=================================================================
SPECTRONICS EMAIL UPDATE
=================================================================

This email is best viewed in your web browser. Click the link
below to see it:
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/emailupdate/spectronics-email-update-24th-august-2010]

Tuesday 24 August


In this issue:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
- ANZ Versions of Communicate: SymWriter and Communicate: In
Print 2

- Boardmaker Studio - A new concept coming soon!

- News from the ISAAC Conference in Barcelona!

- Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 11 available now

- ReadingDoctor Software and online trainings

- Ready-to-use pre-assembled Boardmaker Resources (and more) from
Tassie

- Two new devices - the Go Talk Express 32 and Tobii S32

- 30,000 new images for Clicker 5!

- iPhone/iPad Apps for Special Education and AAC

- How do I make my iPod accessible for students with
disabilities? Meet the new iPod Switcher!

- Eye Gaze Systems: A Comparison of Three Options

- Other useful things to know about ...
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Hi ...

Well, it has taken us a while to regroup at Spectronics after our
latest big Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference in May this
year! How did it go? Check out our thoughts below!
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/2012/last_time]

What are we going to do differently in 2012! Check out our 
thoughts on this too!
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/2012/last_time#improvements]

In a nutshell, it was evident that we need a BIGGER venue and
need to bring back pre-booking of sessions to ensure that if you
join us at the conference, you are assured of being able to
attend each and every session that you wish to attend. It's all
back and a new venue with heaps of room has already been booked!
Three International Keynote Speakers are now signed up to join us
too - Linda Burkhart [http://www.lburkhart.com/], Joy Zabala
[http://www.cast.org/about/staff/jzabala.html] and Kelly Fonner
[http://www.kellyfonner.com/]. All we need now is for YOU to
start planning to join us! We sincerely would love to have you
there. It sounds like it is so far away, but it comes around so
quickly.  Sign up to be kept up-to-date on 2012 plans NOW [http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/2012/interested]!

Back to this edition of the Spectronics e-Newsletter. There is so
much to share with you - and even more has been put off until our
next newsletter in two months time because we didn't want to
overwhelm you with it all this time. Who knows? We might even
have an Australian government in office by then!

So ... grab a coffee (or your drink of choice), sit back and
enjoy reading the articles that are of interest to you. Hope you
find something of value to enhance your practice in school, in
therapy sessions, at Uni/TAFE/Polytech or at home.

And of course, your feedback on other topics you would like us to
cover is very welcome. Send me a personal note on
barbaral@spectronicsinoz.com with your thoughts. I do listen to 
each and every comment that comes in - and share them with the 
Spectronics team so that they are able to assist in meeting your 
needs too.

Cheers for now

Barbara Landsberg
Sales and Marketing Director
SPECTRONICS 


PS Check  out our plans for upcoming workshops on-the-road. Our
experienced training team  is increasingly booked up for
fee-for-service sessions throughout the year, but  we try to
visit each major centre in Australia and New Zealand once every
two  years delivering workshops free-of-charge. Our latest
schedule of trips is detailed on our website
[http://spectronicsinoz.com/info/travel_diary], with sessions
happening in:

* Hamilton, Victoria from 31st August to 1st September
  Click below for more details
  [http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/flyers/Spectronics_Hamilton_Workshops(August2010)2.pdf].

* Christchurch, New Zealand from 26th  to 28th October
  Click below for more details
  [http://www.spectronics.co.nz/downloads/flyers/Spectronics_Christchurch_Workshops(October2010).pdf].

* Auckland, New Zealand from 1st to 2nd  November
  Click below for more details
  [http://www.spectronics.co.nz/downloads/flyers/Spectronics_Auckland_Workshops(October2010).pdf].



-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANZ Versions of Communicate: SymWriter and Communicate: In Print
2
-----------------------------------------------------------------

We announced in October last year, that as Writing  with Symbols
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/catalogue/writing-with-symbols-2000-3]
was over ten years old, it would no longer be available.  Since
then we have seen great interest in the two replacement programs
- Communicate:  In Print 2
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/communicate-in-print-2-anz-australiannew-zealand-version]
and Communicate: SymWriter
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/communicate-symwriter-anz-australiannew-zealand-version].
Combined, these new programs offer all of the features of 
Writing with Symbols and MUCH more. Install both and have access
to onscreen  activities for your students, and the ability to
create a wealth of  symbol-supported print resources (with over
10,000 Widgit Literacy Symbols 
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/31272/popup] included in 
the programs). 

