Neo by Alpha Smart - need some info if you use/know of it.

[figleaf]

DS1 has dyspraxic and dyslexic traits. Tried improving the handwritting but cant.
The OTs and the first Ed P and a developmental Paed say that IT will be the "cure" for ds problems. Basically he can speak for England but ask him to write anything and its short and difficult to read. We have not got a statement but the Devel paed would like to try for one after the next IEP review.He says DS is very bright but not reaching potential due to his problems. My Head teacher is resistant to going down lap top route as she thinks DS will "fiddle" or hide behind its screen. Actually she doesnt seem that keen to let him ditch writing and go to a keyboard either. She fears he will hate to de "different".
I read a post from someone on here who said their son used a Neo. I need some info on the machines from a user. I have seen the web site and know cost etc but need to know how simple they are for the kids to cope with, get work printed from etc.
I hope to use the info to help persuade the Head to let DS have one. We would pay for it.
My head has a meeting with a second EdP on April 20th. She says she will ask the Ed P to advise her on what to do. I want to send them both a bit of info before the meeting about my son and all the people who have mentioned the need to use IT over the years (reception to Y3)and then give all the plus points about these Neo machines.
Can anyone out there help me?

figleaf,
sounds to me as everyone is singing from the same hymm sheet other than the head in wanting your ds to have IT input,
i would suggest

1. statement
2. get everyone who has commented on IT to produce you a report stating this and then with all your info that m/n will provide Give this to the head and tell her what you want......

i am currently waiting for dd to have a IT assessment thru LEA as part of her statement(still waiting 1 year later.......)

will watch your thread with interest....good luck

Have heard about the long waits for assessments which is why Im doing this myself with own cash, 1 year wow!. I have been thinking along the same lines as your post chatee and have just started typing all the comments that relate to IT from various reports onto one document so I can post off to this second EdP and my head. Im tackling the IT and statement issue separately as I want the keyboard yesterday and the statement whenever/if I can get it.Head thinks Develop Pead is being too optimistic.
Thanks for the interest, I hope I do get lots info from MN Neo users.

Daughter is dyspraxic, and has hypermobile joints (her joints, especially her fingers bend right back when she writes making it imposible to hold the pencil correctly, therefore it is painful after a few lines)
anyway.. she has a alpha smart, its like a big calculator so there is no screen to hide behind and when you turn it on it is on instantly, no waiting to boot up. It has no programs like a laptop and you just have different folders to put your work in. Its apparently really strong and not to heavy.

How old is your son?
I got daughter a kids touch typing program which helped her as well.

have you tried googling alphasmart in images it should give you some idea what they looklike..
also ebay sell them cheaper..

The school brought the one that daughter uses BTW

He is 8 and in Y3.Ive got a good idea of what it looks like thanks rummum from the web site what Im after is evidence I can use with the head ie kids with special needs as diverse a s X and Y use this machine, no reported problems just lost of good results. Your post that its strong and instantly switches on - no boot will appear in my list. Peak MN time is yet to come so I won`t give up yet - Thanks.

My ds is 8 and in Yr 3. He uses an alpha smart at school. I don't know the model although have just shown ds the picture of the Neo and he says his looks the same. He has got on quite well with it but his OT has strongly recommended that he has a laptop due to the programs available for it. The OT was of the view that alpha smarts are fine as a first keyboard but that he will need word programs etc and generally will need to develop his IT skills faster than other children as he will probably be doing SATS using a laptop. Either that or he will have to have a scribe. He has dyspraxic tendencies and has very poor fine motor skills. The alpha smart was provided by the money the school gets from our LEA as ds has a statement, he has ADHD also. The school was in favour of him using it. Obviously laptop will cost a lot more. I don't know if the school will agree to providing a laptop. If it comes down to money then I may end up providing it. I hope you manage to get the evidence you need figleaf.

Thanks for that QB. My hubby would prefere a lap top but we dont think we can get one past the head at the mo. Also, DS is just learning to touch type (8 - 10 w.p. m). I think the slightly different lay out of most lap tops may throw him slightly (they are a bit smaller and spread out to accomodate the track pad). I imagine DS will need help in his Y6 SATs too. Ironically the head is all in favour of that but I`m thinking that if he gets a couple of years with a neo under his belt he can then move up to a lap top (at around 20 w.p.m).

Can you spell check or cut/paste on a Neo or do you have to do that after you upload it to a computer to print it off? How does your son cope with printing off his work? does he do it at the end of each day or lesson by lesson?

Just been to IEP review and DS teacher said he can use a Neo from next term ! Gearing up for a fight that I won without presenting all my clever evidence.

Sorry FL, I haven't been on here recently. Glad that your ds' teacher has agreed to the Neo. In answer to your points, my ds can spell check on his alpha smart but not cut and paste. I believe he can only print when linked to a computer. I think he prints at the end of each lesson in which he uses the alpha smart (he doesn't use it for each lesson as he is persevering with handwriting also). Good luck to your ds with using it.

We are a week into using it now QB. Going GREAT!! DS really happy, productivity up, I`m having the first optimistic thoughts about his school future for ages .

Thats really good FL. Its so encouraging when somthing works for them and you can see them making progress. We have a statement review coming up and the school, supported by the OT recommendation, and having seen the progress made with the alpha smart, is going to press for a laptop now as they think that in the long run it will serve him best. It will take a bit of getting used to and I'm not sure how the responsibility for it will work out but hopefully it will help to improve his work in the future.

Good luck.