Petaluma, CA 94954
Fax: 707-773-2001
Email: info@intellitools.com
www.intellitools.com
INTELLITOOLS AND AMERICA ONLINE INTRODUCE CUSTOM KEYBOARD OVERLAYS FOR AOL MEMBERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
New Overlays Will Be Incorporated into Best Buddies' e-Buddies Program, Which Fosters Friendships Through Technology Between People With and Without Cognitive Disabilities
Petaluma, California, Dulles, Virginia - September 15, 2003 - IntelliTools®, Inc. (www.intellitools.com), for over 20 years the pioneer in learning solutions for the diverse classroom, and America Online, the world's leading interactive services provider, are pleased to announce the launch of IntelliTools' custom keyboard overlays for the AOL service. These keyboard overlays will provide alternative, more accessible keyboard solutions for AOL members who may have difficulty with a mouse or a standard keyboard due to developmental disabilities. Best Buddies' e-Buddies program, which facilitates e-mail friendships between people with and without developmental disabilities, will incorporate the IntelliTools custom overlays into its program this fall.
These overlays, which were designed by IntelliTools for use with its IntelliKeys adaptive keyboard, offer a modification on the standard keyboard face that incorporates words, phrases, graphics, and icons in a clear and easy-to-navigate format. Key content on the overlays can be customized and adapted to the individual user's experience, providing e-Buddies participants and AOL members with developmental disabilities with a more independent and more friendly email experience and allowing them to take better advantage of the Internet.
In addition to being customized for the AOL service, these overlays have also been aligned with a series of student profiles, creating a variety of templates for e-Buddies participants and AOL members based upon different levels of physical, language, and communication abilities. The overlays have also been designed to correspond with e-Buddies "Guide to Internet Literacy," a companion curriculum for for using email to communicate with friends to develop computer and literacy skills.
"We are delighted to participate with Best Buddies and AOL," notes Caroline Van Howe, IntelliTools' Director of Strategic Marketing Operations, "and facilitate AOL's Internet access and email capabilities for students with cognitive disabilities by developing overlays specific to their needs."
"These custom keyboard overlays from IntelliTools are another important step in accessibility at AOL as they directly address some of the challenges our members with cognitive disabilities may face when going online," said Tom Wlodkowski, Director of Accessibility at America Online. "We look forward to learning how e-Buddies participants respond to them and our involvement in the program will give us valuable insight on how we can better serve our members with developmental disabilities."
E-Buddies pairs participants up in email friendships based on age, gender, and similar interests, encouraging all involved to develop new friends while at the same time helping people with cognitive disabilities develop valuable and empowering computer skills. Over a hundred AOL employees already participate in the e-Buddies program and the company has donated 250 emails accounts to the organization. The e-Buddies program is a division of Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
The IntelliTools custom keyboard overlays for the AOL service will be available for download at the end of September at www.aol.com/accessibility or at AOL Keyword: Accessibility.
About America Online America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: AOL). Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
About Best Buddies Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Best Buddies has grown from one original chapter in 1989 to more than 1,000 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. In addition to the traditional campus-based volunteer activities, and for those with limited personal time, Best Buddies helps people with intellectual disabilities connect with others through technology with its online friendship program, e-Buddies. Visit www.bestbuddies.org or call 800-89-BUDDY for more information.
About IntelliTools, Inc.
IntelliTools®, Inc., a pioneer in learning solutions for the diverse classroom, has been producing award-winning classroom tools for K-8 education for over 20 years. The IntelliTools Classroom Pac is comprised of four integrated software programs - IntelliPics® Studio, IntelliMathics™, IntelliTalk II®, and ReadyMade™ Curriculum Activities - providing a complete set of resources for both general education and special education needs students. IntelliTools® Reading: Balanced Literacy, winner of the Technology & Learning Awards in two categories, is a nine-unit program providing a full year of literacy instruction at a first-grade skill level. These IntelliTools software products are fully accessible for standard keyboard and mouse users as well as its IntelliKeys® adaptive keyboard and switch users.
For more information contact:
Paula Irons, Director, Marketing
IntelliTools, Inc.
1720 Corporate Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954
(800) 899-6687; pirons@intellitools.com