Switch Adapted Wii Controller

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.

Must Have Books for Parenting Special Needs

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.  

Find Great Books for Special Needs Here

What books are you reading?

Check out SNEAK's Pinboards on Pinterest!

www.myblindside.com

Want to find crafty ideas to make your own assistive technology solutions?  How about ways to adapt play for your child with special needs?  You can find these tips and more, shared by SNEAK, via the colorful, fun, and visually easy interface of Pinterest!  Here's how!

Check out SNEAK's Pinboards


Follow SNEAK on Pinterest

 and Repin your favorites!

Happy Pinning!

Tips to Assist Motor Access For iPad

As part of my series of posts on Technology for Children with Visual Impairment, I wanted to share some tips on fine motor access for the iPad and other tablets.  I will update this resource as more exciting technology becomes available!


Stylus & Pointers:  
For some kids, especially those that have difficulty isolating a finger, a stylus can be a great support for iPad access.  There are many stylus (styli? styluses? :)-let's say, "stylus options"- available and Stylus-R-Us does a great job of discussing some of these options.  They even have a section of their website dedicated to special needs (it's under "Physically Disabled").  Thanks to OT's with Apps for finding this great resource!  OT's with Apps also has an awesome post on creating your own stylus and some further details on specific stylus options that are functional for different needs.  Check it out here.  If you are looking for something a bit chunkier for younger users, check out the Griffin/Crayola iMarker- it is not only a handy stylus, but also has a great coloring App you can download for free :)

Some kids may already be using a pointing aid, such as a head pointer or mouth pointer, or may benefit form using such an aid.  Work with your therapy team to see if these pointing aids could be helpful to your child and then check out RJ Cooper's tips on how you can make your pointing aids work with the iPad touch screen.

I Didn't Mean to Touch That!:
Part of the reason that the iPad is such a functional, efficient tool for many of us who use it for leisure and business is because it responds to the slightest touch.  This can be a pro and a con for our kids with physical challenges.  Many times, areas of the touchscreen are activated unintentionally or special gestures (Multitasking Gestures) are accidentally used and the screen does funky stuff (e.g., zooms in, moves up and down)!  Unfortunately, Apple has not addressed this issue in the last two version of the iPad and we currently have no way to adjust the sensitivity settings of the touch screen.  Here are a few solutions that might be helpful for your child:

• Multitasking Gestures are toggled on and off in the Settings of the iPad.  These gestures, when enabled, allow you to move between apps, open multi-tasking menus, and more by using three, four, or five finger gestures on the touch screen.  Sometimes, our kids have difficulty using just one finger on the screen and may activate these gestures by accident.  If you find this is a problem, you can turn the gestures off in the Settings menu of your iPad.  You may also notice that sometimes the screen zooms in.  This happens when two fingers tap on the iPad screen when the Zoom feature is turned on.  It also happens magically when little fingers and plans rest too long on the screen. :)  If you find this is a problem, turn the Zoom feature off on your iPad in the Accessibility section of the Settings.  

• The iPad screen responds to the electricity (capacitive touch) of our fingers.  This is fancy science stuff but really what it means is that pressure is not what makes the iPad do its dance-rather, it is the energy that emerges when your finger (or special fabric/material if using a stylus made for a touch screen) comes in contact with the screen.  In the case of our kids with special needs, this could mean their intentional finger or the other ones coming along for the ride as they rest against the screen to offer support!  Dana of Uncommon Sense Blog is a mom who has first-hand experience with this issue and she came up with a clever solution in the form of DIY fingerless gloves :)  Check it out here.

• There are a handful of iPad apps, most of which are related to AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) but some of which that are play-based, that can be used with accessibility switches.  To do this, you must have an iPad compatible switch interface like the Blue2 from Ablenet, or RJ Cooper's Bluetooth Switch Interface.  Be careful because only certain Apps will work with the Blue 2, and others only with RJ's interface.  For a solution that works with all switch accessible apps for  iPad, check out the APPlicator (great review by Jane Farrell at this link).  With one of these tools, an accessibility switch (e.g., Jelly Bean, finger switch, etc...) and a switch-accessible iPad App, your child can access the iPad without using the touch screen.  Here are some of my favorite switch games for iPad :)  For a comprehensive list of switch-accessible Apps for iPad, check out Jane Farrall's list, it is updated frequently.

