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. Speech Pathology Australia Conference
2. New eLr Materials
3. Queensland Workshops - June 2006
4. Other Independent Developers
5. Free Downloads
6. ELR 2006 Calendar

1. Speech Pathology Australia Conference

   The conference in Fremantle was such a success. It was great to meet many of our subscribers - to chat and get feedback about the existing material, and also get lots more ideas about how to modify and add new areas. We also met so many new faces and enjoyed showing them the programs we have produced. There were many stimulating papers and lots of opportunity to discuss how to incorporate new ideas into our service delivery. We hope you all had time to enjoy Fremantle. We enjoyed the beaches - walking and swimming each morning in that amazingly clear water.

2. New eLr Materials

   We've been working in the "Phonological Awareness" section this month. There are 28 new tasks in a new subsection called "Blending sounds to make words". The aim of this subsection is to provide materials to strengthen the client's ability to listen to sounds, and blend the sounds to work out the word. It has been my observation that there is a group of children who find this activity confusing, and they often guess at a word which may have no relationship to the sounds they are trying to blend. These tasks are designed to help reduce the "guessing" that often occurs.

   The model used is MultiPic Slideshow which has also been slightly updated to provide a "shuffle" function. Pictures are presented on the screen. The client is instructed to listen to sounds, blend them, say the word, and then click the picture to check which matches the word. The clinician or helper delivers the sounds, eg /b-e-d/. Once the client responds by clicking the picture, correct answers are highlighted red, and the clinician provides further feedback.

   Using this type of activity, the client is less likely to guess, and is able to gain more experience with blending sounds and achieving success. The tasks are arranged with different levels of difficulty

   • The easiest tasks present pictures which have a high contrast, and there is only a choice of 2 pictures (eg bed sun)
   • The next level of difficulty is words which still have a high contrast, but there are a greater number to choose from, eg 4 or 6 pictures
   • The harder tasks present words that are more similar, eg bed bin
   • The highest level of difficultly presents similar words which a greater number to choose from, eg 4 or 6 pictures

   This section will be useful for clients who have phonological awareness difficulties and weaknesses in central auditory processing.

3. Queensland Workshops - June 2006

   We're off to Queensland next week, so will see some of you at the workshops that have been organized. Thank you very much for those who have invited us to demonstrate our material, and publicized our visit through your networks.

4. 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)

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

5. 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.
   
    

6. ELR 2006 Calendar

   • June 2006
     Queensland - Brisbane & Toowoomba

     • Brisbane: Tue 20th 10.00-11.00am
       12 Chalk Street, Woollowin Contact: Joanne Xerri (07) 3866 4220
     • Toowoomba: Tue 20th 3.30-4.45pm
       Toowoomba South State School Contact: Cheryl Billsborough 0437 354 496

   • July 2006
     Victoria - Melbourne

     • 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

   • Additional 2006 workshops
     This year we are holding 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