These programs are both worth looking at again, as the
Australian/New Zealand  version of both of these programs have
just been released! Not only will you  receive specially-created
symbols and words unique to Australia and New  Zealand, you will
also be able to activate the two Australian voices of Karen 
(female) and Lee (male) within your copies of the programs.

A free upgrade to the new ANZ versions is available on the Widgit
Software Australian/New Zealand  Support website
[http://www.widgit.com/support/anz]. Any questions, or assistance
needed, just contact the Spectronics Customer Support team
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/contact]!


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Boardmaker Studio - A new concept coming soon!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The first update to Boardmaker
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/boardmaker-australiannew-zealand-version-6-for-windows]
for a number of years is to be released on 7th September 2010 -
called Boardmaker Studio
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/boardmaker-studio]! 

It includes many new features particularly in the areas of
creating interactive activities for students to use to support
learning on their computers or with Interactive White Boards or
touch screens.


Why should you consider Boardmaker Studio in preference to
Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus! Version 6? Boardmaker Studio is
most useful if you...  

* Are new to Boardmaker and don't have a particular preference 
for the traditional Boardmaker user interface;

* Are familiar with Microsoft Office-type applications and prefer
to use software with those familiar icons and menus;

* Are uncomfortable using many of the advanced interactive
features of Boardmaker Plus! but may be willing to create
activities from the powerful Studio Starter templates built into
Boardmaker Studio;

* Need to adapt lots of activities on various instructional
topics for students with diverse needs (as Boardmaker Studio lets
you create and adapt activities faster than you could with
Boardmaker Plus!);

* And/or want to install Boardmaker Studio in two locations and
not have to rely on keeping the CD handy for use on both after
that.

For more information on how the features of each version of
Boardmaker compare - visit the Comparison Chart on the
Spectronics website
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/32558/popup].


Answers to your questions 

There will be MANY questions asked about this new release of
Spectronics' most popular software program! To help with
answering many of these we have put together a comprehensive FAQ
sheet downloadable as a PDF
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/faqs/Boardmaker_Studio_Q&A.pdf]
or viewable online
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/32585/popup] if you are
unable to download files. Contact us
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/contact] with any further
questions that you have - as always, we are happy to help.

A couple of key Q&A's include the following.

* Will it be Networkable?            
If you are asking about a version of Studio that will run from a 
server and can be accessed by workstations on a network, then the 
answer is currently no. However, Studio does have improvements 
that make it easier to perform remote installations over a 
network. The new MSI installer will support silent, push 
installations to other computers on the network.
         
* Do you need the CD in the drive to run the program?    
No. Boardmaker Studio allows you to install the software in two
locations, but only lets you use it in one location at a time
(through a code provided with the CD). 
         
* Is there a Macintosh version of Studio?    
No, at this stage, only a Windows version is available.
         
* Is there an "upgrade option" from my current version of
Boardmaker?
No. DynaVox Mayer-Johnson are not allowing upgrades from previous 
versions - as they see this as quite a different program to the 
current Boardmaker Plus! and Boardmaker programs. But, if you 
purchased Boardmaker Version 6 or Boardmaker Plus! Version 6 
within the past 30 days, you are welcome to return the program, 
as per Spectronics' standard return policy, and purchase a copy 
of Boardmaker Studio instead.
         
* What will happen to Boardmaker Plus! and Boardmaker Version 6?
No changes there. DynaVox Mayer-Johnson plan to continue selling 
and supporting those products - so Spectronics will continue to 
offer them to you! And of course, we will continue to support any 
technologies purchased from us for the life of the product.

    
-----------------------------------------------------------------
News from the ISAAC Conference in Barcelona!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The 14th Biennial Conference of the International Society for
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC)
[http://www.isaac-online.org/en/home.shtml] was held in
Barcelona, Spain in July this year.  Jane Farrall (Spectronics
AAC Support Services Manager) and Katie Lyon (Spectronics Speech
Pathologist) attended and have put together a quick summary of a
few of the highlights of this excellent conference - along with
some photos from the conference. Click here to read more!
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com//images/email_updates/ISAAC_Report.pdf]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 11 available now
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon NaturallySpeaking
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/catalogue/dragon-naturallyspeaking]
is the most popular speech recognition software worldwide. It
offers particular advantages over other speech recognition
programs for users with Australian accents because of its more
refined speech engine and customised vocabulary.

What's new in the latest version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking -
the just released Version 11?

