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	<title>AMDi Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices</title>
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	<description>Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices</description>
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		<title>Taking Communication on the Road!</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/taking-communication-on-the-road/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/taking-communication-on-the-road/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:41:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=458</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[


Taking Communication on the Road!




Taking Communication on the Road!
On the last day of school, I was talking to one of my student’s mother and she was discussing their plans to go on summer vacation. It was a fun trip to the beach, which is a good 6 hour drive from where she lives. They had [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><strong>Taking Communication on the Road!</strong></td>
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<span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/06-09-news.gif" alt="Taking Communication on the Road!" width="191" height="128" title="Taking Communication on the Road!" /></span></p>
<h3>Taking Communication on the Road!</h3>
<p>On the last day of school, I was talking to one of my student’s mother and she was discussing their plans to go on summer vacation. It was a fun trip to the beach, which is a good 6 hour drive from where she lives. They had been very careful when planning “to think of everything, “including a beach wheelchair. She also asked me to help her make some “beach overlays” so her daughter would have appropriate vocabulary while they were there. We had fun for the next hour creating overlays for the beach, shopping, restaurants, and hotel. With the Smart Series Communicator’s capability to have limitless levels we were able to add overlays for every situation. Using Overlay Designer Pro software, we were able to make the overlays and record the sound files on the spot and add some fun sound effects like sea gulls and the sound of the waves. We even used images found on the internet of the actual hotel, beach and shopping centers they would be visiting to use as visual scenes. With the overlays completed on the computer, we printed out the overlays and burned the flash memory card. I provided the mom with a small organizer (meant for organizing coupons) to keep the flash cards for each overlay that easily fit in her purse. On my way home I realized that we had left out one crucial location…the car! 6 hours with nothing to say! No way! So I set out to create activities. The example show in this article is the I Spy activity. If you activate the car window in the scene it cues the partner that the object spied is outside the car. It’s a wonderful idea even for everyday travel. Why not practice communication in the car too! I also came up with an overlay for the radio because that conversation often comes up in a car as well. When making car activities think back to your days as a child. What games did you play? Was it the license plate game or maybe “punch bug”? Playing car games on trips as a child is for some, a family tradition. So make sure to ask the parents what games they used to play during road trips in the car and incorporate them as well. The car is a great place for reinforcing socialization skills and focusing on communication interaction. I dropped the overlays for the Smart Series and the flash card off with the mother who was eager to try them before the trip. I received a phone call two days later from her to happily tell me how much they both are enjoying the overlays and how much she appreciated having “typical car moments” such as answering 50 times “Are we there yet!”</td>
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<span class="newsShot"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/06-09-news-1.gif" alt="Stimulating Conversation" title="Taking Communication on the Road!" /></span></p>
<h3>Stimulating Conversation</h3>
<p>With opportunities for school districts to purchase new equipment and materials using stimulus money during the next two years it is important to invest wisely. Please visit www.amdi.net or call and request a catalog to view all the wonderful communication options available from AMDi. Including the pre-made, pre-recorded, national content standard, grade level expectation aligned Smart Ease activities. These activities address general curricular content and increase communication skills. Many come with resource CDs complete with worksheets and activities. The Smart Ease activities fit both the Smart series and Tech series of AMDi devices.</td>
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		<title>Overlay Designer Pro</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/overlay-designer-pro/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/overlay-designer-pro/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:40:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=455</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[


Overlay Designer Pro… A New Utility Software Program Designed to Streamline the Development of Communication for the Smart Series of AAC Devices



Have you been looking for tools that help save time and streamline the facilitation of communication? Those of us working with individuals in need of communication assistance know there is a large time investment [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><strong>Overlay Designer Pro… A New Utility Software Program Designed to Streamline the Development of Communication for the Smart Series of AAC Devices</strong></td>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/overlay_designer_pro.gif" alt="overlay designer pro Overlay Designer Pro" width="273" height="208" title="Overlay Designer Pro" /></span><br />
