Did you give your child an iPad for Christmas? Will they be using it for school work? Are you struggling with where to find educational books online that aren't wildly expensive? Our good friend Valerie Chernek has provided us with an amazing resource for those looking for free textbooks for their children to read on the iPad. Read all about digital learning and where to find high quality e-books for free in our latest blog!
Showing posts with label adaptive technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adaptive technology. Show all posts
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Teen With Cerebral Palsy Bridges Gap For Those With Disabilities
Teen With Cerebral Palsy Bridges Gap For Those With Disabilities
November 1, 2012
By Lissa Blake
Imagine having to play charades all day in order to get others to understand you.
That’s what life is like for Lydia Dawley, a sophomore at Decorah High School who suffers from cerebral palsy.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Dawley.
But although Dawley is confined to a wheelchair, she doesn’t let it get her down – or even slow her down. Dawley is becoming an outspoken advocate for persons with disabilities, presenting to college classes, at political forums, symposiums and conventions.
“Making your voice heard is only one part. The wheelchair doesn’t define me. It means you have to do things differently, not that you can’t do things,” she said.
Dawley recently returned from a trip to Des Moines, where she was a special guest at the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Suppliers (MAMES).
Dawley, who dreams of someday being a lead advocate for persons with disabilities, said she enjoyed having the chance to meet Congressman Tom Latham.
“I feel so honored … I was so interested in listening to what he was saying and learning so much more about government and what I can do to help make a difference for others. I have already started writing some letters,” she said.
While Lydia is non-verbal, she is still cognitively on target. She is able to “speak” through an augmentive communication device which is attached to her wheelchair. The apparatus, available through Talk to Me Technology, works two ways: first, there is a camera attached to the screen. It zones in on the pupil of her eye, which she can then use to point to letters on a keyboard. Second, she has a Blue Tooth attachment on her wheelchair joystick.
“What is so cool about this is it sends a light to the pupil of my eye. Without this, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to speak in class or communicate with my friends,” said Lydia.
While this method of communication is relatively time-consuming, she has some preprogrammed phrases that help her on a daily basis. When preparing a lengthy speech like the one she gave at MAMES, she develops the text ahead of time, and is then able to play her speech, which sounds like a computerized female voice.
“She has a business card that says ‘A teenager with a voice! Trying to close the gap,’” said her mother, Jacque.
In the speech she typically gives, Lydia explains how she was born with her umbilical chord wrapped twice around her neck.
“I wasn’t breathing and was brought back to life. So now you can tell people you met a dead person,” quips Lydia.
She explains that cerebral palsy is a non-progressive, non-curable disease that she will have all her life. It results in a group of chronic conditions which inhibit her body movements and muscle coordination.
She credits her amazing drive and motivation to the support of her parents, Nathan and Jacque Dawley, of Bluffton.
“When I was 18 months old, a doctor tried to tell my parents they needed to accept that I was disabled. My dad picked me up and walked out of the room. Lucky for me, my parents have always listened to their gut feeling. They’ve always given me a chance,” she said.
“If my parents had listened to that doctor that day, I wouldn’t be here today to talk to you. People believing in me gives me the feeling there’s nothing I can’t do,” she said.
Early support:
Dawley said because she is non-verbal, she had to learn to read at a very young age to be able to communicate.
“My preschool teacher, Beth Crawford, told my parents, “There is something in this girl’s head,” said Lydia.
“I learned early on to communicate in nontraditional ways, to make friends, to get along in life. Interestingly enough, I witnessed some amazing changes in other students. They realized that if a person who can’t walk can do the things I was doing, everyone is capable if you believe in them.”
No limits:
Dawley is active in 4-H and shows goats, sheep, horses and her dog at the fair. She also gave her prepared advocacy speech through a communication competition in 4-H.
At school, she recently participated in speech competition. Her instructor, Amanda Huinker, helped pave the way for her to utilize her assistive technology device to excel at district competition, after which she moved on to state, receiving No. 1 ratings from all the judges.
