IntelliKeys Overlays for e-Buddies to use AOL email User Guide

Author: Peggy Barker, MS, ATP

Information and distribution options at: America Online - www.aol.com EBuddies - www.ebuddies.org IntelliTools – www.intellitools.com

IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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Overview e-Buddies (www.ebuddies.org), a Best Buddies International program, facilitates e-mail friendships between people with and without developmental disabilities. Individuals are matched in email friendships based on age, gender, and similar interests. Participants commit to the program for one calendar year and e-mail their match once per week. e-Buddies provides individuals with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to develop online friendships while acquiring computer and literacy skills needed to use email. The e-Buddies Guide to Internet Literacy is a comprehensive curriculum for developing computer and literacy skills for using email to communicate with friends. The Guide consists of a teacher's manual with complete lesson plans, including topics for weekly discussions. In addition, there is a guidebook for student use during each lesson, which includes guided questions to assist students in developing their ideas. Download this guide from the e-Buddies website (www.ebuddies.org). America Online (AOL) is a partner with e-Buddies, and is able to offer some participants free AOL accounts. The AOL 8.0 browser in Windows includes keyboard shortcuts for all of the browser functions including using email. These shortcuts are used to configure a computer interface, IntelliKeys keyboard, that matches the cognitive and physical abilities of students who may want to participate in the e-Buddie program. The IntelliKeys keyboard is an intelligent, programmable keyboard that provides access to the computer for people who have difficulty using a mouse or standard keyboard or need access to words and sentences in addition to spelling out messages. Overlays are created for the IntelliKeys 8 ½ inch by 13-inch touch-sensitive panel. Corresponding content is stored in the computer and retrieved when a light force is applied to the defined areas of the keyboard. Content can include words, phrases and macros, as well as, letters, numbers and functions of the standard keyboard. The areas on the keyboard can be labeled with traditional orthography, icons, images and tactile representations. Several IntelliKeys overlays have been designed to use email as well as access the Internet with AOL. Keyboard equivalents, features controlled with Tab and shortcut keys, provided in AOL 8.0 have been incorporated into the overlay content. IntelliKeys overlays have been designed to facilitate use of available keyguards when needed and include color-coding and logical groupings. The overlay designs also take into consideration content relevant to the lesson plans in The e-Buddies Guide to Internet Literacy. What You’ll Need: ▪ Apply for an e-Buddie at www.ebuddies.org ▪ Download The e-Buddies Guide to Internet Literacy from www.ebuddies.org ▪ AOL 8.0 for Windows (current Macintosh version does not have sufficient keyboard shortcuts for the functions although overlays can be used for message writing) ▪ IntelliKeys USB (available from IntelliTools (www.intellitools.com)). ▪ Overlay Printer (freeware from www.intellitools.com) or Overlay Maker to IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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print out the overlays. Overlay Maker (available from IntelliTools) to modify, customize or personalize the overlays. Keyguards are available for IntelliTools IntelliTalk II (IT2) (available from IntelliTools) to provide auditory output for reading and writing email as well as toolbars with buttons with words and sentences for writing email messages. One IT2 activity is available and 2 overlays (IT2big.oms and IT2sml.oms).

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Setting up the IntelliKeys USB to use with the Overlays: !

! ! !

To use the overlays with the IntelliKeys USB, the overlays must be sent to the IntelliKeys USB memory of your computer and a copy of the overlay must be printed to place on the IntelliKeys USB. The overlays can be printed as is with Overlay Printer. The overlays can be sent with Overlay Sender. Keep a copy of Overlay Sender in the same folder as the overlays. When you are ready to use an overlay, place the printed copy of the overlay on the IntelliKeys USB and from the folder with the overlays and Overlay Sender, drag the overlay onto the Overlay Sender program.

