Saturday, November 13, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Enabling Environments: ICT - Switch on
Stuart Pattison, 25 August 2010, 12:00am
ICT equipment designed for children with special educational needs can be the best choice for general provision too, says Stuart Pattison.
Where can you find great equipment to help with ICT development? The answer, perhaps, surprisingly, is in the section of the catalogues marked Special Educational Needs.
I work with more than 100 schools providing ICT access for children with special needs. This involves assessing individual challenges and then supplying the necessary equipment to enable them to fully access the curriculum.
I was recently called in to help a local nursery. A child couldn't use the class computer despite being desperate to do so.
A Big Keys keyboard and Tiny Mouse were provided. When I returned a week later, I arrived to find that the keyboard and mouse that had previously been attached to the computer were tucked away in a cupboard, as every single child had switched to using the access device.
It became obvious that there is huge untapped potential for special needs access equipment to be used to help early learners. This covers not only hardware but also software and even toys and websites.
SWITCH
One of the earliest forms of interaction in ICT is through using a simple switch. Switch software not only develops ICT skills but also helps to develop children's understanding of the world. Special needs software that has been designed to help children interact better within their world can also fulfil the same role in a nursery setting.
A simple switch-operated toy (such as Droopy the Snoring Dog, available from Inclusive Technology) can be linked to the early learning goals and it can help motivate a child to interact with a switch, developing their ICT skills. To make this more relevant, a battery switch adaptor (available for £9) can be added, which turns a favourite toy into a valuable resource.
The SwitchIT range of software offers many different topics (sport, wildlife, dinosaurs). The extremely useful SwitchIT Hygiene will help develop simple personal hygiene as well as switch skills. The great thing with this software is the fact that it can also be used on an interactive whiteboard or through a mouse and keyboard.
MOUSE
The next stage on from using a switch is to start interacting using a simple mouse. Regular mice are designed for adult hands, which makes them difficult for children to move around with confidence. A mouse adapted for smaller hands, such as 'My First Mouse' and 'Mini Mouse', are much easier to cope with. An additional benefit is that many have different colours for the right and left buttons.
For children who are not confident in using a mouse, there are tracker balls which can be rolled to help get the cursor in the right position. The 'Big Track' (BIGtrack Trackball) is a good example of this. These are also very durable, which we discovered when one boy went from the sandbox straight to it (although it did make a grinding sound for five days afterwards!)
KEYBOARD
The average keyboard has too many keys for your average child or some adults to cope with. Reducing the number of keys makes it much easier for the child to work on the computer. Big key keyboards are generally available for less than £50. These enable the child to find the key easier and press it much more easily.
They come in a variety of colour combinations and are arranged A-Z rather than the traditional QWERTY arrangement. The A-Z keys are helpful for teaching the alphabet, but transferring to a standard keyboard can present a challenge.
Also available as an alternative keyboard is the Intellikeys system. This is a flat board which can have different overlays placed on it. These can be made to any design, so a picture of Red Riding Hood can be used to help write a simple story by pressing different areas.
PROGRAMS
Many programs for children with special needs can be adapted for all early years children. In addition to the SwitchIT software, there are programs such as the cause and effect program 'Big Bang' and the Choose and Tell programs, which help with telling stories and making decisions.
ReacTickles is a program specifically designed for children with autistic spectrum disorders. It is a series of simple interfaces that react to touch in different ways, which work very well on an interactive whiteboard and are suitable at a very early age.
If you are on a tight budget, programs to adapt the software to your own particular need will have to be chosen carefully. SwitchIT Maker 2 and ChooseIT Maker 2 can be easily customised. The staff I have worked with praised these highly for their ease of use. MyBoard software is one of the best for this, as a huge number of screens can be produced. We worked very successfully with it, when the children picked their own toppings for a pizza.
ONLINE
Many online activities are also very good and, more importantly, free! The CBeebies website has areas specifically designed for using with switches. In addition, the website www.helpkidzlearn.co.uk offers excellent activities which are constantly updated, despite having a terrible name.
