helping students with significant cognitive impairments participate in written expression

Helping Students with Significant Cognitive Impairments Participate in

Written Expression

Juanita Pritchardjpritchard22@gmail.com

November 2013http://piecingittogether.blogspot.com

Learning outcomesDefine writing in terms other than using a pencil or keyboard

Experience the use of the IntelliKeys alternate keyboard and OverlayMaker software as a written expression option.

Experience a variety of ways to use IntelliKeys and OverlayMaker in writing activities.

How can we do writing standards when my students can’t hold a pencil?

What is “writing” ?

A functional, visual, symbolic means to permanently convey a message.

A set of visible or tactile signs used to represent units of language in a systematic way, with the purpose of recording messages which can be retrieved by everyone who knows the language in question.

From the The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writings Systems

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/definition.htm

IT IS NOT…..

•Copying or• Tracing dotted lines

Components of Written Work

Communication

Print text

Making Choices

Sharing ideas or opinions

Think outside the box!

Writing without a pencil—Forming thoughts,

Not just words

• Objects

• Stamps

• Pictures or symbols

Words or sentences – Magnets, velcro, etc.

Don’t you want to know what I have to say?

Intellikeys&

OverlayMaker can help

IntelliKeysOverlay Maker

Classroom Suite

www.intellitools.com

What is Intellikeys?

Intellikeys

• Hardware• Alternate Keyboard• Allows access to

computer• Customizable for

individual needs

Overlay Maker• Software• Makes Intellikeys a

curriculum access device

• Can create custom overlays in minutes

How Does OverlayMaker Work?• OverlayMaker

gives a visual representation of the buttons on the IntelliKeys.

• Allows activities to be customized to the individual needs of the student.

Demonstration

Customize the Overlays

• Make buttons/keys– Size, shape, color

• Change colors – key, border, background• Insert pictures or photos• Insert text on key • Program text for key to “write”• Program key actions

Demonstration

Can use with any software that allows you to type into it.

• Writing With Symbols• Symwriter• PixWriter• Word• Email• Powerpoint

How can the Intellikeys be used for written expression?

1. Picture support

2. Tactile or object support

3. Matching or choice making

Hints: * Is Intellikeys On? *Did you send Overlay? *Is cursor where you want to type?

Add tactile objects

Journaling

Demonstration

Lunch choices

Demonstration

Letter Writing

Demonstration

Reports or Essays

Demonstration

Retell Story (or CBI trip)

Demonstration

Grocery List

Demonstration

EMAIL

Demonstration

Other ideas……

Demonstration

Activity Exchange

• http://aex.intellitools.com/

http://aex.intellitools.com/Free activities to download for Classroom Suite

& IntelliKeys – search for overlays

Demonstration

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Tarheel Readerhttp://tarheelreader.org/accessing-tar-heel-reader/intellikeys-access/

Three overlays to use with Tarheel Reader website

How to Make Custom Overlays

YouTube video – 6 min.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-D-g7J-XJA