Age-Appropriate Materials for Secondary Students with Significant Disabilities
v Introduction – Nora Jehn, Training Coordinator, Idaho Assistive Technology Project, , 800-432-8324
o Idaho Assistive Technology Project (IATP) – www.idahoat.org
§ Services at no cost to schools and families
· Assistive technology assessments
· Training
· Used equipment at www.idaho.at4all.com
· Information and referral
· Resources and training on Idaho Training Clearinghouse website, AT Learning Community, www.idahotc.com
· Free computers for students with disabilities
o IATP partnership with Computers for Kids www.cfkidaho.org
§ IATP will pay application and shipping fees
§ Desktop computers for K-10
§ Laptop computers for high school juniors and seniors/college freshman and sophomores
§ Desktops for resource rooms
v Barriers to Participation
o McClure and Rush, 2005
§ Limited ability to understand and participate typically in age-appropriate activities
§ Personal preference for toys, activities, and materials that are not age appropriate
§ Socially inappropriate behaviors (e.g., tantrums)
§ Little in common with same-age peers
§ Low expectations
v Literacy
o Personalize It
§ Pictures, video, personalized stories
§ Switch activated cameras
§ Success Stories: Using Video Stories to Connect, Communicate, and Create True Success with Your Students
· By Jessica Roberts
· http://www.wsdstaff.net/~jroberts
§ Personalized stories
· My Own Bookshelf, www.softtouch.com, $139.00
· PowerPoint
§ Talking photo album
· www.attainmentcompany.com
· $29.00
o Age Appropriate High Interest Low Level Reading Materials
§ Tar Heel Reader
· www.tarheelreader.org
§ Route 66
· www.route66literacy.org
§ Storyline Online
· www.storylineonline.net
§ Accessible Book Collection
· www.accessiblebookcollection.org
§ Start to Finish Literacy Starters
· www.donjohnston.com
§ Start to Finish Books
· www.donjohnston.com
§ DK
· http://us.dk.com
§ Visual supports for reading
· Writing with Symbols - $199.00
· Picture It - $295.00
o www.slatersoftware.com
o www.slatersoftware.com/document.html
§ Multiple reading level curriculum materials
· News-2-You
o www.news-2-you.com
· Ben’s Guide to US Government for Kids
o http://bensguide.gpo.gov
· Star Child
o http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov./docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
· Windows to the Universe
o www.windows.ucar.edu
o Writing Supports
§ Clicker
· www.cricksoft.com
§ Cloze Pro
· www.cricksoft.com
§ Writing with Symbols 2000
· www.mayer-johnson.com
§ Classroom Suite
· www.intellitools.com
§ Co:Writer
· www.donjohnston.com
v Math
o Talking Calculators
o Teaching to Standards: Math
§ www.attainmentcompany.com
§ Aligns to NCTM Standards
§ Ages 12-21
§ Accommodates nonverbal students
§ Scripted lessons with 5 levels of teacher support
§ A full-year curriculum covering Geometry, Algebra, Data Analysis, and Measurement
§ $199.00
v Vocational
o www.attainmentcompany.com
v Communication
o Language – formal v. informal
o Go Talk Card - $7.00
§ www.attainmentcompany.com
o Express One - $29.00
§ www.attainmentcompany.com
o Teach Me to Talk
§ Language curriculum
§ www.softtouch.com
o Laureate Learning Systems Software
v Music
o Interactive Classics
§ www.interactiveclassics.com
o Mp3 player
o Super Switch Ensemble
§ www.switchintime.com
v Art and Entertainment
o Adult Coloring Books
o Switch games
§ www.switchintime.com
· Super Switch Hitter
· Cause and Effect Cinema
· Attention Getter
· Single Switch Games
o Thera Puzzles
§ www.therapuzzle.com
v Assessment
o Alternate Assessment Evidence
§ Video
· http://www.theflip.com/products.shtml
· Starting at $129.99
· 1 GB
· 60 minutes recording time
§ Audio
· Digital recorders
§ Stages Assessment Software
· www.intellitools.com
· Activities and measurement of basic skills
o cause and effect, language readiness, emerging language, early concepts, advanced concepts and communication, functional learning, and written expression
v So How Do We Get From Raffi to Rhianna?
o Pairing
§ By pairing preferred items/activities/people with nonpreferred items/activities/people, those nonpreferred items/activities/people will eventually become reinforcing as well!
o Shaping
§ Shifting the reinforcement from poor or crude approximation to better approximation of the target behavior
· RULES FOR SHAPING:
o Define the target behavior
o Reinforce successive approximations of the target behavior
o Sandwiching
§ Alternating between preferred and nonpreferred tasks
· This may be minute by minute, not period by period!
v Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology Fair, March 2-3, 2009, Coeur d’ Alene
o The Tools for Life Fair is a two-day conference designed to
§ Educate high school students with disabilities, educators, service providers, and families about transition issues from high school to post-secondary education, independent living, and/or employment (CEU and academic credit available)
§ Provide attendees with hands-on knowledge of assistive technology devices and software to promote independence
§ Teach self-determination and self-advocacy skills
§ Provide information on resources, schools, agencies, and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities
o Student Stipends Available
o Registration materials at www.idahoat.org