There are so many great websites and blogs out there to guide parents and professionals in their quest for the BEST apps to support children with special needs. But finding a great educational app is only the first step! What happens next?
First, allow me to climb onto my best practice soap box for a moment...
My Opinion (and it is just that)
An iPad in the hands of a child is useless without the guided support of a knowledgable play partner! Don’t get me wrong, all children need free time to “explore”, whether with Mr. Potato Head, everyday objects around the home, or on YouTube. But, if we want to scaffold learning, moving our kids toward their developmental goals, we have to be present in the interaction (at least part of the time, if not most of the time!). Apps are great, but they can’t do all of the work for us. :)
What does this mean, generally speaking?
1) As special needs professionals, we need to assure that in addition to app recommendations, we are supporting our families with appropriate home programming strategies around these apps, just as we would with more traditional home practice materials.
2) As parents, we need to assure that we are involved with our children during iPad play, providing the modeling, support, and interaction learned from our therapeutic and educational teams to promote the development of vital social and academic skills within our kids. Ok, climbing off of the soap box now...
What next?
I love apps, and I love how eager my families are to use them with their kids at home! To bridge my love of apps with a need for valuable parent coaching resources, I have decided to embark on a journey. Over the next few months, I plan to post several “how to’s” to support parents in using popular special needs apps at home. But I need your help!
How you can help SNEAK’s project:
1) If you are a parent/therapist/educator that would like guidance on a specific app, post in the comments below.
If you are an app developer that would like to find out how your app can be used to target specific skills for children with special needs, post in the comments below.
If you are a blogger/AT professional who has valuable resources to guide the use of specific special needs apps, post in the comments below.
Thank you for contributing and keep checking SNEAK for app “how to’s”! :)
I just came across this site (I know, a bit slow since it has been in business for a few years!) and I love it! Great low tech, AAC products and a wonderful resource list for parent friendly AAC info all over the web! They also sell adorable shirts and gift items, including greeting cards, that display messages with picture communication symbols. Love it :)
If you are a parent or professional looking for AAC tips to support your special kids, definitely check this out (Giving Greetings/Say It With Symbols!).
I recently downloaded this app for my own use (to keep me safe and aware while running with my headphones in), but I quickly realized that it had wonderful applications to speech therapy, especially for kids struggling with articulation and fluency difficulties.
Awareness! The Headphone App allows you to hear environmental sounds around you while listening to music or other audio through your headphones (on iPhone or iPad). Awareness! uses the microphone of your device to bring in the external audio signal and blends the signals so you hear the audio source form within your device (i.e., audio, music) as well as the sounds around you! It really works well! Here are a few ways I have explored this app so far in therapy:
As feedback to slow down speech rate (much like DAF-delayed Auditory Feedback)
As feedback for articulation practice and error discrimination
To help my kids with auditory processing difficulties practice listening to what's important within a sea of environmental noise
I love using Awareness! with the built in iPhone/iPad, front facing camera as well for added feedback!
This app is simple, but awesome, and I can't wait to keep exploring it as a feedback tool in therapy!
I just read a great blog post form Little Stories and it brought to mind something I stress often when working with families of children with special needs: Don't underestimate the power of an organized play environment!
Don't get me wrong, unstructured play filled with creativity and freedom is crucial to the development of all children. However, most of us don't work or play our best when we are surrounded by confusing clutter. Reducing clutter, rotating toys often, and categorizing toys according to their purpose can help children in so many ways. I have witnessed first-hand the type of magic a well-maintined play area can create!
Increased attention
Reduced hyperactivity
Improved interaction and social skills
Expanded language comprehension
More speech output
Improvements in pretend play
The list goes on!
Check out some details on the how's and why's of establishing a toy routine for your child with special needs at Little Stories.
How do you set up play time magic for your child with special needs?
Gimp Gear is bringing video games to kids (and adults) with special needs through their switch adapted, NintendoWii controller. Check out more here, including demonstration videos! This controller is mounted to a hat and controls the Wii through head movements. For users who have some use of their arms, you can also holster this controller to the arm to activate games through large arms movements. The Gimp Gear Switch adapted Wii controller is available for purchase through EnableMart.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Internet. But sometimes, you just need a little more depth when you're trying to find important answers. Even with this vast web of knowledge, I still look to books to help me in my practice and to give me resources for the families I serve. I LOVE that many of the resource books that tackle common difficulties in parenting children with special needs come in electronic book format too! Check out these great books and eBooks on a variety of topics, from dealing with the stress of parenting a special needs child to feeding a picky eater.
Apple just unveiled a new feature for the next iOS update (iOS6) which will let parents, teachers, and others "lock" kids into certain apps by disabling the home button. Read more here! Could be pretty handy for our little ones with special needs!
I love technology (and I love to eat!) and I am always looking to integrate it into my practice. I truly believe that much of what we do today, as professionals, parents, and people, is enhanced through technology. So why should feeding therapy be any different? :) Here are a few ways to use some awesome websites, blogs, and apps to support children who have difficulty eating in therapy sessions and at home.
#1 Teaching Kids and Families About Food (and Nutrition)
For some kids and parents, part of achieving oral feeding progress is to learn about portion size, balanced diets, and the vital nutrients the body needs to learn and grow. This is especially true for children who eat a limited range of foods and limited volume of the foods they accept. I have also found that some families just aren't really sure what and how much when it comes to feeding their kids. The websites and mobile apps below are great tools to support learning about new foods and nutrition ( not to mention, educational and fun for parents and kids!)
Nourish Interactive
"Nourish Interactive is your free one stop resource for fun nutrition games for kids, interactive nutrition tools and tips for parents and health educators to use to promote healthy living for the whole family." This AMAZING, interactive site is colorful and kid friendly, and even provides printouts on topics related to food groups, portion size, meal planning, and more! The site has some culturally diverse information as well and can be viewed in English or Spanish. Think this site is a great way to help families plan out meals for their picky eaters and to help kids learn about new foods. There are even some blog posts in their blog section that specifically address picky eating.
