Join Our Kickstarter Campaign and Make ModMath 2.0 A Reality!

This post has been written by Dawn Denberg, creator of ModMath. She recently started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to add additional features to the iPad version and also create an Android version in the near future.

If you�re a regular reader of this blog, you may recall my post last September about ModMath, a new iPad app my husband and I created to help kids with dysgraphia complete math homework without pen or paper.

We built this app out of desperation. Our son, who is dyslexic and dysgraphic, was falling behind in math because his handwriting is so terrible, even he can�t read it. And if you can�t write math problems, you can�t solve the math problems.

 So we created a free app that uses the iPad touch screen and an on-screen keypad to set up and solve math problems. Assignments are laid out on virtual graph paper that can be e-mailed to the teacher. The response to ModMath from the LD community has been overwhelming. Thousands have shared our story with their social media communities. And, to date, we�ve had more than 26,000 downloads.

We continue to receive a steady stream of letters thanking us for creating ModMath. But we receive an equal number of queries asking for additional features like a keyboard with buttons for variables, coefficients, integers, exponents and other advanced math concepts. Imagine a scientific calculator, and you�ll get the picture. However, like the original app, it won�t do the calculations for the student. It just sets up the problems and and keeps their work legible. We hope to level the playing field, not give dysgraphic kids an unfair advantage.

Also on our agenda: Once we establish the more advanced iPad version, we�ll duplicate the functionality and make it available for Android tablets as well. Other possible upgrades include the ability to save your work to Drop Box or Google docs.

We are committed to adding whatever enhancements we can afford. However, we�ve already tapped out our personal funds on the beta version. We�ve launched a Kickstarter campaign, where anyone moved to do so can make a donation. We set our goal at $20,000. That�s enough to cover the enhanced iPad version. But we�ll need additional funds to get that Android version built. So, feel free to overfund us. Kickstarter uses an all or nothing model, meaning if we aim to high we get nothing. So we settled on the minimum we need and hope to get much more.

 Give if you can. And if you can�t, just promoting our story on social media will help us reach our goal. Kids with learning disabilities have enough challenges. Please help us to help them around one of their many obstacles.

ModMath Kickstarter Campaign 

Image source: Flickr

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ModMath: Math App For Dysgraphic Children

This is another great story of how a parent decided to find a solution for her kid's disability by creating an app for him and several others who have dysgraphia and help them solve math problems on their iPads! This blog post was written by Dawn Denberg, the inventor of ModMath - an app designed specifically for people with dysgraphia.

One evening, after another homework-related meltdown, I voiced my frustration to my husband, stupefied that I couldn�t find anything to help our son.

When people ask me about the biggest stumbling block for my son, Henry, who has dyslexia and ADHD, I tell them that it is his handwriting. If they�re in the know about learning disabilities, I�ll use dysgraphia, the clinical term for horrific handwriting.

Speech-to-text programs, like Dragon NaturallySpeaking, are a godsend for kids like Henry. My son uses it for almost every subject. It�s useless, however, for mathematics.

This is a big problem because Henry�s handwriting is so bad that often he can�t read it. Because of his working-memory challenges, by the time he gets to step two of any equation, he�s not sure if the number he wrote down was a 4 or a 9. As for creating number columns neat enough to effectively add, subtract, multiply, or divide multi-digit equations, forget it. A 5 from the 10s column, for example, will migrate to the space below a 7 from the 100s column. The final calculations are wildly off base.

Our only option was for Henry to dictate to me how to work through each problem. I wrote down what he said. This was not a workable long-term solution, unless he wanted me to be his college roommate some day. Every so often, I�d force him to work independently. This resulted in frustration, tears, and disappointment.

We tried lots of interventions, everything from pencil huggers to alternative grip pens, and special paper with raised lines to keep his writing more uniform. Years of occupational therapy went nowhere, as did more controversial interventions like vision therapy. Through it all, I searched for an assistive technology to solve this problem. I queried teachers, learning specialists, and other parents in the LD community. I scoured the Internet for leads, but I found nothing.

One evening, after Henry had gotten through another homework-related meltdown, I voiced my frustration to my husband, stupefied that I couldn�t find anything to help our son. I wasn�t looking for a solution, just a sympathetic ear. My husband, though, doesn�t like talking about problems without talking about solutions. Sometimes, I feel like bitching, and sometimes he�s willing to listen. But sometimes we both end up irked by our personality differences. In this case, however, his pragmatism was a stroke of genius. �Why don�t we make one?� he suggested.

So began our journey to create a math app that could help not just our son but any child who struggles with dysgraphia. It�s called ModMath, and it works on an iPad. (You can download it on itunes.apple.com or on modmath.com). It eliminates the need for students to write out math equations longhand. Think Excel, but without a calculator. Kids use the touch screen and on-screen keypad to set up and solve problems. Henry can now work through complicated math concepts � multiplying multi-digit numbers, doing long division, and regrouping and adding fractions with different denominators. The app lays out assignments on virtual graph paper that can be printed out or e-mailed to the teacher. When a child does make a calculation error, his teachers see where he went wrong and offer guidance because the calculations are �written� clearly in front of them.

