summary
hsj
early-AT.pdf
Early Childhood AT Ellie Hamilton, M.A.Ed., Assistive Technology Specialist, Special Education Consultant
641-682-8591
Twitter: @EhamiltonMrs
tinyurl.com/ctg18EC
AT Myths Video
By Pacer Center
www.pacer.org
What is AT?
Assistive technology (AT) can be thought of as any
item that supports a child's ability to participate
actively in his or her home, childcare program,
school, or other community settings. It is a broad
term that includes items ranging from something as
"low tech" as a foam wedge for positioning to
something as "high tech" as a power wheelchair for
independent mobility. Other examples of assistive
technology for young children include items such
as switch-operated toys, laminated picture boards,
head pointers, specialized drinking cups, adapted
spoons, augmentative and alternative
communication (AAC) devices, computers, and
more.
Assistive Technology EC Examples
letsparticipate.org
when a child with a disability needs an item in order to do something he/she couldn’t do
without it…
it becomes his or her AT.
letsparticipate.org
Benefits of AT for Infants & Young Children
Assistive devices and services can be of great value in
providing infants and young children with disabilities
opportunities to learn and interact with their environment
in ways that might not otherwise be possible.
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center University of North Carolina
ectacenter.org
Benefits of AT for Infants & Young Children
● Participate more actively in the family, school, and community activities
● Play successfully with toys and other children ● Communicate his or her needs and ideas ● Make Choices ● Move Independently
ectacenter.org
Zero to Three
The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of baby’s development. The earliest relationships with caregivers can promote healthy brain development.
www.zerotothree.org
Zero to Three
Age-based Tips
Birth to 3 Months
3 to 6 Months
6 to 9 Months
9 to 12 Months
AT Link
www.zerotothree.org
12 to 15 Months
15 to 18 Months
18 to 24 Months
24 to 30 Months
30 to 36 Months
PACER Center Tikes
IFSP Flow Chart
IEP Flow Chart
Child-Centered AT Plan IFSP
Child-Centered AT Plan IEP
DEC Recommended Practices
E4 Practitioners work with families or other adults to identify each child’s needs for AT to promote access to and participation in learning experiences.
E5 Practitioners work with families and other adults to acquire or create appropriate AT to promote each child’s access to and participation in learning experiences.
www.dec-sped.org
Iowa Early Learning Standards
Gold Developmental Continuum
Crosswalk 0-3 yrs
Crosswalk 3-6 yrs
www.educateiowa.gov
Iowa Early Learning Standards The Role of Technology and Interactive Media
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages all screen media for
children less than 18 months of age, except video chatting with the assistance of
a caring adult.
For children ages 18-24 months, it is recommended that caregivers use high
quality, educational media and use that technology to interact with the child.
Further, children two to five years of age should be limited to one hour per day
of high quality screen time, alongside a caring adult who can help them
understand what they view and how to apply it to the world around them (AAP,
2016).
www.educateiowa.gov
Iowa Early Learning Standards The Role of Technology and Interactive Media
Children can learn about technology when provided opportunities to explore and experience media in age-appropriate ways (Roskos, Burstein,You, Brueck, & O'Brien, 2011).
It is essential during technology exploration that adults are present to supervise, to interact with children, and to frame the learning. This helps children understand what they view and to apply it to the world around them (Labbo, 2009; Turbill, 2001).
www.educateiowa.gov
Iowa Early Learning Standards The Role of Technology and Interactive Media
What the Use of Technology and Interactive Media Means for Families
● Families know that technology is a part of our culture and an important tool for communication and learning. However, technology is not a substitute for one-on-one time with family members. Intentional use of technology can support children’s development in areas such as literacy, mathematics, and science.
● Families can provide opportunities for children to use technology together, such as reading digital storybooks or watching a favorite developmentally appropriate children’s show together.
● It is critical that families protect children from excessive amounts of ‘screen time,’ as well as inappropriate media, such as violent programs. Instead, families must recognize that children learn through play, and providing extended periods of time playing with their children is important.
● Restricting use of technology during meals and for one hour before bedtime is recommended (AAP, 2016).
www.educateiowa.gov
SETT Process Tasks before tools!
Team Member Roles
Parent(s)
Teacher(s) includes daycare provider
OT
PT
SLP
Other service providers
Advocate
AT Specialist /team member
Administrators
Assistive Tech (AT)
Under IDEA, AT can be used as an accommodation for students with disabilities.
AT is defined as, “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability.”
Accommodations
Accommodations allow a student to complete the same assignment, test, or activity as other students, but with a change in timing, formatting, setting, scheduling, or presentation. The material is the same, but a student learns the material in a different way.
Modifications
Modifications adjust an assignment, test, or activity in a way that changes the standard or alters the original measurement. Modifications change what a student is taught or expected to learn.
Say “Hello friends” or “How are you?” during morning routine or meeting.