ChooseMyPlate.gov
My Plate is an effort by the USDA to promote healthy and safe eating habits for all American families. This site is less kid-directed and more for caregivers but it is loaded with helpful information on nutrition guidelines, meal schedules for various ages, and even picky eating tips. I especially love the online tools this site offers to help parents keep daily food logs and calorie counts.
Kids Food Adventure (App for mobile devices)
"Explore new foods with your family that are delicious, healthy and sometimes exotic! Kids Food Adventure puts the power of discovery in your child’s hands." This fun and interactive app includes:
Colorful photos of each food to help kids identify and recognize new foods
Seasonal monthly food suggestions to pinpoint the ideal time to try new foods.
Parent/kid-friendly fun facts, health benefits, and other information on cooking, buying and preparing each food
Color-coded stars help kids track their progress and rate the foods they’ve tried.
Reward stickers encourage kids to give new foods a try!
The developers of this app are also working on another app that targets picky-eating more directly (Choose my Food).
#2 Having Fun (and games!) With Food
For some kids, simply taking the pressure off can get them more comfortable with new foods and the eating experience. Many times, we will create cooking and sensory exploration activities around food without any focus on actually eating. Food theme activities can also be fun, especially for kids who need a less direct exposure to a food before they will interact with it. Here are some great apps and online games that are simply fun and food themed :) I like to use these kinds of activities to prep my kids before a cooking or snack activity, and as a learning tool to set the context for trying new foods.
Alfy.com
This site is simply fun and games. :) It has free online games that target a variety of topics, including cooking and food. Parents, just a bit of a caution here: Some of the games (not the cooking or food related, but some of the others) are a bit mature, so screen them before you sit down to play.
ZisBoomBam: Where It's Ok to Play With your Food
"ZisBoomBah is an innovative website that challenges conventional wisdom and develops tools to empower children and inspire parents to live a fun, active and healthy life. ZisBoomBah’s free online tool “Pick Chow!” allows children to create meals by dragging and dropping foods onto their virtual plate. The “Add it Up!” meters show the nutritional values in a fun and easy way and rates each meal with one to five stars – a feature that helps children learn quickly how their choices make a difference in creating a well-balanced meal. Children can send their “chow” to their parents, who then receive an email with what their child has chosen to be a healthy choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with the menu, recipe, shopping list and coupons." Event though the focus is on calorie control (rather than gaining weight, which is what many of our picky eaters need to do:), I still think this site is a really fun way for kids to get involved in planning and cooking meals with their parents. :)
Here are some fun, food themed apps available for advices and Android:
Cookie Doodle
Cake Doodle
More Toast
Faces iMake-Premium
More Sundaes
Fruit Ninja
Food Processing
Cupcakes
More Pizza
Charlie Wonders Milk
ABC Food
Ice Cream Parlor
*There are COUNTLESS food-themed apps in the app store so you should definitely search on your own to find many more not listed above. :)
#3 Teaching Kids and Families About The Eating Process
In feeding therapy, we often use techniques to help children understand the mechanics of chewing and swallowing. Technology can be a great supplement to teaching the science of eating!
Kids Health: The Digestive System
The Kids Health web series (including Kids health Classroom, a great source for theme materials and printouts on nutrition across childhood) is a great tool for parents and kids to explore a variety of healthy topics, including good eating and nutrition. The Digestive System section also helps kids understand what happens in their bodies when they chew and swallow foods, and what happens when their tunnies hurt.
Keeping a food diary of mealtime scheduling, foods eaten, and amounts/calorie and nutrition counts of foods eaten is a large part of a comprehensive feeding therapy plan. These tech tools can help therapists and parents with this part of the process.
#5 Navigating Special Diets and Food Allergies
Many of our kids with feeding aversions, especially those on the Autism Spectrum, may suffer from extreme food allergies, intolerance, or sensitivities. This can compound feeding therapy even further. Here are some tech tools to help support your picky eater on a special diet.
App Advice App List: Cooking for Special Dietary Needs
This is a fantastic app list from App Advice that focuses on Apps related to special diets. It includes databases of foods containing certain, common allergens, and even offers some apps with recipe builders based on allergy-free food choices.
Kids with Food Allergies Foundation (App and site)
This site focuses on food allergies related to kids and also has a companion, mobile device app, bringing this info to families who may not have Internet access outside of that on their smart phones.
#6 Mealtime Schedule and Planning
Food On the Table
A website and companion app that helps families plan meals and save money on groceries.
*In addition, many of the websites mentioned above in this post have meal planning and recommended feeding/eating schedules for kids of various ages.
#7 Rewarding and Reinforcing
Keeping mealtimes positive is an important part of learning to eat new foods. Verbal praise and rewards are some of the many tools we can use to support kids with feeding difficulties, These tech tools can help us reward kids for trying their best at mealtime and can also keep mealtime tasks more visual for those who need a little more support to get through the hard stuff.
#8 Getting Specific Questions Answered: Blogs About Feeding Therapy and Related Topics
Food for Tubies
An insightful and informative blog targeted to parents of children who are fed through a G-tube (or another variation thereof), specifically those following a slenderized G-tube program.
Food Chaining
A really great blog on food chaining for children with sensory feeding aversions.
Feeding Therapy Help
A Q & A blog with specific tips and strategies and a forum to ask questions.
Feeding Therapy/Oral Motor on Pinterest
Using Pinterest to obtain information can be great for visual learners, especially those who aren't sure what they're looking for. Here is a great pin board related to feeding and oral motor therapy, including tools and ideas for DIY's.
The Tender Foodie
Lots of information here on feeding and allergy related issues for children on the Autism spectrum.
One last note: One of my favorite, simple tech tools to use for feeding therapy: a web cam! Video modeling and feedback is a wonderful tool to help kids conquer their fears and put themselves out their at mealtimes! Videos are also a great way to track progress!
What technology do you use to support your picky eater?