General Guidelines for customizing overlays. ! Use Overlay Maker (available from IntelliTools) to customize, modify or personalize the overlays. If you are not familiar with Overlay Maker, a tutorial can be downloaded from www.intellitools.com. ! The overlays are currently laid out to fit into standard keyguards. ! Most keys have a picture, icon or photo from either the Overlay Maker picture library, Boardmaker (Mayer-Johnson) or copied from other internet sites (using the Google Image Search) ! Key labels and content: ! Text is above picture so that when student points to the picture, the student still sees the text – supporting literacy development ! Phrases that start sentences have a space at the end of the text label. ! Phrases that end a sentence or for ends of sentences have a period and 2 spaces typed at the end of the text label. The key content is the same as the text. ! The ‘and’ on each overlay has the key content of : [backspace] [backspace] [backspace][space]and[space]. This key content erases a period and the 2 spaces after the period, then inserts a space then the word ‘and’ then another space. ! To make a plural word, the ‘-s’ key content is: [backspace] [backspace] [backspace][space]s.[space][space] ! Color Coding ! Orange – sentence starters, opening and closing sentences. ! Yellow – questions ! Purple – comments, sentence completers ! Blue – function keys ! Green – abbreviations, numbers, “and”, “-s” IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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Suggested strategy for using the overlays: ! Use Read Email overlay to start AOL, switch screen names, type password, read email. ! Write email with the activity overlays that correspond to a topic in eBuddies Guide to Computer Literacy. ! Use Close Windows to remove the distractions of the extra windows. ! Select Write email ! Use Move Thru Dialog Boxes to enter the ebuddie’s email address, the topic, then to the message window The Overlays aolalpha.oms: Alphabet, Functions Keys, Vocabulary to write email for e-Buddies Overlay title: aolalpha.oms IntelliKeys Keyguard: QWERTY Notes: * Change the key content for the following keys: ! Password – all students can use the same hard copy overlay but a different overlay file should be sent with the individual password ! To my eBuddie (eBuddie’s email address), key can be labled with a photo of eBuddie * The text on the purple keys along the top of the keyboard can be change and customized.

Keyboard Content Key Label Open AOL Switch Screen Name Password Close Windows (minimize distractions) Read New Mail Write Mail Move thru dialog controls Move backward thru dialog controls Send Mail

Content/keyboard equivalent WIN CTRL + ESC, a (assumes AOL in Start Menu and only item beginning with A), Enter ALT + o, n User’s password ALT + w, a CTRL r CTRL m Tab Shift Tab CTRL Enter

IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

Email Training Vocabulary (This vocabulary is a starting point and can easily be changed to address the individual’s preferences. The key content is the same as the key label.) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Hi, how are you doing? I’m fine. I’m having a hard time. I’m feeling better. I agree with your comments. I went to the basketball game last night. Do you like basketball? I want to tell you about FYI

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Move through message Open up a message Delete message Save a message Sign Off & Close AOL Next message Previous Message OK Alphabet (upper & lower case), punctuation, CTRL, ALT, Delete, Enter, arrows Close Window

Up and Down Arrow keys

!

space or enter Delete Ctrl s ALT + o, o , ALT + f, x

! ! !

Please send me information about Thank you . Write back soon. Bye for now.

Right Arrow Left Arrow Enter Key content is the same as the label

CTRL + F4

Activity Overlays The Activity Overlays are designed to be used with some of the topics in the The e-Buddies Guide to Internet Literacy Lesson Plans. To make additional overlays modify the overlay template (template.oms) that includes the function keys. Blank keys should be filled in with vocabulary needed for a topic. Blank keys that are not used should be deleted. Be sure and save the overlay under a new name so that the template overlay is not altered and available for another topic. Each overlay has standard function keys that include: Open AOL (assumes that AOL can be selected from the top of the Start Menu) Password (currently content is blank, student’s password should be typed into the content window using Overlay Maker) OK (Return) Close Window (use this to close all of the extra windows before selecting Write Mail) Move Thru Dialog Boxes (to get to options like Send) Write Mail Print message Send Sign Off To my eBuddie (to be replaced with eBuddies email) RE: Topic IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

Photo of standard function keys on all activity overlays.

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:-) :-( ;-) ^5

smile frown wink (Just kidding!) high five (Great job!)

k OK ty thank you ttfn ta ta for now cy se ya wb welcome back Read Email Overlay:Reademail Keyguard: Alphabet USB

Simple Getting to Know You Overlay: get2knowsim Keyguard: Alphabet USB Messages: ▪ My name is Sammie. ▪ I live with my Mom, Dad and Sister. ▪ I like to play the drums. ▪ How about you? ▪ I have a dog. We call him Cody. It is my job to feed him and make sure that his water dish is full. ▪ I love to eat Mexican food especially tacos. ▪ I like to go camping with my family. Last summer we stayed on Lake Isabella for a whole week. ▪ From your best eBuddie!

IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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Getting to Know You Overlay: “Getting to Know You: Sharing Information About Me” Vocabulary will need to be customized for each student or user, the overlay provides a template that can be modified with the software program Overlay Maker. Overlay: get2knowu2 Keyguard: Alphabet USB ▪ Hi, my name is Sammie. ▪ I live with my ▪ Mom ▪ Dad ▪ Sister ▪ Brother ▪ 1 ▪ 2 ▪ 3 ▪ and ▪ -s ▪ I have ▪ Dog ▪ Cat ▪ Fish ▪ I like to play a musical instrument. ▪ I like to go camping with my family. Last summer we stayed in a tent on Lake Isabella for a whole week. ▪ I love to eat Mexican food especially burritos. ▪ How about you? ▪ From your best eBuddie.

IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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Sample Vocabulary for discussing the weather Overlay: ebudweather.oms Keyguard: Alphabet USB I live in a state that has mountains, desert, the Pacific Ocean, and lots of rivers and lakes. California’s weather is very diverse. Most people think of California as being very warm and always sunny. I live near the ocean and the fog rolls in all of the time and cools us off. It snows in the mountains every winter. I have only seen it snow once at the beach near my home. The temperatures in my town are very steady. It doesn’t freeze here very often and it rarely gets real hot. What is the weather like where you live? Does it snow? Do you like about the weather where you live? What is the weather like right now? Things that bug me Overlay Title: Bugsme Keyguard: Alphabet Available messages: Hey whats up? It makes me crazy when My brother My sister My mom My dad My teacher My friend My dog goes into my room. plays with my stuff. wears my clothes. yells at me. what bugs you? asks me stupid questions. IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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won’t leave me alone. picks on me. What bugs you? Chat Talk – Introduction of abbreviations for messages Overlay: Chattalk.oms Keyguard: Alphabet USB How are you? I am fine. I have not been feeling well. We have been having great weather. We have been having crummy weather. The weekend was a lot of fun. I love going to school. :-) :-( ;-) ^5

smile frown wink (Just kidding!) high five (Great job!)

k ty ttfn cy wb

OK thank you ta ta for now se ya welcome back

Rude People Overlay: Rudepeople.oms Keyguard: Alphabet USB I don’t care when people say rude things to me. I don’t like it when someone says something rude to me. It makes me feel Sad Confused Angry Upset Disappointed When someone says something rude to me, I Don’t say anything. I say something rude to them. Tell them how I feel. Has this ever happened to you? IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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What do you do when someone says something rude to you? Holiday activities Overlay :holidayactivities Keyguard: Alphabet USB For the holidays, I like to Sleep in Eat Visit with Friends Family Decorate our house Open presents Go to church Sing Holiday food Overlay: holidayfood.oms Keyguard: Alphabet USB My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving Christmas Hanukah Valentine’s Day Easter I love eating Turkey. Mash Potatoes. Cranberries. Candy Cookies Latkes Pudding Pies and

IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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Dressing Opinions Overlay: dressopin.oms Keyguard: Alphabet USB I like to wear I think that students should be allowed to wear anything they want to school. Crop tops Tee shirts Chains Spaghetti straps Army boots Bandanas Hats Short skirts Sunglasses Pajamas Skin tight clothing Uniforms and What do you like to wear to school? I think that students should not be allowed to wear some clothes to school like I don’t think that students should be allowed to wear I think that students should be allowed to wear sagging pants Summer Vacation Overlay: vacation Keyguard: Alphabet USB I can’t wait for summer. I don’t like summer vacation. This summer I am going on a trip. I am going to swim camp go to the park watch movies ride horses ride my bicycle hike go to summer school and IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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It is fun. It is boring. What will you do during the summer? IT2 Big Access Overlay Overlay: IT2BigAccess.oms Keyguard: 20 hole This overlay is designed to move between IntelliTalk II and AOL. Use the mouse arrows to select from the IntelliTalk II palettes or toolbars.

IT2 Small Access Overlay

IntelliKeys Overlays for eBuddies & AOL Copyright: American Online and P. Barker

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