Technology Supports for Student Veterans Exploring the Value of Veterans Symposium, October 30-31, 2014 Colorado State University Exploring the Value of Veterans Symposium, October 30-31, 2014 Colorado State University

Presenters:  Marla Roll, MS, OTR  Director, Assistive Technology Resource Center  Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy  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 – ATRC Website –  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 – ATRC Website –

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  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 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  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)  WYNN  Audience favorites(1-2)

Writing  Challenges:  Accurate proofreading  Grammar & spelling  Generating and structuring content  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)  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  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)  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  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)  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.  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  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)  Evernote  Audience favorites(1-2)

Test taking  Challenges  Anxiety with time constraints  Large lecture hall considerations ( noise, lighting)  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  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 - VA Apps List -  Brainline Military Apps List - Brainline Military Apps List -  iTunes Apps - iTunes 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 - VA Apps List -  Brainline Military Apps List - Brainline Military Apps List -  iTunes Apps - iTunes Apps -

Thank You!  Any questions?  Hands on with mobile devices – as time allows  Please visit our website for more info:  Any questions?  Hands on with mobile devices – as time allows  Please visit our website for more info: