Day 5 - AT Inventions!

AT Inventions – Class Presentations

For class, each student/group was asked to create an assistive technology invention.  There were some very creative inventions that could be utilized with almost anyone.

Amy Sergant – Turkey Baster Pencil Holder

Good for grasping for individuals with fine motor challenges.  It has an eraser which is a bonus and can be used as a fidgety toy for students with ADHD.

Adele, Kari, Michelle – Sticky Plate

Plate with double-sided suction cups for children who have trouble with movements or knocking things over.

Becky – Easy Grip Magnetic Letters

A magnetic strip, plastic cutting boards cut into strips, ice cube tray holder cut out to grip and sticker letters, with magnetic tape on the back.  Used for fine motor difficulties with forming letters and gripping small things.

Jeff – Spongy White Board

Two car sponges with a white board attached.  The sponge elevates it for an individual with difficulty writing on paper or with a pencil.

Janna – Spatula Scissors

Replaced the handles of regular scissors with spatula ends.  The scissors were attached to the desk with a clamp.  This is good for kids who have trouble gripping, an amputee could use it with one hand, individuals with visual motor integration challenges.

           

Jillian – Dice Buddy

Can be used for students with ADHD so they don’t lose the dice.  Good for individuals with fine motor difficulties who have trouble picking the dice up.  The numbers are written on them which helps assist with counting.

Swim Buddy

Good for students who have anxiety around swimming.  She used a pop bottle with a printed off page from word maker stuffed inside.  It can be taken into the water so they can have symbols and familiar directions on them.

Amy Strong - One Handed Marker Holder

She mixed water and powder clay (plaster) and stuck the marker in so when a child pulls, a marker comes out and the cap stays inside.  The marker can be easily replaced.  Excellent for students with fine motor challenges.

Jennifer and Jackie – Popsicle Painter

They used a popsicle holder and popsicle sticks with sponges glued on the ends.  The ends were made of foam cut into shapes and the top had big fruit attached which were easy to grasp.  This would allow a student with fine motor difficulties to participate in art class.

Anne – Measure-assist

Velcro was put on ruler and protractor, along with a stick to assist with picking up the ruler off the table.  This can be difficult for anyone, but helpful for individuals with fine motor difficulties.

Alana – Skater Rex

A dinosaur glued on a toy skate board.  Encourages active play among younger students with special needs.  The mouth opens up and can be used to pick things up.  There is also a baby ring attached as an easy way to pick the toy up.

Heather – Camera Holder attached to anything for easy opening, such as a zipper.

Milk cartoon with clothespins to pick up and sort small balls.

Physical Disabilities

During the second part of class, Barb introduced us to Tyler.  He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at an early age when something just didn’t seem right.  He became part of the early intervention program through the school board.  He was put in a wheelchair and uses his head switch to access it.  He is very intelligent, and can speak some, but non-verbal.  He uses botox to relax his face so he can continue to build his face muscles to speak.  At school, he began using a stationary computer and adapted desk.  He has a headrest with a jellybean switch, which is used to control his computer.  He also uses Kurzweil, Clicker 4 and a discover switch to allow him to participate in his education and learn.  He has ongoing team support and training because his world is always changing, with a turnover of teachers, EPAs and technology.

The PowerLink

This is a device designed to be used with a switch.  This is amazing and is a must have for anyone with a physical disability.  You plug it into an electrical outlet and you can plug any electrical device into it with a switch.  You can have more than one switch for different devices.  There are a few options for the type of switch used, and you can have a direct mode which keeps the appliance on when the switch isn’t, and an indirect mode where you can activate it once.  It is only a few hundred dollars and here are some of the great uses:

-Lights

-Popcorn Machine

-Electrical Sharpener

-TV/DVD

-Track and Field timer at meet

-Score keeper at sports game

-Photocopy

-Turns on LCD

-Fan

-Keyboard

-Sewing machine

-Controlled pet feeder

Successful switch operation depends on the following:

-motivation
-practice
-position
-type of switch
-amount of encouragement
-appropriate activities

The benefits of the PowerLink vary from individual to individual, but include some of the following:

-control over environment

-inclusion in activities
-communication
-engagement in curriculum
-leisure activities
-access to employment, internet, education

 

Some important items to note are the individual needs to know what they are doing and the purpose (cause and effect), the timing or cue for doing it, and the user must make a connection between the device and their switch presses.