Huinker said she really enjoyed working with Lydia on her speech.
“The process of working with Lydia was such a positive one; I too grew from the experience. She is an amazingly sweet girl who wants to make her mark on the world just like everyone else, and she most definitely does have the power to make a difference through her words; the fact that her words come through the voice of a computer doesn’t change the powerful message behind them – perhaps it even strengthens it,” said Huinker.
In her spare time, Lydia works with families of children with disabilities at Team Rehab in Decorah. In 2001, the Dawleys traveled to Poland with therapist Lisa Krieg to learn about Therasuit therapy, which is now available to patients in Decorah.
“Lydia talks to a lot of the patients who go there as an inspiration for the patient and their parents, of how not to let obstacles get in your way. They see what an inspiration Lydia is. How life doesn’t have to stop because they have a disability,” said Jacque, who added she is willing to help families get in touch with the companies who offer the assistive technology her daughter uses.
So proud:
Jacque said she and Nathan are so proud of Lydia and how she has become such a strong advocate.
She credits much of Lydia’s success to the Decorah School System.
“They were wonderful, helping us figure out how Lydia’s school days can go, how to help her do the work. They know she’s capable. Like Beth Crawford said: she gets it and you need to not let her stop,” she said.
“I feel very fortunate to live in this District and to have this school system behind us. Many other students we meet from other districts and other states don’t always have that support. Decorah is advanced in their thinking and in their technology and in their willingness to put the students’ needs first,” said Jacque.
What’s next?
Lydia has been asked to attend several upcoming technology lobbying events.
She said after graduation, she hopes to go to college at the University of Northern Iowa or in Washington, DC in order to work in speech pathology or get into government.
“With a supportive family, therapy and assistive technology, people with cerebral palsy can lead productive lives … If given the right tools, they can offer so much to society. I hope you will take time in your life to realize that everyone is capable. Everyone has a voice,” she said.
By Lissa Blake
Imagine having to play charades all day in order to get others to understand you.
That’s what life is like for Lydia Dawley, a sophomore at Decorah High School who suffers from cerebral palsy.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Dawley.
But although Dawley is confined to a wheelchair, she doesn’t let it get her down – or even slow her down. Dawley is becoming an outspoken advocate for persons with disabilities, presenting to college classes, at political forums, symposiums and conventions.
“Making your voice heard is only one part. The wheelchair doesn’t define me. It means you have to do things differently, not that you can’t do things,” she said.
Dawley recently returned from a trip to Des Moines, where she was a special guest at the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Suppliers (MAMES).
Dawley, who dreams of someday being a lead advocate for persons with disabilities, said she enjoyed having the chance to meet Congressman Tom Latham.
“I feel so honored … I was so interested in listening to what he was saying and learning so much more about government and what I can do to help make a difference for others. I have already started writing some letters,” she said.
While Lydia is non-verbal, she is still cognitively on target. She is able to “speak” through an augmentive communication device which is attached to her wheelchair. The apparatus, available through Talk to Me Technology, works two ways: first, there is a camera attached to the screen. It zones in on the pupil of her eye, which she can then use to point to letters on a keyboard. Second, she has a Blue Tooth attachment on her wheelchair joystick.
“What is so cool about this is it sends a light to the pupil of my eye. Without this, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to speak in class or communicate with my friends,” said Lydia.
While this method of communication is relatively time-consuming, she has some preprogrammed phrases that help her on a daily basis. When preparing a lengthy speech like the one she gave at MAMES, she develops the text ahead of time, and is then able to play her speech, which sounds like a computerized female voice.
“She has a business card that says ‘A teenager with a voice! Trying to close the gap,’” said her mother, Jacque.
In the speech she typically gives, Lydia explains how she was born with her umbilical chord wrapped twice around her neck.
“I wasn’t breathing and was brought back to life. So now you can tell people you met a dead person,” quips Lydia.
She explains that cerebral palsy is a non-progressive, non-curable disease that she will have all her life. It results in a group of chronic conditions which inhibit her body movements and muscle coordination.
