right amount of
  support when the child is using the iPad.

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Considerations (Cont. 3)

• When choosing a communication app perhaps start
  with the cheaper and simpler ones, and then go
  from there
• Encourage the students and the adults around to
  use it. A device is only good if people use it
  consistently

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Videos Clips with Aaron and his mother Susan

• Aaron with his mother show the following apps and
  Internet programs
• Draw (length of video 245)
• Times tables (212)
• Google Earth (144)
• You Tube/video on elevators (134)
• Proloquo2go (211)

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Aarons basic information

• Diagnosis CHARGE Syndrome
• Age 13 years old
• Hearing Profound hearing loss in left ear.
  Severe hearing loss in the right. Wears bilateral
  BTE hearing aids since he was 10 months old, and
  FM System since 3 years old.

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Aarons basic information (Cont. 2)

• Vision Minimal vision in right eye, good vision
  left eye. Has bilateral colobomas of the optic
  nerve. Does not receive VI services.
• Main modes of communication Sign Language,
  speech and pictures
• He had experience before using other
  communication devices
• Fully included in general education

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Draw app
Download video associated with this slide - 20MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/draw1.wmv
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Times Tables
Download video associated with this slide - 16MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/times tables.wmv
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Google Earth
Download video associated with this slide 13MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/google earth.wmv
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You Tube/Video on Elevators
Download video associated with this slide - 12MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/elevators.wmv
20
Proloquo2go
Download video associated with this slide - 16MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/proloquo2go.wmv
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Videos with Johnathan

• Verbal Victor (242)

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Johnathan basic information

• Diagnosis Septo Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
• Age almost eight years old
• Hearing mild sensory hearing loss in right ear,
  mild to moderate in his left ear
• Vision not clear the degree of vision loss, he
  seems to prefer to see with his peripheral vision

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Johnathans basic information (Cont. 2)

• Main modes of communication receptive auditory
  and pictures. He seems to retain information
  better through songs. Expressive through
  behaviors. On an occasion he will speak, rarely
  he will use a sign.
• Educational setting special day classroom.
• Started using the iPad this year, at home he uses
  her mothers iTouch.

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Verbal Victor
Download video associated with this slide - 20MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/verbal victor.wmv
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Video Gloria Featuring Several Apps (1121)

• Baby Finger
• Doodle Buddy
• Little Fingers
• Flashlight
• iLook
• Flash Cards
• Tap to Talk

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Download video associated with this slide 83MB
.wmv http//nationaldb.org/documents/products/webi
nar/video/appdemo.wmv
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Other Recommended Apps

• Pins Pins helps you to develop the creativity
  of your child with fun (fine motor).
• Mover lite Quick way to exchange photos and
  contacts between iPhones and between iPads via
  Wi-Fi.
• Whiteboard lite- Collaborative drawing app for
  iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad over local Wi-Fi or
  Bluetooth peer-to-peer.
• Old MacDonald - its sings the song and child can
  predict what animal is coming next.

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Other Recommended Apps

• Pocket Zoo - whole map of a zoo and then choose
  an animal and can watch videos about specific
  animal you choose.
• Hang Man - good for categories, clues, it can be
  used for color recognition.

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New Website Coming Up!

• "In about two months a new website that focuses
  on using technology to enhance the lives of
  children and youth with special needs will
  launch. If you would like to be notified when the
  site opens and receive a free enewsletter please
  send your email address to Cristi Mercedes
  Saylor at specialneedstech_at_yahoo.com.