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 -
The conference in Fremantle is only a week or so away (May 21st - 25th 2006). ELR Software will be at exhibitor stand 44. Come and say hello, and have a look at our products. We are launching our new program called Build-a-Sentence. This program was developed with two clinicians from Sydney, Virginia Long and Helen Goltzoff. Build-a-Sentence is designed to strengthen the client's ability to produce two and three part sentences. It starts with naming, and builds sentence complexity from Subject-Verb, Verb-Object, Verb-Adverbial, Subject-Verb-Object, Subject-Verb-Adverbial. The program includes games to encourage fun and spontaneous production of sentences.
The Speech Pathology Australia Conference is always a rewarding experience. I enjoy attending as many sessions as possible, and we look forward to meeting our existing clients, and showing our materials to people who have not seen or used the programs.
Short newsletter this month..... short month!. Keep the feedback coming in. We have had requests to develop materials to work on minimal pairs for phonology - consonant blends, so that's been added to our already ambitious list. It's great to know about your wish list, as that helps us plan our future sections.
This month there are 9 new tasks - fewer than usual. Our month has been shortened as we will be in Western Australia for two weeks. It will be a busy couple of weeks with the Speech Pathology Australia Conference and a number of ELR workshops around the Perth and Geraldton area.
The new tasks are in a new subsection called "Parts of a Sentence", in "Sentence Processing". This section will contain a number of subsections, such as possessives, plurals, verb tense and pronouns. This month we have started on the "Pronouns" subsection.
The new model is called PickADoor. It is a simple, pictorial model which will be appropriate for younger clients. The aim of the model is to present pictures which will prompt a verbal response from the client. The type of response will depend on the goal. In the "Pronouns" subsection, the aim is to provide material for the client to practice using pronouns. The tasks start by having the client simply respond with "he/she". Subsequent tasks will encourage the client to use the pronoun in short phrases, eg "he is/ she is".
In PickADoor, a scene is displayed on the screen (eg a house, bus, circus tent etc). The scene has one or two doors and the client clicks the "Open" button to open a door, and names the picture which is revealed as the door opens. The clincian or helper reinforces correct productions, and provides modeling and repetition as appropriate.
There are various ways to modify the task. Depending on the goal of the task, the scene can be presented with one or two doors. But the clinician or helper can change the number of doors by selecting "Doors-1" or "Doors-2". This means that after you have practiced the material using the predetermined set, you are able to ad lib and present the stimulii in an increasingly random fashion. As with most pictorial eLr tasks, you can choose to have only pictures, pictures plus words, or just words.
This model will also be useful for strengthening the understanding and use of questions. The client can be encouraged to ask "who is behind the door", or respond to the clinician's question, "who is behind that door?".
We will be in the Brisbane area during the week of Jun 19th - 23rd. Contact us if you have a group of clincians, school staff etc, who would like to see eLr. We can offer a free workshop, if you are able to provide a venue and use your networks to publicise the date, location etc. The workshops usually take about 1 - 1.5 hours, and the feedback is that once you have been taken through the program, it is very easy to use.
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 -
If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.
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.
Speech Pathology Australia National Conference
- Nedlands: Mon 15th 2.00 - 4.00pm. The Conference Room, The Niche, Cnr Hospital Ave & Aberdare Rd. Contact: Yvette Theodorsen (08) 9381 0600
- Wembley: Mon 15th 7.00 - 9.00pm. Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre, 36 Dodd St. Contact: Lynne Middleton (08) 9295 3836
- Joondalup: Tue 16th 7.00 - 9.00pm. Northern Suburbs Speech Pathology Contact: Helen Bolton (08) 9301 1154
- Dianella: Wed 17th 2.30 - 3.30pm. NE Language Development Centre 18 View St. Contact: Nicole Chambers (08) 9275 5511
- Geralton: Fri 19th 1.00 - 3.00pm. Suite 18, Geralton Shopping Centre 6-8 Chapman Rd. Contact: Kathryn Fitzgerald (08) 9964 8834
- Geralton: Fri 19th 3.30 - 5.00pm. School orientated session. Suite 18, Geralton Shopping Centre 6-8 Chapman Rd. Contact: Kathryn Fitzgerald (08) 9964 8834
We will have a commercial stand (table 44) during the conference with eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings, Build-a-Sentence and EIA on show. Hope to see you there.
- Not yet finalized: Between Monday 19th June and Friday 23rd. Please contact us if you are interested.
Victoria - Melbourne
- Launching Place: Tue 13th 4.00 - 5.00pm. School orientated session. Launching Place Primary School
Carter St, Launching Place Contact: Mary de Graaf (03) 9723 5877
- Burwood East: Tue 4th 4.00 - 5.00pm. Department of Ed and Training, Eastern Metro Region
Level2, 29 Lakeside Drive. Contact: Mary de Graaf (03) 9723 5877
For non-Australian clients, please contact us so that we can also plan ways to demonstrate how eLr can assist in your service delivery.
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
Copyright ©2006 ELR Software Pty Ltd
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