Have you been looking for tools that help save time and streamline the facilitation of communication? Those of us working with individuals in need of communication assistance know there is a large time investment in the development, creation, and programming of overlays and displays. I often find myself looking and wishing for tools that will help me spend less time creating and more time working with my students in need. I am excited to say that I have found one that really gives my students something to talk about.</p>
<p>Continuing in the tradition of SMART solutions, AMDi is introducing their new Overlay Designer Pro. Overlay Designer Pro makes creating complete static display activities from your own computer a snap and comes complete with software and a flash burner. Use the software to create beautiful overlays using your own digital pictures and symbols or take advantage of the large library of over 8,000 Tech/Syms and News-2- You SymbolStix® symbols. As you create your overlays, assign sounds either from the sound library that comes with Overlay Designer Pro or simply record your own using a microphone. Once finished creating an overlay, complete with messages on each button, simply click print for the overlay, insert a flash card into the flash burner and click “burn flash” and you’re done. Slide the overlay into one of AMDi’s Smart Series of Devices, pop in the flash card and the activity is ready for use.</p>
<p>What excites me about Overlay Designer Pro software is that overlays can be created in one central location (ex. office computer) for all of the students who use AMDi’s Smart Series of devices for the whole week. The students do not have to have their devices taken from them to program and levels do not need to be erased on their device that they may still need. Activities complete with sound can be created ahead of time and saved on the computer until they are needed. Also fun activities or overlays that address events such as field trips, holidays, and assemblies can be archived with Overlay Designer Pro and reused the following year or with other students.</p>
<p>Having the freedom to create overlays on the computer allows for good, clear sound quality message recording as well as the ability to burn sound files such as sound effects, short music clips and favorite character voices directly to the flash card. The flexibility of being able to use sound files located on the computer or downloaded from the internet allows for the creation of unique overlays and activities that really capture attention and provide motivation. Finally I have found that the friendly format of Overlay Designer Pro has helped increase the use and creation of overlays by other staff members. The ease of creating the overlays with sound files on the computers has helped decrease errors in programming so overlays and sound files match up and work perfectly the first time.</p>
<p>Want to learn more about Overlay Designer Pro? Visit us March 18th -20th in Los Angeles at CSUN. Download a demo version online at <a href="http://www.amdi.net/overlay-design.asp">Overlay Design Pro Demo</a> additional comments or questions? E-mail Allison at <a href="mailto:allison.yates@amdi.net">allison.yates@amdi.net </a></td>
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<p align="center"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/screen_shot_of_odpro.gif" alt="screen shot of odpro Overlay Designer Pro" width="600" title="Overlay Designer Pro" /></p>
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		<title>Time to get Steppin&#8217;!</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/time-to-get-steppin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/time-to-get-steppin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:39:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=453</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[



It is a new year and for many of us we are already struggling to keep our resolutions. The New Year always causes me to reflect on the path I’m guiding my students down. Half the school year is over. Have they made adequate progress so far? Are we on the right track or is [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/partnerone_s_s.gif" alt="Time to get Steppin'!" width="300" height="225" title="Time to get Steppin!" /></span></p>
<p>It is a new year and for many of us we are already struggling to keep our resolutions. The New Year always causes me to reflect on the path I’m guiding my students down. Half the school year is over. Have they made adequate progress so far? Are we on the right track or is it time to step in another direction and try something new? AMDi has several new products available to provide solutions no matter where an individual is or is going on the augmentative continuum. One of the new products available is the Partner/Plus Stepper. Its’ versatility help spark staff imagination and the students are excited and ready to use their steppers to participate in all kinds of new activities.</p>
<p>The Partner/Plus Stepper allows for multiple messages to be programmed on one single button, each time the button is pressed a new message is said. The stepper has 60 seconds of record time therefore instead of a predetermined number of levels; one can recorded numerous messages until all 60 seconds are recorded. Like its counterpart, the Partner/Plus, it also has an input and output jack. This allows the stepper not only to be accessed by an alternative switch but also provides for the use of switch toys or other environmental control units. This feature is especially helpful to help provide contextual relevance and meaning to the multiple messages.</p>