Not everyone has a mobile tablet (iPad, Android tablet) and for some kids with special needs, especially those with visual impairment, tablet activities may not be the best choice for all occasions. Personal computers are readily available in many classrooms and homes and there are lots of great software programs out there for kids with special needs! I often hear parents and professionals say "Why would I spend $200.00 on a software program when I can get an App for $2.99?". This is true, many of these software programs require a bit of an investment. however, more often than not, the programs available will grow with your child and can be used across his or her development. Furthermore, the development of these products involves extensive educational research and product support and in my opinion, that often justifies the cost! Lastly, for kids who use switches, personal computers offer a much wider variety of educational programs and games than mobile devices. Here are a few resources to find software and online activities/games that can be used on laptops or personal computers for children with a variety of special needs, including visual impairment: (PS: Some of these are free!! :)
Software
7-128 Software for Blind & Visually Impaired Kids
This company makes simple, low cost games that you can download directly form the site or obtain on a CD. The games were developed to be accessible to children with special needs at a variety of ages and stages. The company uses an accessibility rating system that is helpful when choosing the right program(s) for your child. There is also some free stuff on the site, definitely worth checkin out!
Intellitools Products
A great source for educational programs like the Intellitools Classroom Suite. This company also offers an activity exchange area where users can share the activities they have created for Intellitools programs. One of the things that makes Classroom Suite a great tool is your ability to create custom activities for your child's needs. They also have a braille learning program, IntelliBraille.
Free trials are available for download on the company's site.
Laureate Products
These programs focus on language and communication development.
Softtouch Products
Switch accessible programs for cause-effect learners and academic subjects (reading, match).
There is also a great list of Switch Accessible Software at Marblesoft
Online Activities
Starfall
Focus on literacy with activities for kids at all stages of reading development.
HelpKidzLearn
Free online games from cause and effect to problem solving. Most games are switch accessible and all visually simple with high contrast.
Symbol World
Online newspapers for kids and adults using symbols to enhance literacy. Free to access and the site offers accessibility settings like high contrast and large print. Unfortunately, no voice output yet. :( But they're working on it. Read more about it here.
News-2-You
Another symbol-based newspaper with a variety of reading levels (even appropriate for really young children). This one is subscription based and comes with companion activities in each issue. Also has voice output :)
Kneebouncers
Fun learning games for tots and preschool kids.
Looking for resources for older children and teens?
For some great resources for teens and adults, visit Wonder Baby's list!
There is no question that the iPad has brought much more affordable learning and communication technology to children in need. With this awesome gadget, we can now offer voice output communication for a mere fraction of the cost of dedicated AAC devices. However, for some kids with special needs, dedicated AAC devices may be more appropriate for long term language growth and communication development. This necessity comes with a hefty price tag as many dedicated AAC devices cost thousands of dollars and are not fully covered by private medical insurance. For those children with medical coverage that reimburses for these systems, the assessment and application process can be effortful and time consuming for the parents and team supporting the child, at times resulting in denials from funding sources. And lets not forget that just because the iPad and other tablets are much less expensive then these dedicated systems or a personal computer, doesn't mean that all families are able to meet the financial requirements that arise in setting up an iPad communication system. A family can expect to spend $1000.00 or more when you consider the base price of the tablet, protective gear, audio gear, apps, access supports like switches and switch interfaces-the list could go on and on! So what options are available for families who just can't meet the iPad price tag or for kids that truly need a dedicated system at a significantly lowered price?
Here are a few great resources to help you find used and donated (i.e., lowered cost and free) assertive technology (AT), including communication devices, mobility equipment, and mobile technology.
Do you have a source for affordable AT that you'd like to share? Do you have equipment that you'd like to donate to a child in need? Contact SNEAK or post in the comments below.
If you want to continue the discussion on the technology divide, please comment below or join our chat at SNEAK Freestyle Forum.
Disclaimer: I checked out the above resources to the best of my ability and each seems legitimate and responsible when it comes to assuring the quality of goods being sold as well as the honesty of those selling them. Please be aware when purchasing equipment and other products for third party sellers that you are not familiar with as their is always risk involved. I have never purchased from any of the above links and therefore cannot fully endorse the safety of shopping through these sources.
Finding the right apps for your child with special needs can be an overwhelming task. At times, the search can also feel like a shot in the dark since many app developers offer little insight into the look and feel of their apps. This leaves us, as consumers, with limited information prior to taking the purchase plunge. As mobile technology consumers with the best interests of our special kids in mind, we want to make educated choices when it comes to these apps. After all, the "Ah, it's only 99 cents, what have I got to lose?" idea only goes so far, especially when that $.99 turns into $29.99, $249.99 and so on. :)
Figuring out the best way to support children with special needs as they use this wonderful technology can also be daunting, and at tines, the importance of scaffolding from savvy and supportive facilitators (the would be you:) is overlooked. Many apps can help children develop new skills, but they are all utterly useless without the proper support from a facilitator (e.g., parent, teacher, therapist).
Here are a few general tips to guide you through the process of choosing and using apps for children with special needs:
Find Apps on Blogs and App Review Sites Before You Buy: The App Store offers just a snapshot of information about Apps, and since the descriptions are written by the developers, they are quite bias. Many times, Apps will have no reviews or few reviews in the App Store. Many blogs and review sites offer a more detailed, hands-on description and critique of apps. Here are a few great sites that offer reviews of educational apps for kids with special needs:
Be sure to visit "SNEAK's Fav Blogs" and "SNEAK's Fav Links" on the SNEAK homepage for more great sources for App reviews.
Connect with Developers: Many of the developers who create the Apps we use have websites of their own that you can connect to through the App Store. Going to developer websites helps you gain further information on particular Apps. It also helps you see what Apps are coming up from that developer and what other Apps they make that you might want to check out. Sometimes, developers will even have more screen shots and/or videos that let you get a better idea of the App you are interested in. Sign-up for email updates from App developers you like so you know when they release new Apps. Don't be afraid to email developers if you have specific questions. I have found that most are very willing to talk about their Apps and how appropriate they might be for your child. Some of my favorite developers include:
Check for a Lite Version:Many of you may be well aware of the "Lite" or free versions of Apps. More app developers are starting to provide this version for their Apps so that users can try before they buy. However, the Lite version of Apps doesn't always come up first, so you may have to include it in your search terms.
