[LM_NET] HIT: websites and resources for one-handed students

[Liz Frame <fourefs@SBCGLOBAL.NET>]

I really appreciate the quick and very helpful information that was forthcoming. I 
can't wait to share these with my computer teacher on Monday! The main suggestions 
were to check out the website 
http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/, and apparently Windows has an Accessibility 
option in Control Panel. It allows all sorts of options for keying and the mouse. 
Who knew? lol


My original target:
We have a school family who adopted several children from Russia, and two of these 
delightful children were born with only one hand. They have been with us since 
Pre-K 4s, and they are now in 1st grade and Kindergarten. They do so well in their 
adjustment, and our students are so used to it, that we tend to forget about future 
issues, such as teaching keyboarding in 2nd grade. Our computer teacher mentioned 
this to me last week, and she asked if I had any information about teaching these 
students in a mainstream class in computer.

Does anyone have words of wisdom on this opportunity?

Your Responses:

1. One of my professors at Univ. of N. Tx lost an arm to cancer at the age of 13.  
His name is Dr. Russell Elleven.  He is Assistant Professor in the College of Ed. 
program: Applied Training, Technology and Development--but he also does counseling, 
has a background in theology and is generally a very nice person.  You might want 
to contact him.  A link to his UNT webpage is below.  He might be able to offer 
some practical advice. 

http://www.coe.unt.edu/elleven/about.htm  

2. We have a student in our HS with only one arm, and nothing stops him. 
If Leon Fleisher(I thing it was Leon) can learn to play the piano with
only his left hand, then surely these kids can learn to use a computer
with only one hand.  It might take them a bit longer, but I'd be willing
to bet they will catch up fast. Just my thoughts.

3. I did a search and came up with this website. It seems like it is possible for a 
one-handed person to do very well with a regular keyboard. This would probably be 
the best approach because then these kids will be able to function anywhere and not 
need an adapted keyboard.
 
http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/

4. Windows has an Accessibility option in Control Panel. It allows all sorts of 
options for keying and the mouse.

5. I once taught piano lessons to an individual with only one hand. Personal 
adjustment was a challenge but love of performing music with what could be done was 
the goal.  An organ with option for individual's feet was added to the equation in 
this person's life.  Much joy was explored there.

6. I too had not thought about keyboarding skills for one-handed children and we 
have one pre-k student in our school with just one hand.  
 
I am sorry I don't have an idea to contribute, but could you please let me know if 
you get any answers to your request?

7.  I watch my sons and their friends and they use just one hand-self taught. 
Amazing to watch.

8. If you get any hits, would you please share them?  For the first time this year, 
I also have a one-handed student.  He is in 3rd grade and is doing quite well just 
using one hand for typing.  But if there is something that is specifically geared 
to help him, I’d love to hear about it.

9. There are resources for teaching students with one hand (as a former teacher of 
blind children, we had to deal with this issue using both a braille writer and then 
a keyboard).  Here are some links to some resources that might be helpful:

http://www.onehandedkeyboard.com/

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/childrenlimbsupportgroups.html

http://www.onehandedkeyboard.com/maltron.html

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/introduction.html

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/teaching.html

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/manual.html

http://www.abilityhub.com/keyboard/onehand.htm

http://www.abilityhub.com/ecolumn/2002/mar1.htm

http://www.infogrip.com/category_view.asp?subcategory=1&CatTxt=One+Handed&option=keyboard

http://www.makoa.org/computers.htm

http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160377&ksectionid=160164&atlitid=177437

http://www.lerdeaux.com/faq.html

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/recovery_after_amputation/52230

http://www.bltt.org/quicktips/fao_onehandedtyping.htm

http://www.esmerel.org/misc/onehand.htm

http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/content/factsheets/pdfs/Keyboarding%20and%20Touch%20Typing%20for%20Children.pdf

10. Have you had a good look at http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/ ? It might help.

Also, have you looked around in the Accessibility programs in the students' 
computers for anything that might help?  I am hearing-impaired, so I looked around 
in those programs to see what might help me there.  You might find something 
helpful there.

Blessings to you during your weekend,

Liz Frame
Librarian
San Antonio Christian Elementary School
fourefs@sbcglobal.net

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