Technology Supports for Student Veterans

Exploring the Value of Veterans Symposium, October 30-31, 2014Colorado State University

Presenters:

Marla Roll, MS, OTR

Director, Assistive Technology Resource Center

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Shannon Lavey, MS, OTR

Service Coordinator, Assistive Technology Resource Center

Assistive Technology Resource Center

What we do: the ATRC ensures equal access to technology and electronic information for CSU students and employees with disabilities. Services include assistive technology (AT) assessments and training, as well as consultation and education regarding accessibility and universal design of mainstream and instructional technologies.

ATRC Website – http://atrc.colostate.edu/

Learning Objectives

Defining Technology

Considerations for serving student veterans

Overview of tech supports for academics

Brief highlight of tech supports for daily activities

Audience tech support recommendations

Considerations for student veterans the ATRC serves:

Challenges : New processes can be overwhelming

Education is “tech heavy”

Settings for accessing technology can be noisy, busy

Preferences: Keep technology simple

Limit options

Provide on-going and frequent support

Definitions

Mainstream technology – refers to any technology that is intended for general use rather than entirely or primarily by people with disabilities

Assistive Technology – refers to a broad range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities

* (Cook and Polgar)

o Universal Design – process of designing environments, services, and products to be usable by people with a wide range of abilities without the need for special adaptation

* (Institute of Medicine)

Reading

Challenges Processing info

Keeping up with large amounts of content

General comprehension

Solutions Mainstream

Text to speech apps - Voice dream reader (iOS)

Text to speech/annotation apps -EZ PDF Reader (android), ClaroPDF (iOS)

Annotation apps - Good reader (iOS)

Audio books – Audible (iOS and Android)

AT Literacy Support Software – Wynn, Kurzweil, Read

and Write Gold

Speed Reading Software - Rapid Reader

Built in text to speech (OS)

Reading Demo

WYNN

Audience favorites(1-2)

Writing

Challenges: Accurate proofreading Grammar & spelling Generating and structuring content

Solutions: Mainstream

Mind mapping apps - MindJet – iOS & Android, Inspiration Maps –iOS,

Voice recognition app - Dragon Dictation

Spell/Grammar Checker - Ginger Page - iOS & Android

AT Wynn, Kurzweil 3000, Read & Write Gold

Voice Recognition -Dragon Naturally Speaking

Spell/Grammar Checker - Ginger

Mind mapping - Inspiration

Writing Demo

Dragon Naturally Speaking

Audience favorites(1-2)

Note-taking

Challenges: Keeping pace with lots of content

Auditory processing challenges

Multi-tasking

Filtering background noise/ ambient issues in large lecture halls

Solutions: Mainstream

MS Word Notebook Layout View – Mac laptops

Livescribe Pens

One Note

Digital Recorders

Apps Notability-iOS

Evernote – iOS & android

Voice recorder apps - Smart Voice recorder – android, Voice Recorder HD - iOS

Note-taking demo

Livescribe pen

Audience favorites (1-2)

Studying

Challenges: Staying focused

Attending and concentrating

Organization of content

Processing large amounts of information

Lack of study skills

Solutions: Mainstream

StudyBlue- iOS & android

Encore study platform-android

AT Wynn

Kurzweil 3000

Read & Write Gold

Studying Demo

Read and Write Gold

Audience favorites(1-2)

Executive Functioning ( planning, attending, organizing)

Challenges Course and assignment schedules

Time management for coursework, personal life

Organization of notes, readings

Memory considerations – deadlines, etc.

Solutions Mainstream

Todoist-iOS & Android

ColorNote - Android

Evernote – iOS and android

Mint.com Personal Finance-iOS & android

Smartphone calendars

AT Pocket Endeavor Suite

Executive functioning (Con’t) ( memory)

iOS Namerick – people’s names, meeting

details

Sortly – Inventory, Moving, Organization, & Finding Stuff

iOS & Android Dashlane – encrypted password manager

Audio Memos – digital recordings of important info

Executive functioning demo

Evernote

Audience favorites(1-2)

Test taking

Challenges Anxiety with time constraints

Large lecture hall considerations ( noise, lighting)

Solutions Quiet room

Extended time

AT supports

Noise canceling headphones

Daily activity tech supports – looking beyond the student role

OT 666 Needs assessment –student veterans served by New Start

Results and recommendations of needs assessment Fitness/ health

Strava-iOS & android

My Fitness Pal-iOS & android

Fitbit-iOS & android

Stress & Anxiety Management T2 Mood Tracker – iOS & android

Breath2Relax - iOS & android

Relax Melodies - iOS & android

PTSD Coach - iOS & android

Simply Being - iOS & android

Super Better - iOS

Live Happy - iOS

Sleep/ Rest Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock - iOS

Other VA apps:

PTSD coach PE Coach CPT coach Stay Quit Coach Mindfulness coach Concussion Coach Moving forward Parenting2Go List goes on and on?????

VA Apps List - https://mobilehealth.va.gov/appstore Brainline Military Apps List - http://www.brainlinemilitary.org/content/2011/07/top-6-military-tbi-apps.html iTunes Apps - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/concussion-coach/id713590872?ls=1&mt=8

Thank You!

Any questions?

Hands on with mobile devices – as time allows

Please visit our website for more info: www.atrc.colostate.edu