LAT Kids 2007-01-31T18:41:33Z tag:www.latkids.org,2007://1 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2007, Greg Griffith LATKids: A Vision of Hope 2007-01-31T18:41:33Z 2007-01-31T12:41:33-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2007://1.33 2007-01-31T18:41:33Z At LATKids, we believe the hardest job in the world is being the parent of a disabled child. Our mission is to find kids in Mississippi who need our help, develop and adapt assistive technology for them, then make available... Greg Griffith Main At LATKids, we believe the hardest job in the world is being the parent of a disabled child.

Our mission is to find kids in Mississippi who need our help, develop and adapt assistive technology for them, then make available - to everyone, no matter where they - the things we've learned and the products we've developed. Everything we've created is here on this site, and it's available for download at no charge. That's right - it's all free!

Our video showing some of the work we do here at LATKids is finished, and you can watch it online. Take ten minutes and meet LATKids director Bob Crisler, and some of the kids, parents, and teachers we work with, and get a look at some of the technologies we're exploring.

Our thanks go out to the good folks from the Madison County School District for taking time out of their schedules to talk to us on camera about how LATKids is changing the lives of children in Mississippi.

]]> New Autism-related products 2007-01-05T20:39:45Z 2007-01-05T14:39:45-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2007://1.32 2007-01-05T20:39:45Z In partnership with TEAAM (Together Enhancing Autism Awareness in Mississippi), we're about to release our latest software product. Stay tuned for details.... Bob Crisler bob@thecrislers.com News In partnership with TEAAM (Together Enhancing Autism Awareness in Mississippi), we're about to release our latest software product. Stay tuned for details.

]]> Speak for Yourself is now in fourteen countries! 2006-04-11T19:59:35Z 2006-04-11T14:59:35-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2006://1.28 2006-04-11T19:59:35Z That's right. People searching for quality synthetic speech products have downloaded our very own Speak for Yourself from fourteen different countries. We're exploring the idea of making our product mult-lingual so check back often to check on our progress. In... News That's right. People searching for quality synthetic speech products have downloaded our very own Speak for Yourself from fourteen different countries. We're exploring the idea of making our product mult-lingual so check back often to check on our progress. In addition, our newest version of SFY is going to be a literacy-based product with some innovative, exciting features. Hit the "Download our Programs" button on our home page and see what all the excitement is about.

]]> That's right. People searching for quality synthetic speech products have downloaded our very own Speak for Yourself from fourteen different countries. We're exploring the idea of making our product mult-lingual so check back often to check on our progress. In addition, our newest version of SFY is going to be a literacy-based product with some innovative, exciting features. Hit the "Download our Programs" button on our home page and see what all the excitement is about.

]]> A Midsummer's Night Out 2005-10-05T13:37:06Z 2005-10-05T08:37:06-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.15 2005-10-05T13:37:06Z In July we hosted an event we called "A Midsummer's Night Out". We invited children from around the state who use synthetic speech devices to speak for them. We staged an adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" complete with... Greg Griffith Worked In July we hosted an event we called "A Midsummer's Night Out". We invited children from around the state who use synthetic speech devices to speak for them. We staged an adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" complete with period costumes. In addition, we met with each family individually to determine what we need to do to assist them further in their home and school setting. When we broke camp the next day, we had our marching orders. Our goal was to have our campers begin school with some new tools and momentum. Our other objective was to strengthen our community of users of these assistive technologies by hosting an event of this sort. I think we met those objectives.

You can download our adapted script for your use by clicking here.

You can find similar costumes at many online costume stores.

Here, Bob directs rehearsal:

Hannah "backstage" getting ready for the performance:

Trading Spaces designer Laurie Smith dropped by and posed for pictures with Andy and Anna:

]]> RJCooper.com 2005-09-29T18:55:21Z 2005-09-29T13:55:21-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.13 2005-09-29T18:55:21Z The Godfather of AT. This guy has greatly influenced my work and I'm certain many others in our field. More importantly, his creations have enabled people to do things they wouldn't have been able to without him. Check out his... Sites The Godfather of AT. This guy has greatly influenced my work and I'm certain many others in our field. More importantly, his creations have enabled people to do things they wouldn't have been able to without him. Check out his site. He even has a try-before-you-buy feature built into all of his software. Always approachable and always interested, pay him a visit.

]]> A Message from the Director 2005-09-19T20:12:59Z 2005-09-19T15:12:59-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.11 2005-09-19T20:12:59Z At LATKids, we're convinced that the most difficult job in America is being the parent of a disabled child. That is why we do what we do. We want to help your family. In the meantime, check out our site.... Greg Griffith Main At LATKids, we're convinced that the most difficult job in America is being the parent of a disabled child. That is why we do what we do. We want to help your family.

In the meantime, check out our site. Our latest creation is The Zone. This place in the blogosphere is set up for you. We hope children, their families and their schools will take advantage of this advancement in communication. We also want to foster relationships between schools in different geographic areas. This very cool tool will allow them to do just that as well as utilize some of the Assitive Technology that they use to do everything else. This adds to our growing list of useful tools to create meaningful activities that transcend the four walls around us. Let us know what you think.

