Among other things, the funding for this project provided for the purchase of software materials. These materials were reviewed by the language grant participants throughout the project. The review was based on the use of materials during student instruction. Included in the review were disk software and CD-ROM disks.
Permission has been granted to place online the review of these computer materials used in language therapy. They have been rated by the grant participants as poor, fair, good and excellent, the applicable language therapy objectives have been included, and the source provided.
Boardmaker is a software program developed to create picture communication boards, but several other suggested uses for it are picture/text overlays for a variety of high tech systems (touch talker, super wolf), picture dictionaries for process writing, grids for a multitude of uses, graphic organizers, pic-syms above text to aid in reading. Useful for SLPs, SPED teachers, and regular ed. as well. Available from Mayer-Johnson for $400, or a 5 machine site license for $1000.
Broderbund's CD Storybooks, PAC/PC ($39.95@)
Just Grandma and Me - PreK-4
The Tortoise and the Hare - PreK-4
Arthur's Teacher Trouble - K-5
Ruff's Bone - K-3
Little Monster At School - PreK-3
Arthur's Birthday - K-6
Harry and the Haunted House - K-6
New Kid on the Block - 1-6
Berenstein Bears - K-3
Computer Curriculum Corporation's CD's MAC/PC ($29.95@)
Busytown
How Things Work in Busytown
Richard Scarry books
Kidspread's CDs - recommend MAC only ($19.95)
Mud Puddle
Paper Bag Princess
Scary Poems for Rotten Kids
Tale of Peter Rabbit
Thomas' Snowsuit
Heather Hits Her First Home Run
Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache
McGee programs - the following were recommended for preschoolers
Mixed up Mother Goose,
Play Room
Talking Sticky Bear ABC's
Psychological Corporation
Picture Gallery - (Articulation and Phonlogy) CD mac/pc
Picture Gallery - (Language: Thematic Units) CD mac/pc
Sentence Master by Marion Blank is a "linguistically-based reading program that integrates computer activities and print materials." Developed for students with or at risk of literacy problems, it is designed overcome the language deficits associated with poor reading, including "deficits in the areas of naming, syntax, and comprehension." Available from Laureate Learning Systems.
Write Aloud, a software package from Don Johnston Catalog. It is a word processing program which allows student to minimize keyboarding skills, has a predictive spelling feature and provides auditory feedback (speaks the typed message as you enter it). If you call company they will send you a demo disk free of charge. Other Don Johnston software suggestions are Co-Writer and Blocks in Motion
Cross Platform Medical Software Solutions for the Macintosh OS and Windows 95 is an example of medical billing programs available.
Bungalow Software was formed by Clay Nichols & Terri Brancewicz to provide products for Speech/Language Pathologists and their clients. Their first product, FreeForm is a shareware product which automates the process of printing speech, language, and cognition treatment materials.
Edmark has very functional-based reading programs on disk--right now only for Apple.
Laureate Learning Systems, has software for very severely involved students as well as language programs for children
Winooski, BT 05404
1-800-562-6801
Parrot Software
call 1-800-parrot-1 for a catalog.
or visit their web site for an overview of what they offer. A wide range of programs are available to address cognitive, language and/or functional daily activities.
LAB Resources, a company specializing in software and hardware for special needs and education, includes information on how can computers be used in articulation/voice therapy
Literacy software for young children
Leslie Kefauver's Homepage suggests and evaluates software she uses in her clinical work with children ages 7-15.
gopher://gopher.ed.gov/ contains a downloadable depository of software.
http://www.software.net/ features searchable access to 50,000 magazine articles, some of which must be reviews of relevant materials. However, this site is not limited to SLP or special ed software.
Altavista search engine will produce several hundred hits for "K-12 software"
(Includes several bibliographical references suggested by Paula Cochran, Michael Chial, Richard Katz, Ann Lieberth, Mike Guerrieri, Doug Martin, Julie Masterson, Richard McGuire, Julie Scherz, Art Schwartz, and Michael Wynne from a "cracker barrel" session, ASHA convention, Orlando, FL, 1995. Additional suggestions are welcome)
ASHA software review checklist, ASHA, May, 1984, p. 64.
Bull, G.L., Cochran, P.S., and Snell, M.E. (1988) Beyond CAI: Computers, language, and persons with mental retardation. Topics in Language Disorders, 8(4), 55-76
Cochran, P.S. and Bull, G.L (1991) Integrating word processing into language therapy. Topics in Language Disorders, 11(2), 31-48.
Cochran, P.S. and Bull, G.L. (1992) Computer-assisted learning and instruction In J. Rassi, and M. McElroy (eds), The Education of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (pp. 363-386)
Curtis, J. (1987). An introduction to microcomputers in speech, language, and hearing. Boston: Little Brown, & Co.
Goldman, R. and Dahle, A.J. (1985) Current and emerging applications of microcomputer technology in communication diosrders. Topics in Language Disorders, 6(1), 11-25
Grossman, M., & Grossman, C. (Eds). (1986). Microcomputer Application in Rehabilitation Communication Disorders. Rockville, MD: Aspen Publishers.
Houle, G.R. (1988) Computer usage by speech-language pathologists in public schools. Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, 19, 423-427.
Katz, R.C. (1986) Aphasia treatment and microcomputers, San Diego, CA: College Hill.
Lindsey, J.D. (1987) Special magic-computers, classroom strategies and exceptional students. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Pub.
Lindsey, J. (1993) Computers and exceptional individuals, 2nd edition, Austin, TX: Pro-Ed
Masterson,J.J. (1995) Computer applications in the schools: What we can do - what we should do. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools 26(3), 211-212.
McGuire, R (1995) Computer-based instrumentation: Issues in clinical applications Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools 26(3), 232-240
Mendel, L.L., Wynne, M.K., English, K. and Schmidt-Troike, A (1995) Compuer applications in educational audiology Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools 26(3), 232-240.
Meyers, L. (1984). Unique contributions of microcomputers to language intervention with handicapped children. Seminars in Speech and language, 5(1), 23-32.
O'Connor, L. and Scherey, T.K. (1986) A comparison of microcomputer-assisted and traditional language therapy for developing communication skills in nonoral toddlers Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 51(4), 356-361
Prinz, P.M. (1991) Literacy and language development with microcomputer-videodisc-assisted interactive contexts Journal of Childhood Communication Disorders 14(1), 67-80.
Russell, S.J., Corwin, R., Mokros, J.R. and Kapisovsky, P.M. (1988) Beyond drill and proactice: Expanding the computer mainstream, Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children
Schery, T.K. and O'Connor, L.C. (1992) The effectiveness of school-based computer language intervention with severely handicapped children Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools 23(1), 43-47
Schwartz, A. (Ed.). (1984). Handbook of Microcomputer Applications in Communication Disorders. San Diego: College Hill.
Steiner, S. and Larson, V.L. (1991) Integrating microcomputers into language intervention with children. Topics in Language Disorders 11(2), 18-30.
Volin, R.A> (1991) Microcomputer-based systems providing biofeedback of voice and speech production Topics in Language Disorders 11(2), 65-79