Watch Video Demos When Possible: Search You-Tube or App developer websites for video demos and video tutorials. Add "You Tube" or "video" to your search terms on Google and other search engines in addition to the App title in order to limit your results to just videos. Videos are an awesome way to see if an App is appropriate for your child. Check out "SNEAK's Peeks" for video demos of Apps as well (I promise to add more videos soon!:)
Ask Around: Don’t be afraid to reach out to other parents and professionals in your community and/or through online forums (blogs) by asking questions about specific apps.
Play With a Purpose: Most, if not all apps, can be used to target a variety of skills when supported by the right guidance. Work with the therapists, teachers, and others who support your child to see how you can modify App play to promote your child's development of language, speech, fine motor skills, social skills and cognitive skills. Incorporate real-world activities around the themes and language in the Apps you present to your child. For example, Playing Toca Kitchen together to model pretending with toy kitchen items and food and then playing with a toy kitchen set works on
refining real-world skills by creating opportunities to experience what is seen on the App. Technology is a great stage for practice, but real-world experience is the ultimate tool to build long lasting skills.
How do you find great Apps for your child with special needs?
I was recently invited to be a guest speaker on two teleconferences for parents seeking support for their children with visual impairments. These impairments included cortical visual impairment (CVI) and LCA, a genetic condition which leads to blindness. I really enjoyed participating in these calls and gaining some perspective on the information these families are seeking for their kids. They all had such wonderful questions and I admired their innovation and bravery. Although the focus of this talk was definitely geared more toward mobile technology, we also discussed some great computer and web resources to enhance play and learning for these kids. I thought this information might be helpful for other families supporting children with cortical visual impairment and other forms of low vision and blindness. I thought it might be helpful to other parents to have some of this info as well. In a series of posts this week, I will share some further tips and resources on technology for visually impaired kids. Click on the links below for information related to each technology category .:) I will try to post these quickly this week so if a link doesn't work today, please try again tomorrow!
I have to admit, I have been rather resistant to Twitter, and it isn’t MY favorite way to connect with information. Bu,t for some, it really is a simple, fast, and fun way to explore real-time news. I’m warming up to it . :) Are you using Twitter right now, but you just don’t know how to connect with the special needs related information that you want? Or maybe you have no idea what on earth a Tweet is and you keep wondering what all the fuss is about? In this post, let’s explore what Twitter is, how it works, and how you can get what you need from it when it comes to special needs resources.
In my last post on Connecting with Special Needs Resources Through Blogs, I tried to paint a picture of what a blog is and what characteristics about blogs make them an attractive tool for staying in the special needs loop. Keeping with that blog theme, let’s think of Twitter as a microblog, a smaller version of a blog-smaller in a few, figurative and literal ways. Straight from “the bird’s” mouth: “Twittter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions, and news about what you find interesting” (Twitter.com). So like blogs, Twitter is focused on topics, and like blogs, twitter brings information to you without you having to visit individual sites when content is updated (i.e., “real-time). So what makes Twitter different form the other social media tools we have discussed so far this week (i.e., Facebook, Blogs)? Twitter brings you a smaller snapshot (a “Tweet”) of a news story than a blog. Again from the Twitter bird’s mouth “At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called ‘Tweets’. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but don’t let the small size fool you- you can discover a lot in a little space. You can see photos, videos, and conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at a glance, and all in one place” (Twitter.com). This relatively smaller scale makes Twitter a nice way to receive small bits of information at one time and then decide which bits to explore further. For those of you in a time crunch, this could be just the ticket. So how does it work and how can you connect with the topics you’re interested in?
Here are a few tips:
First thing, if you haven’t already, open a Twitter account. Like Facebook, it is completely free of change and only takes a moment. Once you have an account, you will have to teach Twitter what you’re interested in.
You can share a bit about yourself and your interests in your Twitter profile so that others know what you want to know about. However, this isn’t required to explore Twitter and connect with others, so you can always choose to keep these details private.
Everyone in Twitter has a username that is preceded by the @ symbol. For example, the username for SNEAK outside the box on Twitter is @sneakotb. Look for Twitter usernames on many of the printed resources you receive from special needs organizations already. Like with Facebook, most companies, organizations, and even blogs have Twitter accounts that they use to share information. Once you know their usernames, you can “Follow” them on Twitter to stay connected. “Following” someone on Twitter makes you are part of their Twitter conversation. Much like subscribing to an RSS feed (discussed in my previous post), this means that you will see the updates of those you are following right on your Twitter page, making it faster and easier for you to receive information, join in a discussion, or ask a question. Here are a few ways to Follow people who talk about things you are interested in:
Click on the Twitter icon on the home page of your favorite special needs websites and blogs to follow the sites/blogs on Twitter.
Search for the Twitter username of the organization/etc... you want to follow. To do this, click on the “@Connect” link t the top of your Twitter profile and then type the name you are searching for in the search box on the right. Keep in mind that Twitter usernames don’t have spaces in between words. :)
Twitter will also suggest who you should follow based on what it knows about you so far. If you have already started following a few Tweeters, Twitter may suggest some of their followers (the Followers of the Tweeter you are Following-phew, another mouthful :). You can see these suggestions on your Twitter home page each time you sign on. Read the profiles of these Tweeters and see if they are talking about what you’re interested in. If so, Follow them and check out who they are Following, you might want to connect with them as well. These branches are a lot like exploring a Blog Roll on the home page of your favorite blogs, or the “liked” pages of your Facebook connections (see my previous posts on Facebook and Blogs for more details:).
As with Facebook and Blogs, you can also search for keywords on Twitter to connect with relevant special needs information. In Twitter, keywords are called “hashtags” and they are preceded by a pound symbol (#). For example, the keyword “AAC” would look like this on Twitter “#AAC”. Hashtags are used by Tweeters to put their Tweets into categories and help other Tweeters find their information. To search for keywords from your Twitter homepage, click on the “#Discover” link and type in your search term in the search box on the right. When you are searching, you don’t have to include the hashtag, but doing so may limit your results to those more specifically related to your keyword. Your search results will include Tweets that were marked with the keyword (hashtag) you searched for. Your results will also include photos and videos that are tagged by this term and a list of People who write write Tweets marked with this topic. This could be a nice way to find People on Twitter who are talking about the keywords you are interested in and Follow them.
