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December 13, 2006
Freedom Scientific Provides Teachers with New Flexible Braille Study Aid
(St. Petersburg, Florida, December 6, 2006) - Thanks to a free Web download from Freedom Scientific, vision teachers can now use everyday word processing software to create custom interactive braille study lessons. The tutorial is called FSBraille Coach and comprises 51 pre-developed lessons that include basic tests for beginners and more rigorous exercises for more advanced braille readers.
FSBraille Coach is a free software download created for use with Freedom Scientific's PAC Mate accessible Pocket PC.
With FSBraille Coach, students use their PAC Mate's 20- or 40-cell braille display to run through a series of lessons and reading exercises, getting immediate spoken help with any braille symbol they encounter by simply pressing a button above the symbol. Their PAC Mate will first say the symbol and then speak the word and spell it out. The lessons are designed as a teaching support for uncontracted and contracted braille.
"What I find exciting about FSBraille Coach is that it makes learning enjoyable so that students really get the most from their braille study," said Jonathan Mosen, Vice President of Freedom Scientific. "PAC Mate's Braille Study Mode lets you turn any reading material of your choice into an interactive braille study exercise."
The 51 FSBraille Coach lessons start with the basics - the alphabet and numbers - and progress to the more complex contracted word forms. Many teachers who previewed FSBraille Coach and PAC Mate's Braille Study Mode said they were excited about being able to create their own lessons and reading exercises using a standard word processing application, such as Microsoft Word®.
To use FSBraille Coach, you must be running PAC Mate version 4.1 or later, as numerous enhancements have been made to Braille Study Mode.
Download FSBraille Coach free from Freedom Scientific's PAC Mate Headquarters.
About Freedom Scientific
Freedom Scientific is the world's leading manufacturer of assistive technology products for those who are blind and vision impaired and products for the special education and learning disability markets.
Freedom Scientific® and PAC Mate™ are either trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contact: Brad Davis
Freedom Scientific, Blind/Low Vision Group
11800 31st Court North St.
Petersburg, Florida 33716-1805
800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000
www.FreedomScientific.com
Posted by Nancy at December 13, 2006 06:17 PM