<p>A fun activity and wonderful example of the new Partner/Plus Stepper is its use during music time. When singing the 5 little duck song, the song is broken up into several levels on the stepper. A duck switch toy is then plugged into the stepper. While “stepping through” the levels on the device, when the chorus is activated (which is “mother duck said quack, quack, quack”) the switch toy is simultaneously activated and the toy duck begins to quack. I am finding with my students, activities like this not only help promote better understanding by providing contextual relevance but also promote awareness and distinction between the various messages. However, by far the favorite feature is the steppers ability to “clip” together. The Partner/Plus Stepper can be connected to other steppers or other Partner/Plus single message devices in various configurations to create unique custom devices for individuals. One example of the use of connected devices that has been extremely motivating to younger students is Old McDonald. This activity consists of one Partner/Plus Stepper which contains the chorus of Old McDonald connected to four Partner/Plus single message devices containing various farm animals. Each of the Partner/Plus single message devices also have the corresponding switch toy farm animal plugged into the output jack. This activity is not only fun and interactive it really has proven helpful to increase symbol discrimination and multiple activations of various cells. So as for this New Year, my resolution is to get Stepping!</td>
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<h3>Going to ATIA Orlando 2009?</h3>
<p>Please come by and visit us in the exhibit hall booth 621</p>
<p>Interested in learning how AMDi’s devices are being used with students?  We would love to see you at one of our presentations!</p>
<p>o	Fri 30th 9:15 Teaching Communication Through Curriculum        Room: Curacao 1<br />
o	Fri 30th 4:00 From Receptive to Expressive: Using Software to Foster Communication Room: Curacao 2<br />
o	Sat 31 9:15 Show Me: The Path to Promoting AAC Use in School aged Children Room: Curacao 1</td>
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		<title>AMDi is proud to provide our E-News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/amdi-is-proud-to-provide-our-e-news-subscribers-with-a-sneak-peek-of-our-exciting-new-partnership/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/amdi-is-proud-to-provide-our-e-news-subscribers-with-a-sneak-peek-of-our-exciting-new-partnership/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:30:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=451</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[



and AMDi have partnered to create powerful communication activities that target receptive and expressive communication





As we all know some ideas come to you out of necessity. I was working with a student to establish an effective communication strategy using a static display device. I created several fun activities, accompanied by overlays with appropriate motivating vocabulary [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot2"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/nov-0.gif" alt="nov 0 AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" width="93" height="64" title="AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" /></span><br />
and AMDi have partnered to create powerful communication activities that target receptive and expressive communication</td>
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<span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/nov-1.gif" alt="nov 1 AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" width="90" height="134" title="AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" /></span><br />
As we all know some ideas come to you out of necessity. I was working with a student to establish an effective communication strategy using a static display device. I created several fun activities, accompanied by overlays with appropriate motivating vocabulary (or so I thought) but nothing seemed to be working. My activities were not motivating him to communicate. So one day I decided to observe him to see what items or activities interested him in his classroom. He spent a greater part of thirty minutes glued to the computer screen as one of his classmates was working on Exploring Nouns by Laureate. This student who normally exhibited minimal eye contact barely blinked. He had a huge smile on his face and even more amazing, every time Zot (Laureates character who provides language reinforcement) would enter the screen, he would laugh out loud. So the idea was born. Why not create an expressive activity to go along with the Laureate&#8217;s receptive Exploring series?</td>
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<span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/nov-2.gif" alt="nov 2 AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" width="136" height="164" title="AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" /></span><br />
Created for the Smart/128, these activities include 6 scenes from the Exploring series of your choice. Using a visual scene layout with accompanying vocabulary these hybrid activities not only encourage individuals to comment about what occurs while using the software it also provides opportunities to use the vocabulary learned when not on the computer. Fun extension activities created for use when not on the computer, encourage communication and conversation while reinforcing targeted vocabulary by encouraging users to ask questions, participate in fun games such as Simon Says and exploring the interactive visual scenes. While on the computer individuals can answer questions, comment about what they see and make requests. These Smart/Ease overlays can be used with all 8 activities available on each of the Exploring Series CD, including Optimized Intervention, Identification, and Testing. During therapy, keep track of expressive communication interactions while Laureate&#8217;s software automatically collects extensive data concerning receptive language (along with a variety of other variables). The data gathered by the software can generate reports when paired with tracked expressive interaction can provide valuable expressive and receptive language data in just one activity!</td>
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<span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/nov-3.gif" alt="nov 3 AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" width="158" height="175" title="AMDi is proud to provide our E News subscribers with a Sneak Peek of our Exciting New Partnership!" /></span><br />
As for my student, I turned on the Exploring Verbs CD and placed his device with the corresponding visual scene overlay below the computer monitor and stepped back. In a matter of seconds he came over to the monitor looked at the scene and then looked at the device and smiled. The software then prompted What is this? and flashed an object on the screen. My student smiled reached down and used his device appropriately to answer. When Zot entered the screen he then laughed and used his device to tell a student sitting next to him Look there&#8217;s Zot! Success!</p>