Twitter also lets you browse categories from your homepage to find information on broader topics like Technology, Family, and Education. If searching for specifics is too overwhelming at first, try to connect with general Tweets by browsing categories first, and then go from there. Save your favorite
Twitter searches so you can search those terms often without having to re-enter the keywords. You can save your searches after you search by clicking on the gear icon (or it might look like a sun :) and clicking “Save search”. You can re-visit your saved searches later by clicking on the #Discover link and clicking in the search box. Your saved searches will appear in a list underneath so you can just click on the term you want to search.
Staying Connected with Twitter on the Go
Now that you have started “following the conversation” on the special needs topics you are interested in, it’s time to figure out the best way(s) to keep yourself connected to your Twitter home page so you can get your information quickly, easily, and frequently! You will always be able to access your information by signing in to your Twitter account on Twitter.com. But, if you are using an iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or mobile tablet, you can also use mobile Apps to get your Twitter feed anywhere. These apps are free and easy to use, check them out here.
Twitter also has a service called Fast Follow which lets you receive notifications and Tweets through text messages (SMS) on your cell phone. You can set this feature up in your Twitter account settings. This will not send you a text message for every Tweet, only those Tweets and other notifications that you specify in the settings.
Visit SNEAK on Twitter to follow posts on technology for special kids and also link to other professionals and parents discussing special needs topics. You can explore the Tweeters SNEAK is following and see if you want to join their conversations. :)
Check out these helpful links for more in-depth information on Twitter:
So what is a blog anyway? For a full definition and in depth history that surely goes beyond what you are interested in, check out Wikipedia.:) But in a nutshell, the term "blog" is short for "web log" and blogs are websites where individuals and/ or groups record information, opinions, etc... on a regular basis. The "regular basis" is a key difference between most standard websites and a blog. Many blogs are updated at least on a monthly basis, some even daily, and this steady stream of new content is one reason why blogs are a great tool for finding resources for kids with special needs. Some blogs are about very specific topics (e.g., iPad Apps for Autism) and others are on broader categories of information (e.g., topics related to assertive technology or special education in general). The authors of special needs related blogs are often professionals, parents of children with special needs, or sometimes, companies who offer products and services related to special needs. The language on blogs is informal and the content is usually aimed to create conversation or "commenting". This open-ended nature of blogs makes them not only great sources to receive recorded information written by blog authors, but also amazing outlets for collaborating with others, asking questions, and sharing your own information about a topic.
You have already started your blog adventure by finding this blog :) Here are a few tips to help your broaden your blogging horizons to find the special needs information and resources you're looking for and to make sure you stay in the loop on current topics related to kids with special needs.
Since you're already here (and I'm so glad you are!), visit the "SNEAK's Fav Blogs" link on the SNEAK homepage (to the right, and scroll down) to connect with a starter list of great blogs that post information about various topics related to special needs (e.g., speech therapy, assertive technology, AAC, Apps, CVI). I update this link frequently and find these blogs to be top notch when it comes to reliable and innovative information. Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of blogs so keep reading the following tips to find out how to branch out form here! :)
Blogs usually post a description of the topics and information you can expect to find on them somewhere on the main page (home page). Once you visit a blog, check out this description to see if the blog is right for you. If it is, you might want to consider subscribing to or "following" that blog.
RSS Icon
Most blogs allow readers to subscribe to their content. This is how you can get updated posts from your favorite blogs without having to check the blog daily to see if there are new posts. There are a few easy ways to get these updates.
Subscribe by Email: Many blogs allow you to follow them by email. By sharing your email address, you can receive emails from the blog anytime content is updated. Don't worry, most blogs will not send out any emails that are not related to content updates. In most cases, you will get one email per day that lists new posts that were added to that blog and allows you to read summaries within the email and link to the blog website for further reading.
Subscribe to Posts/Comments: You might notice this icon on many blogs. This is the icon for an "RSS Feed". An RSS Feed is the way websites and blogs gather new information together and send it directly to you. "It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually." (WhatisRSS.com) In order to receive an RSS Feed, you have to have an RSS Feed Reader. If you use mobile devices like the iPhone, Android phones, or iPad/Android tablets, there are many Reader apps that enable you to receive RSS Feeds from your favorite sites and blogs and read them at your leisure. There are also online RSS Feed Readers that allow you to access your RSS Feeds on your computer by signing into your reader. I have listed some great RSS Feed Reader apps and online Feed Readers at the end of this post. If you are a Yahoo or Google email subscriber, you might already have a Feed Reader at your fingertips and not even know it. :)
Facebook and Twitter: As mentioned in my previous post, many websites, blogs included, have a Facebook page and will post the Facebook icon on their home page. For some blogs (SNEAK is one of them:), the updates posted on the blog site will also be shared on Facebook and Twitter (not sure about Twitter and how it relates to you, stay tuned for my next post:). So if you find it easier to just stay connected by these old, familiar friends, make sure you click on the Facebook and twitter icons of your favorite blogs so you can follow them and receive updates.
Now that you've explored SNEAK's Fav Blogs and subscribed to your own favorites, make sure you check out the "Blogroll" link on the blogs you visit. Just like SNEAK, many blogs post a link on their home page that lists all of the blogs they support and enjoy (this is called a Blogroll). Just like with Facebook pages (see my previous post for a refresher:), you can connect with many branches of the topics you are interested in by exploring the blogs that your favorite bloggers are exploring (lol, what a mouthful!).
Google to the rescue once again! You can search specifically for blogs related to the topics you want to know about right on the Google search page. To do this, go to Google and click on the top menu bar where it says "more". Scroll down the list until you see "Blogs" and click on that to bring you to a new search page ("Google Blogs"). Now type in your keywords in the search box and Google will return only those results that are found on blogs.