Accommodation: Allowed extra time to greet peers
Modification: Wave to peers
Assistive technology: Use speech output device to greet peers
Communication
Sign-in by writing name on a whiteboard upon entering the classroom
Fine Motor
Accommodation: Provide a larger
whiteboard so there is more room to write
Modification: Write only the first letter of the name
Assistive technology: Use letter cards to “build” the name instead of writing it
Remain seated during snack time
Functional Skills
Original task: Remain seated during Accommodation: Sit at a smaller table with just a few peers to minimize distractions
Modification: Stand at the table while eating snack
Assistive technology: Use a weighted lap blanket or “wiggle seat” while sitting at the table
Birth to Three
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative received a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services to provide Birth to
Three agencies with seven literacy kits.
Literacy Kits
Big and Little
Counting Bears
Find the Puppet
London Bridge
If You See a cow
One Two, What Should We Do?
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
London Bridge
Book
Board
General Book reading board
Letter to Parents
How to use Communication Boards
CTD Customizing AT Support for B-3 Resource Sheet Dr. Susan Mistrett
Scoot 4-in-1 Mobility Rider
Zip Zac
The Zip Zac has rental options.
Laundry Basket ideas:
● Access to play ● Bathtime (with supervision
ALWAYS) ● Stander for young toddler (flip it
over and child leans on the top) ● Attach sensory items for play
Writing supports
DIY Slant board
Pencil grip
Keyguard
Broken crayons
Cat & Jack Adaptive Clothing
Sensory-friendly
The Cuddle Bright
Experience
CuddleBright Experience™ integrates years of child development theory, clinical practice, and the latest
neuroscience research to help parents gain knowledge and confidence while creating a loving connection with their
child—healthy bonds build healthy brains. CuddleBright offers a way to connect, comfort, and calm both parent and
child during times of separation and transition.
Daniel Tiger for Parents IOS App
Available in English & Spanish
Crawl Ahead By Lite Gait
crawlahead.com
Visual support ideas
Add ABC cards for transitions
Alphabet Match Cards
Wristband Board
Food Visuals from the Dairy Council of California
Hold Everything ! 2014
Twenty “Stay-Put” Play Spaces
for Infants and Preschoolers with
Sensory Impairments and Other Special Needs
Hold Everything
Bluebee Pals
bluebeepals.com
PACER Center’s EZ AT Booklet
DEC Recommended Practices
E6 Practitioners create environments that provide opportunities for movement and regular activity to maintain or improve fitness, wellness, and development across domains.
www.dec-sped.org
Physical Activity Apps
Iron kids (Developed by AAP) The app centers around nine exercises that involve the lower body, upper body, and core. Videos are included to help your kids understand how they can do the exercises and how those exercises benefit them.
Strava application that allows you to map your walks, bike rides, and hikes and time each journey, so you can show your children how much they’ve accomplished in a certain scope of time.
Fitness Kids is an application designed by experts in the fields of pedagogy, physical education, and health. Packed with interesting exercises for children between the ages of 6 and eight, this app teaches children each movement through the use of colorful, engaging videos.
Super Stretch Yoga HD your child can start trying out poses modeled by children of their own age, letting them stretch out their limbs and show off their skills. The application includes a total of twelve different yoga poses for your child to perfect, each with its own description and accompanying video.
www.aap.org
More Physical Activity
The AAP also recommends reducing sedentary behaviors.
One way to achieve this is to have fewer TV sets in the home and to remove the TV and other media from the bedroom and the kitchen.
Children who sleep less than 9 hours a night are more likely to be overweight or obese; focusing on bedtime, and understanding how much sleep children need at various ages can help improve a child’s overall health and well-being.
www.aap.org
Mayo Clinic infant and toddler health
Research examining the specific effects of baby DVDs and other infant programming is limited. However, a 2010 study found no evidence that children ages 1 to 2 learned words highlighted in a Baby Einstein DVD. In contrast, research has shown that regularly reading to young children boosts language ability for both babies and toddlers.
“concentrate on proven ways to promote infant development such as talking, playing, singing, smiling, and reading to your baby.”
www.mayoclinic.org
Suction Cup Toothbrush
Zip Button Bear
www.target.com
● Daily Living Skills ● Important for all ● Visual Impairments
Previously Bubby’s Bubble now called Milk Snob
● Multi-use baby item ● Carseat cover, nursing cover, and can be used for a
sensory squeeze in the grocery store. ● Similar to the body sock ● Could be placed around legs or midsection ● Requires supervision in the cart and during use for any
child.