Special needs equipment is something that should be given serious consideration when trying to find resources as it is usually well-built, bright, cleverly thought out and designed specifically to help with early development - ticking just about every box for early years equipment!
Stuart Pattison is a teacher and co-ordinator for the North Lincolnshire ICT Access Library.
Further information
- Big Keys Keyboard - www.keytools.co.uk/home.php or www.pcwb.co.uk
- Tiny Mouse - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Droopy the Snoring Dog - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Battery switch adaptor - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Switch IT software - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- My First Mouse - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Mini Mouse - www.amazon.co.uk
- Big Track - www.keytools.co.uk
- Intellikeys - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Big Bang - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Choose and Tell - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Reactickles - www.r-e-m.co.uk
- SwitchIT Maker - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- ChooseIT Maker - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- MyBoard - www.Inclusive.co.uk
- Help Kidz Learn - www.helpkidzlearn.com
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Benefits of Handicap Reachers and Grabbers
Benefits of Handicap Reachers and Grabbers
Disability, Handicap Equipment
What are Handicap Reachers and Grabbers?
A handicap reacher is a device designed to reach objects from a distance and bring them close enough to grab. People with limited reaching capabilities find using a reacher is helpful when reaching for things that are difficult to get to such as dropped coins, dropped papers or mail, or even items inside cabinets and refrigerators.
Recommended Handicap Reachers and Grabbers
- 32 Inch Aluminum Handicap Reacher
– Has a non slip gripping surface and is sturdy enough to pick up lightweight objects. Perfect for assisting with socks.
- Handicap Reacher with 31 Inches
– Lightweight reacher that is able to pick up a penny or even a can of vegetables. Handle is perfect for most users.
- Lightweight Foldable Grabber
– Foldable grabber that can be stored in a suitcase for portable use in travel or vacations.
- Aluminum Reacher with Magnetic Tip
– Handicap reacher with a magnetic tip and a jaw that can pick up cans. Magnetic tip works perfectly for picking up lightweight metal objects in hard to reach places.
Reachers come in several different weights and styles depending on the needs of the individual. Some of the different styles of reachers available are listed below.
- Aluminum frame reachers are lightweight and easy for the individual to manage.
- Rotating head reachers are perfect for picking up small items that are in hard to reach places.
- Reachers and handicap grabbers are great for individuals who need lift chairs and have trouble reaching things when they are seated.
- Rotating arm handicap reachers are great for tight spaces where extra movement may be necessary for picking up an item.
- Suction cups on reachers aid in grabbing an item securely making even slippery items easy to pick up.
- Magnetic tip reachers have a magnet on the tip which helps the individual to pick up small steel parts like screws or bolts.
- Foldable reachers are handy when the individual has limited space for storing their reacher, or needs to take the reacher with them when they leave home.
- Most reachers utilize a trigger mechanism which helps to ensure a tight grip on the object being picked up.
How Can A Reacher Improve Your Quality of Life?
Reachers can improve the quality of life for people with spinal injuries, arthritis, hip, joint, or bone pain, or simply those people who find using a reaching device is easier, safer, and less strenuous, than bending over to pick something up.
Listed below are a few ways people might make good use of their reacher:
- Picking the remote control for your television
- Opening drawers or cabinet doors
- Getting an object from a high shelf
- Taking a book from a bookshelf
- Retrieve pens and pencils from the floor
Where Can I Buy a Reacher?
Handicap reachers can be purchased from pharmacies, grocery stores, online stores, and even flea markets. Depending on where you choose to buy your reacher, and the quality of reacher you decide on, the prices may range from $10.00 to $40.00. You can check out our list of recommended reachers and grabbers.
Tags: Foldable Reachers, Handicap Grabbers, Handicap Reachers, Magnetic Tip Reachers
Friday, October 1, 2010
Audio on special needs equipment
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: grant knott <swaffi@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Subject: go him
To: grant knott <swaffi@gmail.com>
From: grant knott <swaffi@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Subject: go him
To: grant knott <swaffi@gmail.com>
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