Here's some of what we'll be doing in the next few months:

Feedback from our increasingly popular Aug Comm program, Speak for Yourself, has inspired the next generation in synthetic speech output offerings from LATKids. Be on the lookout for our literacy-based communication offering this autumn. We're really proud of what we're working on for you.

A Midsummer's Night Out is rapildy approaching and if you want to be a part of it, please, don't hesitate to contact us as slots are filling. You'll find more details in our news section above.


Please take a moment and subscribe to our web site, and we'll keep you informed of our events and developments.

- Bob Crisler

]]> Download Our Programs. We created each one of these and they are yours to use free of charge. If you like them, tell your friends. 2005-09-19T20:03:44Z 2005-09-19T15:03:44-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.10 2005-09-19T20:03:44Z Speak for Yourself is our very popular and innovative augmentative communications system. 54 buttons can be assigned any icon in our library, and any phrase you would like. Speak for Yourself uses Microsoft's synthetic speech, and works in direct-select... Greg Griffith Downloads Speak for Yourself is our very popular and innovative augmentative communications system. 54 buttons can be assigned any icon in our library, and any phrase you would like. Speak for Yourself uses Microsoft's synthetic speech, and works in direct-select or scan mode. Scanning speed is customizable. The program has configurable prompts for button rows and phrases, making it usable by sight-impaired users. Speak for Yourself allows users to record their favorite hobbies, music, food, and TV shows, date of birth and other bits of information, which can be integrated into any phrases by use of simple "tags."



Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000

IAM (pronounced "I am") is a unique instant messenger program. It analyzes incoming phrases and provides the user with three likely responses. It also lets the user on the "other end" program the three responses that will displayed to the recipient. This is used to great effect by parents at work messaging to their children at home, by caregivers, and friends. IAM works in scan mode or direct-select mode.



Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000


Kalon's Colors and Shapes is a visual therapy program designed for Kalon, a young girl who suffered cortical vision impairment. Designed under the direction of Kalon's therapists, Colors and Shapes allows caregivers to select a background color and a foreground color and shape. The program will then grow and shrink the shape to small, medium, and large sizes, at slow, medium, and fast speeds, all of which can be selected by the caregiver.



Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000


This program is also available on the web as a Shockwave presentation.

If the program doesn't play, you may need Shockwave. Please click the button below:
Verbal Behavior Technique is designed to help children associate words with images. It uses a simple interface that displays images and asks the user to select the correct one.

Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000
]]> Subscribe to LATKids 2005-09-14T15:06:13Z 2005-09-14T10:06:13-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.9 2005-09-14T15:06:13Z LATKids periodically distributes a newsletter highlighting events, new technologies, and how we're helping disabled children in Mississippi. We also alert our subscribers to LATKids media appearances. If you'd like to receive the newsletter and media alerts, please complete and submit... Greg Griffith Misc LATKids periodically distributes a newsletter highlighting events, new technologies, and how we're helping disabled children in Mississippi.

We also alert our subscribers to LATKids media appearances.

If you'd like to receive the newsletter and media alerts, please complete and submit the form below.

We will never give your information to anyone else.

]]> Closing the Gap 2005-09-13T19:32:27Z 2005-09-13T14:32:27-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.7 2005-09-13T19:32:27Z Closing the Gap is the largest gathering of AT Professionals. This site is loaded with helpful information as well as being the site with all the information pertaining to the annual conference.... Sites Closing the Gap is the largest gathering of AT Professionals. This site is loaded with helpful information as well as being the site with all the information pertaining to the annual conference.

]]> Council for Exceptional Children 2005-09-13T19:30:49Z 2005-09-13T14:30:49-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.6 2005-09-13T19:30:49Z The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.... Sites The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.

]]> TASH 2005-09-13T19:28:17Z 2005-09-13T14:28:17-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.5 2005-09-13T19:28:17Z TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.... Sites TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of society is the norm.

]]> Can LATKids Help My Child? 2005-09-12T20:22:44Z 2005-09-12T15:22:44-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.2 2005-09-12T20:22:44Z Lifeshare Assistive Technology is an organization that provides evaluation, diagnosis, software, hardware, and support for Mississippi children with disabilities, their families and schools. If you'd like to inquire about whether we can help yoiur child, please fill out and submit... Greg Griffith Help


If you'd like to inquire about whether we can help yoiur child, please fill out and submit this form:

]]> IAM User Base Continues to Grow 2005-09-12T19:32:30Z 2005-09-12T14:32:30-06:00 tag:www.latkids.org,2005://1.1 2005-09-12T19:32:30Z We now have people all over the country extolling the virtues of our Instant Messaging System. Cass and Claire continue to help us refine this excellent tool, which allows cool, age-appropriate, unprecedented communication, for single-switch users and individuals with visual... Greg Griffith News We now have people all over the country extolling the virtues of our Instant Messaging System. Cass and Claire continue to help us refine this excellent tool, which allows cool, age-appropriate, unprecedented communication, for single-switch users and individuals with visual impairments.

Download IAM.

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