Outreach fact sheet library

As a service for persons supporting individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, Outreach and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community developed the Outreach Fact Sheet Library. The information provided is designed to enhance the understanding of the topic and does not replace other professional or medical instructions or individually developed plans. Please check back here for more fact sheets and information.

• Enteral Feeding Tube Best Practices **NEW**
• Enteral Feeding Tube Problems **NEW**
• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
• Recognizing Change in Status
• Responding to Change in Status
• Signs and Symptoms Indicating a Change in Status

As new fact sheets are created, they will posted here: http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/3948.htm

Finding Healthcare in Indiana

Are you uninsured? You are not alone. Millions of Americans have no health

coverage. Some lost their insurance when they lost their jobs. Others work hard,

but their jobs don’t provide health insurance benefits. Whatever the reason,

finding health coverage can be difficult. If you are looking for coverage, this

guide can help you find the coverage you need.

The road to finding health coverage depends on where you start. Everyone

has different circumstances. Starting with number 1, find the question that best describes your

situation.

Start here:

1. Did you recently lose your health insurance because you lost your job?

2. Did you recently lose your job because of trade policy—for example, increased

imports or jobs moving overseas?

3. Are you an early retiree who has lost your health coverage?

4. Could you be eligible for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program

(CHIP), or other government programs?

5. Do you have a serious medical condition or a disability?

If options 1-5 don’t work, try these:

6. What do you need to know about buying insurance on your own?

7. Where can you find help if you can’t find coverage?

find the answers here:

http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/guides-to-finding-insurance-2009/indiana

Tips for Building Self Determination

Making Choices

􀂊 If you have a disability, learn about it.

􀂊 Find your strengths, interests, and think creatively about learning styles and methods.

􀂊 Have high expectations for yourself.

􀂊 Explore new activities; find positive, fun things to do with your friends. Learn from your

mistakes.

􀂊 Have a say in things that are about you.

􀂊 Be open minded and listen to what people you trust have to say.

Self Advocacy

􀂊 Speak up.

􀂊 Take on a leadership role in something you are good at.

􀂊 Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

􀂊 Learn to talk about your disability. Help others to understand you and your needs.

􀂊 Work on creating open, nonjudgmental relationships.

Exploring the Possibilities

􀂊 Try to learn something new every day.

􀂊 Volunteer in something that interests you; find new hobbies.

􀂊 Find adult mentors who understand and relate to you.

􀂊 Talk about your future.

Strong Self-Esteem

􀂊 Write your thoughts down; describe yourself and your life.

􀂊 Take steps to feel part of your community; get involved by volunteering.

􀂊 Use your talents.

􀂊 Involve yourself in healthy, caring relationships.

􀂊 Surround yourself with people who are positive; find someone you look up to be your mentor.

Goals & Plans

􀂊 Understand what a goal is and why they are important.

􀂊 Think about what you want to do with your life, discuss this and other interests you have with

people who are important to you.

􀂊 Make a list of your goals and the steps you need to take in order to reach them.

􀂊 Be flexible and realistic about your goals.

Understand Reasonable Risks

􀂊 Think about all of the benefits and consequences before you take action.

􀂊 Know your support network; those people who will be there for you unconditionally.

􀂊 Seek advice from others but keep in mind that sometimes the truth is not easy to hear.

􀂊 Mistakes are normal and an important part of learning.

Problem Solve

􀂊 Learn to take ownership of challenges.

􀂊 Accept the idea that problems are part of healthy development.

􀂊 Create a list of positives and negatives to help you make good decisions.

􀂊 Get advice from people you trust.

Adapted from the NCSET Research to Practice Brief

INDATA blog

INDATA this, INDATA that. What exactly is INDATA anyway?

Assistive Technology Lab

Let’s catch up a bit. INDATA stands for the Indiana Assistive Technology Act. Its goal is to spread the word about assistive technology and make it readily available for Indiana residents with disabilities. Here are the services we offer:

• Device Demonstration Set up an appointment to learn how to use assistive technology devices.
• Device Loan Borrow equipment for up to three months to help you decide if you could use it. Follow these easy steps to set up an account and browse the various devices available for loan.

  

  Equipment from Assistive Technology Lab

• Training Quarterly assistive technology trainings and annual assistive technology conference held at the convention center in Indianapolis.
• Equipment ReutilizationDonate old equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and other mobility related devices to Easter Seals Crossroads as it prepares for an upcoming equipment exchange program.
• Reutilized Computer Program We repair and refresh donated computers and give them to people with disabilities that have no means to purchase one on their own.
• AT Hour This one-hour presentation informs your group about the assistive technology programs and services provided by the INDATAProject and includes an exciting “show and tell” of various assistive technology equipment.
• Information and Referral Questions about assistive technology? You can call our Information & Referral/Funding Specialist to learn more about available services and funding options.

We’re a friendly bunch here at the INDATA project, and we’re here to provide you with assistive technology solutions. Questions or comments? Stop by anytime at http://www.eastersealstech.com!

follow the blog here: http://blog.eastersealstech.com/

Real Work. Real Stories

This site highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative, front-line employment support practices, these individuals are earning money, forming networks, and contributing to their communities. Learn more about these people and the promising practices that led to their success.

Scroll down this page for current featured stories, or use the menu at left to browse all stories by category.

http://realworkstories.org/

Turning a Nintendo DS into an AAC device

Two Ways to Make Nintendo DS an AAC Device

by K

DS Talker is an older free program by the people who bring us the Sclera Symbol set that runs on a Nintendo DS. Tap to Talk is a newer program for the Nintendo DSi or DS Lite that retails for a subscription of $99.95 a year. Both program are dynamic display.

