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[Gabey8]

I'd like to connect with other users who are interested in finding ways to use the XO as assistive technology for people with various disabilities.

Specifically, I'd like to see what can be done to allow the XO to interface with various braille-display devices. I have deaf-blind friends who would benefit if the XO could be employed in this way.

However, I'm also interested in learning more about how the XO can be used in other ways, as assistive tech for persons with other disabilities. and I'd like to be in touch with others who are of like mind. Please post here if you've been thinking along the same lines.

[writer245]

Hi,

I'm still waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for my two XO machines.  My daughter, age 8, is dyslexic and is having a devil of a time with communication via her optic circuitry.  She's great with communication via her auditory and voice circuitry, though.

I bought two (er, G2G2) thinking about (among others) these possible pathways to helping her:

1)   Teaching her basic programming, where spelling and syntax is absolutely critical BUT the thought process of writing is very different from that involved in writing essays; hoping to then transfer her hoped-for appreciation for correct spelling and syntax into other writing skills.

2)  Also hoping to find other open-source, XO-runnable software to help integrate visual word processing with auditory word processing.  Maybe something that would read back what she's typing to give immediate auditory feedback and/or coach with correct spelling.  Maybe offer visual blocks that translate into correctly spelled words.  E.g., common word endings "ing, ed, er, tion, etc." might have graphic representations instead of ascii text. 

3)  Hoping to have a hell of a good time with the science aspects of it, e.g. the Dolphin (?) range finding software that works if you have two machines to determine distance between two XOs.  And, the sound oscilloscope, and the music sequencing and synth programming. And all the other apps.

Anyone else out there looking to help a dyslexic kid with their XO machines? 

Robert
NYC, USA

2) 

[Gabey8]

BTW... it strikes me that those of use who have interest in using or adapting XO computers for users with special needs might be pretty geographically spread out.

So I propose that when we finally opt to get together, we do so virtually with the XO's chat function.

[NoahE]

I just gave my adult son who is challenged with autism an XO for Christmas...he is thrilled with it but now we need to get someone to work with him so he can understand all the marvelous things it does...he does not read well at all but I think using the XO will help him considerably...I wish there was a very simple XO manual which could be used for young children and people with developmental disabilities...if anyone ever develops one please contact me!  Elena   [email protected]

[LesleyT]

I'm glad I found this group!  I have found my people!!!! I really wanted an XO to see about making it a viable piece of AT for kiddos I know.

When I get mine, I'll post more.  I think we, as a group, can really accomplish some great things with this. 

I've posted a little about this on my blog -- abledandlimping.blogspot.com but I dream of getting a good open-source XO assistive tech group together.

[LesleyT]

NoahE, where are you located?
Just curious.
I'm in Arkansas.  I'd love to work on writing an AT manual for people with disabilities. 

[LesleyT]

)  Also hoping to find other open-source, XO-runnable software to help integrate visual word processing with auditory word processing.  Maybe something that would read back what she's typing to give immediate auditory feedback and/or coach with correct spelling.  Maybe offer visual blocks that translate into correctly spelled words.  E.g., common word endings "ing, ed, er, tion, etc." might have graphic representations instead of ascii text.


hrmmm... what have you tried so far?

[NoahE]

Lesley

Noah loves in Goleta, CA. near UC Santa Barbara.
 Right now I am hoping to find an XO user in the local area to tutor Noah on how to use his laptop. A VERY simple manual would be so appreciated...then his support staff would be able to use it with him. Whatever you come up with might be useful to us...keep me informed..Thank you!

[AuntiMame]

Hello all people reading this AT thread,

I'm AuntiMame, and I volunteer on the OLPC Support team. I do not have my XO yet, so I can't do real-world tests.

A donor contacted the Support team and asked about On-Screen Keyboards. He had found a Linux on-screen keyboard but wasn't sure if it would work with the XO. I've sent his request further up the food chain, but though you all might be interested.

http://www.gok.ca/

Aunti

[LesleyT]

NoahE --

I don't have my XO yet but I'm hoping to use it with the kids I work with, many of whom have autism or related conditions.  I hope you don't mind my asking all of these questions because autism covers such a broad range of abilities. 

Right now, what are some things that Noah is struggling with that the laptop might make easier for him?  How is his expressive language?  I can see the laptop being really helpful for people with autism in the field of expressive language.  For those who are nonverbal, it could become a communication device.  For those who are verbal but sometimes struggle with expression, it could be another medium to express themselves. 

Other things that might be useful and/or fun is the built in camera.  I am looking forward to using it to make instant visual schedules with sound, video, and pictures. I am looking now for some sort of calendar function that would enable users to keep their schedules on the computer -- sort of like outlook -- but those schedules could be any combo of text, audio, video, and pictures. 

The cool thing is that people who are able could do their own schedules and capture their own world with this machine, instead of having someone else do it for them.

I am a huge fan of R.J. Cooper and I envision something like his "Remind Me" program working for the XO. 
http://rjcooper.com/auggie/mini-auggie/index.html

When I get my XO, I hope to go nuts on all of this.

Oh, Gabey 8: I know of several really nice open source screen readers but I don't know if they will work for the XO. 

[NoahE]

Lesley...Noah speaks and is very social living in a college community with 3 other young men who are his support staff. But he can hardly read at all and perhaps an on screen keyboard would be very helpful..he can id words in any sentence but cannot read the whole sentence. He has by accident found parts of the XO which he has enjoyed..the camera...the world map..we were surprised he could id as many continents as he did. I tried to work with him on the art and music programs but could not figure them out at all which is not surprising as I  can only use a mac in a very basic way. The guys he lives with know a bit more but a really good simple guide to the music and art programs would be so useful to Noah as he loves music and is a very good visual artist already. I cannot tell you what other parts of the XO would benefit Noah as I do not understand what they are. I know there is lots of potential for Noah to learn from the laptop...we just need a SIMPLE way to discover how he can learn with it. I still do not know if they have hooked up to the internet as they needed to get a password from Cox Cable . When we were trying to get on the internet  none of the mesh networks functioned.   I really need a local XO user to spend some time with Noah and his support folks so they can all understand how to help him . He is thrilled to have it none the less and had been obsessing about having one since I showed him the olpc website several years ago. I welcome any manual which might be developed for children...keep me informed!  Thanks!!

[LesleyT]

How awesome that he has so much support!

 

I downloaded the emulator a while back but really struggled with the music programs as well.  I didn't know if it was my computer and emulation software or if really didn't get it.  I'll know soon, I suppose. 

A screen reader would be probably the first project.  I will look into it. 

I think feeling free to mess with the thing and play with it is a great first step.  There are some downloadable activities on the olpc wiki, like a memory type game and a hangman game.  I don't think it would be too hard to reprogram the memory game into a matching words to their pictures. 

Does he like music?  There are threads on here about how to get a good music player working so he could carry all of his CDs as mp3s on the laptop. 

I wish I knew someone who lived there to point you to. 

[LesleyT]

writer245 and others

Have you looked into Spark Space?  It's a visual organizer developed by someone with dyslexia, if I remember right. 

I will know more if it runs on XO when I get mine, but at the very least, Linux is supported.  I don't know if it's open source.

[LesleyT]

oohhh try here as well:

http://www.linux.org/docs/ldp/howto/Accessibility-HOWTO/other.html

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Sorry to flood the board.

[writer245]

Hi, Lesley.

Spark Space seems like exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for.  Thanks for posting it and the links to the other ideas.

I hope that it does work on the XO. 

Robert