She credits her amazing drive and motivation to the support of her parents, Nathan and Jacque Dawley, of Bluffton.
“When I was 18 months old, a doctor tried to tell my parents they needed to accept that I was disabled. My dad picked me up and walked out of the room. Lucky for me, my parents have always listened to their gut feeling. They’ve always given me a chance,” she said.
“If my parents had listened to that doctor that day, I wouldn’t be here today to talk to you. People believing in me gives me the feeling there’s nothing I can’t do,” she said.
Early support:
Dawley said because she is non-verbal, she had to learn to read at a very young age to be able to communicate.
“My preschool teacher, Beth Crawford, told my parents, “There is something in this girl’s head,” said Lydia.
“I learned early on to communicate in nontraditional ways, to make friends, to get along in life. Interestingly enough, I witnessed some amazing changes in other students. They realized that if a person who can’t walk can do the things I was doing, everyone is capable if you believe in them.”
No limits:
Dawley is active in 4-H and shows goats, sheep, horses and her dog at the fair. She also gave her prepared advocacy speech through a communication competition in 4-H.
At school, she recently participated in speech competition. Her instructor, Amanda Huinker, helped pave the way for her to utilize her assistive technology device to excel at district competition, after which she moved on to state, receiving No. 1 ratings from all the judges.
Huinker said she really enjoyed working with Lydia on her speech.
“The process of working with Lydia was such a positive one; I too grew from the experience. She is an amazingly sweet girl who wants to make her mark on the world just like everyone else, and she most definitely does have the power to make a difference through her words; the fact that her words come through the voice of a computer doesn’t change the powerful message behind them – perhaps it even strengthens it,” said Huinker.
In her spare time, Lydia works with families of children with disabilities at Team Rehab in Decorah. In 2001, the Dawleys traveled to Poland with therapist Lisa Krieg to learn about Therasuit therapy, which is now available to patients in Decorah.
“Lydia talks to a lot of the patients who go there as an inspiration for the patient and their parents, of how not to let obstacles get in your way. They see what an inspiration Lydia is. How life doesn’t have to stop because they have a disability,” said Jacque, who added she is willing to help families get in touch with the companies who offer the assistive technology her daughter uses.
So proud:
Jacque said she and Nathan are so proud of Lydia and how she has become such a strong advocate.
She credits much of Lydia’s success to the Decorah School System.
“They were wonderful, helping us figure out how Lydia’s school days can go, how to help her do the work. They know she’s capable. Like Beth Crawford said: she gets it and you need to not let her stop,” she said.
“I feel very fortunate to live in this District and to have this school system behind us. Many other students we meet from other districts and other states don’t always have that support. Decorah is advanced in their thinking and in their technology and in their willingness to put the students’ needs first,” said Jacque.
What’s next?
Lydia has been asked to attend several upcoming technology lobbying events.
She said after graduation, she hopes to go to college at the University of Northern Iowa or in Washington, DC in order to work in speech pathology or get into government.
“With a supportive family, therapy and assistive technology, people with cerebral palsy can lead productive lives … If given the right tools, they can offer so much to society. I hope you will take time in your life to realize that everyone is capable. Everyone has a voice,” she said.
Join Our Family
Sign up for our free enewsletter for more blogs, articles, and news about CP kids and their families.
Sign up for our free enewsletter for more blogs, articles, and news about CP kids and their families.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
iPhone & iPad: IOS 6 Disability Features Overview
Apple has been working on making the upcoming iOS 6 more accessible to those with hearing, vision, learning, and mobility disorders.
At WWDC Apple introduced Guided Access, which helps those with learning disabilities remain focused on tasks by restricting touch input on selected screen areas. A parent or instructor can also disable the home button, preventing the user from leaving an app. For people with autism or learning disorders this feature will be very welcome, making the iPad a perfect tool for focused learning.
