Giving Your Toys a Makeover!

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?

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?

My Wishlist for iPad 3: Are You Listening, Apple?

So depending on which rumor-mill you follow, you may have recently heard chatter about the upcoming iPad 3. Most sources agree that Apple recently began production of this much anticipated follow-up to the current iPad 2.  So when can we hope to hold this treasure? Possibly early next year.  So in the meantime, I have entertained my imagination by reading up on speculations of the new and improved features we can expect to see on this new gem.  Some reports include a thinner, sleeker design, higher screen resolution and camera quality, and even an anti-fingerprint/ Schmutz-proof coating for the screen!  all are very cool, indeed.  But I want to know where the cool, innovative accessibility features are!! We count on Apple to answer our pleas, don't we?  Here are a few things I would like to see realized in the iPad 3!  Pay attention, Apple!

• The ability to adjust access method and touch screen sensitivity: I want to see touch exit, scanning, and (because I am a big dreamer) eye gaze!  I want to be able to change my touch screen settings to be feather light or elephant firm because my kids need these options!  Hey, Dynavox and PRC can do it, why can't you?
• An iOS update that allows me to access my tablet with a switch:  Now I know this is tricky with you keep the iOS components under warps.  And I know that the whole point of an iQPad (according to Apple) is its touch screen technology.  And I know that things should look pretty and tightly organized and blah blah blah.  BUT, the fact is, our kids use switches, our kids use iPads, and right now, they need an iPad that can step up to the challenge!  Android is getting there, but Apple (shaking head), you're letting' me down...
• App folder icons that I can customize and subdivide:  Now maybe this is just because I am visually impaired and a bit OCD at the same time, but on my behalf, and I believe, to the benefit of many of my kids, I would really like it if I could assign different folder icons to my App folders when I organize them on the iPad desktop.  The little black boxes with smudgey colored boxes inside of them don't help me navigate!  To be honest, they just irk me.  Doesn't it make more sense to be able to assign a meaningful, representational symbol to my folders so that I can navigate more quickly?  And I would really love it if I could create folders within folders to further organize my Apps.  And let's not stop there, could I possibly password protect said folders to keep my kids out of certain Apps?  Seems easy enough for Windows, so not sure why it isn't on my iPad.
• Ability to change font size, icon size, and contrast of home screen:  While we are on the topic on the desktop, the iPad 3 should let me change the font size, icon size, and color contrast of my home screen for easier navigation. I can make the print larger in some features but not others and the inconsistency doesn't cut it.  Yeah, yeah, I know about Zoom, but you try using it for sustained periods of time and you'll see what I mean.  :)

What do you want to see happen in the new iPad 3?