My StoryMaker, (your computer needs Adobe Flash to use this website) is a free interactive program for writing short stories hosted by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Through visuals, the author selects the characters, items, objects and settings. By selecting feelings, actions, and interactions, the author guides the characters. The program fills in sentences based on the feeling, action, or interaction selected. The author can also add their own words or sentence. Books saved can be printed and will receive a code to allow the book to be viewed later on the computer.
Making choices: Partner assisted scanning can help students pick their choices if they cannot use the mouse.
Turning the page: The saved book does not speak, but pages can be advanced using a switch and switch interface for students who use assistive technology to access the computer. Just put the mouse cursor over the advance arrow.
Reading the published book to others: For students who are non-verbal, use a Step by Step sequential voice output device with myStorymaker. Record the story (page by page) onto the Step by Step. Press the record button at the end of speaking but before ending the actual recording process for each page. Use the extra cable to plug the Step by Step into a switch interface set to click/left click. When the Step by Step is activated, the page will be read and then a mouse click will be sent to turn the page. Note: Recording time on the Step by Step is 2 minutes total.