• Keyguards can also be helpful for kids with motor challenges who are using the iPad, so long as you are using an App that works with the key- guard layout.  Check out LaseredPics-they make keyguards for a variety of iPad Apps and will even make special order guards.  

What do you use to help your child access the iPad?

Technology for Kids with Visual Impairment

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!

App List for Kids with Visual Impairment

Tips for Choosing & Using Apps for Kids with Special Needs

iPad Positioning Tips for Children with Visual Impairment

Tips to Assist Motor Access For iPad

Software & Online Games  for Kids with Visual Impairment

What resources are you looking for to help kids with visual impairment?

Switch Access in a Glove by Ablenet!

 

A friend shared this link with me on Facebook (Thanks Sam!) and I though it was pretty cool! The Freehand Glove acts as a switch when special points on the fingers are touched together. Although I can't see this immediate product being all that helpful for little ones who use switches, I think the base technology is pretty amazing and could lend itself to some pretty creative applications in the field of accessibility switches. The Freehand won't be available until April but you can read more about it on Ablenet's site.

 

What do you guys think?

 

10 Tips to Bring Board Games to Children with Autism

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! :) 

What games are you playing with you child?

ATIA Update! Adapted Learning for Kids with CVI

 I have been dieing to attend a workshop with Linda Burkhart since graduate school, but I just haven't had a chance to make it happen. Today, I FINALLY got a taste of her wisdom and on, of all things, one of my favorite topics-CVI (cortical visual impairment).  A bit of what I took from today's mini-session with Linda Burkhart:

• All kids with CVI are different and even skills within each child with CVI may vary
• Don't judge a book by its cover: not all children with CVI have the same level of,m If any, significant cognitive impairment.  
• Successful intervention for children with CVI isn't just facilitating opportunities for sight, but also providing meaningful contexts for associative learning.  
• Adapting materials and the environment is not a one size fits all solution for kids with CVI: try these strategies and measure how they improve or hinder visual and leaning progress

                   -Add light via use of flashlight and other focused light sources to draw visual attention to symbols and objects for children with CVI who "light gaze" 

                   -Reduc glare which interferes with "flashlight  highlighting".  One way to do so, avoid high gloss laminating film and go for low-gloss or no- gloss options.  An alternative way to protect visual supports without lamination is a waterproof paper called iGage, sold at www.trailexplorers.com

                  -Establish visual attention by incorporating movement with objects or symbols, which taps into the "fight or flight" area of the visual brain.  Move objects and symbols by shaking them in the  periphery for establishment of visual attention, and then stilling them centrally for children o establish visual focus.  Use animation in computer programs and realize tthat some kids see better when they move-bounce on therapy balls, swing, or learn while moving in other ways. 

                  -Visual complexity is a significant problem for many kids with CVI so simplify visual materials by presenting pictures and text separately, reducing detail in symbols, reducing color array, and reducing symbol array (in situations of AAC).  

                 -Mask visual complexity by using simple techniques like covering extra visual info (e.g.,  extraneous objects, busy prints on clothing or confusing work surfaces, like clear lap trays) with dark fabrics in navy or black.  

                  -Use software programs that reduce visual complexity by keeping graphics and colors simple, such as those by Inclusive Technology.  Also, incorporate additional visual and auditory info via screen highlights, sounds assigned to different functions within games and AAC layouts, and verbal auditory cues. To AAC devices  

                  -Test software for kids with CVI to meeT these guidelines and do so with your eyes literally closed so you can experience what the feedback is like.  

                    - Keep in mind that kids with CVI may have difficulty processing sensory info together.  So they may not be able to look and listen or look and physically activate at the same time.  

I love the twist that Linda Burkhart gives to the field of working with kids with severe challenges and it was so awesome to hear her share her experience in person.  She also mentioned that Mayer -Johnson is due to release a high contrast version of PCS symbols as an addendum library to BoardmKer, very exciting for the application of visuals in the learning environments of children with CVI. Goodnightbfir now, more info from ATIA tomorrow, including extra focus on apps and other great gadgets in the exhibit hall!  

Gain more insight from Linda Burkhart at her site!

