iPad adaptations for students who are deaf or hard of hearing

First thing is first, lets look at some ways to make our iPad more user friendly for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The iPad has many adaptations that can be made to make it easier for students who are deaf and hard of hearing to access the device. 

---

Face Time

FaceTime is a phone calling app that features video and works through Wi-Fi internet connection. It is very similar to Skype as it uses video to relay messages. FaceTime is ideal for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing because a user can easily observe facial expressions, gesture, and communicate using American Sign Language or lip reading.  FaceTime can also be used to make and receive video relay and text relay calls. Below is a tutorial on how to set up face time on your iPad.

---

Volume adjustments

Users are able to adjust the volume  on an iPad. To do so follow the steps below:

1. Touch settings icon on Home screen
2. Click general settings tap sounds
3. Drag the slider bar to the right to increase the volume and to left to lower it 
4. Touch home button to close settings
5. 

---

Notes

Notes is an app that comes standard on your iPad. It can be used to type and record notes in class. Create new notes, review notes previously created, search for notes, save notes, delete them, and email them! Teachers can use this app to document instructions or directs for students to complete. Click create new note and the on screen keyboard will pop up. Compose your note and save it! The video posted below is an app tutorial. 

---

Closed Captioning - The iPad  supports the playback of open captions, closed captions, and subtitling. The captions appear onscreen, just like on TV. 

---

Visual Alerts

Some apps such as mail, app store, and skype on the iPad have visual alerts for the user. Visual alerts are also appear with time, date, wi-fi function, and battery life.

---

Mono Audio

To improve your listening experience when using headphones, turn on Mono Audio. When Mono Audio is turned on, iPad plays all sounds in both ears.

1. Click on the Settings icon
2. Navigate to  General settings
   Click Accessibility.
3. Click the Mono Audio On/Off button to turn on the feature.
   
   Mono Audio is turned on.
4.  Touch on  the Home button to close Settings.

Guest post - Laura Casey from Look at Me Now!

I would like to thank Laura Casey (laura@lookatusnow.org) for writing this guest blog post. 

Look at Me Now!®- A New Face for Autism Treatment

Using face-replacement technology, Look at Me Now!®, LLC (www.lookatmenow.org) offers a one-stop solution for many of the daily challenges facing children with Autism and their families. In response to the increasing diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorders and the resulting strain on resources, the Maine-based company is making evidence-based interventions completely accessible and affordable to parents and professionals, online.  Research supports Video Modeling techniques and proves that children with Autism who watch themselves successfully manage the previously impossible situation are able to translate it into reality.    Look at me now!® offers customizable/personalized movies for children with Autism and related disorders.  These movies, starring the child himself or herself, are known in the field as Video Self Model (VSM) movies and are widely supported in research.  These movies are used in school and home settings by parents, teachers and professionals.   The positive outcomes and changes these movies can produce are astonishing.  In the past, parents and clinicians had to make these movies by doing all of the work; "setting the stage," filming, editing, and narrating to create a final product.  Now, by simply submitting a photo via the company's secure website(www.lookatmenow.org), users can create a short video depicting the child from the photo engaged in an activity of daily living or an age appropriate skill.  The short movie captures the sights and sounds associated with the activity and children see themselves completing the tasks errorlessly and with enjoyment. Look at Me Now!® was founded by Laura Casey who has more than 14 years of experience in the field of Autism Intervention.  Ms. Casey holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education and has worked with hundreds of children and families in meeting the challenges of Autism.  Ms. Casey has researched, published and presented on the subject of Autism and Early Intervention.  Parents who have used the face-replacement software and resulting videos provide high marks.  Amy Hayes, of Ellsworth, Maine says, "Until we found Look at Me Now!® movies, we had never seen such clear results.  After viewing his movie, Anderson's therapist, myself and my daughter sat and watched the "movie" replay with amazement.  He did a fantastic job- better than ever before!  There were no tears, no pulling away, no kicking or screaming.  He was so proud of himself and so are we!"  Prior to his movie about having his nails cut, Anderson had worked on this skill for 2 years with his occupational therapy.  Within 3 viewings of his movie, the behavior change was remarkable!
"The promising practice of video self-modeling is finally available to the masses in an affordable and easy-to-use manner," said Dr. Tom Buggey, author of "Seeing is Believing: Video Self-Modeling for People with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities," and an adviser to the company.  "It is hard to imagine a project that would offer more promise than Look at Me Now! does to children with Autism and their families."

Summer sites

Below are six super summer sites to use with your kids during the long break

• Wednesdays with Sam
• E-Learning for kids
• Curious George
• PBS Kids
• Brainpop Jr. 
• Nickelodeon games

What are your summer site staples? Add them the comments sections and lets see how long our list can get! 

fun apps for students who are visually imparied

Name	Website	Description
vBookz	http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vbookz-free-audiobooks-30/id366703930?mt=8	Read out loud from over 30,00 classic books for free
LookTel Money Reader	http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id417476558	Recognizes currency and speaks the denomination, enabling people with visual impairments or blindness to quickly and easily identify and count bills.
VizWiz	http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id439686043	Take a picture with the phone, speak a question, and then receive multiple spoken answers.
Talking Clock Digital	http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/talking-clock-digital/id336368267?mt=8	This app announces the time, day and date. The time, day and date fill the screen both horizontally or vertically.

Terrific text to speech apps

Below are some terrific text to speech applications for some favorite mobile devices. 

Below are some magnificent magnification apps for students