Assistive Technology

With a Concentration on Music Technology

Michael Grippo and

Blake Miller

Why Its important

Technology serves as a bridge. Think of all the ideas youve been able to explore
via technology, and how it is has opened doors for you. In all the examples weve
seen, providing disabled students with access to this technology opens their
world. furthermore, It might be said that technology, like music, is something that
creates advanced connections between people based on taste, art, and discovery.

Accessibility to computers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhj5vs9P5cw

Special controllers can allow access

Makey Makey Controller https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/makey-makeyadvanced-guide
sip and blow
Emotiv EPOC EEG
Head pushed button https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkG8iscwRXo

Accessibility for students with hearing loss

Korean research is creating glasses so that deaf people can see music
based on microphones that monitor the sounds and transfer to visual.
German device that sends an impulse to the brain to feel music at exact
frequency
Vibrating watch that defines distance of an object making a sound

Accessibility for deaf students

Braille attachments for laptops (Apple and PC)

text to speech software
Dancing Dots

Apple Based assistive technology

Voice over (command + F5) reads to the user exactly what is happening on
the screen.
Apple has braille controllers that are attachable to laptops.
Guided Access helps students with autism stay on task
Dictation is an app that types out what students speak

Beamz
Achieve Diverse Outcomes through Music
-

interactive music system that uses lasers to trigger musical instruments, sound effects, songs and more
uses music to:
differentiate instruction
convey early learning concepts
develop innovative therapy protocols
address the needs of wide range of special education populations

Universally Designed for Any Ability

-

address the needs of students with:

physical
cognitive
learning disabilities
Use the Player software alone on a:
touch activated surface/Interactive Whiteboards
Beamz Wireless Switch Set/Universal Switch Interface
a head-pointer
adapted keyboard
eye gaze

Beamz Cont.
Develop Life Skills
-

work on:

eye-hand/bilateral coordination

fine and gross motor skills

visual memory

sensory/auditory/visual processing

detecting patterns - skipping numbers,

identifying odds and evens, counting by 2s,
counting by 5s, and counting by 10s

range of motion

finger motion

responsibility

sequencing

listening and responding

memorization

predicting moods

right-hand/lefthand identification
-

turn taking

choice-making

Develop Music Skills

-

Beamz Cont.

create impressive musical compositions easily and quickly

expression
performance technique
improvisation
recording

Behaviors
-

"high trigger/too wired can provide more calming input - reduce the number of sounds you present and/or turn off the
background rhythm
underactive can provide more arousing input - increase the sounds

Interactive Games
-

learning concepts of rhythm and melody - identify the number of syllables in a word and will use rhythm to distinguish between
the syllables of a word
musical instrument discovery

Example:
-

Becky is 11 yrs. old and has cerebral palsy

Becky can access her computer and play music using the beamz software with a simple glance using Tobii EyeGaze
She interacts with the Beamz software by looking at the on screen controls
She is able to navigate effortlessly from instrument to instrument
Her family and friends can play along with the Beamz Laser Controller at the same time

Quotes
-

Beamz Cont.

Phoenix Childrens Hospital:

take their mind out of the pain
bring the kids spirits up
when he was introduced to the beams, Patrick didnt have much mobility and with the incentive of playing the beams
and listening to the music which he loves he is able to reach out with both hands both arms and play it to the fullest
extent and enjoys it so much
Mrs. Fishburne
Sometimes sounds and activity can overwhelm kids with autism, said Mrs. Fishburne. I thought a couple students
would step back from it because of the beat, I thought the sound and rhythm might be too much. Im always surprised
when they go for it and get such joy creating music and sounds on their own. My kids are amazed when playing the
Beamz. Im amazed how they quickly catch on to navigating it with the computer and being able to select the songs they
want and go back and forth to pick the rhythm, lead and bass. Kids as young as 1st and 2nd grade can manage and
navigate the Beamz system independently and with ease.
Some kids start off uncomfortable at the beginning and end up teaching other younger small groups how to use the
system. It also teaches my kids responsibility in being in charge of special equipment. This is a big deal in our
classroom, she added.
ADHD- They really dont have sensory needs as much, but mostly inattention and focus issues. Beamz allows their
bodies to get the energy out so they can get to focusing on their learning activity. They are moving and watching
whatever is happening on the computer screen while creating something. That in itself allows them to focus, and it also
gives them a break from sitting in the classroom and learning the conventional way. So when they are done with a 5-10
minute period with the Beamz, they are able to join the group and do a typical division lesson or whatever is going on. It
gives them the break and the movement they need to stay focused.

Free Music Apps for iPad

Synthesia
Echo string
Loopseque
Touch band

Online Applications

Incredibox
Noteflight
musictheory.net