RSS Feed Readers Bring Blog Updates Straight to You!
Here are some great RSS Feed Reader Apps (many are completely free!). I personally use Flipboard on my iPad because it turns my feeds into a magazine :) AppAdvice.com's RSS Reader App List
Here are sine popular online RSS Feed Readers, completely free to use! Google Reader (If you have a gmail account, you are already on your way!) BlogLines My Yahoo (click on the +My Yahoo icon on your favorite blogs to add their RSS Feeds to your My Yahoo homepage)
Hope these tips send you on your way to happy blogging! Next on the agenda for Untangling "the Web": Twitter :)
This week, I am sharing some tips to help parents and professionals make sense of the immense amount of resources on the internet to support children with special needs. I thought we would start untangling "the web" with an easy one. :)
Many of you (if not all of you) use Facebook to stay connected to family and friends. But, you might not have realized that you can also use Facebook to stay connected with information related to children with special needs. In addition to individual Facebook profiles (your “Friends” in Facebook terms), Facebook also offers organizations, businesses, and individuals the opportunity to create “Groups” and “Pages” around specific topics. Anyone can create a Group or Page on Facebook about anything they are interested in. Many companies, organizations, and grass-root support agencies have created Facebook Groups and/or Pages to reach out to parents and professionals on a wide variety of topics related to special needs (e.g., AAC, Cortical Visual Impairment, Autism). Here are some tips to help you connect with the Facebook Pages and Groups related to what you want to know:
First thing’s first: Sign-in to Facebook. :) If you don’t already have a Facebook account, sign-up for one to check it out. It’s free and widely accessible-you can even download special Apps on your phone that help you access Facebook wherever you are.
Use the Facebook Search Box at the top of your Facebook Profile (or “Timeline” as it is now called) to search for organizations by name (e.g., “The Center for AAC and Autism”) or by keyword. A keyword is a word that describes the root of the information you are looking for. For example, if you want to connect with Pages or Groups related to Down Syndrome, you would type “Down Syndrome”. Likewise, if you want to connect with Pages or Groups that provide information related to AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), you could type “AAC” or “augmentative and alternative communication” in the search box. A list of Pages and Groups that are related to your search will start to appear below the search box. Click on them to open the Page or Group and explore further.
Groups and Pages are slightly different. Groups are usually created by Facebook users (you or I, for example) around a topic of interest. In order to see the information shared within that Group, you need to be a member of the Group (i.e., you have to “Join”). Groups are not usually focused around a specific product or service, although products and services might be shared within a group if the members post these items on the Wall of the Group. Pages are usually created by businesses, organizations, and corporations. Everyone can view the information on a Page without having to “Join” like in a Group. Each Page will have a category listed underneath it so that you know the type of organization that is hosting the Page. For example, you might see “Product/Service” or “Education”. This will give you an idea of the types of information you can expect to see shared on that Page. Visit Facebook’s Help Center for more step-by-step instructions on how to join a Group and connect with a Page (i.e., by “Liking” the Page).
Another way to connect with special needs information on Facebook is to see if the organizations you currently look to for help and information have a Facebook Page. Many organizations will advertise the Facebook icon (pictured above) on their printed media to help others connect with them. If you see this icon in print or other places not online, search for that organization by name in the Facebook Search Box (mentioned above). You will also see this icon on websites from time to time. If you come across the Facebook icon on a website that you like, click on it to follow that organization on Facebook. This is one way to get their valuable information to come to you so that you don’t have to keep going back to the website to check for updates.
If you are a Google fan (aren’t we all? :), you can combine your search words to narrow your Google search to Facebook. For example, if you want to find information related to Autism but you only want to see results that are related to Facebook, type “Autism on Facebook” in the Google Search Box. Your search results will list sites that (for the most part) are Facebook Pages. Clicking on the links will take you to each Facebook Page/Group/Profile and you can “Like” the Page, Join the Group, or Send the person a Friend Request (see the Facebook Help Center for further information on these differences :) to connect with this information.
One thing that makes Facebook an easy way to receive information is that it pulls everything into one place- the “News Feed”. Every Friend, Page, and Group that you subscribe to becomes part of your News Feed. When a Page or Group posts information on their Wall, it will show up in your News Feed. If you check your Feed often, you will get this information as it is shared. If you don’t, no worries-you can always go back in time on your Feed and read everything when you have a few minutes here and there.
Once you join a few Groups and “like” a few Pages, you will be able to see the Groups and Pages that your friends and fellow Group members are connected to as well. These branches are a great way to find new sources of information on Facebook that you might find helpful. Many times, a Page related to a special topic (e.g., Cortical Visual Impairment) will be connected with other Pages that discuss the same or similar topics, and you can see these links on their Page and click on them to explore further (and even “Like” if you want).
Facebook is certainly not the only way to receive news and information related to special needs, and it is by no means comprehensive. However, Facebook is a non-intimidating gateway into this new world of sharing information, resources, ideas, and more through social media. I have made connections to many helpful resources by discovering great organizations, professionals, and parents on Facebook who think, discuss, and share on the topics I am interested in. Not only does Facebook connect you with real-time information related to the special needs topics that you find most valuable, but it is also a great place to connect with People who are invested in these topics and experiencing similar struggles and triumphs.
So now that you are on your way to exploring Facebook to its fullest, let’s discover another social media tool that can bring valuable information directly to you! Coming up in the next post in the Untangling "the Web" series: Blogs :)
As a therapist, I am always searching for new ways to share information with the families I serve and the colleagues I collaborate with. In fact, SNEAK outside the box (this blog :) came about, in part, from that ongoing quest. A few weeks before I decided to start SNEAK, I was in between jobs during a transition across the country, and I had some time to start exploring this whole world of “blogs”. I had never, actively read a blog up to that point, had no idea what an “RSS feed” was, and really didn’t think Twitter had anything to do with me or my thirst for information and continuing education as a professional. As I embarked on this social media-blogging-Twitter- Facebook-Pinterest (Pinte-what??) adventure, I soon realized an entirely new world of resources and information at my finger tips! But how could I make sense of it all? I have a hard enough time getting through my email inbox, could I find the time to surf the web for hours on end to stay in the loop? Probably not-but what if there was an easier way (or a few easier ways)? Luckily, there are. :)
And once I started discovering how to organize this www goldmine, I was determined to find out how I could make this whole idea a little bit easier for my families and colleagues to digest. How can a busy mom stay in the loop about resources, tips, and more for her child with special needs? How can a special education teacher with minimal planning time keep informed on relevant topics to improve her classroom? What about that SLP with a back-to-back caseload who knows she needs to keep on top of novel therapy techniques and new technology, but just can’t find out how? In a series of posts this week and next (Untangling “the Web”: Finding the Information You Need to Help Your Child with Special Needs), I hope to offer some tips and resources to help all of us who serve kids with special needs stay “in the know” without pulling our hair out!
