Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Putting training on Efofex & other AT in the IEP

I need my son to start using some kind of program for math like EfoFex. He is in accelerated math and has a scribe but he REALLY needs to be more independent. Next year, 5th grade, they start Pre-Algebra. But, as much as we (the iep team and I) talk about this need for a software/AT/app to help him access his curriculum in meetings and such, it never really happens. And, yes, he has had an AT eval and all he got out of it was a blue tooth keyboard. I am so frustrated with how to get him access to his curriculum with technology. I know it's possible! But we never seem to get there. His IEP is fairly useless in the Assistive Tech because the paras and teachers need training in it as does DS at school with the curriculum from professionals. So, I am complaining/brainstorming about this with a few others on my Facebook group and a member pipes up and says the problem is you have to make sure that everything is specified, that AT training for teachers and paraprofessionals is included, that the IEP states who is responsible for training the teachers and the student, that it has to be allowed in every (or specific) class, on all tests, including state standardized tests, etc., etc. or teachers just find it too much trouble to figure out and use and it doesn't happen. I am thinking "Oh my gosh, this is exactly what is happening!" because nothing is specified in his iep about this. There is nothing in the iep about it specifically just a vague reference that the school will explore AT and apps to help DS get access to his math curriculum. Could I try putting in the iep something like (and just really roughly paraphrasing here), "my son needs software to help him access his math curriculum. AT-person (I'm thinking of specifying the AT consultant in the district who did his AT eval) will train my son, his 1-1 scribe/para and teacher on how to use said programs"? Does any one have any experience with doing this? Any insight? Thoughts?

That sounds good. I think it needs to be very specific and include training. What is EfoFex? We have the same issue and the AT people haven't even tried anything for math. One of the ladies said she tried something for advanced math and couldn't get it to work. She is still going to look into the situation, but I'm wondering if I should suggest EfoFex or how that works. I find this whole situation bizzare, how no one seems to know what to do about math. Surely there have been kids before us who can't write legibly but are still able to understand advanced math?

Blackcat, here is link to Efofex website: http://www.efofex.com/ Apparently it is not useful until Pre-Algebra. A few parents on the facebook group I am in say it has changed their child's life. Polarbear has talked about Efofex as well.

Thanks! I'll check it out. I think DS is being put into either pre-algebra or algebra next year so it might be helpful.

Yes! I actually printed it out and have it as a hard copy!

Spaghetti, this is so incredibly helpful! Thank you so very much!

What did this look like? The training, I mean? Did you just buy the software and watch the tutorials?

The thing w/ the finger writing--is that called Notability? I am emailing suggestions to the AT team. So far they have tried Dragon and Google Docs or something for speech to text and DS prefers Dragon but they have to give him 10 prompts to make corrections.

I also suspect this is a large part of what's up. FWIW, we've found that there is a higher level of knowledge of AT out there (in our district) among the AT folks who help high school students rather than elementary, so it might be worth asking at a district level for some help.

FWIW, neither ds or I thought efofex takes any specific training other than working through it on our own, but we're also math geeks so that might make a difference. DS first got efofex and used it when he was in pre-algebra, with no training from anyone other than looking at a few things with me.

OTOH, fwiw, ds didn't stick with efofex past Algegra - once he got into geometry he felt that, for him, he wasn't gaining anything in terms of time using efofex vs using handwriting. I don't entirely agree with him .... plus part of ds' issue with efofex had to do with using it at a time when it wasn't largely ported to the Mac (and ds not only had a Mac for a laptop, but he was using an iPad for almost everything else and he prefers the iPad for most of his work, except when he needs a large screen for reading from online textbooks). SO ds quit using efofex. HOWEVER... his mother is making him try it out again this summer.... not because I'm a tiger-mom (I am like the total non-tiger-mom lol)... but because his math homework really does take forever, and he's frustrated with how long it takes him to complete his homework during the school year. And... personally I think he's been beyond lucky that his math teachers think they can read his handwriting up till now... I'm guessing he's not always going to have teachers who can handle messy handwriting

So... that's where we're at - we have efofex, we found it easy to learn, didn't find it easy to use necessarily at the time ds was working in it (but that was mac-pc, not the software itself), and haven't worked with it for a few years.

Also, just for a totally random non-software note - fwiw, when ds was around your ds' age, he had a huge huge struggle with copy errors impacting math - switching or dropping signs, switching numbers etc. That's part of the reason he began using the computer (plus it saved him roughly 2/3 the time to finish his homework). However... as time has gone by... he no longer makes the copy errors frequently. He *does* make them from time to time, but he's gotten better at checking his work and also they just don't seem to happen as much. And when they do, he tends to now laugh at them as in, "yep, there goes my dysgraphia again!"... a

OK, I'm rambling now. I'd better get back to what I'm supposed to be doing at the moment

Best wishes,

polarbear

Does efofex work for algebra...i.e. showing your work solving equations?