* 15% improvement in accuracy of speech recognition when compared 
with Version 10 - meaning you will spend less time correcting 
recognition errors

* Improved correction and editing processes            
  - It selects all instances of the same word allowing you to correct all at
once if you wish
  - It now learns from all corrections - including those made by
typing the corrections into the document

* Increased speed of work as the delays in recognising spoken 
words have been significantly decreased    

* Support for Microsoft Office 2010 applications    

* New voice commands and an expanded line up of Dragon Voice 
Shortcuts    

* Improved digital voice recorder interface - with the minimum 
reading time required to train Dragon with a recorder now reduced 
from 15 to 4 minutes 

* Improved user interface, removing the distracting "results box"
as it is processing text - to encourage continuous dictation
which improves accuracy    

* New Dragon Sidebar - a moveable, dockable and printable desktop 
assistant which makes it easy to find the many commands and 
shortcuts quickly while working with the program.

For more details of new features in this latest release view this
short video
[http://dragoncontent.nuance.com/featureDemos/whatsNewFlash/index.html]
or visit the following links:    

* What's new in the Professional Edition? 
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/24104/popup#111]
* What's new in the Premium Edition?
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/24104/popup#112]   
* What's new in the Home Edition?
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/24104/popup#112]


How do you choose which version will best meet your needs? 

View the Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Professional, Premium and
Home Edition Feature Comparison Chart
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/32501/popup] or download
the PDF version of the Comparison Chart
[http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/pdf/Dragon_11_Feature_Matrix.pdf].
If you have any further questions, contact Spectronics
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/contact] and one of our
Educational Technology Consultants will be happy to assist you.

Please note: The Spectronics website currently features special
launch prices available only until 30th September, 2010.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
ReadingDoctor Software and online trainings
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Following on from a VERY popular ReadingDoctor ReadingSounds 1
Pro software
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/readingdoctor-readingsounds-1-pro]
online training session and hands-on workshop in Brisbane a
couple of weeks ago, we have posted some pre-recorded sessions
online for you to view in your own time. Bartek Rajkowski, Speech
Pathologist and developer of the software, recorded these
sessions as both of his workshops were fully booked in record
time - with many people expressing disappointment about not being
able to join in.

Bartek has recorded the following four sessions for you and we
are already receiving comments about his "very smooth voice". ;) 

* ReadingSounds 1 Pro Theoretical Background
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/video/training/RS1Pro-theo-bgnd/rs1pro-overview_theory2.html]

* ReadingSounds 1 Pro Teaching Method
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/video/training/RS1Pro-theo-bgnd/rs1pro-overview_teachmech.html]

* ReadingSounds 1 Pro Guided Tour 1 Part A
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/video/training/RS1Pro-theo-bgnd/rs1pro-overview_guided_tour_PART1a.html]

* ReadingSounds 1 Pro Guided Tour 1 Part B
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/video/training/RS1Pro-theo-bgnd/rs1pro-overview_guided_tour_PART1b.html]


Why use ReadingDoctor?

Research indicates that one of the most important factors in
determining whether a child will become a successful reader is
their ability to use letter-sound patterns to 'decode' unfamiliar
words. A phonics based approach teaches children to understand
that written language is a visual code which represents the way
we say words. There are a number of crucial skills which children
must develop in order to crack this code in written language.
ReadingDoctor ReadingSounds 1 Pro is a software program designed
for children who are beginning to read, and for children who are
struggling readers. It is ideal for children aged between 4 and 8
years old, although it is suitable for older children who are
experiencing reading difficulties. The program is designed to
teach crucial skills which facilitate literacy skill development
using a unique patent pending teaching system.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ready-to-use pre-assembled Boardmaker Resources (and more) from
Tassie
-----------------------------------------------------------------

We have just added a new range of resources to our materials to
support learning by students in special ed settings - and the
really cool thing is that all of the hard work is done for you!
Pear Shaped Learning Aids
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/catalogue/pear-shaped-learning-aids-2]
from Tassie are a clever team of two (Kristin Mathiassen, mother
of a young boy with Down Syndrome, and Duncan Norton). In
addition to creating the ever-popular "finish bags
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/finish-bags]" in a range
of sizes, they use Boardmaker
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/boardmaker-plus-australiannew-zealand-version-6-for-windows]
to create pre-assembled, laminated and Velcroed folders of
resources ready-to-use as soon as you receive them - saving you
HOURS of work! They pride themselves on the quality of these
resources which can be used over and over to facilitate
development of skills in the areas of:

* reading
* matching
* sorting
* identification
* sequencing
* sentence creation

In addition to the Boardmaker Kits, the team has also created the
truly unique Social Safety Package
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/social-safety-package]
which includes a kit of resources to facilitate discussion around
social and sexual safety. It addresses what is appropriate and
what is not appropriate behaviour by students in public and
private places. It also addresses what is appropriate and what is
not appropriate behaviour by the adults with whom they interact
in their own community and personal settings. 

