Connect the Dots to Employment

• Are you looking for work?
• Have you been filling out job applications and not getting results?
• Do you wish you knew what businesses are really looking for in job applications and resumes?

Plan to attend "Connect the Dots to Employment"

• Meet local employers
• Learn what employers are looking for (from employers)
• Receive job search tips and assistance

There is no cost to attend and lunch is provided!
Date: 4/14/2009 at Nebraska Workforce Development Conference Room (3020 18th Street Columbus, NE) from 10am-3pm. Bring a copy of your resume, if you have one.

*The next Connect the Dots session will be held on Tuesday. June 23rd.

Ghotit Free Online Spellchecker Service

Ghotit was founded by people with dyslexia. Ghotit’s mission is to improve the overall quality of life of a person with dyslexia. Ghotit is not a treatment for dyslexia. It's a set of services that assists adults and kids to overcome their writing and reading difficulties by helping to convert their poorly spelled written limitations to mainstream English.

Kids and adults with learning disabilities, like dyslexia, are heavy users of spell checkers. However, standard spell and grammar checkers address the needs of the general population, who demonstrates average spelling and whose spelling mistakes are typing errors resulting in a spelling that shows high resemblance to the requested word. These spell checkers produce low results for users who demonstrate poor English spelling such as people with dyslexia, due to:

• The written word spelling is ‘too far’ from the correct spelling
• No support for confused/out-of-context words - the written word is a real-word that is spelled correctly but is used in the wrong context; for example: let’s meat later
• No assistance provided to the user in selecting the correct candidate word

Focusing on the problems listed above, the Ghotit team has developed unique spelling algorithms which are at the core of the services Ghotit is developing for the people with dyslexia and other types of learning difficulties.

http://ghotit.com/home.shtml

Tizmos

Tizmos (Online Resource)

Tizmos is a start page that lets you set visual thumbnail icons for links to frequently visited websites. Once you’ve registered and set it up, you have a start page that you can log in to from any computer. A teacher or parent of early learners can create a custom start page for each child. This might also be a great option for learners with developmental delays. Of course, most of us relate much better to visual symbols than to lists of text.

With Tizmos, you can choose the size of the thumbnails that represent websites–small, medium or large. It does not appear as though there is any limit to the number of websites that can be linked. with Tizmos. Your Tizmos page can be either private or public. Tizmos is extremely easy to use. www.tizmos.com

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety

Test anxiety is when a student excessively worries about doing well on a test. This can become a major hindrance on test performance and cause extreme nervousness and memory lapses among other symptoms. The following are tips on reducing test taking anxiety:

• Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test taking anxiety.
  
• Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test.
  
• Exercising for a few days before the test will help reduce stress.
  
• Get a good night's sleep before the test.
  
• Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourslf and then get back to work.
  
• If you don't understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to explain it to you.
  
• Write down important formulas, facts, definitions and/or keywords in the margin first so you won't worry about forgetting them.
  
• Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test.
  
• Focus on the question at hand; don't let your mind wander on other things.
  
  Visit testtakingtips.com for more test taking help.
  

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008

The Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 passed the U.S. Congress in September and becomes law on January 1, 2009. This amended legislation makes it possible for Americans with learning disabilities to access accommodations on high stakes exams (such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, medical boards and others) and in the workplace, in keeping with the original intent of the law.

Power Talk

PowerTalk automatically speaks any presentation or slide show running in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows. You just download and install PowerTalk and while you open and run the presentation as usual it speaks the text on your slides. The advantage over other generic 'Text To Speech' programs is that PowerTalk is able to speak text as it appears and can also speak hidden text attached to images. Speech is provided by the standard synthesised computer voices that are provided with Windows. (Windows based only will not work on a Mac)
Visit http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/PowerTalk for more information and to download.