 

 

 

 

 

ATIA 2012 Update: Drool Resistant Switch Toys?

 

Check out the switch adapted Fijit from !  Super fun and cool cause-effect toy, but even better, it isn't plush!  Easy to clean, more cootie-proof, and great, bright colors for kids with sensory involvement (e.eg, CVI). Fijit toys are also available on Amazon in non-switch form so you could use your DIY switch adapting skills to adapt these toys with Ablenet adapters or other materials. 

 

Symbol World: Symbol Based News for Kids & Adults

If you like News2You, you will love SymbolWorld! "SymbolWorld is a website created by Widgit Software specifically for symbol users. It has material for all ages and includes news, personal contributions, stories and learning materials." (http://www.symbolworld.org/)

Features of this, FREE, web-based program are:

• easy navigatation, with the option to personalize the layout and colors to suit any reader's needs
• you can create user accounts, allowing you to save style settings, access the "Print Friendly PDFs" feature, rate articles and sign up for email notifications
• all links have visual highlights (i.e., a colored border to show where you are on the page) to make the site more accessible for people using switches or who use the Tab key to browse

• at the bottom of every article is a ‘Print Friendly’ button, which will create a print friendly PDF of the entire article for you to save or print directly from your browser

Speech/Voice Output is currently not available on SymbolWorld :(. But they are working on this feature for the near future! The current, non-speech version of SymbolWorld does not require Flash, which means you can view ALL of the features of the site on your iDevice. I was actually able to use the VoiceOver feature on my iPad to select the text on each news page and have it read aloud. I was also able to touch each word in the article to have the VoiceOver engine read each word aloud one at a time. This could be a great literacy building tool for early level readers! The fact that you can print each symbol-based news story to a PDF file gives you some flexibility with regard to speech output. If your child is currently using an electronic reading program like Kurzwell , the PDFs from SymbolWorld could be loaded and read through that or other PDF reader programs. I can even think of some ways to make this happen on iPad…:) Want to know more about that? :)

The Magic Carpet Interactive Projector

Spectronics Blog shared a great post on this new technology! 
Amazing Sensory Guru technologies now here in ANZ | The Spectronics Blog

I have used projectors with my iDevices before, especially to share books, videos, and pictures with my preschool class during Circle Time.  But I've never used an interactive one!  So cool-I hope this type of technology emerges in a manageable, affordable way (especially for iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) for therapists and parents to use at home with special kids.  :)

SNEAK's Peeks #1: " I Like Books" by Grasshopper Apps

 

I Like Books

I Like Books (developed by Grasshopper Apps)includes 37 picture books for kids (in 1App!) with high quality, colorful photos, simple embedded text, and voice output!  Many elements of the stories are also fully customizable so you can change the voice output, change the story text, and even create photo "hot spots" that speak when they are touched! 

Check out our SNEAK's Peeks video demo below (or click here to view on YouTube) for a quick introduction to this really cool storybook App!

I really like the simplicity of this App and the photos are great!  I would like to see the ability to use your own photos added to future upgrades.  This feature would expand this App's potential as a platform for creating adapted stories and social stories for children with special needs.  For children with higher level language skills, I think this App is a great way to elicit simple narratives based on the pictures provided in each story.  The kids can even record their story retell or spontaneous narrative as they look at the pictures and then have the App read their own story back to them! 

Assistive Touch on iPad Assists Access to the Touch Screen!

iPhone Stuffs

In the new Apple IOS 5 update for iPad, iPhone, and iTouch, there are many new features, including Assistive Touch, a really innovative accessibility feature that allows physically impaired users to access the multiple finger "tap", "swipe" and "pinch" features (among others) of the touch screen in a more easily accessible way.  This feature doesn't totally solve the access issues of the touch screen for our physically limited little guys, but it is a great start!  Check out the video below for a quick demo of how it works.  To see some of the other adaptive features built into the new IOS 5, check out 20+ New Ways Students With Special Needs Can Use iOS 5 | Edudemic.  I hope that this new feature opens the flood gates at Apple for improve motor accessibility on iDevices.  Would screen sensitivity settings be fabulous? (Hint Hint, Apple!).

Tanna's Top 10 Traditional Toys (with a Twist!)



