Welcome to Bluebee News
Here you can find current reviews on educational apps and resource for learning disabilities
Bluebee Pals on YouTube
Watch the latest videos featuring your Lovable Learning Buddies, The Bluebee Pals!
Our YouTube Channel contains videos on how to use a Bluebee Pal, educational videos from many of the schools that choose to use The Bluebee Pals as an assistive technology tool; as well as customer uploads with kids just having fun with their Bluebee Pal!
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Bluebee Pals YouTube page when your there!
How can technology help students with disabilities?
Technology helps students with disabilities on many different levels. It can help them accomplish tasks like:
Master grade-level content. Technology presents the material in different forms (visually, auditorially, etc.). Improve writing and organizational skills. Technology can enable students with learning disabilities or autism to do such things as develop a concept map for a research paper and write using grade-level vocabulary or words they otherwise wouldn’t use without a computer due to poor spelling skills.
What is Assistive Technology? A Basic Guide for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families
As a parent of a child with severe physical challenges, I would like to encourage individuals with disabilities and their families to never give up. We are living in a “technology age,” so there is always hope that some new device or piece of equipment will be designed to make our daily lives a little easier.
Assistive technology is a term that is now being applied to the equipment or devices that individuals with disabilities have been using for quite some time, e.g., wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, communication boards, etc., It should also be noted that assistive technology and services are defined in federal legislation.
Bluebee Pals and The Jessie Baker School show us the positive effects of “Assistive Technology” in classrooms of special needs children.
Kayle Concepts and our Bluebee Pals were invited on Wednesday October 7 to create a educational documentary at the Jessie Baker School( special needs) in Elk Grove, California. The purpose of the documentary was to show the “crucial” importance of technology in opening the door to communication for many special needs children, especially children diagnosed with Autism. This documentary will be released later this month.
“Our day was a joyous observation of beautiful children and the amazing dedication of teachers who take the initiative to ‘think outside box” and apply technology in their educational tool box. ” – Laura Jiencke-President of Kayle Concepts
Free Shipping On All Bluebee Pals This Week
Bluebee Pals is offering FREE SHIPPING this week!
And Just Like That…Summer Fell Into Fall
To celebrate the turn of seasons, Bluebee Pals is offering FREE SHIPPING this week on all Bluebee Pals!
Please enter code: freebluebeeshipping at checkout.
* Free Standard Shipping is available at BluebeePals.com only. The shipping carrier will be either FedEx, UPS or USPS and will be chosen at our discretion.
Free Shipping offer expires 10/10/15
Consumer Tips for Evaluating Assistive Technology Products
There are many assistive technology (AT) products available, and new tools are frequently released on the market. The first step to narrowing down your search for appropriate AT tools is to analyze several factors: your child’s individual needs, the particular task(s) she must accomplish, the AT tools that address her challenges and the settings where she will use the technology. Once you have identified these key factors, you will want to focus on the quality, usability and reliability of the AT tools themselves. Here’s how to be a savvy consumer.
Understanding Assistive Technology
If your child has learning and attention issues, you’ll want to know about a variety of accommodations to boost his learning. Assistive technology (AT) can be an effective accommodation. Understanding what AT is and how it works is the first step toward finding the right tools for your child.
There are many kinds of AT that help kids with learning and attention issues. These tools can help them work around their challenges while playing to their strengths. This helps them become more successful, productive students. At the same time, their confidence and independence can grow.
Aiden Kyle – A Child On A Mission
When Aiden was first diagnosed, I felt he needed to learn the old-fashioned way. With the help of our speech teacher, Aiden received at home “Early Intervention”. For therapy aids – we used trains, pictures, various objects, and flash cards. Aiden’s speech teacher would sit with him to talk and show him the different objects. He would try so hard to talk, but only sounds would come out. He would sit and play with the train while trying to say what was on the card. Aiden would try harder each day until he was able to tell us each of the objects and pictures placed in front of him – he just loved learning. As he was able to identify more objects, we added more material to challenge him. He is an amazing little boy.
