Assistive Technology Notebook Jennifer Scagnelli SPED 590 Summer 2007 Section One Vocabulary and Classroom Assignments 1. Core Vocabulary List 2. Assignments 1. Person First Language • People First Language – Article by Kathie Snow • Examples of People First Language • Word Power – “We Are What We Say” by Mary Ann Glicksman 2. Universal Design • Universal Design for Learning- Improved Access for All (Schwab Learning) 3. Computer Universal Access Features • Microsoft Accessibility – Technology for Everyone • Technology Tips for Differentiated Instruction 4. Early Childhood Case Study • Technology for Young Children: Leveling the Playing Field 5. Augmentative Communication Devices • Lite Tech Should Always Be An Option In AAC Selection 3. Learning Disabilities Simulation (handout) 4. Constructing Meaning From Text (handout) 5. Pre-Class and Post-Class Assessment Forms Vocabulary Computer Related Accessibility - computer accessibility refers to the usability of a computer system by people with disabilities. It is largely a software concern. However, when hardware or software is used to customize a computer for a disabled person, that equipment is known as adaptive technology. Command Key - a key on Mac keyboards only that is used to access commands through the keyboard rather than the menus. Commands are commonly shortcuts. Compatibility - refers to the ability of a computer, piece of software, or peripheral device to interact with one another. Control Panel – is used to manage most (but not all) of Windows’ configuration settings. The control panel is actually a system folder that contains a number of individual utilities that let you adjust and configure various system properties. Copy Protect - any technical measure designed to prevent duplication of information. CPU - the central processing unit of the computer which acts as the "brain" of your computer, it is the most important element of a computer system. Desktop - a desktop is a computer display area that represents the kinds of objects one might find on a real desktop: documents, phonebook, telephone, reference sources, writing (and possibly drawing) tools, project folders. A desktop can be contained in a window that is part of the total display area or can be "full-screen" (the total display area). Display - a screen used to display the output of a computer to the user. Download – to copy a file from a machine on the 'internet' to your machine. File Types (define by example) Firewire - Apple Inc.'s brand name for the IEEE 1394 interface, it is a personal computer (and digital audio/digital video) serial bus interface standard, offering high- speed communications and isochronous real-time data services. Folder – a folder is like a master file; each folder can contain both files and additional folders. The exact location of a file is called its path and contains all of the folders leading to the file. Font - A font is a set of glyphs (images) representing the characters from a particular character set in a particular typeface. In professional typography the term typeface is not interchangeable with the word font, which is defined as a given alphabet and its associated characters in a single size. Format - to magnetically prepare a disk to receive data. A diskette or hard disk must be formatted before it can be used. Formatting a diskette erases all data previously stored on it. MS-DOS and Windows format disks differently than does the Macintosh System, therefore you can rarely use a disk formatted for a Mac in a PC. Most disks can be purchased pre-formatted, so that you do not have to format them. Hard Drive - a computer's internal disk drive using a non-removable storage format. Used for the storage of data, documents and the computer's programs and operating system. The hard drive stores all the computer's information and retains the information when the computer is turned off. A fast hard drive is needed to supply the CPU with data as fast as it needs it. Hard drive sizes are typically measured in Gigabytes. Hybrid CD - a CD-ROM that has multiple file systems, so that it can be used on various system software, for example both Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows based operating systems. Icon – on computer displays, a computer icon is a small pictogram. Icons have been used to supplement the normal alphanumerics of the computer. Modern computers now can handle bitmapped graphics on the display terminal, so the icons are widely used to assist users. Input Devices – any device that enters information into the computer from an external device such as a standard or alternate keyboard, mouse, etc. In general, any sensor which monitors or scans information from the external world can be considered an input device, whether or not the information is under the direct control of a user. Input and output devices together make up the hardware interface between a computer and the user or external world. Interface - a connection between hardware devices, applications, or different sections of a computer network. For data communication, a hardware and software link that connects two computer systems, or a computer and its peripherals. Memory - memory is the electronic holding place for instructions and data that your computer's microprocessor can reach quickly. When your computer is in normal operation, its memory usually contains the main parts of the operating system and some or all of the application programs and related data that are being used. MP3 - more commonly referred to as MP3, is a popular audio encoding format. It uses a loss compression algorithm that is designed to greatly reduce the amount of data required to represent the audio recording, yet still sound like a faithful reproduction of the original uncompressed audio to most listeners. Operating System - a set of computer programs that manage the hardware and software resources of a computer. Output Devices - display information that has been held or generated within a computer. Examples include printers and synthesized voice. Pixel - short for picture element (using the common abbreviation "pix" for "picture"), a pixel is a single point in a graphic image. Pointer - an index entry in the directory of a disk (or other storage medium) that identifies the space on the disc in which an electronic document or piece of electronic data resides, thereby preventing that space from being overwritten by other data. In most cases, when an electronic document is “deleted,” the pointer is deleted, which allows the document to be overwritten, but the document is not actually erased. Can also refer to the cursor of a pointing device, such as a mouse or an electronic pencil. Preferences - user defined settings. RAM - Random access memory, a type of data storage used in computers. It takes the form of integrated circuits that allow the stored data to be accessed in any order — that is, at random and without the physical movement of the storage medium or a physical reading head. Resolution – refers to the size of the images that can be displayed onscreen and is measured in pixels. ROM – (read-only memory) is a class of storage media used in computers and other electronic devices. Because data stored in ROM cannot be modified quickly or easily, it is mainly used to distribute firmware (software that is very closely tied to specific hardware, and unlikely to require frequent updates). Search Engine - an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system, such as on the World Wide Web, inside a corporate or proprietary network, or in a personal computer. The search engine allows one to ask for content meeting specific criteria (typically those containing a given word or phrase) and retrieves a list of items that match those criteria. This list is often sorted with respect to some measure of relevance of the results. Search engines use regularly updated indexes to operate quickly and efficiently. Storage - holding of program instructions and data for use by the computer. Temporary storage while the computer is running is provided by the RAM, and permanent storage is available on disk and tape. System Tray (Task bar)/Dock - introduced with Windows, the system tray is located in the Windows taskbar (usually at the bottom next to the clock) and contains miniature icons for easy access to system functions such as fax, printer, modem, volume, and more. Toggle - A switch or command that reverses a value from off to on, or from on to off. Turn something on or off; make something, such as a command or toolbar button, active or inactive. Upload – when a file from your machine is copied to a server on the internet. URL - an acronym for "Uniform Resource Locator," this is the address of a resource on the Internet. URLs are typically entered into the address or location bar of a web browser. USB – (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB was designed to allow peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket, to improve plug-and-play capabilities by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer (hot swapping). Disability Related AAC Device - (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) any system that increases or improves communication of individuals with receptive or expressive communication impairments. The system can include speech, gestures, sign language, symbols, synthesized speech, dedicated communication devices, microcomputers, and other communication systems. ADA - the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (PL101-336) prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities and makes such discrimination a civil rights violation. Providers of public services, schools, public buildings and public transportation services also must provide accessibility to people with disabilities. ADL Battery Interrupter – a battery interrupter allows the user to modify battery- operated devices for switch input. Simply place the battery interrupter between the battery and its connection point in the battery compartment.