North Carolina Assistive Technology Program
Sonya Van Horn, M.S., ATPAssistive Technology Consultant
Mary Kay Dulin, B.S.Assistive Technology Specialist
Goal
• Create ready to go activity kits adapted for – Communication– Physical needs– Vision needs– Cooperative play– Literacy– Learning
• Makes activity set up quick and easy
• Can store in containers or hanging bags
= LearningPlaying
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For young children…
Because play should…
• Be engineered for success• Provide learning opportunities for concepts
appropriate for child’s developmental stage• Facilitate active involvement of the child• Provide opportunities for the child to
communicate• Help children become empowered initiators in
play and communication• Encourage creativity and exploration• Traditional toys and play activities often don’t
provide these opportunities in an accessible way for kids with special needs
Why make adapted play boards?
Play and Brain Development
• The interaction between experience and brain activity helps the brain develop
• The more a child plays, the more the brain’s functions will improve and expand
• Toys that are appropriate to a child’s developmental stage and abilities help ensure frequent successes, building brain function as well as self esteem.
Play and Brain Development
• Researchers have found a direct link between brain function and the rising stress level caused by a lack of success during play and other activities. As a child’s frustraton or stress level rises, the level of the hormone cortisol in the brain also increases, slowing the activity in the hippocampus, which handles memory functions.
What are they learning?
• Concepts– Cause & effect– Object
permanence– Object
characteristics
• I can!
• I can make things happen
• Play is FUN!
• Helplessness
• I can’t
• I have to wait for someone to initiate play
• Play isn’t funOr
What else happens during successful play?
• Children learn about themselves and the world
• Children are enabled to interact with objects and their environment
• Relationships with others are developed and strengthened
• Self Image and self esteem are improved
Communication & Play
• Children need to be able to make choices about play activities
Communication & Play
• To play & learn effectively, children need a way to communicate with play partners
Communication & Play
• Communication provides a way for children with physical limitations to participate by directing play activities
Communication & Play
• Children need to be able to communicate what they know, need, want, like, don’t like, don’t understand, etc.
• Allows child to communicate emotions during play which can decrease aggressive behaviors
Communication & Play
Communication & Play• Many children benefit from a total
communication approach using – signs, – gestures, – vocalizations, – symbols and – voice output devices
Communication & Play Options
• Object boards that allow child to make choices
• Symbol or picture boards
• Voice output devices
BoardmakerMayer-Johnson
• Software that allows you to easily create symbols for play activities
• Can also create overlays for voice output devices using pre-made grids
Tips for Creating Activity-based Symbol Sets
• What does child need to communicate to participate in the activity?
• Plan for peer interaction • Always include multiple parts of speech, not just
nouns• Color coding
– Verbs– Descriptors– Prepositions– Nouns– Miscellaneous
• Adjust symbols to child’s needs– Number of symbols– Color– Size
• Ready made board resources
Voice Output Technology
• Voice output devices boost development of spoken words & phrases
• Children typically become more verbal in response to spoken language paired with signs, symbols & voice output
• Helps the child learn the POWER of language
• Provide a more concrete way to experience language
• Allows child to hear, see and feel language
• Many children benefit from multi-modal learning experiences
Voice Output Technology
Inexpensive Voice OutputProduct Source Cost Comments
Compact Voice Recorder
National Artcraft Co.
1/$6.9525+/$4.95Shipping: $3.95 for any quantity
Easy to activate and adaptGood voice quality
Greeting Card Insert
LS&S 1/$5.95 Very difficult to activate. Made of thin plastic, not sturdy. Not recommended
Voice-over Recorder
Voice-Express 1/$9.50 box of 50/$3.55
Good voice quality. Requires more pressure to activate. Easy to adapt. Has microphone jack for improved voice quality recording.
Scrapbook Alive
Happy n Scrappin
1/$5.99Shipping:$5.95
Out of stock
Inexpensive Voice OutputProduct Source Cost Comments
Hug Me Voice Recorder
Talking Symbols Notepad
Silver Lining Multimedia
Ablenet
$8.95
3/$49.00
Haven’t tried
Voice volume low; large, easy to activate target; built-in magnet
Engineering for Success• Carpet squares or velfoam boards• Velcro on toys, books and symbols• Cords to hold toys on play board• Foam grips• Stick on earrings• Black on white, white on black• Puff paint outlines• Magnets & cookie sheets• Page puffers
• Symbols for activity based communication
• Adapted books– Page turning– Symbols– Tactile cues– Contrast
Books
• Songboards
Music
Questions?
Gone F ishing Activity
• Includes 4 activities– Pretend play– Game– Counting– Colors
• Free Internet activities• Related books and toys
Gone F ishing Activity
Fishing Game Supplies
Amountneeded
Cost
Magnet fishing game 1 12/$4.95
Fish tray 1 12/$7.95
Fishing pole 1 .95
Symbols 1
Carpet strips 1
Blocks (Dice) 1 48/19.95
Neoprene strap 1- 4” piece 3.3 yds/$10.95
Velcro hook dots 34
Velcro loop dots 6
Grip liner 1 piece
Gone F ishing Activity
1.Put hook Velcro dots on symbols2.Cut out symbols3.Set fishing game symbols aside4.Put symbols on carpet strip5.Put 1 dot of loop Velcro in the center of each
side of the block6.Put fishing game symbols on block to create die7.Cut X at each end of neo loop and slide over
handle of the fishing pole8.Place grip liner under fish tray
Brown Bear Activity
•Adapted book
•Symbols
•Voice recorder
•Glove & stick puppets
•Free Internet activities
•Literacy kit resources
Brown Bear Activity
Brown Bear supplies
Amount needed
Cost
Book 1 $5.42
Sticks for puppets 11 500/$6.95
Gloves for puppets 1 $1.00/pair
Binder clips 12
Compact Voice recorder
1 $4.95
Plastic container 1 10/$1.00
Symbols & puppets 1
Web site handout 1
Carpet square 1
Velcro hook dots 39
Velcro loop dots 14
Brown Bear Activity
Preparing Book, Puppets and symbols1.Place one binder clip on each page of the Brown
Bear board book2.Put one piece of hook Velcro on each of the
outside corners of the front and back of the book (4 pieces total)
3.Press book onto carpet square4.Put hook Velcro dots on symbols and puppets5.Cut out symbols and puppets6.Put symbols on carpet square7.Put loop Velcro on sticks8.Attach puppets to sticks and/or glove
Brown Bear Activity
Recording a Message on Voice Recorder1.Take voice recorder out of the box2.Rotate cover so rubber button is exposed3.Press and hold button to record up to 10
seconds of speech (“What do you see?”)4.Rotate cover to save
Brown Bear Activity
Adapting Voice Recorder1.Close lid of box that voice recorder came in2.Put 1 dot of hook Velcro on the bottom of
the box3.Put 1 dot of loop Velcro on top of the box4.Place 1 dot of hook Velcro with adhesive
side up on top of loop Velcro dot5.Press the voice recorder into place on top of
the box6.Cut 1 loop Velcro dot into quarters
Brown Bear Activity
Adapting Voice Recorder (continued)7.Place one quarter on button on voice
recorder8.Put 1 dot of hook Velcro with adhesive side
up on top of loop Velcro on the button9.Press container into place over voice
recorder10.Put 1 dot of loop Velcro on top of container
for symbol11.Put “What do you see?” symbol on top of
container