<p>Each Laureate Exploring Smart/Ease Activity comes with 6 overlays each created using Laureates wonderful illustrations and a pre-recorded flash containing vocabulary and sound clips of fun sounds contained in the Exploring Series software to encourage interaction and turn up the FUN!</td>
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<p><strong><br />
If you will be attending the ASHA Conference in Chicago we would like to invite you to come by AMDi&#8217;s and Laureate&#8217;s booth and see this partnership in action.</p>
<p>If you have any questions or comments regarding this newsletter please contact Alli at allison.yates@amdi.net</strong></td>
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		<title>Smart Therapy</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/smart-therapy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/smart-therapy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:26:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=447</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spring is here! Now that the end of the school year is in sight it is time to take advantage of the nice weather and the field trips that students will be taking. Doing something unexpected is always a good communication motivator therefore one of my favorite spring time activities is to move therapy outdoors. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Spring is here! Now that the end of the school year is in sight it is time to take advantage of the nice weather and the field trips that students will be taking. Doing something unexpected is always a good communication motivator therefore one of my favorite spring time activities is to move therapy outdoors. Each spring my students (all of which use speech generating devices) and I go on a Speech Expedition . It inspires my students to communicate and the sunshine provides a much need boost to everyone&#8217;s spirits. Depending on how it is set up the expedition can range from one therapy session to two week of therapy. The expedition can be as simple as a walk around the school campus, integration of curriculum (ex. While learning about plants), or you can also take advantage of pre-planed field trips your students might be attending.</strong><br />
<span class="newsShot"><img class="alignright" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2008-04-1.jpg" alt="Smart Therapy" width="333" height="220" title="Smart Therapy" /></span></p>
<h3>Smart Therapy</h3>
<p>Utilizing AMDi&#8217;s Smart/Series of Devices with overlay recognition and flash cards to save recording makes the Speech Expedition fun and exciting. By decreasing the lag in communication time often wasted while searching for the correct messages for a specific overlay and the ability to save sound files my students never waste a moment waiting for changes. The Smart/128 also allows for the use of visual scenes which makes retelling of our exploration that more exciting.<br />
Here is an example of how to arrange your own  Speech Expedition</p>
<p>Therapy Timeline: Session 1: Talk about your plans to go on a Speech Expedition. Decide together what vocabulary is needed during the trip.<br />
I instruct my students that they are going on an expedition and they need to bring back as much information from the trip as possible<br />
ex: How it felt, what it smelled like, where there clouds etc.<br />
I also instruct them that they are to find treasures of their trip therefore they need to choose vocabulary that would help them gather, reach, or indicate what they might want to put in their treasure box.<br />
ex: flowers, feathers, rocks etc.<br />
All of the information gathered on the trip is then used to create overlay on the Smart/Series of devices.<br />
Session 2: Practice using the overlays created for your Speech Expedition in mock situations in therapy or in the classroom.<br />
Session 3: Go on your Speech Expedition. Along the way encourage students to comment, create reasons for them to communicate (ex. walk too fast or to slow or don&#8217;t go where they want to go), and to pick up items of interest and place them in their treasure box. Also using the Smart/Series Devices &#8230; Record birds, the wind, or any other interesting noises discovered along the way.<br />
Session 4: Create a new overlay involving trip events and have your students recap their adventure:<br />
We often take a scrap booking approach to the creation of our overlays and place the actual items that we have gathered on the overlays. This provides the student not only tactile feed back as they retell their adventure, but is also a fun motivating way of alternating communication layouts. In addition photos taken during the exploration can be turn into visual scene communication displays for extra added contextual relevance.</p>
<p>This technique for creating overlays for the Smart Series can be used in a variety of settings and situations to add a spark to therapy sessions. After the completion of the activities I often take the overlays and bind them (in a binder with plastic page protectors) to create a scrapbook. The flash drive used to create the activities is also stored in the scrapbook so the student can relive and retell their stories any time they&#8217;d like.</p>
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		<title>New Partner/Plus!</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/new-partnerplus/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/new-partnerplus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:24:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=445</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[