Although some of you may not consider yourselves “tech savvy”, you are on your way! Hey, you found this blog, right? You have to start somewhere. :) Let’s kick things off with something a bit more familiar: Facebook. Check out the first post in this series: Untangling “the Web” Tip #1: Connecting with Special Needs Resources on Facebook
Will the new Retina display on the iPad HD force you to have to upgrade to a storage size larger than the base model(16 gGB)? This article on App Advice kinda made me frown :(.
Many of the Apps we use with kids who have special needs are large files to begin with (e.g., AAC Apps like Touch Chat etc...). I can't imagine them doubling or tripling in file size! That will be a disaster! This is definitely one thing to consider before buying the new iPad HD. Yo may have to shell out more money just to get enough storage for the new, HD versions of your Apps. :(
This bummer has me womdering: Could the iPad 2 be a better product for our kids?
I had a great collaboration meeting and co-treat with an OT on my team yesterday afternoon and I had to take a moment to reflect and share. :) We have both recently started seeing a bright young boy with Autism who is nonverbal, struggles with engaging, and needs a lot of sensory regulation support. My colleague mentioned that this little guy's mom wanted very much for him to share in family activities, especially game night-and that mom was really struggling on how to make board games something he had fun with and could participate in. As a therapist, I have spent much time using board games with school-aged children on the Autism Spectrum to target many skills: turn-taking, following directions, sequencing, basic concepts, etc... But had I thought about the fun? Could we not only get this little guy to participate but to actually have FUN in doing so? I thought we could, but where could we start?
I started thinking about why kids play these games in the first place. To win! :) Children at that age have a natural competitiveness to them, they start to develop a love for strategy and rules, and they take joy in the endeavor of finishing a game (hopefully with results in their favor :) My colleague and I started wondering, did children with Autism at our little guy's stage of development have this competitive drive? We knew that social interaction was a big hurdle for our little guy, as it is for many children on the Autism spectrum, and we knew that participating in a board game meant using social skills and frame of mind that didn't come easily to him, if at all at this stage. We thought, “we might be able to get him ‘through’ the game by making some adaptations, and we definitely wanted to take a look at what those needed to be. But we also wondered if we could use HIS "currency" to build in real enjoyment that would keep him engaged when he was able (from a sensory perspective) and bring him back to the game of his own will, should he choose to take a break. What was his "currency"? It wasn't always high-fives, or smiles and "good jobs!", and it also wasn't the thrill of the competition. We had to figure out a way to meet this little guy where he was in the process, and then support him along the way. In researching, brain-storming, and a whole lot of trial and error (still underway!), we found a few ways to adapt game-play for this little guy that kept him engaged, and more importantly, willing to re-engage (and, therefore, learn new skills over time)!
Here are a few tips and resources to help bring board games to the table for children with Autism:
1. Choose the Appropriate Level of Difficulty:Just as with other skills, play develops in children across a continuum. Introducing skills sequentially, with this in mind, helps us meet our kids where they are in terms of the skill set needed to successfully participate in a board game. UNC has a great article describing nonverbal skills, cognition, and play development in children. The age range provided on the outside of most board game boxes might be of little help to you as you try to determine where to start. Autism Games, a great site that focuses on bringing a variety of play skills to children with Autism, has a few simple, helpful guidelines for choosing games at various levels of difficulty. I find that nearly ALL board games can be modified “up” or “down” to meet kids where they are. Keep a few things in mind when choosing or modifying games:
What physical skills are needed? The social aspect of game-play is hard enough for our kids on the Autism Spectrum, so keeping the mechanics of the game manageable lets kids focus their mental energy and attention on the social and the fun! (See Tip #10 for ways to adapt the mechanics of a board game for those who need it.)
What cognitive skills are needed? Most games are aimed at “teaching us something”, or helping us practice basic concepts like colors, numbers, and shapes in a fun way. Make sure you consider the cognitive skills required for a game (as it is) and make adjustments as needed. It is OK to challenge, but working on too many challenging tasks at once can really set the stage for disaster, and no one likes to play a game they aren’t good at! (See Tip #5 an #7 for some ideas on adjusting the cognitive demands of games)
2. Balance the New and the Familiar: With children on the Autism Spectrum, new things=challenges. And as discussed above, introducing too many challenges at once can completely overwhelm you and the child. Help games look, feel, sound, and act familiar, especially if it is the first time you and your child have sat down to play this game. You can also build your own games around concepts that are already familiar to your child, and that he enjoys. For example, a child who is good at identifying colors and enjoys interacting with colors might be more wiling to engage in a game about colors (e.g., Candyland, Twister) than a game about numbers (e.g., Chutes & Ladders, Hi Ho Cheerio). Keep in mind that children on the Autism Spectrum also embrace predictable routines (how great, since board games are all about structure and routine!). This is part of the scope of balance “familiar” with “new”. Keep your game-play predicable for the most part, adding new things gradually (See Tip #8 for more information on Predictability).