Bluebee TeeVee – Educational Television for Autisitic Kids and Their Peers
NEW YORK – Schools are entering into the era of the inclusion model, where all students—even those with disabilities—learn and participate in the classroom together. And yet, there is still a high percentage of autistic students who are bullied (source) due to the stigmas surrounding autism and public’s lack of understanding. CEO Laura Jiencke of Kayle Concepts, and creator of the Bluetooth®-enabled Bluebee Pals plush toy companions, announced the company’s innovative autism education initiative: Bluebee TeeVee.
Bluebee TeeVee is a series of entertaining webisodes to empower autistic children and educate their non-autistic peers about autism. The videos will focus on friendship, bullying, communication, safety and other important autism-related topics.
“Leo The Lion Reads in Spanish” -by Twinkle Twinkle Books
The Turkey Who Forgot How To Gobble is a fun way to teach animal sounds to children and has been recommended and used in speech-language curriculum as a way to teach farm animal sounds to kids. This app has been well received by parents, kids, and educators alike. This app features happy background music, colorful illustrations of the barnyard animals, clear narration, mild animation appropriate for young children, and cute farm animal sounds the kids will gobble up.
Autism Speaks Resource Library – Online TV & Audio Tools page
New! “Bluebee TeeVee, Autism Information Station.”
Bluebee TeeVee, Autism Information Station is a webisode series where kids learn all about autism—in a friendly, clinically correct and respectful manner with humor and pop culture references thrown in for fun. An innovative series that will help children see past differences, learn acceptance and understanding and the discovery that we’re all pretty much the same at heart. The show’s host, James Sullivan is the script writer, filmmaker and editor. Jonathan Murphy performs the character voices for the Bluebee Pal co-hosts. Both of these talented young men are on the autism spectrum. Each webisode comes with an episode guide for educators and parents who wish to delve deeper into a particular topic. Bluebee TeeVee Autism Information Station is available for free.
View the webisodes online
More information and Episode Guides
Download the webisodes and tool kit
Bluebee TeeVee Has Launched! Episode 1: What is Autism
Introducing Bluebee TeeVee, Autism Information Station, a webisode series where kids learn all about autism—in a friendly, clinically correct and respectful manner with humor and pop culture references thrown in for fun. An innovative series that helps children see past differences, learn acceptance and understanding, and discover that we’re all pretty much the same at heart.
The show’s host, James Sullivan is also the script writer, filmmaker, and editor. Jonathan Murphy performs the character voices for the Bluebee Pal co-hosts. Both of these talented young men are on the autism spectrum. Each 5 minute episode will feature James Sullivan, having a friendly chat with a Bluebee Pal−Sammy the bear, Leo the lion, Lily the lamb, Winston the dog, or Riley the zebra−to help children have a deeper understanding and connection to those with autism.
SpecialNeedsWare and Harvard’s Boston Children’s Hospital to launch language methodology for autism
NEW YORK and BOSTON, Feb. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/– SpecialNeedsWare, the creators of AutisMate – the award-winning technology platform for autism – have partnered with Boston Children’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School’s renowned pediatric teaching hospital – to revolutionize communication and language development for those with autism and other cognitive and linguistic disabilities. SpecialNeedsWare will soon be integrating Boston Children’s Hospital’s Visual Immersion System (VIS), a first-of-its-kind visual language curriculum and support system, into their special education technology platforms.
VIS aims to teach complex language concepts visually and move beyond traditional means and models of visual communication that lack the ability to provide a true comprehensive understanding of language. The methodology was developed after decades of groundbreaking research and experience in the field by Dr. Howard Shane, Director of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Autism Language Program and Communication Enhancement Program.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Program
My son Ian is non-verbal and uses several communication apps on the iPad (both Proloquo2Go and Aacorn). The camp we went to was in New Jersey and was for kids and their families and for some independent campers too. The students received group therapy sessions in using “AAC” daily from the speech therapists on staff, and they got to do other more typical camp activities (play baseball, enjoy camp songs, swim, do art projects, and so on). This was our first year. Ian is older than most of the campers other than some of the independent ones; he is a developmentally very young 21 year old who looks about the same age as the teen aged campers, so he fit in fine (fine enough that we were invited back next summer). Ian has poor communication skills in general, but he is making progress with using “AAC”. He has Down syndrome, autism, and apraxia of speech along with other language challenges.
