Customize Themed Classroom Activities with Classroom Suite

  How to create and adapted overlay for the Intellikeys Keyboard

Young learners with Visual Impairments can interact with the computer through the use of customized programs using Classroom Suite.  Classroom Suite is an authoring tool that allows the author to create custom programs to target individual needs and incorporate curricular topics and themes.  Through the use of a single switch with a texture symbol or a braille/texture overlay placed on the Intellikeys Keyboard, young learners can improve their pre-braille and reading readiness skills.

Classroom Suite is manufactured by the Cambium Learning Technology Company. This company also known by many as "Intellitools" offers support to the educator by providing on line tuturials and free 30 day program trials. http://store.cambiumlearning.com

Intellitools also offers an "Activity Exchange" which is a database of thousands of curricular themed activities created by teachers.  You must create an account to download the activities and you can also choose to receive an alert each time a new activity is added.

To create overlays for the Intellikeys Keyboard, you must use the software program "Overlay Maker."   When creating overlays for students with visual impairments you must consider each individual users vision needs. Collaborate with your student's vision specialist to create overlays.  Possible adaptations include: 

* reducing visual clutter by creating less buttons, or larger buttons

* add braille

* enlarge the font on written text

* add textures

* create physical boarders between buttons by using keyguards, or items such as wikki sticks, puffy paint, raised lines.