Milk Snob
2 Inch Suction Cup Dent Pullers
Amazon Link
3D printed milk carton holder
Tarheel Reader
Read books
Write your own book or social story
Ratings- Everybody or caution
Accessibility features
tarheelreader.org
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
Practical Strategies
Solutions Toolkit
Super Friend Social Story
csefel.vanderbilt.edu/
Woofer Guitar Kit
DIY Includes one regular guitar and one switch adapted
Social Stories
Carol Gray Sample Social Stories
Book Creator One
carolgraysocialstories.com
Non-slip Shoes New Walkers
Safe walking shoes
• Slippers or soft shoes •Hot glue for skid-proof, grip bottoms
www.ctdinstitute.org
All-turn-it Spinner www.ablenetinc.com
Big Red Switch
Access to the Classroom DIY
Communication
Communication (light tech)
Core word board example High Contrast Core word Board
Direct Select ABC light tech board
Qwerty light tech board
Visual Supports for Emergency drills (scroll to bottom of page)
vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu
Tell Me Program-AAC in the PK classroom by Attainment Co
SGD
Speech Generating Devices - electronic AAC systems to supplement or replace speech. As stated by ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association): ● the use of SGD’s in early childhood can improve natural
speech development ● AAC use with preschool children has been associated
with increased use of multisymbol utterances and development of grammar
● AAC use can lead to increased receptive vocab in young children.
www.asha.org Big Mack Single Message Switch
Stay Play & Talk
Instruction planning worksheet
Typically developing peers are taught three component skills: (a) stay near their partner
(b) engage with the partner
(c) talk with the partner by commenting on the play activities and responding to their partners communicative efforts.
vanderbilt.edu
Light Tech Communication Board
Project Core
PDF Link
www.project-core.com
Assistiveware The Core Word Classroom
5 minute fillers
Core Word Modeling Guide
Mr. Potato Head 5 Minute Filler
Waterproof Communication Board
bath time, water play, or swimming!
•Waterproof, sealed kickboard, kneelpad •gallon zip bag, tape •pictures, photos, drawings
Pacer’s EZ AT Booklet
Tantrums & Language
*Most 2 year old tantrums occur not because of the terrible twos, but due to the fact that the child’s brain is further along than their language abilities.
● Create pictures of items 2 yr old may want ● Laminate and attached to childproof magnets ● Stick on refrigerator at child’s level or use a cookie sheet ● TEACH how to take picture to parent(s)/provider(s) ● The child learns to get what they want without
tantruming
www.behaviordoctor.org
Communication Placemats
DIY
Choice Boards
Food 6 Panel Board
Activities 3 Panel Board
www.ocali.org
Take a walk, take a deep breath, ask for help, or do the wall press.
Visual Schedules
Example Board
Blank Printable Board
www.ocali.org
5 Point Feeling Scale Created by Kari Dunn-Buron a Minnesota teacher
www.5pointscale.com
Fidgets
DIY Cut out soft fleece fabric squares
Tangle
Water wiggle snake toys
Liquid motion toys
DIY
Ring Around Bells by Enabling Devices
Red & Green Choices
Positive Behavioral Strategy
Created for Autism can be used with any child
Free printables
www.redandgreenchoices.com
LED Color Changing Glow Balls
● CVI ● Turn taking ● Circle Time ● Colors ● Sizes ● Motor Skills ● Joint Attention
Enabling Devices
Power Cards
.Created by Elise Gagnon
Ocali.org
Dolphin example
T-Rex example
Template
Clips Free IOS App
Make Short videos
Add text, graphics, and more!
www.apple.com/clips
Cube Chair Options
Amazon Link
Tiggy
Letters
Numbers
Shapes
Manipulative magnets for ipads
www.tiggly.com
Timers!
Free online timer
One Click Timer (only on Chrome Browser)
Time timer IOS App
Clock App on Ipad & Iphone -Stop playing feature
Guided Access
Voice Typing
Free accessibility feature on Google Docs
Click Tools
Voice Typing
Ideas for Preschool writing:
Wish lists, letters, journal entries, retelling stories, and more!
Voice Typing
PowerLink
Manual
www.ablenetinc.com
Matt & Molly
www.superduperinc.com
Students learn the right and wrong ways to act at school, at home, with relatives, with other children, and in the community.
IFTT- If This Then That
Applets for 500 + services
Circle manages content and time online
If it is sunny outside, then pause the internet.
(on children’s devices/TV)
https://ifttt.com
Learn the Signs Free App
Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Google Play Link
IOS App
Track your child’s development using checklists
Tips to support development
Designed for ages 2 months to 5 years old
Page Fluffers and Page Turners
Let’s Participate Link
letsparticipate.org
Kits to Try
Homemade Abacus
References
Aacintervention.com http://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/ www.aap.org www.asha.org www.behaviordoctor.org Carolgraysocialstories.com csefel.vanderbilt.edu/https://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/ebip/stay-play-talk- procedures/ www.ctdinstitute.org www.dec-sped.org/ http://donjohnston.com/portfolio-item/decoste-writing-protocol-2/ Gold.teachingstrategies.com Ectacenter.org www.educateiowa.gov Enablingdevices.com http://headstartinclusion.org/teacher-tools#visual www.joyzabala.com www.letsparticipate.org www.mayoclinic.org www.nationalautismresources.com www.ocali.org www.pacer.org http://practicalaac.org www.5pointscale.com www.redandgreenchoices.com https://sites.ed.gov/idea/ Tarheelreader.org www.tiggly.com www.wati.org www.zerotothree.org
