ELR-News

ELR Software produces a range of computer programs designed by speech pathologists for speech, language & literacy intervention. Our programs may be used interactively within therapy sessions, to increase efficiency in service delivery, and to improve access to the Internet for people with special needs. We are also available as consultants to clinicians and research projects in the fields of literacy and accessibility issues associated with the Internet.

The aim of this newsletter is to inform you of developments and changes to our major products eLr (Extra Language Resources), Rude Readers, Word Meanings and EIA (Enhancing Internet Access). We welcome the opportunity for feedback and questions, and will be pleased to consider including reader contributions and announcements.

This Newsletter (and previous editions) as well as a "print-ready" PDF version of the current edition is available online at www.elr.com.au/news. An email version is also sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).

In this issue -

1. New and Revised eLr Materials
2. Special Education Expo
3. Other Independent Developers
4. Free Downloads
5. ELR 2007 Calendar

1. New and Revised eLr Materials

   Nineteen new tasks have been added to "Using Language - Sequences". To accommodate most of these new tasks we have added a new sub-section "Narratives". The names of the existing sub-sections have also been changed to more clearly describe the contents. So now, under "Sequences", there are 3 sub-sections:

   • "Seriation" - where the focus is on visually based reordering
   • "Familiar routines" - there are 'common' routines (eg brushing teeth, having a bath), and 'less common' routines (eg filling car with fuel, chickens hatching).
   • "Narratives" - these are short pictorial stories that usually contain a 'start', 'an event' and a 'finish'

   The aim of all the sequencing tasks is to strengthen abilities in the use of specific language, and production of sequences of sentences to describe routines and stories. The model used in all these tasks is ImageSequencer. This model displays a number of pictures on the screen (2 - 8 pictures, depending on the complexity required), and it allows for modifications to vary complexity. By selecting "length" you are able to present 2, 3, or up to 8 pictures in the sequence. To provide repetition you may start by having the client describe the 2 picture sequence. Then repeat the procedure, each time increasing the length of the sequence. This allows for slight increases in difficulty, but also encourages consolidation of the ability to produce descriptive language.

   The new tasks are predominantly in the "Narratives" sub-section. The stories cover themes like 'a picnic that gets rained out', 'a spilt paint episode', 'dropping eggs' and 'a boy who doesn't want to eat his dinner'. There are also some useful additions to "Familiar Routines", eg 'going to the dentist', 'going to the doctor', 'having a hair cut'. These new tasks should provide material to work on:

   • - the ability to produce short narratives with picture support, ('beginning, middle, end' of a story)
   • - concepts, such as "who", "what doing" "where are they"
   • - inferencing, "how did they do it", "why", "how could that have been prevented"
   • - predicting, "what will happen next", "tell me another way this story could end"
   • - relating to the client's own experience, "have you ever done something like this", "tell me about that"

   We have made some subtle changes to ImageSequencer model. In this model, visual feedback for the selected picture is provided by yellow highlighting . But we've realized that in some of the sequences, the visual feedback for the selected picture was not obvious because the pictures were too dense. We have reviewed all of the sequences and simplified the pictures so that the yellow highlighting (within the picture and on the border) is very clear.

2. Special Education Expo

   ELR Software had a trade stand and did 2 presentations at the "Making a Difference: A Special Education Expo" in Adelaide earlier this month. As always it was nice to put faces to the names of some of our existing subscribers, and to get feedback and ideas from the many people we met. Our thanks go to the organizers and people who attended the expo.

3. Other Independent Developers

   As an occasional feature of this Newsletter, we include simple, unpaid announcements of products developed by other small, independent developers, who, like ourselves, are practising clinicians who have put their ideas and experience into resource materials for general distribution. Links and brief information about these sites may be found at www.elr.com.au/links/developers.htm. To date we have listed -

   • Innovative Communication Programming
   • News Talk CD
   • PELICAN TALK Speech Therapy Resources
   • Play & Learn/Sounds Song Marathon (Annie Arrow)
   • ReadingDoctor Software

   If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.

4. Free Downloads

   ELR has a number of free or evaluation files available for downloading directly from our website. Please see www.elr.com.au/downloads.htm for specific details. For other supporting materials and documents available for free download, please see www.elr.com.au/support.htm.

   • Products: The current ELR Software - Product Brochure, in PDF format.
   • eLr-Offline: Compiled, "mirror" version of the eLr (Extra Language Resources) website which you may download and run on your own PC. Allows access to the eLr Directory and all tasks from locations where regular access to the Internet is not possible.
   • Word Meanings: Volume One. Trialware, Interactive Language Program designed to build understanding and recall of words by strengthening semantic processing, based on the therapy manual Building Language: Word Meanings by Robyn Dower and Jan Mackey's, Helios Art and Book Co, 1996.
   • Rude Readers: Volumes One to Five. Trialware, eBook type programs each containing 5 "Readers" intended primarily for children with speech, language and reading disorders. They are intended to stimulate humour and provide material targeting a range of language goals.
   • Rude Readers Library: A single "Table of Contents" program for all published volumes of Rude Readers containing brief descriptions and the full, cross-referenced Speech Pathology Targets for each published Reader.
   • eLr  Directory (Summary): Summary of eLr Directory in print-ready PDF format. Contains all the classification information but no listing of actual tasks and task numbers. (The full version is available only to eLr subscribers.)
   • EIA  Browser: A specialised Browser for Internet training and access for people with disabilities and other special needs.
   • EIA  Demonstration: Demonstration of EIA Browser, AAP and Web Tutorial modules to let you see, or show others, how the EIA Browser and its Plugin modules (the AAP and the Web Tutorial) "look and feel".
   • Black  Window: Enhance visibility and reduce distractibility of other programs. Fills the screen with a black background which remains underneath other programs. Mininmize or close the program to restore normal Windows appearance.
   • APAR-C: Allows delivery of the APAR (Assessment of Phonological Awareness and Reading) from a computer using either a scan-switch (such as the Discover Switch), or conventional mouse/keyboard, or touchscreen. Also contains all the score sheets and stimulus cards.
   • APAR/PDF (zipped): APAR (Assessment of Phonological Awareness and Reading) in print-ready PDF format (zipped). Contains all the score sheets and stimulus cards.
   • WordCue  Trainer: Installs WordCue and the WordCue Trainer on your computer. WordCue provides assistance in reading words, links and phrases on web pages. By selecting a word or phrase which is difficult to read, a range of cues are provided directly within the MS Internet Explorer Browser
   • Literacy  Online: Mirror of Literacy Online web site. This is the full (except for external links) set of files (.htm/.js/.css/.gif/.jpg) that constitute the Literacy Online web site.
   
    

5. ELR 2007 Calendar

   • Planning for 2007/2008 workshops
     We will be continuing to hold workshops at locations within Australia that suit your needs and schedules. So if you would like a workshop for your clinicians, staff, or families, please contact us. We are not charging for the workshops, so to make our trip worthwhile, we would need:
     1. to have a venue provided - it is difficult to know the best locations in all areas.
     2. to be able to also hold a general workshop for other clinicians, parents or school staff in your area. It may suit you to have a specific workshop for your staff, so that you are able to "get the most out of" eLr. We would then like to hold a second workshop for any others who may be interested.
     3. to have assistance from you to publicize the workshop. As with the locations, it is quite difficult to know how the different services are organized in the various locations around Australia. We hope that you may be able to use your existing networks to let people know about the workshops.

   For non-Australian clients, please contact us so that we can also plan ways to demonstrate how eLr can assist in your service delivery.

Subscribing/Unsubscribing to this Newsletter

You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au