We have had the opportunity to visit many Special Education Early Childhood classrooms (ECSE)and talk to many teachers in our district. Assistive technology (AT) plays an essential role for student participation and success. The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) provides many toolkits for educators (visit http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/ ). Although many classrooms have individual students that need specific assistive technologies written in their IEP that ensures their individual success wouldn’t it be proactive to take a universal design for learning approach and have an AT toolbox that could be implemented into daily activities (playing, communicating, exploring the environment, etc.) for any student that could benefit! Preliminary research has been conducted by Judge (2006) asking early childhood special education practitioners what devices they thought should be included in such a toolkit. The results of this study identified a preliminary AT toolkit that supports young children’s participation in daily activities that involve communication, movement, and interaction with materials. Tools that were identified in this study included items such as picture communication symbols, visual schedules, talking switches, adapted scissor, adapted tables and chairs, bean bag chairs, switch accessible toys and games, talking books, touch screen for computer access to name just a few.

A critical concept of AT is to continuously support the child’s development by providing tools that address the challenges that may limit his or her ability to play with toys, communicate, participate, and explore the environment. Many AT tools that children use to participate in daily activities can be found commercially or adjusted for use with minor adaptations (Judge, Floyd, Jeffs , 2008). A child’s natural curiosity is very powerful. Tap into it! In the picture above my grandson (age 3 at the time now a freshman in high school) is exploring the computer. Move the computer onto the floor or small table for better positioning! In a recent study, preschoolers out performed college students in playing games. (http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelindex=1&from=en-us_msnhpvidmod#/video/7a52e773-5618-1103-27a4-8d095d7e9469). Allow children to explore and find possibilities across the continuum of no-tech to high tech learning tools at home, school and community.

So what's in your AT toolbox? Let’s brainstorm a few of our favorite AT tools:

Communication Tools

Speech generating devices also known as voice-output communication aids allow messages to be recorded and provide a means for children to communicate, express ideas, and participate in daily routines, learning activities, and social situations. These devices could be used for just a single message at a time (simple output devices ) or multiple messages (multi-cell,multi-level communication devices). Communications notebooks and Talking Photo Albums also provide a wonderful low-cost pathway to providing opportunities for conversation.

Adapted Writing Tools

From adapted crayons to slant boards there are many wonderful ways to modify or adapt writing tools that enable young learners to be a participant in the writing process. Here is a great blog that shows 10 easy ways to make adaptations that could help children write. (http://www.lovethatmax.com/2013/02/helping-kids-with-disabilities-write.html). Work closely with your Occupational Therapist ( OT)for ideas and resources. For example here is a step by step description of making an adapted holder (http://abbypediatricot.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-make-adapted-crayon.html)

Tactile Symbols

Tactile symbols are great for children who experience visual difficulties or comprehension challenges in learning abstract vocabulary. Here are two great resources for understanding and creating tactile symbols.

• [http://www.tsbvi.edu/component/content/article/100-instruction/1315-a-standard-tactile-symbol-system-graphic-language-for-individuals-who-are-blind-and-unable-to-learn-braille

• http://www.tsbvi.edu/component/content/article/53/1116-tactile-symbols-directory-to-standard-tactile-symbol-list#TIME

Here is a nice Pinterest collection of tactile symboll ideas http://www.pinterest.com/cmcormier/aac-tangible-symbols/

Visuals

Visuals in the classroom, home or community provide that little extra support or reminder to help the child participate and build independence.

Adapted Toys and Games

In an earlier posting, Access to Play and Learning: Selecting and Adapting Toys and Games we talk about the importance of play and adapting toys. http://www.pil-network.com/HotTopics/accessibility/adapt_toys Here are two handy toy/game/play sites.

• http://www.ableplay.org/
• http://www.lekotek.org/

File Folder Activities

http://www.filefolderfun.com/FileFolderGames.html

Computer Access

Computer access can be difficult for some children. A single click mouse can eliminate the accidental right click menus that seem to pop up and interfere into the task at hand. If you don't have a single click mouse adaptations can be made to a standard computer mouse. A mouse house can turn a standard mouse into a switch. Other computer access solutions include different types of switches that can be activated with a switch interface, adapted mice and touch screens.

Free Interactive Websites

• Starfall http://www.starfall.com/ wonderful calendar and early literacy activities.

• Boohbah http://www.boohbah.tv/zone.html allows students to explore light and music.

• Hiyah http://www.hiyah.net/ play online allow students to click and explore.

• Tinygrads http://tinygrads.com/ wonderful interactive videos.

• Do2Learn http://www.do2learn.com/games/learningames.htm songs and games

• More with Music - https://www.youtube.com/user/AmandaGEllis/videos?view=0&flow=gridwonderful PowerPoints filled with content specific songs

• Tarheel Reader http://tarheelreader.org books for beginning readers.

• Storyline Online http://www.storylineonline.net/ Actors read beautiful stories.

Doesn’t it just make sense to equip Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms with an assortment of AT tools thus affords opportunities for a seamless approach to technology integration? With that question in mind what AT tools would you include? Do you have your own classroom AT toolbox? Take a minute and share your ideas with others here on the blog!

Resources:

Judge, S., Floyd, K., & Jeffs, T. (2008). Using an assistive technology toolkit to promote inclusion. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36, 121-126.

Judge, S. (2006). Constructing an assistive technology toolkit for young children: Views from the field. Journal of Special Education Technology, 21(4), 17–24.

http://bit.ly/NCATPResources

http://www.wonderbaby.org/articles/apps-for-children-who-are-visually-impaired

Tots –‘n- Tech http://tnt.asu.edu/ Great AT research briefs, practice ideas, and make it use it ideas

http://www.pinterest.com/katielyn27/early-childhood-special-education/

http://bit.ly/ECSETools