VoiceOver, which aids users with low-vision or blindness, will be improved as well. It will now integrate with AssistiveTouch, Zoom and most impressively, Maps. When coupled with the upcoming turn-by-turn navigation, this new accessibility may remove the need for many current apps that specialize in navigation for people with vision loss. Also those with the new iPad will have the improved Siri digital assistant, who will be partnering with apps that will keep users up to date on sports, movies, and more.
For those with hearing loss, Apple announced on their Web site that they are “working with top manufacturers to introduce hearing aids that will deliver a power-efficient, high-quality digital audio experience.” These hearing aids are being designed for use exclusively with the iPhone 4S. However, we hope to see them also work on the iPad by release date as it would be great for the elderly who often suffer from vision loss.
Overall, Apple has a great record of creating ways that allow everyone to use their iDevices. In iOS 6 they have raised the bar even further. We cannot wait to test out the newest features first hand and report to you. Do you think Apple could do more or have any other suggestions to help those with disabilities?
At WWDC Apple introduced Guided Access, which helps those with learning disabilities remain focused on tasks by restricting touch input on selected screen areas. A parent or instructor can also disable the home button, preventing the user from leaving an app. For people with autism or learning disorders this feature will be very welcome, making the iPad a perfect tool for focused learning.
For those with hearing loss, Apple announced on their Web site that they are “working with top manufacturers to introduce hearing aids that will deliver a power-efficient, high-quality digital audio experience.” These hearing aids are being designed for use exclusively with the iPhone 4S. However, we hope to see them also work on the iPad by release date as it would be great for the elderly who often suffer from vision loss.
Overall, Apple has a great record of creating ways that allow everyone to use their iDevices. In iOS 6 they have raised the bar even further. We cannot wait to test out the newest features first hand and report to you. Do you think Apple could do more or have any other suggestions to help those with disabilities?
Here is a more detailed look into the new features.
- Guided Access: for children with autism, this feature will make it easier to stay on task. Guided Access enables a single app mode where the home button can be disabled, so an app is not closed by mistake. In addition, this feature will make it possible to disable touch in certain areas of an app’s interface (navigation, settings button, etc.). This feature could be used to remove some distractions, and to simplify the interface and make an app easier to learn and use for people with cognitive disabilities. Disabling an area of the interface is pretty easy: draw around it with a finger and it will figure out which controls you mean. I loved how Scott Forstall pointed out the other applications of this technology for museums and other education settings (testing), a great example of how inclusive design is for more than just people with disabilities.
- VoiceOver integrated with AssistiveTouch: many people have multiple disabilities, and having this integration between two already excellent accessibility features will make it easier for these individuals to work with their computers by providing an option that addresses multiple needs at once. I work with a wounded veteran who is missing most of one hand, has limited use of the other, and is completely blind. I can’t wait to try out these features together with him.
- VoiceOver integrated with Zoom: people with low vision have had to choose between Zoom and VoiceOver. With IOS 6, we won’t have to make that choice. We will have two features to help us make the most of the vision we have: zoom to magnify and VoiceOver to hear content read aloud and rest our vision.
- VoiceOver integrated with Maps: The VoiceOver integration with Maps should provide another tool for providing even greater independence for people who are blind, by making it easier for us to navigate our environment.
- Siri’s ability to launch apps: this feature makes Siri even more useful for VoiceOver users, who now have two ways to open an app, using touch or with their voice.
- Custom vibration patterns for alerts: brings the same feature that has been available on the iPhone for phone calls to other alerts. Great for keeping people with hearing disabilities informed of what’s happening on their devices (Twitter and Facebook notifications, etc.).
- FaceTime over 3G: this will make video chat even more available to people with hearing disabilities.
- New Made for iPhone hearing aids: Apple will work with hearing aid manufacturers to introduce new hearing aids with high-quality audio and long battery life.
- Dictionary improvements: for those of us who work with English language learners, IOS 6 will support Spanish, French and German dictionaries. There will also be an option to create a personal dictionary in iCloud to store your own vocabulary words.