AMDi would like to introduce our newest device, the Partner Plus! The Partner Plus is a single message device with some wonderful features including a small object tray and Velcro strip for beginning users who need real object correlation. Other features include an input jack located on the back of the device to provide switch [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><strong>AMDi would like to introduce our newest device, the Partner Plus! The Partner Plus is a single message device with some wonderful features including a small object tray and Velcro strip for beginning users who need real object correlation. Other features include an input jack located on the back of the device to provide switch access. It also has an output jack giving the device environmental control for the use of switch toys, lights, music, and any other high interest objects. The number one feature of the Partner Plus device is its ability to clip them together to form two, three, or more location devices! All for the price of $60 per partner plus. For more information please visit AMDi&#8217;s website www.amdi.net and choose communication devices or what&#8217;s new to view additional features.</strong></td>
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<span class="newsShot"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2008-03-1.jpg" alt="New Partner/Plus!" width="239" height="80" title="New Partner/Plus!" /></span></p>
<h3>New Partner/Plus!</h3>
<p>Not only are the Partner Pluses a wonderful communication tool for beginners, they have proven to be very useful in other aspects of daily therapy and class-rooms activities. Some great uses for the Partner Plus include using them to form a classroom visual schedule. Created with mounting brackets, they can easily be</p>
<p>clipped together and mounted on the wall. Place icon representations of classroom activities in the chronological order they occur and then remove the icon from the device or flip the icon over revealing a &#8220;finished&#8221; symbol to indicate when the activity is completed. With the message output, you can have students announce subject changes with the touch of the device. Also, for those unable to reach the devices when they are mounted due to stature or position, simply plug in the switch to allow access. For those students who have difficulty transitioning and may be in need of more cuing, add an object cue to each event using the Velcro strip and hand that object to the student to provide additional help in transition. For example, if it is circle time a small plastic ring could be used along with the symbol to represent circle time. When it is time to begin circle time the Partner Plus is activated by a student and the message &#8220;Time for Circle time&#8221; is played. The teacher can then hand the student needing additional object cuing the plastic circle to provide additional assistance.</td>
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<span class="newsShot2"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2008-03-2.jpg" alt="AMDi Quick Tip:" width="177" height="134" title="New Partner/Plus!" /></span></p>
<h3>AMDi Quick Tip:</h3>
<p>A &#8220;Communication and Sensory Wall&#8221; can also be created using the devices by mounting several Partner Pluses on a wall all within reach of students but not necessarily all clipped together. Record interesting messages, requests, and sounds on the devices coupled with interesting tactile icons. The icons placed on the devices can be soft, rough, smelly, etc. and messages can provide language stimulation, encourage phrase building, or simply be attention getting funny sounds. Taking advantage of the output jack, some of the Partner Pluses can also be attached to tape recorders, lights, or switch toys to teach cause and affect concepts or just for fun. The symbol icons can also easily be changed and the device messages reprogrammed to allow for various other activities including phono-logical awareness activities, &#8220;find the rhyming word&#8221; activities and so much more. The versatility for the Partner Plus has really allowed for the creation of so many wonderful activities.</p>
<p>For more information regarding the activities mentioned above or if you would like to get more activity ideas using the Partner Plus please contact us at alli@amdi.net.</td>
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		<title>Exclusive Sneak Preview!</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/exclusive-sneak-preview/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/exclusive-sneak-preview/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:21:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=441</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[


AMDi is pleased to provide our newsletter subscribers with a sneak preview of new Smart-Ease Activities that will be available in January! Exciting new activities include simple modifications to allow for the addition of vocabulary on the fly with Let&#8217;s Talk: Communication On The Run activities. Other new activities include News 2 You, participation using [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><strong>AMDi is pleased to provide our newsletter subscribers with a sneak preview of new Smart-Ease Activities that will be available in January! Exciting new activities include simple modifications to allow for the addition of vocabulary on the fly with Let&#8217;s Talk: Communication On The Run activities. Other new activities include News 2 You, participation using visual scenes and much more.</strong></td>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2007-12-1.jpg" alt="Exclusive Sneak Preview!" title="Exclusive Sneak Preview!" /></span></p>
<h3>Exclusive Sneak Preview!</h3>
<p>In this newsletter we would like to introduce you to Mike the monkey and his other zoo friends that are available in the Mike Helps at the Zoo activity. This Smart-Ease activity is like no other and was created to target specific curriculum standards while promoting conversation. It includes a supplemental CD filled with worksheets, activities, and manipulatives. Users begin by viewing the animated story “Mike&#8217;s Busy Day&#8221; provided on the supplemental CD. The story utilizes specific vocabulary and concepts associated with researched reading programs and processes. It is specifically geared to individuals who are at or below a beginning reading level (prek-k level).</p>
