Guest guest Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 I cannot understand why the schools fight us on such stupid things......... I mean these kids can get just as much work done with an alphasmart or a writer as the other students can with handwriting...... silly schools.... If they see a student is struggling with his fine motor skills why not let him/her use an alpha smart and set time aside daily to practice their handwriting...... Just does not make sense..... in Lancaster, CaLaha1960@... wrote: In a message dated 1/10/2006 7:31:11 A.M. Central Standard Time, Autism and Aspergers Treatment writes: Have you tried an Alpha smart??? My son is 10 years old and in 5th grade. His teacher allows him to use an alpha smart because he cannot write as quickly as his classmates can. It seems to work pretty well..... and he is able to keep up with his class. ** Hi I saw you mentioned to someone the Alpha Smart. I tried to get one of these for my son when he was younger in ELE school, but the school was very reluctant. DUMB REASONS. Anyway, finally got one for him in high school, finally. The high school has provided one called a WRITER, which is for older students, not younger ones like the Alpha Smart. We are so happy my son had this opportunity, and the school OT has worked with him on this. He is now almost 17 and a Junior in High school. He does VERY well in school and is a high honor student! in IL :_) Photos – Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover Photo Books. You design it and we’ll bind it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 >>I cannot understand why the schools fight us on such stupid >>things......... I mean these kids can get just as much work done with an >>alphasmart or a writer as the other students can with handwriting...... >>silly schools.... If they see a student is struggling with his fine motor >>skills why not let him/her use an alpha smart and set time aside daily to >>practice their handwriting...... Just does not make sense.....<< I quite agree . And these days who needs to be able to write anyway? As long as he can produce a signature for banks etc, that is all that is needed! in England Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 We have the same problem with my son,his writing has become worse throughout the years. They could not correct his exams, and they want us to buy a laptop for him. We just bought him a computer at Christmas,but now a laptop... Lolo > > > >>I cannot understand why the schools fight us on such stupid > >>things......... I mean these kids can get just as much work done with an > >>alphasmart or a writer as the other students can with handwriting...... > >>silly schools.... If they see a student is struggling with his fine motor > >>skills why not let him/her use an alpha smart and set time aside daily to > >>practice their handwriting...... Just does not make sense.....<< > > I quite agree . And these days who needs to be able to write anyway? > As long as he can produce a signature for banks etc, that is all that is > needed! > > in England > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Unless your child attends a private school you should NEVER purchase/provide technological assistance type equipment! If your son has an IEP or a 504 Plan and the school knows that he needs the technology then THEY have to provide it! Write a letter asking them to do a Technology Evaluation to assess the best kind of technology to fit his particular needs and then have it added to his plan. Too many schools use that "You buy it and we'll let him/her use it" line and it is wrong-they receive state and federal funding to pay for those things! Good luck! a Re: ALPHA SMART We have the same problem with my son,his writing has become worse throughout the years. They could not correct his exams, and they want us to buy a laptop for him. We just bought him a computer at Christmas,but now a laptop...Lolo>> > >>I cannot understand why the schools fight us on such stupid > >>things......... I mean these kids can get just as much work done with an > >>alphasmart or a writer as the other students can with handwriting...... > >>silly schools.... If they see a student is struggling with his fine motor > >>skills why not let him/her use an alpha smart and set time aside daily to > >>practice their handwriting...... Just does not make sense.....<<> > I quite agree . And these days who needs to be able to write anyway? > As long as he can produce a signature for banks etc, that is all that is > needed!> > in England> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Re: ALPHA SMART Unless your child attends a private school you should NEVER purchase/provide technological assistance type equipment! If your son has an IEP or a 504 Plan and the school knows that he needs the technology then THEY have to provide it! Write a letter asking them to do a Technology Evaluation to assess the best kind of technology to fit his particular needs and then have it added to his plan. Too many schools use that " You buy it and we'll let him/her use it " line and it is wrong-they receive state and federal funding to pay for those things! Good luck! a *********Yes, the school should provide this and realize that this is the way to go if they understand “accommodations”. When my son was in Ps. the school purchased a Alpha Smart for him in fifth grade(4 years ago), upon the recommendation of an educational consultant. It’s a pretty standard recommendation now a days….Gail **********For the mom talking about Head Start, I agree with Annie, arrange a meeting with the program director or whoever is in charge………..Gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 ************I meant to mention if you ever return an Alpha Smart or any equipment, be sure and get a signed and dated receipt. I did this because of knowing how disorganized the personal were involved at the school. Sure enough months later they called and wanted to know if I had returned the Alpha Smart, they needed it for another student and couldn’t find it….Gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 We have to buy a laptop for my son because of his dysgraphia,any idea besides the alpha-smart which computer would be the least expensive. Thanks for your help. Lolo > > > Re: Re: ALPHA SMART > > Unless your child attends a private school you should NEVER > purchase/provide technological assistance type equipment! If your son > has an IEP or a 504 Plan and the school knows that he needs the > technology then THEY have to provide it! Write a letter asking them to > do a Technology Evaluation to assess the best kind of technology to fit > his particular needs and then have it added to his plan. Too many > schools use that " You buy it and we'll let him/her use it " line and it > is wrong-they receive state and federal funding to pay for those things! > Good luck! > a > > *********Yes, the school should provide this and realize that this is > the way to go if they understand " accommodations " . When my son was in > Ps. the school purchased a Alpha Smart for him in fifth grade(4 years > ago), upon the recommendation of an educational consultant. It's a > pretty standard recommendation now a days..Gail > > **********For the mom talking about Head Start, I agree with Annie, > arrange a meeting with the program director or whoever is in > charge.....Gail > > _____ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Re: ALPHA SMART We have to buy a laptop for my son because of his dysgraphia,any idea besides the alpha-smart which computer would be the least expensive. Thanks for your help. Lolo ****Hi Lolo, I don’t know which is less expensive but I would compare the two as far as features, to see which would be the best for the next few years for your son. He will have to be careful it doesn’t get stolen. I would want a place it can be locked up from day one when not in use. Handle with care as banging around can create problems. We like Dell and this is the one thing I would suggest paying for the 3 year service contract for………..Gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 My son had an Alpha Smart from 8-12th grade. He has fine motor skills on the level of a 2 year old, so reading his handwriting was a joke. Unfortunately, he did not like using it because no one else in the High School was allowed to use laptop type devices and this was just one more thing to make him different. California requires the students to pass a high school exit exam which includes essays. I had it written into his IEP that he could use the Alpha Smart and since they had the special ed students taking the test in the room with their Study Skills teacher, this was one time that DS did not object BUT>..... When I sent a reminder to the the English teacher (was not yet sure exactly where son was taking the test-- with special ed or in the English Class like all the other kids), DS's counselor informed me that DS would get a certificate of completion and not a diploma if he used the Alpha Smart since it is a modification of the test. This was 4 hours before the test. I immediately went on the website and researched " modification " vs " accommodation. " What I found was this was an accommodation so the essays could be easily read, and not a change to the test, so I went to the school and DEMANDED that too research it. They agreed with me, called the State Education Department and got a definitive answer. I then DEMANDED (90 minutes until test time) that they put in the IEP that this is an accommodation and not a modification. DS passed the test and went on to graduate with the class getting a diploma. Debbi in SO CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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