- Word highlights in speak selection: the ability to highlight the words as they are spoken aloud by text to speech benefits many students with learning disabilities. Speak selection (introduced in IOS 5) now has the same capabilities as many third party apps in IOS 6.
These are the big features that were announced, but there were some small touches that are just as important. One of these is the deep integration of Facebook into IOS. Facebook is one of those apps I love and hate at the same time. I love the amount of social integration it provides for me and other people with disabilities, but I hate how often the interface changes and how difficult it is to figure it out with VoiceOver each time an update takes place. My hope is that Apple’s excellent support for accessibility in built-in apps will extend to the new Facebook integration, providing a more accessible alternative to the Facebook app which will continue to support our social inclusion into mainstream society. You can even use Siri to post a Facebook update.
Aside from the new features I mentioned above, I believe the most important accessibility feature shown today is not a built-in feature or an app, but the entire app ecosystem. It is that app ecosystem that has resulted in apps such as AriadneGPS and Toca Boca, both featured in today’s keynote. The built-in features, while great, can only go so far in meeting the diverse needs of people with disabilities, so apps are essential to ensure that accessibility is implemented in a way that is flexible and customized as much as possible to each person. My hope is that Apple’s focus on accessibility apps today will encourage even more developers to focus on this market.
Another great accessibility feature that often gets ignored is the ease with which IOS can be updated to take advantage of new features such as Guided Access and the new VoiceOver integration. As Scott Forstall showed on chart during the keynote, only about 7% of Android users have upgraded to version 4.0, compared to 80% for IOS 5. What that means is that almost every IOS user out there is taking advantage of AssistiveTouch and Speak Selection, but only a very small group of Android users are taking advantage of the accessibility features in the latest version of Android.
Big props to Apple for all the work they have done to include accessibility in their products, but more importantly for continuing to show people with disabilities in a positive light. I loved seeing a blind person in the last keynote video for Siri. At this keynote, Apple showed another blind person “taking on an adventure” by navigating the woods near his house independently. As a person with a visual disability myself, I found that inspiring. I salute the team at Apple for continuing to make people with disabilities more visible to the mainstream tech world, and for continuing to support innovation through inclusive design (both internally and through its developer community).
Join Our Family
Sign up for our free enewsletter for more blogs, articles, and news about CP kids and their families.
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/
Thursday, September 6, 2012
iPod & iPad May Ease Transition Into Workforce For Those With Disabilties
iPod & iPad May Ease Transition Into Workforce For Those With Disabilties
As more people with autism and other disabilities enter the work world, a new case study suggests that arming them with specially-programmed iPods may go a long way toward achieving independence on the job.
Researchers looking for new and innovative ways to help those with disabilities adapt to the demands of employment used the Apple iPod Touch as an assistive device with three adults with the developmental disorder. The results of the small case study — published this week in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation — were quite promising, they said.
For “Jeffrey,” 21, who struggled with transitioning from one task to the next as a custodian at Hardee’s, a series of alarms on the iPod helped keep him on schedule. The notes function of the device was also used to provide a checklist of responsibilities and remind him of calming techniques.
After just one week, Jeffrey was adept at using the iPod independently, researchers said, and no longer needed constant prompting from his job coach. He also stopped displaying behaviors like spinning, humming and stomping. A year later, researchers say that Jeffrey is still successfully using his iPod and is considered a reliable employee.
“This is an exciting time for anyone in the fields of education, physical rehabilitation, and vocational support, where we are seeing a long-awaited merging of consumer products and assistive technologies for all,” said Tony Gentry of Virginia Commonwealth University who led the research.
For the study, each person with autism was assigned a job coach and an occupational therapist who programmed their iPod to meet the specific employee’s needs. Researchers focused on the iPod Touch because it was the most suitable pocket-sized device on the market when the study was designed. The names of the participants were changed for the purposes of the report in order to protect their privacy.