Kristin's craftsmanship as an artist is evident in the quality of
construction of the dolls which can be used as puppets for role
plays and be used clothed or unclothed, dependent on the level of
need of each student. The dolls are designed complete with male
and female genitalia to concretely address issues of  social and
sexual behaviours in private and public places, relationships,
contraception, female hygiene, toileting in "non-abstract" ways.
As such, they have recently been endorsed as a valuable resource
by Family Planning Queensland.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two new devices - the Go Talk Express 32 and Tobii S32
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Tobii S32 

The Tobii  S32 [http://www.spectronics.com.au/product/tobii-s32]
is a new static display device with lots of clever features -
including ECU  and the ability to make overlays on your computer
and transfer information via  a USB cable. You can also barcode
your printed overlays for immediate  recognition and use on the
device.  The S32 has 60 hours of recordings and  up to 192
overlays.  Overlays can be made with 1 cell, 2 cells, 4 cells, 8 
cells, 16 cells and 32 cells.  Currently, only the direct access
model has  been released, with the scanning model expected in
October.  We will be  adding the S32 to the Spectronics 
Equipment Trial Scheme [http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/trials]
very soon, but if you wish to put your name down now  to book a
trial, contact Spectronics 
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/contact] and we will let you know 
as soon as the trial S32 is  available.  A very clever addition 
to our static display speech generating device range.


GoTalk Express 32

Another  new addition to the static display device range is the
GoTalk Express 32
[http://www.spectronics.com.au/product/gotalk-express-32] - and 
it is also available now.  This is the first of the GoTalk 
Series
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/catalogue/gotalk-communication-device-series]
 of devices to include scanning access. It offers 4 large  bright
lights around each cell - providing a much stronger scanning cue
than  most other devices available.  Easy to program and use, it
has 5 levels  and the visual feedback is also available in direct
selection.  A really  nice option as a durable scanning speech
generating device.


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30,000 new images for Clicker 5!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

We are often asked about how to add MORE pictures and symbols
into Clicker  5
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/clicker-5-anz-australiannew-zealand-version]
and for some time, we have not been able to offer you any
solutions which  automatically appear within the program. Last
year we built an instruction  sheet about how to set up an image 
library to import the Widgit Literacy Symbols
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/faqs/Clicker_import_wls.pdf]
and told you that the PCS symbols for Clicker were no longer
available. 

But after many discussions with Crick Software
[http://www.cricksoft.com/uk/default.asp] in the UK, we  have
some good news for you! Both the PCS symbols (like the ones in 
Boardmaker) and Widgit Literacy Symbols (like the ones developed
in Writing  with Symbols and extended in Communicate: SymWriter
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/communicate-symwriter-anz-australiannew-zealand-version]
and Communicate: In Print 2
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/communicate-in-print-2-anz-australiannew-zealand-version])
are now available as libraries able to be installed and be 
immediately available within Clicker 5.  The SymbolStix
[http://symbolstix.com/] "symbols with attitude" are also 
available for Clicker 5 now!

Other cool news? They work in Cloze Pro Version 2
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/clozepro] as well.

Check them all out!

* PCS Symbols for Clicker 5 and ClozePro Version 2 - 11,000 
symbols (including  the Core UK symbols and all of the symbols in 
the 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006  and 2008 Symbol Addendum Collections)
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/mayer-johnson-pcs-deluxe]

* Widgit  Literacy Symbols for Clicker 5 and ClozePro Version 2 - 
over 10,000 symbols
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/widgit-symbols-for-clicker-and-clozepro]

* SymbolStix  for Clicker 5 and ClozePro Version 2 - 
approximately 11,000 symbols
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/symbolstix-symbols-for-clicker-and-clozepro]

Combine  them ALL in our Super  Symbol Bundle
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/catalogue/extra-symbols-for-clicker-5-and-clozepro-2-2]
and instantly add over 30,000 images to Clicker 5 or ClozePro 
Version 2! Clicker 5 as standard ships with approximately 2,500
images to  support its writing grids and text. Adding in these
three new packs offers  heaps more support for your students
whose understanding of the meaning of text  relies on images
appearing as they create words and build their writing.