Don�t be too impressed with our ingenuity. We didn�t write a single line of code. My husband is a creative director and co-owner of a boutique ad agency. He regularly contracts with software developers to create content for clients. So we knew where to go to get the job done.

Friends and colleagues were incredulous that we decided not to charge for the product. �Anyone who has an iPad can afford an app that costs a couple bucks� was a refrain we heard a lot. We don�t disagree with that logic, but our goal is to get ModMath into the hands of as many LD kids as possible. If we don�t charge, the media is more willing to give us free publicity. This increases our opportunity to reach the children and families who need it most.

We hope to create a ModMath 2.0 with additional features. However, we�ve already over-invested in our first app. Download the app and let us know how it has helped your child. We�d love to hear from you at contact@modmath.com.

Dawn Margolis Denberg is a San Francisco-based freelance writer. Her 12-year-old son Henry, who has ADHD and dyslexia, inspires her daily with his ingenuity, creativity, and zest for life. She will be launching a Kickstarter campaign soon to fund an update to ModMath which will allow students to work out algebraic equations. She hopes to build an Android version with similar capabilities.

This blog post originally appeared on ADDitudemag.com

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Story of Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities and Finding his Greatness � Introducing Dr. Christopher M. Lee.

This great humanitarian story was written by Debra Ruh of Ruh Global Communications LLC. Debra is a seasoned entrepreneur that focuses on Global Disability Inclusion, ICT Accessibility, EmployAbility, Marketing and Communications Strategies and Digital Media. She has provided global leadership to governments, corporations, NGOs and DPO�s (Disability Persons Organizations) all over the world supporting research, outreach, marketing strategies, policy and standards initiatives with public- and private-sector. Please go here to read her full bio.

�Leaders Making a Difference in the World�

Story of Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities and Finding his Greatness � Introducing Dr. Christopher M. Lee.

I believe that the best way to further inclusion of persons with disabilities is to tell the stories of the organizations and leaders that are making a difference.  Progress is being made all over the world and I want to highlight efforts coming out of Atlanta, Georgia.  I have had the pleasure to collaborate with Dr. Christopher Lee and his team at AMAC Accessibility Solutions and Research Center (AMAC).  AMAC is part of the Georgia Institute of Technology located in the College of Architecture.

Dr. Christopher Lee has been an advocate and pioneer in promoting social entrepreneurship to benefit humankind and further strive for sustainable social change in the field of disabilities.

Why does Dr. Lee care about the community of persons with disabilities?  He is part of the community and was diagnosed with a cognitive deficit disorder in the second grade.  He was placed in special education and speech classes.

Dr. Lee describes his dyslexia in this way: �Nothing I hear seems to stick with me and nothing I say

seems to come out right.  It is as though I am in a world where the air is packed with floating symbols.  I watch as everyone swallows the symbols, digesting them to produce something that everyone else understands, but I can only swallow bits and pieces.  Choking, I remain hungry in my struggle to find a way to communicate and comprehend effectively.�

He recalls being a student and standing in front of the classroom, he did his best to recall the ways to spell, to read and to say the right words and phrases.  He understood that he needed to recall and use the words and phrases in the correct order to be able to connect and communicate with his peers and teachers.

He spent hours organizing his thoughts and preparing for presentations in front of his classmates.  He tried to find ways to help him get his thoughts across to his peers and teachers.  The efforts left him feeling very alone and frustrated, and in his mind and heart he longed to decipher the code of language.

 �Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character.� Albert Einstein

Dr. Lee has built a lot of character and drive to make the world a better place for individuals with learning disabilities and other disabilities.  He admits to being a perfectionist and he worked very hard to fit in and succeed in a world that is not set up for his �twisted perception of language.�

He was determined to go to college and scored low scores on his SAT due to his severe visual and audio process disorders.  He had to work his way through developmental studies before he was mainstreamed at the University of Georgia (UGA).

 �With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.� Wayne W. Dyer

He notes that his story is not unique from the high percentage of people in the United States and all over the world who are also dealing with learning disabilities.  This story is experienced by parents and teachers globally.  Many �experts� expected him to fail, but he worked hard and decided to become a success story and a beacon of hope for others with learning disabilities.

His motivation to become a collegiate swimmer athlete at UGA drove him hard to create his own academic action plan which included strategies, tools like assistive technology, and most importantly, a strong tutoring and mentoring network.

He also developed a communication strategy that included the use of role-playing activities where he perfected how to disclose his learning disabilities.  He became an expert in and promoting his strengths and managing his weaknesses.

Today he holds multiple college degrees including a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Speech Communication from University of Georgia.  He also earned a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Social Psychology from Union Institute and University.

