Changes

Hello Everyone!


I added borders to the posts and side tabs to help improve the look of the blog. If anyone has any suggestions on the color of the borders I would be happy to change the color of the borders. Thanks to everyone who has helped set up the blog!

Changes

Hello! As Monica mentioned, we all came together very quickly to get our blog running. The updates I've made to the blog layout were to reorganize the side bar for an easier flow of information (condensing the toolbar to one column instead of two and unstacking multiple gadgets). I added the "Blog Updates" and have kept it current with everyone's updates for as easier reference as we make changes!

Changes

I changed the title to all CAPS. Tried to add borders to the posts but it didn't work.  Will do more research tomorrow.

Changes

I changed the name "Group Member of Assistive Technology" to Contributors and moved it from the bottom to the right. I also changed the description of the blog at the top. I was able to get the page  "Helpful Websites" Ercilia had created to show up. I then added some websites to this page. I added a page "Print Resources" and put a few resources on that page. I added the gadget, "Search this Blog" on the right side. On the bottom I added a gadget for users to subscribe to the blog or to report abuse. Please feel free to edit any of these changes I made. Thanks for all of the work on this!

Assistive Technology Tools:

From LDRFA – Learning Disability Resources Foundation Action at:

https://www.ldrfa.org/resources-events/?gclid=CjwKCAiA4Y7yBRB8EiwADV1haRDio3-sUh0D-trlM02KFcupcfzhPkxW3PhHTTwjfBrrt1ETOurWaRoC6YAQAvD_BwE

Having students with learning disabilities and providing them with resources that would help them success in an academic setting like elementary and secondary settings by having the tools that the Assistive Technology Tools provide to help them navigate much easier with their day to day activities.

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities

·        AT can be low-tech: communication boards made of cardboard or fuzzy felt.

·        AT can be high-tech: special-purpose computers.

·        AT can be hardware: prosthetics, mounting systems, and positioning devices.

·        AT can be computer hardware: special switches, keyboards, and pointing devices.

·        AT can be computer software: screen readers and communication programs.

·        AT can be inclusive or specialized learning materials and curriculum aids.

·        AT can be specialized curricular software.

·        AT can be much more—electronic devices, wheelchairs, walkers, braces, educational software, power lifts, pencil holders, eye-gaze and head trackers, and much more.

Assistive technology helps people who have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. Different disabilities require different assistive technologies.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

I loved this assignment so much! We came together as group members quickly through communication! I started the blog early in the month because I wanted us to become familiar with the formats and to see if we could maneuver ways to improve it. To know nothing of something and learn step-by-step how, was empowering! 

I also knew if the blog went up early, it would excite and inspire the group to add what they felt was right. As for my first post, I made updates and added a new visual graphic and video I felt was interesting and informative. I hope we continue using the blog throughout the semester! 
The gif-video-media-graphics below, shows just how advanced technology has taken us!

FingerReader, Device For The Blind, Reads Text Out Loud With Help From Tracking Finger

                            

                Blitab Is the World's First Tablet for the Blind

This tablet's smart liquids create raised Braille on the screen.

WEBSITE:http://futurism.com

A New Background

The blog is starting to look very nice with all the changes made by the team! To contribute to the team's effort in making the blog visually pleasing for the readers, I was able to make a few changes to the blog's background. I used a picture taken from a website called The Edvocate to help make our background relevant to our topic. Once I chose a background that I liked, I customized the blog post's background to a light grey color, which made the blog content easy to read and looked better than white with the color scheme of the background picture I chose.

Background Picture Source:

Lynch, Matthew. “My Vision For the Future of Assistive Technology in Education.” The Edvocate, 26 June 2018, www.theedadvocate.org/vision-future-assistive-technology-education/.

I was able to get Ericilia's Helpful Websites page active under Our Pages and added links that open to helpful websites in a new window on the Helpful Websites page.

Changed Sidebar Right 2-2

I moved the sidebar right 2-2 and added the Home page to Our Pages. Work in progress trying to add more tabs to it. I have worked on my Profile an it's all set up.

Blog Header Update

I just updated the blog header to make it neater. Originally, we had the blog title as "LT130" with an image of the text "Assistive Technology" as a header background. The text didn't match the font and was kind of blurry. I changed the title to Assistive Technology and added the LT 130 context to a description in the header. It now looks a neater and highlights the blog subject more as opposed to the class.

I'm looking forward to adding content to the blog!

“Assistive and adaptive technology makes the library and its resources work for users with disabilities. The terms assistive and adaptive are applied to aids that either assist the user in accessing a library resource or adapt that resource in such a way that it becomes usable.” (Burke, John. “Assistive-Adaptive Technologies.” American Libraries Magazine, 9 Dec. 2013)

Libraries must work to ensure all information is accessible to all patrons. AT is a necessary resource libraries need. As a center of knowledge, libraries have a duty to share access to various resources regardless of the format. AT can take multiple forms such as: OCR (optical character recognition) software, screen-reading software, closed captioning, magnifiers, audiobooks, Kurzweil readers, and trackball controllers. These materials are crucial for opening up the world of knowledge to all library users of all abilities!

Welcome to our LT130 Assistive Technology Blog!

Welcome to our LT130 Assistive Technology Blog! 

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive (also called adaptive) technologies are electronic solutions that enable people with disabilities to live independently. There is a wide range of tools available which will help people with learning, visual, hearing, and physical disabilities access information without any cost to the library. Assistive technology (AT) are devices and aids which can help a person with a disability perform activities that might not otherwise be possible. AT includes communication devices and sensory aids (hearing aids, TTYs, talking boards, braille displays), mobility devices (wheelchairs, modified vehicles, strollers), adaptive computer equipment (ergonomic keyboards, screen readers), and simple devices to aid in daily living activities (reachers, handles, grips). The agencies, organizations, and webpages listed here can help you find the device, product, or manufacturer you need to make everyday life easier.