Making Low-Tech AT and Adaptations Re-published with permission from Tots-n-Tech Newsletter – August 2010 1 Thomas Jefferson Arizona State University University August 2010 E-Newsletter M AKING LOW-TECH AT AND ADAPTATIONS In This Issue Low-tech assistive technology (AT) and adaptations are cheap and easy strategies that families and professionals can use to increase their Making Low-Tech 1 children’s participation in daily activities and routines. If you have the AT and right supplies, most of these ideas only take a few minutes to make. Adaptations Creating a make-it take-it kit to keep at home, in the office, or take with 2 you on the go is a great idea for making sure that you’ll have the needed Make-It Take-It Materials Lists supplies when you want to create low-tech AT or an adaptation. In this newsletter we have put together lists of items commonly used in low tech AT and adaptations. Below is a list of general materials that may be useful for all of your AT and adaptation projects. In addition to these Web Resources 3 items, we have also included lists of materials for making devices and for Making Low- adaptations based on functional need. Combine the list below with the Tech AT & Adaptations lists on page 2 to make your own make-it take-it kit! Print Resources 4 for Making Low- Tech AT & Adaptations Idea to Share: 6 Baking Pan Magnifier G ENERAL MAKE- IT TAKE- IT LIST Velcro Markers, pencils, pens, crayons Various kinds of tape - Duct tape, Styrofoam trays masking tape, cloth tape, Fabric scraps electrical tape Sandpaper PVC pipe Spray adhesive Sewing kit Pool noodles Empty containers Non-slip material Cardboard boxes Felt Scissors and X-acto knife Phonebooks Glue and hot glue gun Tool set Various kinds of paper - Battery interrupter and switch construction, cardstock, 3x5 cards, etc. Arizona State University Tots-n-Tech E-Newsletter, August 2010 Thomas Jefferson University 2 M AKE- IT TAKE- IT MATERIALS LISTS POSITIONING & MOBILITY SOCIALIZATION/BEHAVIOR USING ARMS AND HANDS Quilt Batting Shower curtain rings Shower curtain rings Cushions, pillows, Popsicle sticks Popsicle sticks towels Pictures, magazine Contact lenses Phonebooks clippings, drawings, etc. containers Plastic buckets Poster board Film canisters, Foam - soft & firm Magnets prescription canister kinds Stress balls Hairbrushes Hula hoops Magnets Wood pieces Pop-poms Screws Stress balls Rope Tennis balls Wheels/Casters Wiffle balls/golf balls Washers Clay For ideas on what to make with these Tri-wall Large beads items visit the Ideas to Share section Foam hair curlers of TnT’s website at http:// Cookbook tnt.asu.edu/ideas stand or PVC for COMMUNICATION/ homemade stand LITERACY Wooden knobs Shower curtain rings PVC Popsicle sticks Paper clips Pictures, magazine Poker chips clippings, drawings, Margarine lids etc. Buttons Contact lenses Cookie sheets containers Felt Phonebooks Wood pieces Pop-poms Corrugated Plastic bags, clear cardboard plastic covers Empty roll-on Clear keychains deodorant bottle Styrofoam trays Plaster of paris Paper clips Elastic Magnets Pipe cleaners, feathers, other textured objects Highlighter tape Talking picture frame, talking greeting cards, etc. Pouch laminators Binders and binder rings Arizona State University Tots-n-Tech E-Newsletter, August 2010 Thomas Jefferson University 3 W EB RESOURCES FOR MAKING LOW-TECH AT & A DAPTATIONS Tots-n-Tech (http://tnt.asu.edu): Provides information and resources about adaptations, including assistive technology, to use with infants and toddlers for states, EI providers of all disciplines, and families. The Ideas to Share section of the Tots-n-Tech website contains a growing database of low-tech AT ideas that have been contributed by people working with young children. The database can be accessed by clicking on the “Ideas to Share” link at the top of the page or by clicking on the keywords on the right side of the page. The database is organized by functional skill, activity/routine, and keyword. Project Participate (http://projectparticipate.org/gadgets- gizmos.asp): Project Participate provides families, educators, administrators and therapists with simple strategies to increase the active participation of students with disabilities in school programs. Their gadgets and gizmos section contains ideas that promote participation in the home, school, and community. Linda Burkhart (http://www.lburkhart.com/handouts.htm): Linda Burkhart’s website contains instructions and handouts on how to make communication devices for young children. Her website also includes products you can purchase. SWEET AT Toolkit (http://www.scoe.net/SEEDS/resources/at/ atToolkit.html): This toolkit “was developed to meet the need for access to low-tech, inexpensive tools designed to assist young