Baby Wonderland Gifts

 As promised in an earlier post  (Awesome Holiday Gifts for Special Kids), here is my list of the simplest but most versatile, traditional toys for targeting cognitive, physical and communication skills while playing with kids who have special needs.  Many of these toys can be adapted to suit the level of support needed by your child.  They don't come with all of the bells and whistles of a computerized toy or iPad, but I think they have their place as essentials in every child's toy box. :) As a speech therapist, I NEVER leave home without them!  These toys can be purchased at most toy stores (and even dollar stores), or you can buy them online here from Amazon. :) (Visit the SNEAK aStore for great toy ideas for special kids)

 1.  Bubbles

Bubbles entertain children of all ages!  They are a great way to practice fine motor skills like putting in and taking out, isolating a finger to pop, and pinching or grasping the bubble wand;  gross motor skills like stomping, jumping, swatting, and waving arms; and oral skills like rounding lips to blow.  You can also create many communication opportunities with bubbles by talking about what you see, do, and experience.  What do your bubbles look like?  Where are they going? How do they feel on your fingers?  Talking about the play experience models language for children in a context that is concrete and fun.  Use words like up, down, blow, in, out, stomp, pop, high, low, wet, dry, fun, yucky, and more!  Bubbles can be adapted to support children with motor limitations by using bubble machines, bubble blowers, or bubble wands that only require gross movements to work. 

 2.  Blocks 

Blocks are a great way for special kids to practice constructive play.  Simple, flat blocks versus those that needd to interlock in a certain way (e.g., Legos, bristle blocks) are the best because of their flexible use.  Create towers, houses, farms, schools and buildings with your blocks.  Talk about what you are building, how it looks, and what you do in it.  Combine blocks with other toys to expand play experiences, such as crashing them with cars or using toy figures to pretend inside of the structures you have created.  Children can expand their imagination by using blocks to create symbolic things.  Talking about your play experience models language and actions for your child, giving them the words they need to understand and express the things they are doing while they play.  Use words like on, off, fall, build, up, high, down, low, oh no!, tall, big, little, etc...  Blocks can be adapted for children with physical challenges by adjusting the size and consistency of the block (soft or hard) depending on the child's needs and adding magnets or velcro to the blocks to help them stack more securely so that less precision is needed in building.  Check out these magnetic blocks!

 3.  Balls

Ball play is an early way to take turns with play mates.  It is also a great way to build gross and fine motor skills and learn language.  Use different balls and talk about their differences to practice new words like big, little, soft, hard, and colors.  Combine balls with other toys to expand play, such as knocking blocks or pins down like a bowling game, throwing balls into clothes hampers or boxes for basketball, rolling under tables and over couches.  Using balls in different ways helps expand the language that you can model about the experience.  Balls can be adapted to suit different physical needs by using different sizes and shapes.  You can also use lighter or heavier balls depending on the needs of the child.  Some balls even come with holes to make them easier to grasp and throw (like the Oball).  Using balloons as balls is a nice way to help children with motor challenges get the time they need to catch a ball(because the balloons float). 

 4.  Books

Choose books specifically for the learning level of your child.  Books are a great tool to learn new words, practice answering questions, and explore new people, places, items, and actions.  Books with simple, repetitive language are great for teaching early literacy skills and for setting a stage for communication.  Don't be confined by the words written on the page, you can always change a book to suit the interests and learning level of your child with just a little imagination.  Let loose and use silly voices, sounds, and songs to help engage your child.  Encourage interaction with the book by pointing to pictures, pretending with the pictures, and acting out the actions in the story.  Books can be adapted for children with physical challenges in a variety of ways, including adding binder clips or velcro between pages to make them easier to turn and securing books to a table top easel so that they are easier to see and flip through. 

 5.  Mr. Potato Head

Mr. Potato Head is another great, versatile, constructive and pretend play toy!  Practice body part names and concepts like putting in and taking out.  Talk about spatial concepts like the eyes are over the nose, the ears are on the side, and the shoes are on the bottom.  Use larger sets of Potato Head pieces to compare the differences between eyes, shoes, and ears, such as their shape, size, and color. To make Mr. potato easier to grab and hold, attach a handle on his back with a shower curtain ring or wooden knob by using hot glue. You can also use velcro on the head and pieces (soft side on the head, bumpy on all of the pieces) to help the pieces stay in place.  Once you build your Potato Head pieces, combine him with other toys to expand pretend play.  Have him crash your block tower, make him a meal with play utensils and food, or take him for a ride on a toy car! 

