Technical Exploration Center

Winter 2007

In this issue ...

Latest Software Programs at TEC

News from Lynn and Colleen

New Location for TEC Outreach

New Items in our Inventory

New Office Location

TEC Assists Microsoft

Monthly Product Demos

Take a Look at Out Inventory

Telcom Equipment on Display

How Can We Help?

Calendar of Events

Latest Software Programs Available at TEC

TEC has recently installed Crick Software programs for use by members of our assistive technology lending library.  Instructions are offered by our staff to help educate users about the features and benefits of these various programs.

Crick software promotes the inclusion of children of all capabilities by developing adaptable products customized to meet the individual needs of users.  Additionally, most Crick Software programs can be accessed through a switch for those consumers who are unable to operate a mouse or keyboard (Crick Software, 2007).

The following programs are now offered at TEC:

• Clicker Paint: the educational paint program!  This user-friendly program can be used with Clicker or can be a stand alone program to help motivate and excite children about learning. This program includes painting tools to illustrate stories, make detailed drawings, design stamps, or engage in a variety of activities that address specific learning objectives.

• ClozePro: filling the gaps for reading success! Cloze activities are a well-established and proven way of developing reading, comprehension and vocabulary skills.

• Wordbar: the writing support tool! Wordbar, a toolbar that sits on the bottom of your screen, enables consumers to rapidly point-and-click words or phrases and then send them to their word processor. Others features include the latest speech technology and a great looking user interface for any age.

• Clicker 5: changing the way children write! Clicker Writer is a writing support that allows users to write whole words, pictures or phrases. This talking word processor provides a variety of writing options by using the keyboard, or by selecting desired letters, words or phrases.

Learn more at Cricksoft products from their website.

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News From Lynn & Colleen

Where did the summer go?

Fall slipped through our fingers and now winter is upon us. What a great time to find a new hobby, research the latest in assistive technology or attempt a new task that you thought you never could do.

Why not visit TEC to play with the new VISTA operating system, explore new communication devices, or learn about what assistive technology may be helpful in yours’ or a loved one’s life.

TEC has been fortunate in being awarded two new grants for projects in education and the reuse of durable medical equipment. The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council will be supporting our project of increasing inclusion and promoting universal design for learning for individuals with developmental disabilities. And the Betterment Fund is supporting the ongoing development of TEC’s assistive technology device reutilization program. This program is designed to make available gently used equipment such as tub seats, walkers, or backup wheelchairs at a reduced cost to consumers who have limited funding. We will inform you of the program’s progress as it develops.

Another exciting development in TEC is the certification of Lynn and Colleen as “Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialists”. They received their training from the Back School of Atlanta and are now offering consultation services in the area of ergonomics awareness and assessment. TEC’s goal is to help reduce musculoskeletal disorders, increase productivity, and reduce absenteeism in the school, home or workplace. Please contact us for more information about this service.

On a bitter-sweet note, we will be saying goodbye and good luck to our student intern, Raechell Luce, who has been with us since last year.  She is about to embark on her final fieldwork assignment at  Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston  and then graduating next spring. 

It certainly has been a joy and pleasure working with her here at TEC and we will certainly miss having her with us.  We wish you the best of luck, Raechell, as you begin your career in occupational therapy.

New location for TEC outreach site

TEC is now serving the DownEast area at a new location. Previously we have been scheduled at the Machias Career Center but, due to increased cost of travel and low attendance, we will be relocating our monthly outreach to the Ellsworth Career Center at the Mill Mall, 248 State Street, Suite 3A on the first Wednesday of every month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce your travel to Bangor for return or pick-up of borrowed items. You also will be able to explore many assistive technology options and devices during that time. Simply call in advance for specific items to be taken to this site.

We hope this change in location proves to be more convenient for you as well as increase the amount of visitors we receive. See you there!

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New Items in Our Inventory: Let’s Tango!

If you have ever seen or used augmentative communication devices, you want to make it a point to look at the new Tango! by Blink Twice, Inc. It is a revolutionary new AAC device with features not seen in conventional units. The Tango! uses two very different ways to speak sentences. First, you have the power to quickly speak thousands of useful, engaging, and efficient stored phrases that can take care of day-to-day communication. Second, you have the ability to build any sentence imaginable by using word-by-word construction and spelling. Phrase First Language lets you repeat necessary sentences quickly so you can increase conversation speed and create personality.

The Tango! is able to take photos and link each photo with digitized or synthesized speech. It’s a great way to tell someone about something you did. The six-button design is a new approach to efficiency. This design facilitates the user’s ability to say more with less physical effort.

