∗ “Assistive technology device means 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 the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of that device.”∗ Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Definition of Assistive Technology
∗ Developed by Joy Smiley Zabala (www.joyzabala.com)∗ Student
∗ PLEP? Goals & Objectives? Special Needs?∗ Environment
∗ What’s available? Physical arrangement? Instructional style? Upcoming changes?
∗ Task∗ Activities & Critical components? How to best support student?
∗ Tool∗ No tech, low tech, high tech? Strategies for utilization?
S.E.T.T. Framework
∗ Positioning and Mobility∗ Communication∗ Sensory Integration∗ Leisure/Access to the Environment∗ Reading∗ Writing
Types of Assistive Technology Used
∗ Orthotics∗ Wheelchairs∗ Walkers & Gait Trainers∗ Standers∗ Bathroom Chairs∗ Recreational Seating
Assistive Technology – Positioning and Mobility
∗ Orthosis: a brace that supports any part of the body through any of the following means:∗ Helps eliminate pain or further injury through
immobilization∗ Supports non-functional parts of the body∗ Controls the motion of a functional body part
∗ Common Orthotics∗ AFO∗ Body Jacket
Orthotics
“AFO”
∗ Picture & Information Provided by: http://www.eagleorthopaedics.com/ortho.html
∗ Ankle Foot Orthosis∗ Controls the movement of
the foot and ankle∗ Commonly used for children
with Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy
∗ May be used to maintain a good position of the foot while seated or to create a smoother gait pattern
“Body Jacket”
∗ TLSO Brace – Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis
∗ Commonly used with children who have curvature in the spine
∗ Halts progression of scoliosis by correcting posture by supporting the shoulders, back and abdomen
∗ Picture Provided by: http://reflectionsonthejourneyhome.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html
Wheelchairs
∗ Promotion of Independence ∗ Things to consider:
∗ Classroom layout∗ Safety navigating classroom
& hallway
∗ Picture Provided by: http://wheelchairassistance.com/power-wheelchair/head-controlled-power-wheelchair.php
Walkers & Gait Trainers
∗ Walkers∗ Individualized support∗ Child uses legs to hold their
weight∗ Gait Trainers
∗ Equipment holds child’s weight so that child may use legs
∗ Opportunity to move using feet∗ Seat, harness & accessory
supports∗ Picture Provided By:
http://tadpoleadaptive.com/rifton-pacer-medium.html
Standers
∗ Academic Benefits∗ Access materials
∗ Social Benefits∗ Same level as peers
∗ Physical Benefits∗ Strong bones∗ Increased flexibility∗ Decreases tension & constipation∗ Improves breathing & digestion
∗ Picture and Information Provided by: http://tadpoleadaptive.com/standers.html
Toileting Systems
∗ Things to consider:∗Storage∗Increased time for toileting
needs∗Privacy Concerns
∗ Picture Provided by: http://tadpoleadaptive.com/rifton-small-toilet-system-2.html
Recreational Seating
∗ Commonly used for Leisure Activities
∗ Things to consider:∗Independence Level∗Age Appropriateness
∗ Picture Provided by: http://tadpoleadaptive.com/special-tomato-mps-push-chair-kit-small-1.html
∗ Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)∗ AAC Devices & Methodologies
∗ Communication Aids – Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Dynamic Displays∗ Auditory Scanning∗ Facilitated Communication
Assistive Technology – Communication Aids
∗ “Methods of communication other than oral speech that enhance or replace conventional forms of expressive and receptive communication to facilitate interaction by and with persons with disabilities who are nonverbal or have limited speech”∗ MA Educator Licensure and Preparation Program
Definition of Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
∗ Developed in 1985 by Andrew S. Bondy, Ph.D. & Lori Frost, M.S., CCC/SLP
∗ Intervention for individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities
∗ Created for families, resident care providers & educators so that it may be used in a range of settings
∗ Based on B.F. Skinner’s book, Verbal Behavior∗ Utilizes prompting & reinforcement strategies∗ Encourages independent communication
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ The Base Elements of PECS∗ Functional Activities
∗ Skills & activities that lead to independence∗ Powerful Reinforcers
∗ Powerful motivation that drives learning∗ Functional Communications
∗ Skills that are useful now & in the future∗ Contextually Inappropriate Behaviors
∗ Focus on functionally equivalent alternative behaviors
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS1. How to Communicate
1. Goal: Approach people to initiate communication
2. Teach 3 Step Sequence: Pick up, reach, release
3. One picture at a time (no discrimination)
4. Video:https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mECI6PKVFiA
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS∗ 2. Distance & Persistance
∗ Communication Partner moves away from student
∗ One picture taught∗ Variety of people, activities,
locations, reinforcers involved
∗ Video:∗ https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sAmHxgOUg
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS∗ 3. Picture Discrimination
∗ 3a.Motivation to use correct picture = getting desired item & avoiding undesired item
∗ Reinforce at first indication of choice
∗ 3b. Equally reinforcing items with correspondence checks
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS∗ 4.Building Sentences
∗ “I want” + reinforcer picture put on sentence strip
∗ Entire strip given to communication partner
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS∗ 5. Answering “What do
you want?”∗Leads to commenting∗Maintain spontaneity∗Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKQdMH7Wiok
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS∗ 6. Commenting
∗ Answering “comment” questions: “What do you see/have/hear/feel?”
