Assistive Technology for Little Ones

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Assistive Technology for Little Ones

• Cindy Cavanagh, CCC-SLP, ATP
• Teresa Wyant, CCC-SLP, ATP
• Mississippi Bend AEA
• Bettendorf, IA

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Here are some of the things little ones learn in
play

• How to interact with the environment
• How to have fun and entertain
• How to make happy sounds while playing
• How to communicate with family
• How to move around
• How big things are
• How books work
• How many things there are
• What happens when I do THIS
• What happens when I do THAT
• How to make my fingers do this

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Play is fun.
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If play isnt fun
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it isnt play.
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Little ones play, not work.
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Little ones learn from play.
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If play is fun, little ones will

• Want to do it for a long, long time.
• Want to do it again and again
• Learn while they are doing it
• Master skills and learn more the next time they
  play with the same toy
• Be more likely to communicate spontaneously

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If play is not fun, little ones will

• Shut down (listening, thinking, talking,
  learning)
• Become agitated
• Anticipate the awfulness of the play-work when
  the materials are presented again
• Find other ways to occupy/entertain themselves
• Spend a lot of time unengaged
  

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Enjoyable play is easy for some little ones and
harder for others to find.As educators and
parents, it is our job and our joy to make the
world an interesting and enjoyable place to be
for our little ones.
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Play and Toys go together!Toys can be

• Typical toys for age
• Toys from a different age used in a more simple
  or more a more complex way
• Typical toys adapted
• Specialized adaptive toys

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Toys can be adapted to provide

• Access to the toy for little ones who cannot
  access and enjoy the toy in the typical way
• A new function or use for the toy

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Sources for Adaptations and Adapted toys

• Local AEA or district (Early Access)
• Local School district (3-5 preschools)
• Lekotek lekotek_at_lekotek.org
• Private therapy services (e.g. Easter Seals
  speech physical therapy, occupation therapy,
  etc.)
• Your own creativity
• References, instructions and activities available
  at www.ataccess.org

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Where to buy adapted toys?

• Enabling Devices www.enablingdevices.com
• TASH www.tash.com
• Adaptivation www.adaptivation.com
• AbleNet www.ablenetinc.com
• Mayer-Johnson www.mayer-johnson.com
• Crestwood www.communicationaids.com

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How to adapt electrical toys

• Power control units
• Battery
• Outlet

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The Toys
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Bubble Machine

• From Enabling Devices
• 143-170

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Dora the Explorer

• From Enabling Devices
• 62.95

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Big Vibrating Bug

• From Integrations
• 35.95

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Nemo

• From Enabling Devices
• 49.95

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Baby Biff Bear

• From Enabling Devices
• 35.95

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Quack Quack Ducky

• From Enabling Devices
• 29.95

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Friendly Firefly

• From Enabling Devices
• 19.95

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Dancing Lights

• From Local retailers (e.g. Target)
• 10-15

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Paint N Swirl

• From Enabling Devices
• 35.95

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All-Turn-ItSpinner

• From AbleNet
• 93.00

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Base Trainer

• From Mayer-Johnson
• 198.00

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Dancing Flowers

• From Kohls sale shelf
• 5.00

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Heart Lights

• From Local stores
• about 8-10 BEFORE Valentines day

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Lamp Base

• From Local retail stores (e.g. Target)
• 6.00

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GirlBot - Infrared

• From Toys R Us
• 40.00

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Tank - Infrared

• From Toys R Us
• 40.00

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BookWorm

• From AbleNet
• 239.00

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Time to Sing CD

• From various Internet sites
• 16.98

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Tickle Me Erine

• www.enablingdevices.com

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Polaroid Camera

• www.orcca.com
• 100

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Interactive StoryBooks

• From www.mayer-johnson.com
• 19.00 each

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Switch Board

• From www.adaptivation.com
• 125.00

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Aquarium

• From www.enablingdevices.com
• 48.95

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The Computer Toy
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Computers

• Access Issues
• Vision
• Hearing
• Motor (keyboard and mouse)
• Positioning
• Attention

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Computers

• Software considerations
• Age appropriate
• Attention
• High interest (movement, sound, meaningful
  pictures and actions)
• Learning potential
• Recreational potential
• Opportunity for social interaction

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Example of Computer Access

• Single switch
• Two-switch
• Specialized keyboard
• IntelliKeys
• BigKeys
• Specialized mouse
• PG TrackBall
• PG Joystick
• Touch Window
• Tracker

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Examples of Computer Software

• Cause-effect
• IntelliTools
• SimTech
• RJ Cooper
• Judy Lynn
• Books
• BuildAbility
• Power Point
• Off-the-shelf preschool programs
• Shareware/Freeware (BlockCad)

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Where to buy special software?

• Judy Lynn Software www.castle.net/judylynn
• RJCooper www.rjcooper.com
• IntelliTools www.intellitools.com
• SimTech www.hsj.com
• SoftTouch www.funsoftware.com
• DonJohnston www.donjohnston.com
• Search freeware and shareware sites

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Assistive Technology for Little Ones

• Cindy Cavanagh, CCC-SLP, ATP
• Teresa Wyant, CCC-SLP, ATP
• Mississippi Bend AEA
• Bettendorf, IA