 6.  Crayons & Paper

Other than the obvious use of coloring with the crayons on the paper, I like to use this simple toy to expand the play of other toys.  If you are playing with a train, draw a train track for it to chug on!  If you are playing with a rubber duck, how about drawing a pond for him to swim in!  Using drawn environments with physical toys helps kids meld the lines of real and abstract and really gets their brains making connections!

 7.  Play Doh

Play Doh can be used with children of young ages as long as you supervise!  This toy is a favorite of ALL kids and a great tool for enhancing many developmental skills (not to mention, a cool sensory experience).  The play and language modeling possibilities are limited only by imagination!  Use play doh as a tool to create a platform for pretending!

 8.  Toy Figures

Toy figures like animals, action figures, and people are also very open-ended toys for practicing pretend play.  They can be combined with other toys and settings in the home to create wonderful play scenes and opportunities for learning and communication. 

 9.  Common Objects Box

Dishes, toy food, a brush, keys, a hat-you name it!  Kids learn language and other developmental skills by watching daily routines and imitating them.  A clear plastic bin or drawstring laundry bag with a variety of common household objects and small toys inside is a great tool for open-ended play, pretending, and learning life skills. 

10.  Wooden Puzzles

Puzzles can be tricky for kids with special needs but I LOVE them for setting the stage for interaction.  Use wooden puzzles with large knobs that display pictures that interest your child.  Pretend with the puzzle pieces, hide them in pockets, containers, or around the house, and use silly voices and sounds to help engage your child in puzzle play.  You can adapt puzzles with small pegs for handles by adding rubber pencil erasers (the kind you put on top of your pencil when the eraser runs out) with hot glue to each peg.  This makes a nice surface for kids with motor challenges to grip pieces. 

Read more about these toys and buy them online at the SNEAK aStore.  :)  When you purchase items by linking to Amazon through the SNEAK aStore, you help support our blog at no extra cost to you. 

Want to know more specifics about how to adapt these toys and use them to play with your special child? 

Bub Caps to Cover Home Button for IPad

A quick follow-up to my post on Keyguards for iPad.  Here is another solution to cover the home button so your kids can't get to it!  Check out Bub Caps here.  Cost effective like the Home Button Strip from Lasered Pics (reviewed previously).  So nice to have options! :)

Awesome Holiday Gifts for Special Kids

Parents often ask me what toys to buy for their special kids, as many traditional toys are not made with special needs in mind.  I came across  a link to the 2011 Gift Guide for Individuals Living with Paralysis (compiled by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation) and I was inspired to share the link, and to also compile a list of my own. :)  Below I have listed some web resources that I have used to help guide the gift buying process.  Check these out and share them with the families you serve.  I will follow up with my own tips and tricks on adapting my Top 10 Traditional Toys to suit the special needs of kid's with cognitive and physical limitations (that and more, in a later post. :) 

Toys R' Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids is an amazing compilation of great, traditional toys (non-adapted) that is compiled by Toys R' Us with the professional guidance of the play experts at Lekotek.  This guide is available in Spanish and English, Flash version and PDF, which makes it great for sharing with families.  You can also order print version of the guide (free or charge) to distribute at your school or center.  The greatest part of this guide is that it showcases toys that are easily accessible for most families as they can be purchased locally and don't usually cost as much as adapted toys.  The guide is conveniently organized so that toys are accompanied by symbols to help parents find those toys that promote different skills, such as Auditory, Language, Social, Creativity, and Fine and Gross Motor Skills.

Fisher Price Toys & Playtime Tips for Children with Special Needs is a web resource provided by Fisher Price with the guidance of the experts at the Let;s Play Project.  Although it does not currently provide specific toy suggestions, it allows parents to pick the level of support their child needs in certain developmental areas (Hearing, Seeing, Talking etc...) and then provides general toy buying tips on features to look for in toys to make them more accessible.


Visit the SNEAK aStore to find these great toys, and other, hand-picked toys for special needs kids that you can buy easily from Amazon!