In the case of “Grace,” a 60-year-old with autism, mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy, introducing the iPod Touch allowed her to independently and safely navigate her way to and from work. Before she had her iPod, Grace would often step into the street to look for the bus if it was late. Now, specially-programmed reminders and an instructional video prompt her to call the transportation company instead. Grace was also helped by having music at the ready to calm herself while she waits for her ride, the study said.
The third person to try the iPod Touch was “Lily,” a 20-year-old with autism and Down syndrome who is unable to read or tell time. Before receiving the iPod, she often became frustrated at her housekeeping job at a Virginia hospital when prompted by her job coach and was known to throw things, stomp, cry or call her mother.
Lily’s iPod was programmed with a series of apps to provide verbal alerts to prompt her throughout the day and customized picture books to help her cope with various scenarios she might encounter. Another app was also used to track her progress toward earning rewards for good behavior. By using the device, Lily soon needed her job coach to spend significantly less time with her, researchers said.
The participants are part of a larger four-year randomized trial. Though it’s not possible to draw firm conclusions from the case study since it involved such a small sample, researchers say that given the promising results so far, they are hopeful that they’ll soon be able to assess how beneficial iPods and similar devices are for workers with autism.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Disabled Voters Face New Hurdles at Polls
With the voting season kicking into high gear, it's time America addressed the disabled population's needs. That our voting technology hasn't improved enough to let the handicapped have the same accessible voting stations as those without disabilities is almost criminal. Does your county or state make special considerations to allow you to vote? If not what do you suggest should be done?
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/uncategorized/disabled-voters-face-new-hurdles-at-polls
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/uncategorized/disabled-voters-face-new-hurdles-at-polls
Friday, August 17, 2012
Disability & Technology: Using an Ipad to Communicate
As technology improves, it has greatly influenced the disabled community. For those that don't have the ability to communicate, using an APP on an IPad can be the bridge that was missing for so many years. With touchscreens only needing the simplest of motor skills to operate, it has opened up a whole new world to those who previously had no way of communicating. Check out this story of one little boy and how his IPad has changed his and his families lives.
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/in-the-news/disability-technology-using-an-ipad-to-communicate
Monday, August 13, 2012
Electrical Stimulation Restores Mobility to Young Boy with Cerebral Palsy
Electrical Stimulation Restores Mobility to Young Boy with Cerebral Palsy
11 year old Matthew Hurt isn’t just walking better these days. The North Texas boy’s running, jumping and riding have improved as well, all thanks to a device the size of an iPod.
Shortly after a premature birth, doctors diagnosed Matthew with mild cerebral palsy. He’s developed cognitively like any other child his age, but the cerebral palsy resulted in weakness on his right side. That led to a condition known as “foot drop” which causes a person to drag the toe of the shoe on the ground or slap the foot on the floor.
This caused Matthew to have an unnatural gait, and made it difficult for him to walk without tripping and falling. And as a result, that made it hard to keep up with his friends.
However, doctors recently fit Matthew with a medical device. It’s called the WalkAide. The device is worn around the calf, just below the knee, and uses electrical stimulation to combat foot drop and restore mobility to people like Matthew.
Since wearing the WalkAide, Matthew’s gait has improved significantly. He can walk faster and farther before getting tired. He’s also able to keep up better with his friends when he’s on the golf course playing his favorite sport.
The WalkAide can also be used in patients living with traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and some spinal cord injuries.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
10 Ways to Optimize Your iPad or Tablet for Kids With Special Needs
10 Ways to Optimize Your iPad for Kids With Special Needs
August 2nd, 2012
By Zoe Fox
When we think about ways the iPad has changed the world, our minds usually shoot to publishing, entertainment, or mobile communication.
For the community of people living with disabilities, the iPad may have broken even more ground. The iOS device is not only cool, but provides education, therapy and, of course, entertainment.
Last summer, Mashable explored ways iPads are making these changes. Now we’re following up with Sami Rahman, the father of 4-year-old Noah and co-founder of BridgingApps, the Internet’s largest database of special needs app and reviews.
Noah began using his iPad when he was two and was assessed to be 12 months behind with language and cognition. Within four months, he was on par for his age. Now, two years since he began using the iPad, he is 15 months ahead developmentally, can read English and Arabic, and is learning Mandarin.