FREE and Open Soure Educational Software

Free and Open Source Education Software is an extensive cataloged collection of some of the best free software available to support learning at all levels. The collection has been organized by categories that make programs easy to find (categorized by the Key Learning Areas used in Education in Australia) If anyone simply wants to explore what is available, this is an excellent starting point. The site has made it easy to download software without actually leaving the site.
Visit http://os.cqu.edu.au/oswinsdvd/doc/README.html

Woopid

Woopid is an online source of helpful screencast tutorials that offer help with software and hardware questions, with a focus on both Mac and PC. The screencasts are short and to the point, and they clearly show what you need to know. The tutorials are well organized, and Woopid offers an effective search function. If you can’t find what you need, you are even encouraged to request that Woopid create it for you.

www.woopid.com

Convert web posts from text to audio for free at: http://www.odiogo.com

Odiogo mobilizes your media, transforming textual content into audio formats downloadable directly to the PC, iPods/MP3 players and mobile phones!

• High quality text-to-speech solutions
  
• Smooth integration with your website
• End-to-end advertising system
• Comprehensive statistics
• Flexible packaging options
• Supports thousands of concurrent downloads

Ten Tips

10 Tips That May Help Ease Your Child's Transition to Adulthood

1. Help Build your son's or daughter's self-determination and self-advocacy skills.
All young people should have a strong sense of their strengths, abilities, and interest.
2. Help develop your child's social outlets.
Social relationships and recreation are more than fun; they are important tools that help tie people into the community and provide a wider network of support.
3. Expand your network and explore community supports.
As children with disabilities become adults with disabilities, they may need support from a variety of sources.
4. At age 18, your child can register to vote and make sure your son registers with Selective Services.
All Americans at the age of 18 have the right and responsibility to vote. All Males-including those with disabilities-must register with Selective Services within 30 days their 18th Birthday.
5. Explore post-secondary accommodations
Students who receive academic programming and support in high school through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans will not automatically have the same support after they graduate.
6. Investigate SSI programs.
Financial planning is an important part of transition. Many people with disabilities are beneficiaries of Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
7. Encourage your child to build a resume by volunteering.
Many young people struggle to find work experiences that help them compete in the job market.
8. Help your child learn "Soft" employment skills.
In addition to the work skills people need to their jobs, they also need "soft skills" These include such things as being able to accept direction, ask for help, deal with conflict, and engage in interpersonal communication.
9. Plan for health care management.
Like most people, young adults with disabilities need to manage their health care and insurance.
10. Look for Resources and People that can assist you.

Tutorial Videos Available for WYNN Software

The Learning Systems Group of Freedom Scientific, Inc., developer of literacy software designed to create custom learning environments for all students, announced today that they have released a new WYNN Training Module. The new CD includes ten videos further defining many of WYNN's most popular features. This video will help teachers and students to become more fluent with the use of WYNN, saving valuable time and providing greater educational benefits.

Video Topics for Popular WYNN Features
The CD contains 10 informative videos, each targeting specific features and uses of WYNN. The topics include:
• Introduction to WYNN
• Reading Styles Toolbar
• Study Tools (including highlighting, lists, voice notes, and others)
• Writing Tools (including homophones and outlines)
• Using the Internet (including the patented WebMasking® feature and form-filling)
• Using the Freedom Import Printer

Each tutorial runs between three and nine minutes, making the videos concise, yet informative, allowing users to easily navigate to the specific information they need.

Pricing and Availability
The retail price is just $35.00. This includes the CD and an informative booklet including helpful Teaching Tips for specific features. To order your Training Modules, email Loni Atton at Freedom Scientific Customer Service department, LAtton@freedomscientific.com, or call her at 800-444-4443 x1032

Turn your words into action with Jott.com

Jott makes sure you stay on top of everything. With a simple phone call to 866-JOTT-123, you can capture notes, set reminders and calendar appointments, stay in touch with family and friends, and interact with your favorite web sites and services... all with your voice!

Simply call Jott and tell them where you want your message to go. Jott captures voice, turns it into text, and sends it to the destination you choose.

Students can create Jott folders for specific school subjects, record their homework assignments, class notes and main ideas from each class for the day. Students can also send themselves to do lists of what they need to get done.

An added bonus is that this service can be used free of charge!