<p>After reading the story, the real fun begins. There are 6 different subjects to choose from with several activities. Each activity has a communication overlay, printable worksheets and/or manipulatives, and a print-out for teachers and therapists indicating which content standard and/or benchmarks are targeted for each specific activity. In addition, suggested targeted speech therapy goals are also provided for each activity. Subjects and activities include reading, phonological awareness, math, social studies, art, and prepositional concepts. This activity was created to provide and promote communication while targeting curriculum and aligning with state content standards for several subjects. It is a great starting point and will provide Speech-Language Pathologists and teachers with up to 2 months of curriculum-based activities. Below is a more specific list of targeted curriculum concepts:</p>
<p>Reading: includes story retell, prediction, sequencing, vocabulary, sound association, rhyming and beginning sounds<br />
Language: includes answering wh?, conversion and vocabulary use<br />
Social Studies: includes maps, geographical concepts, responsibility, trustworthiness and problem solving<br />
Math: includes counting, sorting, patterning and more/less</td>
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<h3>AMDi Quick Tip:</h3>
<p>Don&#8217;t forget the holidays when creating your overlays and pages sets! It&#8217;s a very exciting time and it is a great motivation for communication. With the new Smart Series of devices, making a Christmas wish list can be a snap. Create a powerful visual scene by taking a digital picture of a holiday scene and adding appropriate vocabulary or simply choose an advertisement for toys, clothes, or any other desired object to create an overlay. Use a printed advertisement by printing out one of the overlay templates available free from AMDi&#8217;s Overlay Designer or on the web at amdi.net (located under downloads), place it on top of the advertisement you want to use, cut it to the size of the template, and punch the hole. It&#8217;s a great way to have fun, interesting vocabulary to create a wish list for the individual you are working with or to allow them to indicate what they would like to give others!</td>
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<h3>AMDi is on the Road Again!</h3>
<p>We will be at ATIA January 30th &#8211; Febuary 2nd. Make sure you come by and visit us at the booth for a special surprise. You won&#8217;t want to miss it! We are also doing several presentations including: &#8220;Redefine Static Display the SMART way!,&#8221; &#8220;Time Saving Tips for Creators of Both Static and Dynamic Displays,&#8221; and &#8220;Reaching for the Sky: Creating Static Displays that Ignite Communication&#8221; We look forward to seeing you there!</td>
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		<title>Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/announcing-an-exciting-new-partnership/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/announcing-an-exciting-new-partnership/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:15:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=438</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[


Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDi&#8217;s Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation.



Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!
AMDi is excited to announce a new partnership with News-2-You. News-2-You provides access to current news worthy topics and events through the use of symbol supported text, which in available
in several different [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<table style="background: transparent url(../images/newheadbg.jpg) repeat-x scroll 0% 0%;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="800" bgcolor="#fffef5">
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<td colspan="3"><strong>Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDi&#8217;s Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation.</strong></td>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2007-10-1.jpg" alt="Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!" title="Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!" /></span></p>
<h3>Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!</h3>
<p>AMDi is excited to announce a new partnership with News-2-You. News-2-You provides access to current news worthy topics and events through the use of symbol supported text, which in available<br />
in several different levels to fit the needs of various populations.</p>
<p>AMDi has created new Smart-Ease activities for the Smart/Speak and Smart/128 entitled News-2-You to go along with the pre-existing Smart/Talk activity, Lets Talk: Current events. Each of these Smart-Ease activity page sets has everything needed to participate, answer, and comment about current News-2-You topics. In addition to the ability to participate in common News-2-You activities such as recipes, knock knock jokes, and Joey&#8217;s locker activities, the News-2-You Smart-Ease also provide customizable areas to add weekly vocabulary words and much more.<br />
The News-2-You Smart-Ease activities will come with preprinted overlays containing important vocabulary needed to participate as well as a flash card containing pre-programmed messages for each level. Simply pop in the flash card, slide in the overlay, and allow your user to become a full participant in News-2-You!</p>
<p>In addition to the provision of appropriate communication overlays and pre-programmed<br />
message flash cards, AMDi is also pleased to announce a free year subscription to News-2-You with the purchase of any of the New-2-You Smart-Ease activities.</p>
<p>AMDi is Hitting The Road</p>
<p>AMDi will be on the road the next couple of months, please come by and visit us!<br />
We will be at Closing the Gap October 18th through the 20th. We invite you to attend our presentation entitled Reaching for the Sky: Creating Static Displays that Ignite Communication on Saturday, October 20th at 11:00.</td>
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<p align="center"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2007-10-2.jpg" alt="news 2007 10 2 Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!" width="600" title="Announcing an Exciting New Partnership!" /></p>
