JSET ejournal
Book and
Software Review
Barbara L. Ludlow, Ed.D., West Virginia University
John D. Foshay, Ed.D., Central Connecticut State University
Online Resources for Learning About Software
This is the second part of a two-part series of columns on
online resources for learning about software programs available
to support special education and disability services programs.
In the first segment (see JSET 18(1)), we presented several
commercial Web sites that we feel provide helpful information
about educational software and its applications. In this segment,
we share a number of organizational Web sites that are also good
resources in selecting and using software programs for children
and adults with special needs.
DO-IT
DO-IT is a Web site hosted by the University of Washington
(see http://www.washington.edu/doit), to address Disabilities,
Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology with a focus on
helping people with disabilities pursue post-secondary education
and career opportunities. The site offers a variety of resources
related to technology, including free and low-cost publications,
videotapes, and training materials developed by the project and
special programs available primarily in the northwestern United
States. A section on specific disabilities provides information
in the types of interventions and accommodations needed, as well
as how computer hardware and software can be used to promote
independence, productivity, and participation. For example,
the segment on learning disabilities discusses how applications
of spell checker, grammar checker, concept mapping, word prediction,
and personal organization software can be helpful to this group
and provides links to manufacturer Web sites. A section developed
specifically for faculty and administrators in higher education
provides information about accommodation strategies, legal rights
and responsibilities, resources for supporting students with
disabilities in specific academic activities (e.g., lectures,
labs, field work, distance learning), and links to other helpful
Web sites. Another section for parents and mentors offers ideas
for preparing individuals with disabilities for college or careers,
including how to implement technology solutions to insure equal
access. The site also features a newsletter, available as an
expanded online version posted as PDF files or as a shorter print
version sent via surface mail. Each issue includes news about
the project's activities as well as articles about specific topics
related to disabilities.
Trace Research and Development Center
The Trace Research and Development Center Web site, which
is hosted by the College of Engineering of the University of
Wisconsin Madison, focuses on making information technology
more accessible for people with disabilities (See http://trace.wisc.edu
). One major section, titled Designing a More Useable World,
provides a variety of materials related to universal design,
accessible documents, software and Web sites, and tools and resources.
The Information Resources section offers a series of links to
portable document format (PDF) files listing resources for technology
and accessibility. For example, the file for Web accessibility
has multiple links to additional information related to browser
features, Web site design, Web course development, and manufacturers
of Web design software programs. Another section is designed
for computer and software developers to share information about
disability accommodations and different computer platforms, operating
systems, and software programs. The site also hosts a series
of online list discussions about various aspects of technology
accessibility; these lists are intended primarily for developers,
although some lists may be applicable to instructors who teach
others about computer or Web accessibility topics and issues.
SNOW
SNOW (Special Needs Opportunity Windows) is a Canadian Web
site hosted by the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the
University of Toronto (http://www.snow.utoronto.ca ). Its mission
is to provide online resources and professional development opportunities
for educators and families of students with special needs. A
section titled Best Practices offers links to practical teaching
strategies (listed by specific disabilities) and parent resources
as well as other information. A section on Adaptive Technology
offers links to product descriptions for computer hardware and
software as well as tutorials, reviews, and demonstration copies,
while another on Technology Resources presents information related
to Web accessibility and distance education. The site also allows
visitors to subscribe to the SNOWboard Webzine, a monthly newsletter
with online archives, and to join online discussion forums for
educators, parents, and children. Although the site is based
on the Canadian educational system, much of the information is
applicable in any school setting.
Family Center on Technology and Disability
The Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) is
a Web site developed to provide information and services on assistive
technology for organizations and programs that work with families
of children and youth with special needs. (See http://www.fctd.info
). The site is managed by a partnership of organizations, led
by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), and including
the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), Parent Advocacy Coalition
for Educational Rights (PACER), Center for Assistive Technology
and Environmental Access (CATEA) and InfoUse, Inc. The site
features a fully-searchable database containing reviews of books,
articles, research and other materials about technology applications,
including computer hardware and software. For example, a search
using the descriptors educational software and developmental
disabilities identified reviews of two books on the topic presenting
a brief overview of content and a rating of overall usefulness.
The site also posts a monthly newsletter featuring discussions
of leading-edge developments in technology (often by leading
experts in the field), highlights of new initiatives by member
groups, updates on discussion of the impact of relevant legislation
and governmental regulations, and other news items. Newsletter
issues are available in three versions: HTML files, PDF files,
and Microsoft Word files. The site includes a discussion board
for hosting online discussions on various topical issues that
are moderated by national leaders in technology and archived
for future reference after they are completed.
National Center for Technology Innovation
The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) Web
site is a relatively new addition hosted by the American institutes
for Research (AIR) (See http://nationaltechcenter.org/). NCTI's
goals are to connect communities of practice, establish communication
channels, and disseminate information related to technology for
children with disabilities. The site lists projects sponsored
by the organization and available products such as brochures
and newsletters. But the most interesting feature of this site
is the Affinities or online groups which provide opportunities
for leaders in the field to engage in discussion and share documents
on topics such as distance learning, educational technology,
assistive technology, and evaluation of technology effectiveness.
Since this site is just getting started now, it will be a good
one to watch to see what new resources it will provide once it
is fully operational.
Potential Uses for Organizational Web Sites
We have found many different uses for these organizational
Web sites and we believe JSET readers will find additional
uses based on their own needs and interests. Teachers and therapists
can use these sites to get new ideas about what software programs
to use with different disabilities or how to incorporate computer-assisted
instruction in various curriculum domains. Families and educators
alike will appreciate the easy access to resources, links to
other sites, updated information in newsletters and other postings,
and opportunities for participating in online discussions. Faculty
can use these sites as resources for teaching students in undergraduate
and graduate courses as well as ideas for making Web-based instruction
more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Researchers
and those involved in hardware and software development will
find materials and discussion forums related to more technical
concerns. We consult these and other Web sites frequently to
investigate different topics and to keep ourselves informed about
new developments in technology. We hope others will explore them
to see how they might learn and benefit from them as well.