Re: computerdisc-l: Adaptions for Special Pops

["Patti S. Abraham" <psa1@ra.msstate.edu>]

Isn't it amazing what we can learn on the Internet and how we can help our
students.  Thanks so much for sharing.

Dr. Patti S. Abraham psa1@ra.msstate.ed
Professor, Department of Technology and Education
Mississippi State University
Voice: 601-325-2280	FAX: 601-325-7599	Internet: psa1@ra.msstate.edu

On Thu, 25 Mar 1999, Catherine Patton wrote:

> Elouise Klavon and I were scheduled to each have a one-armed student
> this year.  My student transferred to another school, but Elouise's
> student remained in our school.  I got on the net last year to try to
> find a solution to this problem.  A very nice doctor responded to me and
> pointed me in the direction of a company which makes a device called a
> BAT.
> This device has about 5 keys and uses chording and various combinations
> of the keys to type different letters.  We consulted the student's
> mother before purchasing one, but the mom as well as the student did not
> want her to use anything which would not be pretty much available in
> "normal" life.  They also did not want to call attention to her
> handicap.
> 
> I still contacted the company to discuss the situation.  The company
> representative pointed out that they also made a mini-keyboard that many
> special needs people purchase. It is slightly smaller than a laptop
> keyboard, plugs into the same keyboard port on the back of the PC, but
> does not have a numeric keypad.  The rep. pointed out that the use of
> the expanded keyboard we all have in our labs would probably cause
> additional stress and strain on the student's one good arm/hand.  Sure
> enough, after about a week, the one-armed student and her mother had
> decided that they wanted to try the mini-keyboard.  Since the company
> had a 30-day trial period, we decided to order it and let the student
> try it out.  It is the cutest little keyboard -- and when it came in all
> the other students wanted to know when they were going to get one!  The
> model we purchased was the Glidepoint Trackpad Model, and the cost was
> about $152.00.   When the student comes in all she does is gets her
> keyboard out and swaps it with the expanded one used at the station by
> others.  This student is typing at a speed of close to 30 nwpm!
> 
> The company name and address for these and other adaptive devices for
> the computer is:
> 
> Infogrip, Inc.
> 1141 East Main Street
> Ventura, California  93001
> 
> Phone:  (800) 397-0921
>             (805) 652-0770
> Fax:      (805) 652-0880
> www.infogrip.com
> 
> Hope this helps you all out.  :-)
> 
> Cathy Patton
> Gautier Middle School
>