3. Make it Visual: We know that out kids on the Autism Spectrum learn best when information is presented in a visual manner, and board games are no exception. You might look at a game and think, “aren’t all board games inherently visual?”. And you would be right- in part. But think about all of the aspects of playing a game that AREN’t visual (i.e., taking turns, knowing what to do on your turn, which direction to move, which game piece to use, when the game will end, how you know if you win, etc...). These kids struggle with the unspoken, unseen “rules” of social interaction and the same holds true for game-play. Break down the demands of the game in this manner and make those aspects more simplistic and VISUAL so that your child knows his role and what to expect. Go over the visuals, make sure they make sense, and don’t forget that you will still need to provide gentle reminders. :) Some visuals might include integrating picture communication symbols onto the board itself, modifying dice or spinners, using the child’s picture on a game piece for easier recognition, using a within-task schedule to assist with the steps in the game and/or the sequence of turns between players, and providing a communication board with some basic game related language (See Tip #6 for more on how to integrate visuals).
4. Use the Right Kind of Talk: Talking is a large part of any game. Remember to use talk in a way that facilitates further understanding of the expectations in the game. Autism Games has some great guidelines for adult talk during game-play. You might even find that less talking is more successful, keeping in mind that communication (understanding and expressing) may be one of those “challenges” to balance.
5. Focus on Fun: Remember that although you want your child to learn the game, and attend to the game, etc... that the ultimate goal for the child is to have fun. He doesn't really know (or care) that you would like him to learn how to count or identify colors as part of this game-play experience, nor does he need to in order for you to facilitate that learning experience. Be sensitive to the demands (previously mentioned) of board games and remember that you will need to be flexible if you are going to teach him to be flexible. This might mean allowing your child to take “breaks” as needed, and waiting for him to re-engage on his own terms (with some tempting fun signals from your direction!). You may even have to introduce “fun” that is more familiar to your child than that already built into the game (See Tip #9 for more on reinforcement and fun).
6. Practice Before Play: We all prefer going into situations knowing what to expect. Try to think about the last time you sat down to play a game or complete a task that you didn’t know how to do (panic! anxiety! confusion!) Usually, when adults sit down to a game, they discuss the rules, possibly even reading the step-by-step instructions of how to set up the game, how to play, etc...Now think about how you will introduce a game to your child. Will you set it up, have him sit down, and get to playing? How can you assure that he enters the game knowing what he needs to do? Using social stories and video modeling can be very helpful in narrowing the learning curve. You might also consider introducing concepts and materials form the game prior to actually sitting down to play. This allows your child to become familiar with the concepts, materials, and actions of the game in smaller, more manageable “practice sessions” before adding the social pressure of playing the game itself. For example, you could use the spinner form a game of Chutes and Ladders to practice matching numbers to quantity, counting the number of cars, blocks, Cheerios (pick whatever your child likes and insert it here :) that is represented on the spinner. Taking turns in this way also introduces the concept of turn-taking, a skills that he will need to use when you sit down to play the game together. If you are using visual supports for the game (and you should be :), make sure you go over these supports in more familiar contexts to assure that your child knows that the pictures mean. Autism Games has great resources for video modeling in game play.
7. Bend the Rules When You Need To: When it comes it to playing board games with children on the Autism Spectrum, rules were definitely meant to be broken. Bending the rules of a game can help that game suit the cognitive, sensory, and motor needs of your child. If playing the whole length of the game board takes longer than your child is able to sit for, play half of the board. If counting a different number of spaces each time is too demanding, set a number for the game and have everyone move that amount of spaces. If your child needs more of his idea of “fun” to keep going in a game, consider integrating sensory and other preferred activities into the game itself. For example, modify game boards to include symbols for reinforcing activities (e.g., candy, slide, bubbles, trampoline) every few spaces. This provides motivation to continue to continue the game! Set reasonable expectations and realize that they may not involve finishing the game the way it was meant. You can always build to more more extended, literal play in the future-small changes gradually will lead to more successful play experiences :)
8. Predictability Leads to Teaching Moments: Predictable routines draw a child on the Autism Spectrum into an interaction. He might be thinking “hey, i get what you’re doing!”-and if he gets it, he is more likely to participate. Building on Tip #2, use predictability as a “familiar” element to build a safe play environment in which your child knows he is capable. Then you can mix it up a bit by adding a new element here and there and set the stage for your child to learn from this violation of expectations. Autism Games has some great strategies to help “stretch” your child’s mind in this way without pushing so far that fun turns to game over.
9. Choose Your Reinforcement Wisely: Verbal praise and other social rewards are great when they are great, but they aren’t always needed or welcomed. Choose the way you reinforce you child wisely when playing these new games. Excess verbal praise could derail attention, be overwhelming from a sensory perspective, or add confusion. The actions of the game should serve as motivation for the child to keep participating and may be enough without “atta boys” and “good jobs” flying around.
10. Take Inventory: Similar to Tip #1, make sure that your child has the mechanical skills needed to engage in the game you bring to the table. Consider visual, hearing, sensory, and fine motor needs. If you find that certain game tasks might be difficult for your child from a mechanical perspective, consider modifying them.
You can use electronic or switch-adapted spinners and dice instead of those that come with the game if the act of spinning or rolling is a difficulty.
You can reduce the visual complexity of the game board by folding it in half or covering some of the spaces to create larger spaces.
Card holders can be used to hold cards upright for kids who have difficulty.
Velcro can be added to game boards and game pieces to help them stay upright.
Grip enhancers like foam or rubber can be added to game tools for easier handling
Here is a great video example of many of these tips in Action (From Autistically Inclined
A BLURB on Technology:
As with other skills, mobile and computer technology can be a great tools in helping children on the Autism spectrum participate in and enjoy board games and other social games. I consider technology a stepping stone to real thing in this regard. Utilizing technology for parts of a game or to play a full game could be a great way to motivate kids on the Autism Spectrum to engage in the game and practice interactive play skills. However, I consider these strategies a practice stage for eventually playing these games the more traditional way, helping children engage more readily with partners versus screens, and building the much needed skills for successful interaction with peers in a variety of play environments. With that said, I have found some promising Apps that I see as beneficial tools in the realm of interactive play. More about that in a future post! :)
There are so many great websites and blogs out there to guide parents and professionals in their quest for the BEST apps to support children with special needs. But finding a great educational app is only the first step! What happens next? 