Rahman recently released his book Getting Started: iPads for Special Needs. Rahman shared some of his insights for preparing an iPad for people with disabilities. Most of the tricks are tailored for parents or educators working with children.
1. Pick the Right Specs
One of the biggest differences between the iPad 2 and the new iPad is retina display, which can create an incredible visual experience. Most special needs iPad users will not appreciate it at all, Rahman says, unlike artists or photographers. The reason to choose the new iPad would be if you want or need 4G connectivity.
The iPad 2, however, offers a major advantage over the original iPad — cameras. A major problem for many people living with learning disabilities is learning to associate an abstract concept with the physical object. In other words, recognizing that an illustration of a tree is related to the tree outside of the window. Taking photos on the iPad can be helpful for learning to associate food as an icon with food as an item, for instance.
This can be useful in the classroom environment, where a teacher can create content on the go without going back and forth to the computer.
When it comes to choosing the right size, Rahman says most social needs apps are not too large. If your iPad is just going to have one primary user, you won’t need any larger than 32GB. However, if the device is going to be shared in a classroom, 64GB could be worthwhile.
2. Volume Control
Rahman says his wife’s favorite tip is to cover the speaker with masking tape. His son Noah, who has cerebral palsy, loves to jack up the volume on his iPad to be “blood curdling loud.”
“Because the iPad is a platform I can’t install software on to regulate the overall volume, we literally put cellophane tape over the speaker,” Rahman says.
Another option is to get a big case, which can muffle some of the sound, if you don’t want to restrict control over the tablet.
3. Explore Accessibility Features
The iPad comes with a lot of accessibility features already included, which you should explore.
Voice over is one great feature for the visually impaired, which reads what you swipe out loud when it’s switched on. You can also try “white on black” view, zoom (for the visually impaired) and assisted touch (press a button instead of shaking your iPad).
Rahman recommends setting the triple click on the home button to turn on the accessibility feature you use most regularly.
4. Try an External Keyboard
While some special needs users are great with the touchscreen keyboard, there can be two advantages to attaching an external keyboard to the iPad. First, it’s easier for people with fine motor issues to get an accurate touch.
Second, if you’re trying to work with multiple languages with different alphabets, you can attach character stickers on to keys rather than flipping between the iPad’s language options.
5. Make Time for FaceTime
For people on the autism spectrum, learning to make eye contact can be incredibly challenging — it’s also one of the first warning signs that a child may not be inputting social interactions correctly.
Using FaceTime to chat with friends and relatives outside of your home can be a great way to build those skills. The facial close-up forces kids to look into the eyes of the person with whom they’re chatting.
“For any child that has a hard time with social interactions, FaceTiming with relatives can be fun and incredibly therapeutic,” Rahman says.
6. DIY Keyguard
Keyguards are a very inexpensive way to give a voice to people who are uncommunicative and can be purchased cheaply for $20 or made by hand from foam board and an X-Acto knife.
Rahman recalls visiting with a non-verbal student in one school who used a two-button keyguard to communicate yes and no. After answering a sequence of yes or no questions, expressing his preferences for different needs and likes, the boy told a joke. Humor is, of course, a huge indicator of intelligence, Rahman notes.
“Do you have fun in school?” Rahman asked, expecting a yes, following a series of correctly answered questions.
The boy smiled, placed his hand near the yes, and then slid his finger over to the no button.
The boy again hit down the no.
“Really?” Rahman asked a final time.
The boy moved his hand over and pressed yes, indicating he in fact enjoyed school.
7. Set Boundaries
It should come as no surprise that iPads can be lots of fun for the special needs population, so parents need to set boundaries from the start.
“The iPad is totally useless without a plan,” Rahman says. “Everyone owns a hammer but few people can use it to build a building.”
Comparing an iPad to a pacifier, Rahman says parents must draw lines to prevent the iPad from becoming just an entertainer, and to ensure it is used for education and therapy.
