ELR Software produces a range of computer programs designed by speech pathologists for speech, language & literacy intervention. Our programs may be used interactively within therapy sessions, to increase efficiency in service delivery, and to improve access to the Internet for people with special needs. We are also available as consultants to clinicians and research projects in the fields of literacy and accessibility issues associated with the Internet.
The aim of this newsletter is to inform you of developments and changes to our major products eLr (Extra Language Resources), Build-a-Sentence, Word Meanings, Rude Readers and EIA (Enhancing Internet Access). We welcome the opportunity for feedback and questions, and will be pleased to consider including reader contributions and announcements.
This Newsletter (and previous editions) as well as a "print-ready" PDF version of the current edition is available online at www.elr.com.au/news. An email version is also sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).
Season's Greetings, and we wish you all a safe and happy new year. And special thanks to all to have provided us feedback - always helpful! We look forward to providing you with additional support in 2016 with our new online webinars which will be advertised in the new year.
In this issue -
Eighteen new tasks have been added to "Phonology - Skills & Early Sounds - Vowel sounds" in the "Short vowel sounds" subsection. These tasks continue the focus we started in the last edition of adding material to encourage accurate production of short vowel sounds in words with three sounds (consonant - vowel - consonant words). The new tasks target the remaining three of the five short vowel sounds (/o/, /u/, and /oo/ as in book), and use the MouthSounds model.
The MouthSounds model is designed to be used within interventions for people who have delays or impairments in use of sounds, that is, articulation or expressive phonology disorders. The default presentation of this model within these new tasks displays three faces on the screen depicting the three sounds in the word. The learner is encouraged to say each sound and blend to produce the target word. Following feedback from the clinician or support person about accuracy of production, the learner may then click a button to change the first sound in the word (eg "dog, fog, log"), or the last sound in the word (eg "bug, jug, hug, rug").
While this model has been very useful for children with speech sound disorders, the recent addition of adult faces means that it may be useful when working with adults who have severe impairments in speech production (eg, people who have verbal dyspraxia following a stroke); or it may provide additional fun for children. For example, the child may be encouraged to "teach mum how to say this sound".
As an occasional feature of this Newsletter, we include simple, unpaid announcements of products developed by other small, independent developers, who, like ourselves, are practising clinicians who have put their ideas and experience into resource materials for general distribution. Links and brief information about these sites may be found at www.elr.com.au/links/developers.htm. To date we have listed -
If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.
ELR has a number of free or evaluation files available for downloading directly from our website. Please see www.elr.com.au/downloads.htm for specific details. For other supporting materials and documents available for free download, please see www.elr.com.au/support.htm.
- Speech Pathology Australia 2016 National Conference:
Sunday 15th - Wednesday 18th
We will have trade stand #13 at this conference. Contact us for further details
ELR Software is also able to offer free eLr support and short tutorials over the web. We can provide this sort of support to individuals, or to groups who would like to have an overview of eLr. Please contact us for details.
You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings, Build-a-Sentence or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
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