His work has centered on the innovation of new models and techniques to support accessible electronic information in corporate, governmental and nonprofit entities. Dr. Lee is an internationally recognized advocate, author, speaker, principal investigator and leader in the fields of learning disabilities and assistive technology.

In 1992, at age twenty-three Christopher wrote his first book, Faking It: A Look into the Mind of a Creative Learning.  This book can be purchased on Amazon by following this link:  http://ow.ly/Avs8V

In 2003, he was highlighted in Microsoft �Accessible Technology for Everyone�, a Microsoft video and publication.  http://www.microsoft.com/enable/

In 2007, he was featured in the PBS series �A Chance to Read�, hosted by Molly Ringwald, which highlights new strategies driven by emerging research that shows what's happening across the country to help children with disabilities find success. 

Today Dr. Christopher Lee is the Founder, Director and Department Head of the AMAC Accessibility Solutions and Research Center (AMAC), located in the College of Architecture of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.  AMAC is committed to promoting technological innovation and developing effective user-centered products and services for individuals with disabilities.

AMAC's mission is to address unmet accessibility needs in government, non-profits, and corporations by providing products that benefit those with physical or cognitive impairments.  AMAC has pioneered a cost-effective, replicable, scalable, full service center for alternative, digital and captioned media for college students with disabilities, along with the downloadable assistive technology software.  AMAC receives baseline operational funds from the University System of Georgia (USG).

AMAC services and costs vary depending on the annual membership status of its 2,287 participating institutions. AMAC offers a variety of services to meet the individual needs of students with print-related disabilities and post-secondary institutions.

Christopher has been recognized for his advocacy and leadership many times and most recently was awarded a �Campus Technology Innovators Award for 2014�.  AMAC was also awarded a coveted �Zero Project Award 2013� from The World Future Council and the European Foundation Centre.

To learn more about Dr. Christopher Lee�s work, please visit AMAC at http://www.amacusg.org/.

To learn more about Ruh Global Communications, please visit www.RuhGlobal.com.

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Audio Notetaker

Sonocent, a UK based assistive technology company, recently released its Mac version of Audio Notetaker - a very simple, intuitive, and easy to use note taking software that can be quite beneficial for people with dyslexia and those who may have problems focussing for a longer period of time (for example, in a classroom).

I downloaded the trial version of the software and found it to be very easy to use. I actually created a small PowerPoint and added audio notes to it within 10 minutes. The software displays very few icons on the top "ribbon".  I personally feel that not including too many icons/ options in the menu is a good thing for students (who may have learning disabilities) who don't want to get intimidated by all the features of the software showcased in the menu. The buttons are minimal and very well spaced, thus making them easier to locate.

The software either allows direct recording of audio or import of an audio file. I must mention that I have used audio recording software in the past, but they were all a little cumbersome to use, and the recorded audio quality was above average at best. However, the audio that I recorded using Audio Notetaker was crystal clear! Also, the recording process literally involves the click of just one button, nothing else!

Note: I recorded audio on a Macbook Air. If you are using Windows with an external mic, you might want to enable the mic before recording audio.

The software also lets you color code different sections of your audio. For example, if you are attending a lecture in which the professor discusses different topics, you can add different colors to different sections of the audio that will let you know what is where. You can also go back to a certain location repeatedly to listen to audio notes again and again. Audio Notetaker also allows the user to control the playback speed, which means that one can easily increase or decrease the playback speed as per their requirements.

Audio Notetaker offers quite many features, but I did not explore each one of them primarily because I felt that recording/playing audio, adding colors to audio sections, highlighting etc. would be the features that would be extensively used by students with dyslexia or anyone with some kind of learning disability.

Watch the introductory video to see what Audio Notetaker can do.



A 30 day trial of the software can be downloaded from their website here. A one year license would cost you $74.99 and a full license is $149.99.

Visit Sonocent's website for more information.

Click here to view the press release (takes you to minus.com).

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Dyslexie - Font For Dyslexic People

All the common typefaces used these days have always been a problem for people with dyslexia because even though there are not many alphabets in the English language, quite many of them look similar, thus making reading difficult for dyslexic people. To make reading easier, Christian Boer of Studio Studio has created a new font called Dyslexie that makes changes to the structure of alphabets, punctuation etc., so that alphabets don't look similar, thus making reading easier and less confusing for dyslexic readers.

I contacted Christian Boer to get more information  about Dyslexia, and this is what I found out..

first of all, Dyslexia is not free. Currently, Christian is selling this font only in The Netherlands but soon plans to sell this font in other regions. It looks like he wants to sell to bigger groups (like schools, other organizations that focus on Dyslexia) instead of individuals to keep costs low (although his youtube page suggests that he wants to sell to individual users as well).

Watch the video to know more about Dyslexia, and how it would help Dyslexic readers.

You can contact Christian Boer here.

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