AbleNet Launches Its Low Vision and Mobile Device Access Product Lines at ATIA 2011 Orlando Conference
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kris Sundberg: 612-332-4222 or kris@linksresults.com
AbleNet Launches Its Low Vision and Mobile Device Access Product Lines at ATIA 2011 Orlando Conference
AbleNet Also Co-sponsoring Guinness World Record Event at ATIA Conference: Fastest Hands-Free Texting
St. Paul, MN – January 25, 2011 – AbleNet, Inc. announced today the launch of its Low Vision and Mobile Device Access product lines. The Low Vision product line includes Keys-U-See® large-print keyboards available in more than 10 languages and the Boost™ Personal Video Magnifier. The Mobile Device Access product line includes accessories for popular Apple® products such as the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as an upgrade to its SoundingBoard™ AAC app now featuring switch access.
These new products and other popular environmental control devices, communication devices and assistive technology products will be featured at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) 2011 Orlando Conference, January 26–29, 2011. AbleNet products provide a wide range of education, rehabilitation, vocation and independent-living assistive te chnology solutions for all age groups.
"The AbleNet team is driven to develop and bring to market a broad range of products that help people of all ages with mild to profound disabilities overcome barriers to enjoying a productive and fulfilled life," said AbleNet CEO Jen Thalhuber. "We will be introducing many new innovations this year that maximize accessibility, increase learning and simplify real-life challenges."
Guinness World Record Event Co-sponsor
AbleNet is a co-sponsor of an attempt to set the Guinness World Record® for "Fastest Hands-Free Texting" using a TrackerPro head-tracking mouse along with Swype® onscreen keyboard technology. The event will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, January 28, in the pavilion. "We are thrilled to be a co-sponsor of this event," stated Thalhuber. "It will be exciting to show the power of TrackerPro using Swype technology. People will see what an enormous impact these products can have on the lives of those who are erasing the word 'disability' from our vocabulary and living a life of ability."
Featured ATIA Conference Products
AbleNet's simple-to-use assistive technology solutions and curricular programs empower people with complex physical and cognitive disabilities. These products maximize opportunities for users to engage in everyday activities to the fullest extent.
SoundingBoard™ 2.0 has newly upgraded features building on the original September 2010 release. After soliciting user input, the following upgrades are included:
• Single- and dual-switch access that uses AbleNet's Blue2™ Bluetooth access switch for those who can't touch a screen. This feature allows tens of thousands of people who cannot touch the screen access to the latest in communication technology.
• Pre-loaded communications boards with 14 ready-to-use communication boards highlighting key communication outcomes such as expressions, emergency information, reading, daily living, social situations, shopping and more.
• Linked Boards enable the user to use symbols on one board to connect to another board allowing deeper and richer communication options. For example, one board can be created with "red" objects and one board with "blue" objects. A third "linking" board invites the user to choose the color.
These new features build on the first SoundingBoard™ release, which enabled people with limited communication ability to speak. It is designed specifically for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and allows the user to "speak" simply by touching the symbol shown on the display screen. This device benefits individuals with a broad range of disabilities who have complex communication needs such as developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy or autism. Users can create custom communication boards, routines and visual schedules recorded in any language. A broad set of AbleNet symbols is included as a starting point, but users can use their own photos to customize and build a unique augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device.
Big Books by George! AbleNet Editions™ are designed for three levels of needs for students with mild, moderate and severe disabilities. Instructional guides help teachers develop the most effective learning solutions for their students. The design of the Big Books by George programs focuses on capturing the attention of the student with vision-appropriate fonts, colorful photographs, interactive exercises, rich vocabulary and entertaining discussion that aid understanding and retention. The differentiated instructional packages include lesson plans, student reproducibles and assistive technology solutions to support unique learning needs.
QuickTalker™ is AbleNet's new easy-to-use, go-anywhere communicator, which enables the student or child to start communicating in minutes. The QuickTalker communicator is the most affordable multi-message device on the market today. It is available with 7, 12 and 23 locations. The variety of message locations and the five available levels provide the flexibility needed to customize the communication and learning outcomes for each student.
QuickTalker combines the expertise and experience AbleNet has built up over its years of manufacturing customer-led augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and includes such features as:
• Built-in handle for easy portability
• Built-in symbols storage
• Variable recording time depending on model
Keys-U-See®
AbleNet's large-print keyboards have been designed specifically for those with conditions that cause visual impairment or low vision such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and age-related vision loss. With a bigger and bolder typeface, in a full-size keyboard, the keys are easier to see, even in low light. Plug-n-play for Windows NT, 2000, XP and Vista.
Conference Presentations
AbleNet will also be giving several conference presentations, which include the following.
Title: Reinforcing Life Skills, AAC and Adulthood Transition Through Home Automation
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Time: 9:20 - 10:20 a.m.
Session Code: AAC-07
Presenter: Neil Hanson, Possum (AbleNet is sole US distributor for Possum)
Location: Bonaire 7
This session will focus on how UK educational institutions have shown that using a communication aid with home automation (environmental control) can lead to increased interaction, confidence and motivation to communicate.
Title: Equals = Math for All
Date: Friday, January 28, 2011
Time: 9:20 - 10:20 a.m.
Session Code: ECU-28
Presenter: Mary Sagstetter
Location: Antigua 4
AbleNet has developed a comprehensive, researched-based math curriculum aligned to K–12 math standards for students with mild, moderate and severe/profound disabilities. The presenter will introduce the Equals Mathematics program, which covers a broad spectrum of standards-based objectives, utilizes special education best practice methodologies and links the use of manipulatives, tools and assistive technology to support significant levels of achievement.
Title: Swype: The Revolutionary Text Input System for People with Disabilities
Date: Friday, January 28, 2011
Time: 1:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Session Code: PHY-18
Presenter: Randy Marsden, CEO of Swype
Location: Caribbean I
This will be a hands-on, two-hour session where attendees will be one of the first to try the commercial version of Swype for assistive technology.
Title: Easy-tech Assistive Technology Solutions
Date: Saturday, January 29, 2011
Time: 10:40 - 11:40 a.m.
Session Code: ECU - 60
Presenter: Mary Sagstetter
Location: Curacao 2
Easy-tech tools such as switches, communication aids and simple environmental control units provide powerful support and control for individuals with disabilities at home, school and around the community. In this session, the presenter will discuss an array of these devices and explore powerful examples for real-world application. The attendees will see that by connecting these tools together, individuals with disabilities can achieve an even greater quality of life.
Conference Specials
AbleNet also is offering several conference specials for ATIA attendees.
Fives copies of SoundingBoard awarded to randomly selected ATIA attendees who register at the AbleNet booth during the conference.
Free BETA copy of Swype with all TrackerPro orders today through April 30, 2011.
Free TrackerPro awarded for the best texting time using TrackerPro with Swype. The contest runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2011 in the AbleNet booth.
About AbleNet
AbleNet is an international company and industry leader in providing educational and technical solutions to help children and adults with disabilities lead productive and fulfilled lives. This includes a complete line of communication aids for nonverbal individuals; access aids, such as switches and wheelchair-mounting devices for people who require physical supports; and special education classroom curriculum and software that both enhance and help ensure learning progress. Our products are used in hundreds of thousands of homes, clinics and classrooms in the United States and across the globe. AbleNet is an ESOP company located in Roseville, Minnesota. For more information visit www.ablenetinc.com.