Flipper Guides

Flipper Guides

FLIPPERS® are the perfect educational and informational tool for all ages. Run your finger down the FLIPPER® to the topic you want to refer to. Then "Flip-up" to reveal the information needed. These handy flip-up guides are available with laminated cards or plastic pockets with removable cards. Both versions provide rugged durability. Each are loaded with the information you need... at your fingertips! For more information on flippers visit http://flipperguides.com

Digital Pen

Digital Pen
If you don't take a laptop to class, a digital pen might be the next best thing. For example, the FLY Fusion Pentop digitizes handwritten notes so they can be uploaded to a computer. Users then search their notes by typing in the keywords. The FLY Fusion also comes with a built-in calculator and mp3 player.

Approximate Cost $80 dollars

For more information visit www.flyworld.com

Money Smart

Financial education fosters financial stability for individuals, families, and entire communities. The more people know about credit and banking services, the more likely they are to increase savings, buy homes, and improve their financial health and well being. The Money Smart curriculum helps individuals build financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use banking services effectively.

Money Smart is available in two versions: an instructor-led version and a computer-based instruction (CBI) version. Both versions consist of the same 10 modules.

The 10 Money Smart Training Modules

Bank on it Check it Out
-an introduction to bank services -how to choose and keep a cheeking account
Keep it Safe Charge it Right
-your right as a consumer -how to make a credit card work for you

Borrowing Basics Money Matters
-an introduction to credit -how to keep track of your money

To Your Credit Pay Yourself First
-how your credit history will -why you should save,save,save
affect your credit future

Your Own Home Loan To Own

-what home ownership is all about -know what you're borrowingbefore you buy

You can go online to take the modules or you can order a free CD. For more informaiton visit http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview.html

iCue

ICue, which stands for Immerse, Connect, Understand and Excel, uses patented technology that includes the iCue CueCard media player, flash card, note-taking tool and trading card. The "flip card" technology allows users to watch streaming videos from NBC News and then "flip" the CueCard over for additional information.

Users can "snag" CueCards and store them in personal resource libraries – or CueCard Stacks – customize them using the "jot" feature to write thoughts and opinions, and exchange comments about content with their iCue friends.

For more information and to take of tour of iCue visit www.icue.com

Making Technology Part of your Back-To-School Planning

Making Technology Part of your Back-to-School Planning

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By Dave L. Edyburn, Ph.D. For many families, the back-to-school season means shopping for school supplies and new clothes. As it gets closer to the first day of school, for a young child it means watching the mailbox for a letter from his new teacher, or for older students it means going to school to register and pick up their schedule. With all the excitement of the annual back-to-school rituals, technology is often overlooked. However, thinking about technology tools and supports can facilitate the back-to-school transition for students with .

learning disabilities. In addition, spending some time learning new technologies before school starts means that more time will be available to focus on using the technology to complete assignments once school begins. This post was taken from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). For more information on study tips, and the use of technology visit the NCLD web page at www.ncld.org.

Notecentric

Notecentric

Store and share your classroom notes with this innovative site. It keeps your notes organized so you can reference them later and you can easily access it through a Facebook account.

www.notecentric.com

Awesome Library

The Awesome Library is a website which provides information resources for education. The site organizes the Web with 33,000 carefully reviewed resources, including the top 5% in education. It is a Web site that was developed for K–12 teachers, students, parents, and librarians. Over time its purpose has expanded to include college students and professionals.

Contents Include:

Science

Social Studies

Mathematics

Kids

English

Teachers

Arts

Technology
Check out awesome library at www.awesomelibrary.org

Youth Hood

What is the Youthhood?
youthhood.org

It's a dynamic Web site young adults can use to plan for life after high school. It's unique because it's:

• Curriculum and research based
  
• Interactive and personalized
  
• Directed to young adults
  
• Flexible and useful in any setting
  
• Fun
  
• Free
  

The Youthhood provides a holistic, Web-based curriculum that teachers, community service providers, parents and mentors can use with young adults to develop skills, increase knowledge, and implement a personal life plan that will help young adults achieve their dreams.

Check it out at www.youthhood.org and become part of the Youthhood Community!