Hot Topics: Early Childhood and Assistive Technology

Issue: Volume 1, Issue 3
Date: October 2006
Written By: The SWAAAC Professional Development Committee

Welcome to the Hot Topics section of the web site. Here you will find timely information of topics related to assistive technology. It is designed to serve the needs of SWAAAC Team members and those who benefit from their services. The information in this section is categorized according to the topics listed in the "Table of Contents" below. Either scroll down the page or click the links to go straight to the desired heading for information on a specific topic.

Please feel free to send comments, requests, or additions to the advisory committee in care of Maureen Melonis.

Table of Contents:

Topic of Discussion:

Early Childhood and Assistive Technology

When people hear the word technology, they often think of computers, but, assistive technology includes many simple adaptations and modifications that are beneficial for infants and toddlers too. For example, something as simple as a rolled towel can help a child with motor difficulties to prop up on their elbows. A large weighted spoon may make it easier to eat. Teaching young children gestures or sign language can help them learn to communicate. All these are examples of assistive technology for early childhood. This “Hot Topics” will explore various resources, web sites and assistive technology solutions for early childhood. Some of the many benefits of using AT with young children include improving self esteem, reducing child and adult frustration, and enabling independence in daily life. In addition, AT can change the expectations of others for a child's abilities and enable active play, rather than passive, which is crucial to child development.

Cool Ideas and Resources:

This section highlights an immediately useable device or piece of info to increase the level of expertise of SWAAAC members. The highlights below feature four useful products to increase use of assistive technology for early childhood: Library Backpacks; AT Resource Specialists; First Conference CD. These are just a few ideas and resources which may be helpful.

Library Backpacks

Through a relationship between Colorado Department of Education Early Childhood Connections of Douglas and Arapaho Counties, the Douglas County Library and Assistive technology Partners, at UCHSC, adapted backpacks are available for loan to families in local libraries.

The backpacks became available in mid-2005 for short-term loans in four Arapahoe and Douglas libraries. They proved so valuable that libraries cannot keep them on the shelves. The backpacks contain books and toys relevant to a particular theme (farms, music, all about me, bugs). Parents can check out the backpacks from the library and use them to interact with their children at home. The backpacks contain resource cards with ideas for play with children with various disabilities.

AT Resource Specialists

This link takes you to the list of early intervention resource specialists throughout Colorado.

First Conference CD – Aurora PS, Literacy and IntelliTools, cause effect, etc

If you have the Intellipics studio player (download from IntelliTools for free) you can view these creative activities. There are books, songs, and numerous thematic activities. The activities allow use of a switch or mouse access to activate cause and effect activities such as stories, etc. These are Macintosh compatible only at this time.

Early Childhood Websites To Explore

These are some of the SWAAAC members favorite internet sites. Check out a few, they are awesome!

Web Resources for Professionals :

  • www.ataccess.org/resources/wcp/endefault.html The Alliance for Technology access provides information on how to adapt toys for children with disabilities.
  • cosmos.buffalo.edu/letsplay/AT/at.html This website of the Let's Play Project offers ideas about enhancing play opportunities to children including assistance with positioning, mobility, communication and toys.
  • www.lburkhart.com
    This site provides useful information about assistive technology from hands on information to web and vendor resources.
  • http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/ec/Profile5.htmThis website contains great ideas as well as examples of the various ways assistive technology aids small children with their development in the pre-school classroom. Included are descriptions of many different types of hardware which boost children’s autonomy by allowing them to develop decision-making skills, participate in class discussions, literacy skills, and learn consequences to their actions.

Web Resources with Activities for Kids:

  • Free Books Online: There are also many free books available to play and view on line. Some examples are www.storyplace.org , www.mightybook.com, or www.starfall.com
  • Do 2 Learn – Visit http://www.do2learn.com/ for free downloads of clever songs and activities. In particular there are safety songs such as crossing the street and what to do in a fire. Click on free areas (left hand side of front page) and games to see some of the early childhood options.

Training and Professional Development Opportunities

Training Resources

  • Assistive Technology Literacy and Preschool Power Point
  • Fast Facts on ECE (now Tech for Tykes)
  • Open Lab AT & ECE

The SWAAAC Conference conference logo

This annual regional AT conference will be held June 21-23, 2007 and will feature several sessions on AT and autism. Follow the links below to learn more about the conference (these pages are no longer available).

  • Main conference page
  • Autism and Assistive Technology Preconference Session

SWAAAC Professional Development Committee: Maxine Anderson, Tami Cassel, Ann Gage, Alison Montana, Chuck Schwendeman and Maureen Melonis.