</td>
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		<title>Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDi&#8217;s Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation.</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/highlighting-devices/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/highlighting-devices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:12:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>edler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.amdi.net/wpb/?p=433</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[



Tips for Creating a Successful Communicator
Device in the Spotlight: Smart/Talk Series
Often programming of a device is a global task in which an individual&#8217;s entire days vocabulary was determined and programmed on the predetermined levels of their communication device. Inevitably, with one button left, there is often the realization that key activities or vocabulary have been [...]]]></description>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2007-05-1.gif" alt="Tips for Creating a Successful Communicator &lt;br&gt;Device in the Spotlight: Smart/Talk Series" title="Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDis Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation." /></span></p>
<h3>Tips for Creating a Successful Communicator<br />
Device in the Spotlight: Smart/Talk Series</h3>
<p>Often programming of a device is a global task in which an individual&#8217;s entire days vocabulary was determined and programmed on the predetermined levels of their communication device. Inevitably, with one button left, there is often the realization that key activities or vocabulary have been left out. This is especially true when working with individuals who require devices with fewer buttons.</p>
<p>However, that is no longer the case! The Smart/Talk is an 8 location communication device with 6 levels and what distinguishes it are its smart features. The Smart/Talk has overlay recognition technology which allows it to identify an overlay and automatically attach the appropriate recorded messages. This not only eliminates the need to turn knobs or switch levels but more importantly it alleviates the lag time experienced by the users, allowing them to have more appropriate communication interactions with minimal interruptions. The Smart/Talk also stores recordings on a flash drive which eliminates the need to rerecord, but more importantly by using an additional flash drive the Smart/Talk has an additional 6 levels. Therefore, by acquiring extra flash cards, a traditional 8 button device with 6 levels becomes a device with 6 or more additional levels by simply changing the flash!</p>
<p>The implications of the use of this new technology is that it shifts the focus from programming vocabulary and allows the freedom to begin creating communication overlays that promote participation in individual tasks. Imagine the possibilities when there is no longer the conflict of deciding whether to add basic care phrases or a fun phrase that the user may want to communicate because there is not room for both.</p>
<p>With the possibilities of endless levels (by acquiring additional flash cards), let&#8217;s talk about components that should be considered when programming and creating page sets on the Smart/Talk.</p>
<p>Through years of creating page sets for students, I have made my fair share of mistakes and discoveries along the way. I would like to share with you some strategies, components, and tricks that I have found helpful in creating a successful communicator by utilizing the wonderful time saving new features of the Smart/Talk.<br />
Often programming of a device is a global task in which an individual&#8217;s entire days vocabulary was determined and programmed on the predetermined levels of their communication device. Inevitably, with one button left, there is often the realization that key activities or vocabulary have been left out. This is especially true when working with individuals who require devices with fewer buttons.</p>
<p>However, that is no longer the case! The Smart/Talk is an 8 location communication device with 6 levels and what distinguishes it are its smart features. The Smart/Talk has overlay recognition technology which allows it to identify an overlay and automatically attach the appropriate recorded messages. This not only eliminates the need to turn knobs or switch levels but more importantly it alleviates the lag time experienced by the users, allowing them to have more appropriate communication interactions with minimal interruptions. The Smart/Talk also stores recordings on a flash drive which eliminates the need to rerecord, but more importantly by using an additional flash drive the Smart/Talk has an additional 6 levels. Therefore, by acquiring extra flash cards, a traditional 8 button device with 6 levels becomes a device with 6 or more additional levels by simply changing the flash!</p>
<p>The implications of the use of this new technology is that it shifts the focus from programming vocabulary and allows the freedom to begin creating communication overlays that promote participation in individual tasks. Imagine the possibilities when there is no longer the conflict of deciding whether to add basic care phrases or a fun phrase that the user may want to communicate because there is not room for both.</p>
<p>With the possibilities of endless levels (by acquiring additional flash cards), let&#8217;s talk about components that should be considered when programming and creating page sets on the Smart/Talk.</p>
<p>Through years of creating page sets for students, I have made my fair share of mistakes and discoveries along the way. I would like to share with you some strategies, components, and tricks that I have found helpful in creating a successful communicator by utilizing the wonderful time saving new features of the Smart/Talk.</td>
<td></td>
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<td colspan="3"><span class="newsShot"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2007-05-2.gif" alt="news 2007 05 2 Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDis Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation."  title="Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDis Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation." /></span><br />
