The Grid 2: buried treasure - right click to hear a preview
Posted by 14 on the 14th September, 2009
I like The Grid 2 software for pupils who have really complex communication and writing difficulties. Amongst its many good features, I especially like the symbol supported prediction, for users who really have barely any spelling ability at all, maybe just initial letters - but who still want to...
New AAC device: Alt-Chat+ from Liberator
Posted by 14 on the 1st September, 2009
We have just had a chance to trial a new device called the Alt-Chat+ developed by the US company Saltillo and marketed in the UK by Liberator Ltd. It is an interesting mixture of two different devices - it has the hardware 'body' of the Springboard Lite (a very popular small lightweight device) a...
New Communication Aids for summer 09
Posted by 14 on the 12th August, 2009
This has been quite a summer for AAC - no fewer than four new communication aids have recently hit the AAC High Street. Firstly there is the mindblowing Proloquo2Go, (P2G) software from Assistiveware which runs on an ordinary iPod Touch (only 115gms in weight) or iPhone. It is undoubtedly the ul...
New AAC device, the Logan ProxTalker
Posted by 14 on the 28th July, 2009
Today CALL was pleased to receive a demonstration and short term loan of voice output communication aid that is new on the UK market, the Logan ProxTalker. This is a VERY simple-to-use system that is basically a PECS or communication book that can talk. The user's pictures are on little ca...
using text-to-speech utilities to read web pages
Posted by Allan Wilson on the 24th July, 2009
CALL frequently receives enquiries from people seeking advice on utilities that can be used to read text from web pages. Teachers and parents may be using WordTalk to read Word documents and are now looking for something similar to read web pages. Earlier this year CALL carried out a detailed co...
Livescribe Pulse pen for notetaking and maybe as AAC device
Posted by 14 on the 7th July, 2009
One of the new devices on show at CALL's recent ICT and Inclusion sessions was the rather amazing Livescribe Pulse Pen. You can see the product description (with video) at Livescribe.com It has been designed for note-taking and could be useful to students and older school pupils with memory or wri...
Books for All Database User Group meeting 24th June 2009
Posted by Paul Nisbet on the 29th June, 2009
A User Group has been created to take the Dooks for All Scotland Database forward and the first meeting was hosted by LTS on 24th June. Staff involved in providing books in accessible formats from 5 local authorities met along with Kim Walker (RNIB), Gayle Monteith, Maggie Smith and Jennifer MacDoug...
ict and inclusion 2009, glasgow
Posted by 4 on the 19th June, 2009
Janette Graham and Andrea MacBeath, based at the ASL Technology Service in Richmond Park School in Glasgow provided their top ten tips (well at least twelve, really) for supporting literacy. They covered Word Prediction such as using Penfriend or Co:Writer; symbol support using Boardmaker; use of...
ICT and Inclusion 2009, Edinburgh
Posted by 14 on the 18th June, 2009
About 130 people attended here in CALL Scotland, in Edinburgh, for the second very successful CALL Scotland ICT and Inclusion day. It's quite ambitious to try and meet the CPD needs & interests of everyone from staff working with Primary pupils with severe and complex additional support needs...
ICT and Inclusion 2009 Dingwall
Posted by Paul Nisbet on the 17th June, 2009
About 80 people enjoyed a great day at the Ross County Victoria Park stadium in Dingwall yesterday on 16th June. There were 18 presentations from suppliers and practitioners on a wide range of topics as well as a chance to look at software and hardware in the exhibition space. A quick glance at the ...
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