8. Make Photo Albums
Learning to associate pictures of objects with concepts can take years for some people with special needs, but the iPad can be an important learning tool if you take pictures and organize photo albums. The tablet can become a great communicator when you view 16 icons at once, and allow the user to choose what they want.
You can give people who are non-verbal and partially non-verbal the ability to express preference by showing them, for instance, pictures of foods that they can eat for a given meal. You can also show options of activities, clothes or people.
9. Keep Cleaning
While iPads can be great babysitters, if you want to use the tablet for therapy or education you’ll need to frequently mix up the types of apps your child is using.
“If you’re not removing apps on a regular basis, you’re focusing on entertainment, not education and therapy,” Rahman says.
Parents almost always tell Rahman that they’re not removing apps from their children’s iPads, meaning they’re not letting their children flex their muscles or learn new skills.
10. Lock Screen
The constant rotation of the screen can be incredibly frustrating for some individuals with special needs. You can choose to lock the screen to prevent the display from reorienting as the device moves. This will give the user a greater feeling of control over their experience.
Rahman notes that for his own son, after two years with his iPad, it was a big moment when he learned to navigate with an unlocked screen.
“I don’t want him to just settle, I want a kid that forces the world he wants,” Rahman says.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Special Kids’ Worlds Open Through Mobile Apps
Special Kids’ Worlds Open Through Mobile Apps
By John Hartford
Mobile communications technology for use by children with disabilities is exploding. New applications for children with movement, speech, hearing and visual challenges seem to appear daily on the market. As a result of these new technologies, new worlds are opening for these children. These devices and apps are providing children who experience movement and communication challenges with incredible tools for academics, communication and socialization
Most of these applications run on iPads or iPhones, although they also are available for other tablets and smart phones. Some encourage wrist and finger movements to help develop small motor skills; others make it possible for young children with speech challenges to communicate through the use of pictures. Word and picture-to-sound applications give voice to older children and open up social interaction. Already in use by many schools and therapists, applications to assist children in cognitive skills building abound.
Most of these applications are fairly inexpensive. But you’ll need a device like an iPad, which costs about $500 new, to get started. While sifting through the many available applications can be frustrating, especially if you’re a “newbie” to the technology scene, there are a number of helpful websites that offer reviews and video demonstrations to help you choose. Here are some of the best:
Momswithapps – This first-rate site run by moms includes a section on apps for special needs. The moms work with software developers to fine-tune their products and encourage parents to give them feedback to make products better.
Apple Special Education – The special education section of Apple’s website lists 72 applications for the iPhone and 13 applications for the iPad in 10 categories ranging from communication to emotional development and life skills
About.com Apps for People with Special Needs – This site offers reviews from parents and users of applications for iPads and iPhones.
Apps for Children with Special Needs – This site provides videos of many applications, allowing parents to see how they work before buying. It also offers an extensive list of free applications.
Babies with iPads – Focuses on infants and toddlers with developmental delays and how technology can help build basic skills. A recent article lists a therapist’s top 10 applications for children with cortical vision impairment.
The Friendship Circle – Offers a wealth of resources for special needs community, including a list of applications for Android devices.
Of course one of the best ways to choose an application is to ask your child’s therapists and teachers what they recommend. But no matter what you choose, today’s mobile software applications are making it possible for children with cerebral palsy to interact with their world better than ever before.
For more information please visit:http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/
Kids and Seniors Warmly Welcome CP Families to Easter Seals
We recently gave the Easter Seals Inter-Generational Center in Silver Spring, MD, a $2,500 grant to help make improvements to their facility. The CP Family Network’s grant will be used to replace cribs in the nursery, allowing the Center’s hard-working staff to focus their money and attention on the wonderful programs they offer to children and adults with special needs.
The CP Family Network supports Easter Seals in its mission to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. We look forward to seeing how our donation impacts the lives of the special needs children they serve. To see photos of the donation and the Silver Spring facility, watch this video and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Here is the video!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)