As it is free you will need to do some work to get the DS Talker working. The program is in German, but the English manual explains in detail how to make it work in English. (Although a techie friend or gamer 17 year old is likely to make it work the fastest.) The program uses the free white on black Sclera Pictos.

Tap To Talk include the software for the DSi or DSLite and a web based application to program boards as well as clipart symbols. Other symbol sets can be used if converted to .bmp format. You can play with the application before you buy it with an online emulator.

Having played with DS Talker and watched the Tap to Talk videos the programs see to run in nearly identical ways.

FAQ about AT

from LDonline

1) I am looking for assistive technology for my child who has learning disabilities and social skill deficits.

We suggest that you ask your child’s teachers, medical doctor/specialists, and the school’s technology specialist for assistive technology suggestions. Once these suggestions have been made, it is important to incorporate them into your child’s IEP. Here is an additional source of information on assistive technology:

• Technology: Some Common Questions Answered

Also, see the assistive technology section in LD OnLine’s In Depth areas.

2) I was told that my child would benefit from using certain types of equipment in the classroom, such as noise reducing headphones. Where can I find these products?

Specialists such as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or special education teacher will have access to assistive devices and would most likely have good catalogs or other resources for you to look through. It is likely that the occupational therapy or physical therapy departments in your school district would allow your son to borrow such products to make sure they are helpful to him before you order them. If these accommodations are written in his IEP, then the school district should supply him with what he needs during the school day.

3) Would a handheld organizer, like a Palm Pilot, be helpful in keeping a student with ADHD organized?

There are many tools which can help your child stay organized. A handheld organizer may work, but even simpler things, like a day planner, may work just as well. The key to organizational help is to select something that the student and her family and teachers can all use and adopt quickly. The following articles and websites can help you in determining the best tools for your child.

• LD OnLine: Technology
• LD OnLine: Study Skills
• Palm Technology Quick Guide for LD
• Technology Examples (LDA of Canada)
• SNOW Center
• Schwab Learning

The articles below include information on how students use forms of assistive technology, like handheld organizers.

• Assistive Technology Assessment: More Than the Device
• Success Stories from Parents and Students (Beach Center on Disability)

If you do choose a technology device, test out a variety of products in order to find a good match. Many companies offer free demos or 30-day-trials; if you ask, they can even cover shipping and handling costs. Take advantage of these options as much as possible and you'll have a better sense of what works for you and your child.

4) Are there any grants or scholarships available for students in need of expensive assistive technology?

There are a number of organizations that provide assistance to people with disabilities, including providing financial support. Below are three suggestions for organizations that help students obtain access to personal computers.

• The Jim Mullen Foundation and Computers for Schools provide low-cost computers for people who have a disability in the US and Canada.
• Disability Resources provides general information on funding assistive technology. In addition, the site lists contacts for every state's Technology Assistance (TA) project.
• The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is the national network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors, and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities.
• The Family Center on Technology Disability is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities.

5) What are some of the best and most commonly used technologies for students with learning disabilities?

Below are some suggestions for websites that identify the best technologies and provide access to current information on new tools. Many of the following sites sort, rank, and review AT for various learning disabilities.

• Georgia Tools for Life
• Family Center on Technology and Disability
• Schwab Learning
• Alliance for Technology Access

Additionally, the Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) and the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) developed two searchable databases that present evidence and products for the use of technologies that support the instruction of reading and mathematics for students with special needs.

The following link can take you to those matrices.

• Technology Matrix

6) I am looking for written resources or computer programs to use in my classroom to help teach my students with math disabilities. Do you have any recommendations?

There are many technology tools to choose from today, and more are constantly being developed. We have provided a few suggestions below for websites that identify programs and help teachers obtain access to current information. Test out a variety of products to find a good match. Many companies offer free demos or 30-day-trials; if you ask, they can even cover shipping and handling costs. Take advantage of these options as much as possible and you'll have a better sense of what works for you and your students.

• The Math Matrix
• Technology-Driven Math Instruction for Students with Disabilities
• CITEd Math Resources
• CITEd Report for American Educational Research Association

7) Can my son receive modifications and use assistive technology during the SAT?

ETS, the publisher of the SAT, offers many options for its test-takers, but the process for getting approval takes seven weeks at the minimum. In most cases, the evaluation and diagnostic testing documentation needs to have been completed within 5 years of the request for modifications.

Your child may request to use AT for his documented disability. Note that there are no additional fees for any testing modifications.

For more information on the documentation criteria, please visitServices for Students with Disabilities (College Board). You can also contact ETS Disability Services directly at 1-866-387-8602.

Also, there are several online practice sites where your child can gain practice and familiarity with the computer-based test format. Check out the practice sections and tests at:

• CollegeBoard.com
• Princeton Review
• Peterson's

Special thanks to our partners at National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) and Center for Integrating Technology in Education (CITEd) for contributing much of the content for our technology section.

Resource for integrating AT in the classroom

Linda Burkhart's website, Simplified Technology provides a wealth of great tips, resources and websites to help simplify technology use in your classroom.
Click on the link to get started: http://lburkhart.com

from http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/

New UDL resources

It's easier than ever to learn about Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Check these out -

1. A new Universal Design for Learning YouTube Channel


2. Two online instructional modules about UDL available here and described here:

These two online modules introduce the theory, principles and application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to teacher candidates and in-service teachers. They provide higher education faculty with a multimedia, interactive online-learning environment that can be embedded in instructional methods courses. They are designed to be flexible enough to be used as part of an online, hybrid or face-to-face course.

and

Here's a great location to review that will share some best practices in demonstrating UDL in action. The UDL Spotlight was a new feature in the recently released National UDL Center. Educators and practitioners from around the country share their stories of infusing UDL. Worth a peek!

http://udlspotlight.wordpress.com/

from http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/ and http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/