∗ Discriminating between commenting and requesting
∗ Maintain spontaneity
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
∗ Research-based Benefits ∗ Facilitates acquisition of
speech∗ Increases social skills during
play∗ Improvements in behavior
management concerns∗ Can be used with peers &
siblings∗ System can be implemented
in schools and other environments
∗ User selects from an array of categories of pictures for the communication of messages, ideas, wishes, comments, needs, etc.
∗ Touch screens allow user to access a large amount of vocabulary in one device
∗ Voice output available∗ Unlike PECS, the user communicates through display
rather than exchange
Dynamic Displays
Dynamic Displays - GoTalk
∗ Determine communication needs, create sheets & record messages
∗ Helpful for students with limited fine motor skills
∗ Sara Pyszka∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlC8G5nNE7k
∗ Augie Nieto∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDKFNqrmtZ4
Two Successful DynaVox Users
Auditory Scanning
∗ Form of dynamic display∗ Provides an oral choice from
which the communicator can select a topic, letter, etc.
∗ Used for those who cannot access tangible symbols, pictures, or a voice output communication device
∗ Picture Provided By: http://mashley.net/blog.php?readpost=10
∗ Video of Partner Assisted Auditory Scanning∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLb6-Oi3uR0
Assisted Auditory Scanning
Eye Gaze Boards
∗ Individual indicates symbol they want using “eye pointing”
∗ A communication partner watches and interprets
∗ A hole or clear board allows the communication partner to watch the individual’s eyes
∗ Individual uses pointing (pictures, letters, objects) or typing (keyboard) to express him/herself
∗ Involved communication partner for emotional encouragement, behavior support, and physical support to assist individual in developing independence
∗ Video of Tim Chan∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279h9QJ9ptw
Facilitated Communication (FC) / Supported Typing
Date
Location
Communication Partner
Communication Breakdown
Resolved? How?
Communication Needs Assessments
∗ Questions to Ask∗ How frequently is the breakdown occurring?∗ Who, What, Where, When, Why?∗ How can we help the individual communicate? Are there
systems already in place that we can add to?
Communication Needs Assessments
∗ 1. Determine the vocabulary needed to engage in communication exchange (activity, lesson, social situation, etc.)
∗ 2. Simplify vocabulary as needed∗ 3. Provide visual supports as needed∗ 4. Introduce, review, and practice new vocabulary in
context
How To Create Communication Aids
Assistive Technology – Sensory Integration
∗ Providing students with the opportunity to experience the world in a deeper way∗ Therapy balls∗ Fidgets∗ Stretches
∗ Video about Sensory Processing∗ https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1G5ssZlVUw∗ Video about Multi-Sensory Room
∗ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lUK1RYM3Zs
Assistive Technology – Leisure/Access to the Environment
∗Switches∗Video about Switch Use
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0CVVnw2s94&feature=related
∗ Picture Provided By:http://www.thesensorycompany.co.uk/catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=64
Assistive Technology - Reading
∗ Environmental Print Materials
∗ Edmark Reading Program∗ Power Point Books∗ Boardmaker Materials∗ Scanning Board∗ Place Holders
∗ Picture Provided By: http://www.donjohnston.com/products/edmark/index.html
Assistive Technology - Writing
∗ Pencil Grips∗ Magnetic letters∗ Graphic Organizers∗ Enlarged Key Boards∗ Paper holder∗ Small White boards
∗ Picture Provided By: http://frontporchphotography.com/services/page-ups/
∗ PECS Website: http://www.pecs.com/∗ DynaVox Website:
http://www.dynavoxtech.com/default.aspx?s_kwcid=TC|16134|dynavox||S|e|15960397510&gclid=CKvnu-OrgLECFUITNAodITS-Aw
∗ Syracuse University – Supported Typing: http://soe.syr.edu/centers_institutes/institute_communication_inclusion/what_is_supported_typing/default.aspx
Resources
∗ Article about Therapy Balls: http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-sitting-ball-helps-kids-focus-and-do-better-school
Resources Continued