Begin thinking in &#8220;Task Mode&#8221;. As mentioned above, the goal of creating a page set when using a static display device was commonly programming vocabulary and phrases that would carry students throughout their day. This often left my students with minimal participation capability, not to mention minimal desire to communicate. With the ability to have additional levels, begin thinking of individual tasks and take advantage of the Smart/Talk overlay recognition capabilities by adding fun phrases and vocabulary that is associated with the task and let it spill over to another level or all 6. With overlay recognition there is seamless transition from one level to the next and by adding fun vocabulary and phrases my students are participating, commenting, and having more fun.</p>
<p>Add local dialect or phrases. Very few people live in a region without using local sayings or dialect. Do not forget to add them to your individual&#8217;s communication device. The addition of sounds added to a message (ex. the sound of running water accompanying the message &#8220;let&#8217;s wash the dishes&#8221;) has been proven to increase interest and use.</p>
<p>Allow plenty of opportunities and time to communicate. Waiting is a difficult task. As a communicator and teacher there is often the feeling that quiet spots in communication must be filled with conversations. However, if the correct and motivating vocabulary is present, often posing a question and waiting quietly produces surprising results.<br />
Begin thinking in &#8220;Task Mode&#8221;. As mentioned above, the goal of creating a page set when using a static display device was commonly programming vocabulary and phrases that would carry students throughout their day. This often left my students with minimal participation capability, not to mention minimal desire to communicate. With the ability to have additional levels, begin thinking of individual tasks and take advantage of the Smart/Talk overlay recognition capabilities by adding fun phrases and vocabulary that is associated with the task and let it spill over to another level or all 6. With overlay recognition there is seamless transition from one level to the next and by adding fun vocabulary and phrases my students are participating, commenting, and having more fun.</p>
<p>Add local dialect or phrases. Very few people live in a region without using local sayings or dialect. Do not forget to add them to your individual&#8217;s communication device. The addition of sounds added to a message (ex. the sound of running water accompanying the message &#8220;let&#8217;s wash the dishes&#8221;) has been proven to increase interest and use.</p>
<p>Allow plenty of opportunities and time to communicate. Waiting is a difficult task. As a communicator and teacher there is often the feeling that quiet spots in communication must be filled with conversations. However, if the correct and motivating vocabulary is present, often posing a question and waiting quietly produces surprising results.</p>
<p>Begin thinking in &#8220;Task Mode&#8221;. As mentioned above, the goal of creating a page set when using a static display device was commonly programming vocabulary and phrases that would carry students throughout their day. This often left my students with minimal participation capability, not to mention minimal desire to communicate. With the ability to have additional levels, begin thinking of individual tasks and take advantage of the Smart/Talk overlay recognition capabilities by adding fun phrases and vocabulary that is associated with the task and let it spill over to another level or all 6. With overlay recognition there is seamless transition from one level to the next and by adding fun vocabulary and phrases my students are participating, commenting, and having more fun.</p>
<p>Add local dialect or phrases. Very few people live in a region without using local sayings or dialect. Do not forget to add them to your individual&#8217;s communication device. The addition of sounds added to a message (ex. the sound of running water accompanying the message &#8220;let&#8217;s wash the dishes&#8221;) has been proven to increase interest and use.</p>
<p>Allow plenty of opportunities and time to communicate. Waiting is a difficult task. As a communicator and teacher there is often the feeling that quiet spots in communication must be filled with conversations. However, if the correct and motivating vocabulary is present, often posing a question and waiting quietly produces surprising results.</td>
<td></td>
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<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><img src="http://www.amdi.net/images/news-2007-05-3.gif" alt="news 2007 05 3 Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDis Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation." width="600" title="Highlighting devices, services and equipment; AMDis Smart News has been created to provide strategies for fostering communication and encouraging participation." /></p>
<p>AMDi&#8217;s Smart/Start: Let&#8217;s Talk About Centers is an example of &#8220;thinking in task mode.&#8221; It takes the common pre-kindergarten and kindergarten activity of centers and breaks it down into individual components (ex. blocks, dramatic play, singing, art, etc.) that are needed to complete the task. It also includes highly motivating fun phrases and pre-programmed songs to encourage communication. The activity has been personalized to the student by adding local phrases used in the community which increased the use of the device as well as the number of communication exchanges from the student.</td>
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		<title>Demo Article 2</title>
		<link>http://www.amdi.net/demo-article-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.amdi.net/demo-article-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 15:36:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

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