Assistive Technology Resources for Children
Helpful Information
AAC Intervention
internet: http://aacintervention.com/
E-text documents on "tips and tricks".
Ability Hub
internet: http://www.abilityhub.com/
Able Play
internet: http://ableplay.org/
This organization rates toys for play by chidren with special needs.
Adaptable Minds
internet: http://www.adaptableminds.com/homepage.html
This site by a speech pathologist has tips on how to decide on what types of communication to use, whether to use "low tech." or "high tech." methods, etc.
AdaptWorld, Inc.
internet: http://www.adaptworld.com/
They maintain a list of A.T. vendors and the products that they sell to help you locate what you need.
Adobe
internet: http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/index.html
This maker of off-the-shelf software for the creation of documents, web sites, and multimedia productions has included provisions in their products to make created materials accessible to people with disabilities. Look here for information if you use their products.
Augmentative Communication Community Partnership Canada
internet: http://www.accpc.ca/earlyliteracy.htm
Their site has downloadable files to print out assessment tools, documents to help with teaching strategies, and downloadable e-books for "Boardmaker" and "Intellitools".
Brookes Publishing
internet: http://www.brookespublishing.com/
They sell many books for education professional, including "MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories" and "Ages and Stages Questionaires".
Communication Matters
internet: http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/downloads/focuson/Using_Symbols_for_Communication_PP.ppt
A "PowerPoint" slideshow on communicating with symbols, including their background and how to choose them.
Communication by Gaze Interaction
internet: http://www.cogain.org/
This European group focuses on research to help people who communicate and use computers via eye gaze strategies.
Communication Matrix
internet: http://www.communicationmatrix.org
This is a tool to assess a child's communication. It is on-line or can be purchased in print.
Cress, Dr. Cynthia
internet: http://www.unl.edu/barkley/present/cress.shtml
Her faculty web page at the Univeristy of Nebraska at Lincoln includes transcripts of her many presentations on issues in the use of assistive technology by children.
Design to Learn
internet: http://www.designtolearn.com/pages/products.html
This company sells several books to help design different types of alternative and augmentative communication systems, along with how to use electronic ones.
Division on Early Childhood of the Council for Exception Children
internet: http://www.dec-sped.org
Information on best practices in the field, including free checklists and publications for sale.
Early Childhood Technology Integrated Instructional System
internet: http://www.wiu.edu/ectiis/
Here are provided videos and printed materials to help with planning and implementation of technology use with children.
Fisher-Price, Inc.
internet: http://www.fisher-price.com/US/special_needs/
The company's web site has information on how to play.
Georgia Project for Assistive Technology
internet: http://www.gpat.org
Trainings in A.T. for professionals, along with free e-text versions of printed materials about many issues of A.T.
International Technology Education Association
internet: http://www.iteaconnect.org/Publications/HITSKITS/PK11A.PDF
This group provides a nice lesson plan to teach school children who symbols are used for communication in all aspects of our society.
Lekotek
internet: http://www.lekotek.org/
Provides information on play and toys for students with special needs.
Let's Play! Project
internet: http://www.letsplay.buffalo.edu/
Ideas and resources for play and for assistive technology for children with special needs.
Linda Burkhart
internet: http://www.lburkhart.com/handouts.htm
She provides instructions for a home-made switch and mouse-house.
Loudon County Public Schools
internet: http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/50910068152053/site/default.asp
Their "Tips 'N Tricks" videos are available to watch online. Following their "Resources" link in the left column can take you to pages of resource links. There may also be a tutorial on using "PowerPoint" to create accessible books.
Montgomery County Public Schools
internet: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/tech_quick_guides/index.shtm
The Accessible Technolgoy Quick Reference Guides page has a collection of how-to guides and owner's manuals for A.T. software and devices.
National Center to Improve Practice in Special Eduction
internet: http://www2.edc.org/ncip/
Sells videos covering many areas of A.T. and has links to other helpful sites.
Open Source Assistive Technology Software [OATS]
internet: http://www.oatsoft.org
Their "SAW" software program gives access to the Windows operating system for people who use switches.
Parents, Let's Unite for Kids
internet: http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html
They have information on A.T. for families, "Family Guide for Assistive Technology".
Resources for Assistive Technology in Education
internet: http://sweb.uky.edu/~jszaba0/JoyZabala.html
The "SETT Framework" can be used as part of A.T. assessment procudures.
SEEDS (Supporting EarlyEducation Delivery Systems)
mail: Sacramento, CA U.S.A.
internet: http://www.scoe.net/seeds
voice: 916-228-2379
On-line resources, printed materials, and on-site trainings in assistive technology for early children education.
Simplified Technology
internet: http://www.lburkhart.com/
Document files on how to make a simple switch, a "mouse house", and other items. They also sell a CD with activities files, books, and other A.T. items.
Soft Touch
internet: http://www.softtouch.com/downloadupdates.aspx
Print out copies of presentations they've given on how to teach language and integrate technology into the lessons for children with special needs.
Tinsnips
internet: http://tinsnips.org/
Document files with ideas of lesson plans, including worksheets and "make and take" ideas.
Tots-n-Tech
internet: http://www.asu.edu/clas/tnt/
Arizona State University shares ideas for adapting toys for use by children with special needs.
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
internet: http://aac.unl.edu/
Information on AAC, including assessment, aphasia, and use of visual scenes.
University of Washington at Seattle
internet: http://depts.washington.edu/augcomm/
Their Augmentative and Alternative Communication Department provides links and tools, including information on how to plan and teach vocabulary for A.A.C. There is a "Likes and Dislikes" Checkist at http://depts.washington.edu/augcomm/original_modules/module_customizing/custom_vocab_likesanddislikes.htm
Their "Enables" project has more good information at http://depts.washington.edu/enables/
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initative
internet: http://www.wati.org
They provide information and some free materials, including an assessment protocol.
YAACK
http://www.pediatricservices.com/prof/prof-30.htm
Go to ATReC Home Page.
This page was last updated October, 2008.
updated January 2008