Touch screen monitors
We are living in an age where there is highly sophisticated technology evolving almost weekly to assist language limited children and adults to communicate. Touch screen technology is one such area of development.
A mouse may be too frustrating and difficult, and switches may be too indirect for some children. Touch monitors operate with standard mouse operated programs and provide the most direct input method of all. Children using touch screens watch the screen and use it as an input method with a direct connection between the action of pointing/touching and the result on screen.
Touch screen products are not ‘off the shelf ’ – they need to be programmed to your own child’s needs and difficulties.
A good starting point to research a wide range of assistive technology including touch screens and the software to accommodate them would be: www.enablemart.com.
Also try reading the article Assistive Technology for Children with Autism (by Susan Stokes) which is available at www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm.
For adaptations and available technology for Apple Mac computers go to www.Apple.com/disability.
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of US community-based resource centres, developers, vendors and associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive and information technologies: www.ataccess.org.
ALLTech identifies technology solutions to the educational, daily living, communication and workplace challenges experienced by people of all abilities and ages. Their website is at www.alltech-tsi.org.
Visual prompts for computer use
For children who respond well to picture supports, it would be useful to use picture cue cards to prompt children to wait after the computer has been switched on.
Switch on and wait
Either for the computer to warm up or to remind your child to wait when something unpredictable happens (as it invariably will!), such as automatic downloads.
Calm down
You may wish to keep a pleasant and distracting toy to hand (or favourite book/twirling rag…).
Save
Remind your child to regularly save work.
Electronic books
Interactive, animated storybooks are perfect for capitalizing on a strong visual processing channel, they encourage children with short attention spans to remain on task, build in their own rewards by clicking on pictures, have lots of opportunities for interaction and can be repeated over again. They often come with associated printables and activities and although this type of software has to be purchased, it may well prove to be a sound investment. You may decide that if you are a member of a support group this type of software would be useful in your library or equipment lending scheme – or even to agree to purchase and swap software between members.
Try:
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/Childrensebooks.cfm
Using digital photography to make activities
The digital camera will probably be one of your most valuable resources, it can be used to record events to look at and discuss later, to make picture prompt cards, to show visually what a new place (e.g. school setting) or person looks like to prepare a child for change and to make your own personalized activities.
Picture bingo
This is a great way to familiarize children with the names of significant family and friends, to assist them to feel comfortable studying a familiar face photo and to encourage participation with siblings and parents in a fun activity.
For a game for three players you will need:
12–15 photos of friends and family – you could also include school teachers/babysitters/speech therapists…anyone involved with your child on a regular basis.
light card (to run through printer)
a laminator
some large plastic counters.
Create a table on your computer as follows:
Import or cut-and-paste six pictures to each grid and repeat three more times. Remember to make at least two pictures on each card completely unique to that card and make up the other four with combinations of the remaining pictures used by all cards. Laminate each of the game cards.
Print off one set of all the photos and cut and laminate as individual photos for the bingo caller to use.
Play as conventional bingo by selecting a photo at random and saying the name or showing it to the players who put a counter over their matching card. First to place all six counters wins.
You can make many personalized versions of this game. Try using pictures of:
your household items
familiar places to visit
toys and activities you play with your child
your child’s favourite characters.