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iPhone/iPad Apps for Special Education and AAC
-----------------------------------------------------------------

* What's APPropriate: Using iTunes to Find Gems for Your Students
in the App Store
 by Jane Farrall

Following on from the Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference
2010 [http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/2012/last_time],
I promised a few people who were unable to attend the "What's
APPropriate: Using iTunes to Find Gems for Your Students in the
App Store" session that I would blog about it - providing links
to the information and resources discussed during the session.
The iTunes store [http://www.apple.com/au/itunes/whats-on/]  
contains a smorgasbord of resources for people working in special
education - as well as many other resources not specifically
designed for our area that we can nevertheless access and use. I
know this is going to be a long blog - so here goes! To read more
click below
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/conference-2010/2010/06/whats-appropriate-using-itunes-to-find-gems-for-your-students-in-the-app-store-blog-version/]!


* iPhone/iPad Apps for AAC
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/conference-2010/2010/06/whats-appropriate-using-itunes-to-find-gems-for-your-students-in-the-app-store-blog-version/]
 by Jane Farrall 

As you probably know, there are an increasing number of
iPhone/iPod touch/iPad Apps for AAC (Augmentative and Alternative
Communication) available on the iTunes store.  So many that I'm
having trouble keeping them straight in my own head - so I
thought a blog was in order as that would be something for us all
to refer to. I have listed all the AAC Apps I am aware of below -
along with some salient features. Keeping in tune with the idea
of user ratings encouraged by iTunes, I have also added my own
rating column from one to three stars.

I have also put the Apps into three groups - Apps with
symbols/pictures only, Apps with symbols/pictures and
text-to-speech and Apps with text-to-speech only. It has ended up
being a long table - but I hope you find it useful. Click below 
to view Jane's popular table
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/new-technologies/2010/07/iphoneipad-apps-for-aac/#more-1085]!


* iHelp for Autism - The story of a boy and an iPad
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/uncategorized/2010/08/ihelp-for-autism-a-story-of-a-boy-and-an-ipad/]
 by Greg O'Connor 

This story begins with Shannon Rosa, mother of 9 year old Leo,
winning an iPad in a raffle. When people ask her about Leo, she
is mindful to explain him in a way that will set appropriate
expectations. He is a boy with intense autism, she says. He is
not conversational, he learns very slowly, and he has been prone
to violent outbursts. He is essentially a triple-sized toddler.
Leo had shown interest in the iPod Touch, but its 3.5-inch screen
was difficult for his fingers to navigate. When Leo took the new
iPad in his small hands as if it were an old friend, and, with
almost no training, whizzed through its Apps like a technology
virtuoso, his mother gasped in amazement. Read the full story
here [http://www.sfweekly.com/content/printVersion/2090215/].

I hope you will enjoy reading this story, I certainly did!


-----------------------------------------------------------------
How do I make my iPod accessible for students with disabilities?
Meet the new iPod Switcher!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Having  just told you about the many cool Apps available for
"Apple iThings", we now  need to discuss how students with
disabilities can drive their iPods to independently  choose and
play music from their own collections. We all know how powerfully
 motivating music can be for our students ... so ... meet the
iPod  Switcher!
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/ipod-switcher] It offers
wireless access to the iPod for students with physical 
disabilities, switch users, and those with intellectual
disabilities who find  the standard iPod navigation options a tad
confusing.

Three simple buttons on the iPod Switcher control the three basic
functions  allowing users to go into their music collections and
stop/start a song; go to  the next song; or go back to the
previous song. Very simple to understand and  operate. And it
works wirelessly from up to 15 metres away from the iPod. Plug 
in headphones, and your students can privately enjoy their own
music without  disturbing others. Plug in speakers - and they can
independently control the  music for the whole class - or for the
whole school!

What if their level of physical disability makes it difficult for
them to use  the iPod Switcher buttons? Not a problem. There are
three switch ports at the  front of the iPod Switcher that allow
you to plug in any style of switch needed  - whether it needs to
be activated by hand, head, shoulder, knee or foot. It  will also
work with wireless switches like the Jelly Beamer
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/jelly-beamer-twist-wireless-switch-2]
- so you can just place the switch on your student's wheelchair
tray or desk, and they then have control over the music 
wirelessly from up to 15 metres away.

How cool is that?

For more information about the iPod Switcher, visit Spectronics
website [http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/ipod-switcher].


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eye Gaze Systems: A Comparison of Three Options
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Are you supporting someone who you think might benefit from eye
gaze technology? Are you totally confused by the growing number
of options now available?

