Petaluma, CA 94954
Fax: 707-773-2001
Email: info@intellitools.com
www.intellitools.com
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WIN GRANT FOR INTELLITOOLS PRODUCTS FOR 485 CLASSROOMS
Petaluma, CA, November 29, 2002 Ŕ IntelliToolsÂ, Inc. (www.intellitools.com), for over 20 years the pioneer in learning solutions for the diverse classroom, is pleased to announce that over 50 Miami-Dade County public schools, including 485 classrooms, will be using IntelliTools hardware and software in the coming year to fully integrate students with special needs into general education classrooms. IntelliTools began the first wave of shipments this month as part of the purchase.
Thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Education, entitled –School Renovations, IDEA, and Technology,” Miami-Dade County schools plans to purchase 485 copies of IntelliTools Classroom Pac Tools, including IntelliTalk IIÂ, IntelliMathicsČ, and IntelliPics Studio software, plus IntelliKeys USB programmable alternative keyboards and companion Overlay Maker software. Also part of the purchase is IntelliTools Reading: Balanced Literacy, a nine-unit program that provides a full year of supplementary literacy instruction at the first grade skill level.
Martha Berman, Miami-Dade Countyęs Educational Specialist for the Mentally Handicapped Programs, managed the grant effort, and in the process created what she dubs –universal design for learning packages,” including IntelliTools products, for use primarily in elementary schools, but also in middle and high schools.
–Our goal is to have exceptional students be able to participate in regular education classrooms throughout Miami-Dade County,” Berman noted. She went on to explain that many exceptional students can handle the same problems as their peers, for example, but cannot write, and need the IntelliKeys keyboard to be able to type, noting, –Now, everyone can participate!” Over 120 Miami-Dade County educators have received two days of extensive training from IntelliTools as part of the purchase, and more trainings are planned.
Response from Miami-Dade County teachers to Bermanęs efforts has been strongly positive. In selecting IntelliToolsę products, Berman spent time with teachers and demonstrated how to use, for example, IntelliToolsę talking word processor, IntelliTalk II, to create English and math quizzes with locked text and answer fields. Teachers were shown how to print the quizzes and grade them as they do for regular education students, providing them a form of alternative assessment. –The teachers are so happy!” Berman noted.
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