Adventures in Mrs. Ashley Reeds Class
Bluebee Pals: Christmas Gift Idea
Are you looking for something FUN, EDUCATIONAL, and EXCITING to add to your classroom or home? I had the pleasure of receiving and reviewing this little guy.
I remember that Teddy Ruxpin was a big HUGE deal when I was a kid, and I always felt disappointed that I never got him for Christmas! (**insert sad face**)
Enter Leo…. this generation’s bigger, better, badder talking teddy!
Bluebee Pals and Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support
My name is Jeanette Baker and Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support is a community that I started almost five years ago to share with others what I have learned from my own two children who have special needs and have been diagnosed with multiple diagnosis including Sensory Processing Disorder.
This is a safe place to find support, get to know other parents who have children with SPD, ask questions, learn, share success and spread awareness. I’ve designed this SPD community for Parents, Caregivers, Therapists, Teachers, Professionals, Community Providers and all others who work with children and youth with special needs and Sensory Processing Disorder.
Children that have Sensory Processing Disorder require specialized services, love and a good support team to be successful in home, school and in the community. The purpose of this website is to share with others what I have learned in 17 years with my two children who have special needs and have been diagnosed with multiple diagnosis that include Sensory Processing Disorder. This is a place to listen to others as they ask questions, post stories and share success.
I’ve designed this website for Parents, Caregivers, Therapists, Teachers, Professionals, Community Providers and all others who work with children and youth with special needs and Sensory Processing Disorder. Children who have disabilities like Sensory Processing Disorder they requires specialized services, love and a good support team to be successful in home, school and in the community too.
Wikids Encyclopedia for Kids and The Bluebee Pals
Wikids – the Encyclopedia that talks to kids! Nearly anything can be explained to kids in 80 words (30 seconds in a friendly voice). Wikids apps feature text, narration, images, and sounds, present knowledge in context and are designed for independent discovery. Wikids apps offer a wealth of fascinating knowledge for curious kids, written just for them! http://kidkedoo.com/
Coming this Fall…Bluebee TeeVee!
Kayle Concepts announces their innovative ‘Bluebee TeeVee’ autism education initiative in partnership with Geek Club Books autism storytelling nonprofit and QSAC (Quality Services for the Autism Community).
NEW YORK – Schools are entering into the era of the inclusion model, where all students—even those with disabilities—learn and participate in the classroom together. And yet, there is still a high percentage of autistic students who are bullied (source) due to the stigmas surrounding autism and public’s lack of understanding. CEO Laura Jiencke of Kayle Concepts, and creator of the Bluetooth®-enabled Bluebee Pals plush toy companions, announced the company’s innovative autism education initiative: Bluebee TeeVee.
The UC Davis MIND Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders)
The UC Davis MIND Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) is a collaborative international research center, committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care, and cures of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Started by families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the UC Davis MIND Institute today is an internationally respected research institute examining the course, consequences, and causes of, and treatments for, ASD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome, among other conditions.
25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilties Act
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Wednesday, the landmark federal law aimed a breaking down barriers in employment and other areas.
The official celebration is taking place today until 4 p.m. on Wade Oval in University Circle. But for the millions of Americans living with disabilities, who have relied on the ADA to gain employment or fight discrimination, there have been countless individual celebrations for a quarter century.
“In the last 25 years we have made a lot of progress, but still there is a lot more work to do,” said Melanie Hogan, executive director of Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential, or LEAP, which assists people with disabilities in living independently and finding jobs.