In the last five years, eye gaze technology has improved
dramatically. Many people with significant physical disabilities
can use this access method to control computers or speech
generating devices to chat to their classmates, order a meal,
email at work, listen to their favourite music or change the
channel on their TV and much more!

There are a number of eye controlled speech generating devices
available now and choosing the "right" one for the people you
support has become increasingly more difficult. To help out with
some questions you may have, we have compiled an Eye Gaze
Comparison Chart
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/eyegaze-system-comparison-chart],
downloadable from the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) Section
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/faqs] of the Spectronics website.
This chart compares the features of the three eye gaze systems
that are currently available from Spectronics.

* The DynaVox Vmax with EyeMax 
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/27940];
* My Tobii P10
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/mytobii-p10]; and
* Tobii C12 with CEye
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/tobii-ceye]

These devices are also available for loan across Australia or New
Zealand through our Equipment Trial Scheme
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/trials] which allows you to trial
equipment for up to two weeks free-of-charge to ensure that you
are making the right decision (with an extra two weeks available
at a cost). If you have any further questions about any of these
devices, you can always contact
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/contact] Spectronics and one of
our three Speech Pathologists will be happy to help out.

For a more complete comparison, you may wish to contact your
nearest Independent Living Centre
[http://www.ilcaustralia.org/home/default.asp] for details of
other eye gaze systems and suppliers in Australia. In New
Zealand, TalkLink [http://www.talklink.org.nz/] would similarly
be able to assist you.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Other useful things to know about ...
-----------------------------------------------------------------

* Kimochis Curriculum  Workshop and Launch in Melbourne and Perth
[http://kimochis.com/curriculum_excerpt.html]

Kimochis are  popular as a means of opening an emotional dialogue
between parents or teachers  and children from a young age and in
doing so, helping them build character and  confidence. Ellen
Pritchard Dodge, Speech Language Pathologist and Education 
Director at Kimochis in the USA, will be visiting Australia next
month to launch the Kimochis Curriculum: Feel Guide: Teachers 
Edition, and will also present a 4 hour Accredited Professional
Development  Workshop on 15th September in Melbourne.

Click below to view the interactive Kimochis Curriculum
[http://kimochis.com/curriculum_excerpt.html] or view the YouTube
clip [http://www.youtube.com/watch]


* Australian  National Disability Insurance Scheme update
[http://www.ndis.org.au/]

It is worth keeping an eye on the National  Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS) [http://www.ndis.org.au/] website for regular
updates on progress  of this proposed no-fault insurance scheme
for everyone who has, or acquires a  significant disability. It
received quite a bit of airplay during the recent  Australian
election campaign - with comments like those of the President of
the  Australian Medical Association who felt that such a scheme
must be at the core  of any National Disability Strategy and
should be one of the first decisions of  the next Australian
government. Read more here [http://ama.com.au/node/5906].  The
NDIS has now received 310 Submissions which can be viewed  on
their website
[http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/submissions].
Further opportunity for comment will be possible after  the
release of a draft report by the Productivity Commission which is
expected  to be published in February 2011.


* ABC Disability page [http://www.abc.net.au/disability/]

The ABC is  building a website for people whose lives are touched
by disability - a place  for their issues and stories. It will be
provocative, celebratory, challenging  and supportive. Everyday
will feature news and views from those who meet  disability
head-on in their lives, their work, their community and family.
They  state, "We expect serious insights and sharp humour - a
site with plenty of  attitude." Visit the page on the  ABC
website [http://www.abc.net.au/disability/] if you wish to share
your ideas [http://www.abc.net.au/disability/ideas.htm] as to how
 the site should work, or nominate someone
[http://www.abc.net.au/disability/committee.htm] to be appointed
to the advisory committee.


* Inclusive  Education Professional Development
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/flyers/Inclusive_Education.pdf]

Unlocking  the World is a series of professional development
programs for classroom  teachers developed by the Department of
Education and Children's Services  (DECS) in Adelaide. In
response to demand, SA DECS have now developed their  latest
offering - Inclusive  Education: Teaching Students With Learning
Difficulties And Disabilities In The  Mainstream Classroom
[http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/downloads/flyers/Inclusive_Education.pdf].
The next program will run in Melbourne 20th  to 24th September
2010 and another in Perth 11th to 15th  April 2011. For more
details contact Melanie Todd on (07) 3040 5349 or email
mtodd@vantage.com [mtodd@vantage.com].


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