children with disabilities to learn, play, grow and participate with peers and family members. The AT Toolkit is based on the need to have AT tools readily available for children, families, and providers to apply in daily routines and activities. The SWEET AT Toolkit is actually a guide for the development and use of AT Toolkits in early intervention and early childhood settings. The toolkit consists of nineteen activity-based ideas for creating low-technology ideas for assessment and intervention purposes.” Arizona State University Tots-n-Tech E-Newsletter, August 2010 Thomas Jefferson University 4 W EB RESOURCES CONTINUED SWEET Training Modules (http://www.scoe.net/SEEDS/resources/at/ trainMods.html): This site contains downloadable AT training modules to use with professionals and families. Topics covered include assessment, communication, emergent literacy for infants/toddlers, AT and play, and AT and computers. Each module may be downloaded separately from the SWEET website. NYC Department of Education, Special Education District 75 (http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/District75/Departments/Literacy/ AdaptedBooks/default.htm): This website has adapted books that can be used with young children with disabilities. The books can be downloaded in several formats including Power Point, Boardmaker, and Writing with Symbols. P RINT RESOURCES The New Language of Toys: Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Special Needs (1996) by Sue Schwartz and Joan E. Heller Miller This book “is a fresh, hands-on approach to using everyday toys – both store-bought and homemade—to stimulate language development in children with special needs from birth through age six. When parents and teachers follow the book’s creative activities and toy dialogues, playtime becomes a fun, exciting, and educational experience.” Designing Environments for Successful Kids (2003) edited by Penny Reed “The DESK Concept is based on the premise that children can only succeed when the supports they need are readily available in their environment. This manual will describe a variety of these supports for infants, toddlers, children and youth at different ages and different development levels who are engaging in a variety of learning tasks. It will focus on providing those supports in the quickest, most practical and least expensive way possible. Suggested materials and devices will include both commercially available and teacher or parent made items.” This manual can be downloaded from the following website: http://dpi.state.wi.us/sped/pdf/at-wati-desk.pdf Arizona State University Tots-n-Tech E-Newsletter, August 2010 Thomas Jefferson University 5 P RINT RESOURCES CONTINUED Tech it Easy: Technology for Infants and Toddlers made Easy (1995) edited by Debbie Reinhartsen “This guide presents suggestions and materials for providing in-service training about assistive technology for parents and professionals working with infants and toddlers with or at-risk for disabilities. An introduction provides an overview and includes a variety of forms and surveys, a sample in-service agenda, and a list of workshop materials. The in-service program is divided into five strands. For each strand the guide identifies learning objectives, explains principles, suggests some activities, provides related handouts, and suggests additional resources. The strands are about: (1) Baby Tech--basic concepts; (2) family centered programs--the challenges and benefits of parent-professional partnerships in early intervention; (3) communication and language--the nature of communication and building the young child's language skills; (4) play--matching the child's needs and capabilities with toys and play situations; and (5) literacy--developing from birth the young child's four ways of communicating. An additional large section provides instructions and illustrations for making 28 adapted toys. Also included are two sections listing a variety of additional resources.” This guide can be downloaded from the Education Resources Information Center website (http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/ servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED420932) or from the Tech it Easy website (http:// www.cdl.unc.edu/link/TechItEasyManual.htm). The PVC Book of Simple Possibilities (2001) and The PVC Book II: More Simple Possibilities by Diane J. Brians These books “provide a wealth of resources, from where and what to purchase, to the secrets of removing difficult imprinting from PVC pipes. In the PVC Books you will learn: why PVC is one of the most versatile construction materials available today; which fittings, tools, and accessories will make your project easier and faster to complete; the details of a successful project, from