The Technical Exploration Center now has added the Tango! to its inventory for demonstration. Please inquire about this new and exciting device. We would love to show it to you.

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TEC at New Location

On December 1, 2006, TEC moved to it new location in downtown Bangor. An Open House was held on January 10, 2007 to celebrate the new location.

Here are some images of the Open House.

The new address is 34 Summer Street, Suite 2A, Bangor, Maine 04401and the phone number is (207) 992-9270 and the fax is (207) 992-9273.

TEC’s email and website address will remain the same.

The building is wheelchair accessible with ample parking and is located near the Downtown area of Bangor. Call or email TEC staff for further information.

See the Contact page for directions.

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TEC assists Microsoft in MARC Program

The Technical Exploration Center is proud to announce we have been designated one of 46 Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers (MARC) nationwide.

What this means for you is that TEC can be your resource to showcase the numerous accessible technology options available on today’s computers. Our staff will be able to provide accessibility training to business employees, or accessibility consultation to businesses looking to create an accessibility strategy.

TEC is equipped with video demonstrations and accessibility tutorials that show how to make computing easier, more convenient, and more comfortable. Our professional staff is on hand to answer questions and help visitors learn how to adjust their personal computers. Free Microsoft Accessibility Resource CD sets are also available so visitors can take the information home with them.

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TEC Offers Monthly Product Demos

Assistive technology covers such a wide range of equipment and devices and it can be very difficult to keep up with the technology of the times. TEC wants to help make this task a little easier and fun for you. It is one thing to read about assistive technology and another to see the products demonstrated in the context of practical application with functional tasks of everyday life.

We are beginning our monthly demonstrations with Freedom Scientific products to aid individuals with low vision or blindness. (See our Calendar of Events for details)

Future demonstrations will include augmentative and alternative communication systems, technologies that aid manipulation and control of the environment, mobility and positioning technologies, computer based technologies such as accessible hardware and adaptive software, aids for the deaf and people who have hearing impairments, and so much more.

We invite you to join us each month for a new product demonstration as they are posted on our website at http://www.tecmaine.org/. They will be FREE and open to the public. Our goal is to offer new and exciting information to assist you in the acquisition of assistive technology.

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Take a Look at Our Inventory

The long awaited inventory database has begun to take shape on the TEC website. Please take a moment to browse through the inventory section of this site. What you will find are descriptions of some of the equipment we have for loan.

Our hope is that this added feature enhances the search for assistive technology needs. We will continually add to the database throughout the spring and summer until our inventory has been displayed.

If you should have any questions regarding specifics on any equipment, we encourage you to contact TEC staff for personal assistance. We hope you enjoy the convenience of “window shopping” from a distance.

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Telecommunications Equipment on Display

Is using the telephone a problem for you?

The Technical Exploration Center is pleased to welcome the Maine Center on Deafness (MCD) to our facility in a collaborative effort to inform the public of their telecommunication equipment lending and cost-sharing programs. MCD offers specialized equipment to telephone customers with disabilities in Maine.

Equipment such as amplified telephones, TTY’s, voice-activated speaker phones, and telephone signalers are among the items being displayed at TEC. This long-term display will allow people from the mid-Maine area and North to access the equipment without traveling to Portland.

Staff from MCD is more than willing to arrange presentations to include overviews of the features of the equipment, education on the Maine Relay Service, and more detailed information about their equipment program. Please call TEC to express your interest in arranging one of these presentations.

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How Can We Help?

Check out all the ways we can work with you

Equipment Loan: TEC houses more than 2000 pieces of assistive technology. Communication, computer software and hardware, items for hygiene, mealtime, telephones, TV control.

Evaluations: Unsure what types of assistive technology you need to be more successful at school or work? Need help keeping or increasing your independence at home? Speak with us about an evaluation.

Consultations: Need help working with the assistive technology you have? Our staff can help you or the people who work with you to create a plan to use the assistive technology equipment.

Inservices: We love to talk about our services, the inventory, creative uses for the equipment you have and many other topics. We are available for 1-hour inservices as well as full day. Call for more information.

Training: TEC staff is beginning to offer 1:1 training on computer software such as word prediction or voice input technology.

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Calendar of Events

Please go to the complete Calendar of Events for registration information

DONATIONS ACCEPTED:

If you have equipment you are no longer using, we would like to help someone else benefit from it. Equipment can be placed with the condition it would be returned if needed in the future. This works well for school systems, day programs and other service providers.

We regret we do not have room for a large amount of durable medical equipment; however we would be happy to direct you to agencies which need or lend this equipment.

Another option is to use the new GetATStuff service which allows people to buy, sell or donate assistive technology devices.

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