New eBook on DAT and OT

A quick guide on Digital Technology for any OT working with students with special needs, THE essential guide.

Digital_Technology

It all started a few years ago, when I was asked to put together a list of useful assistive tech resources for my OT and SLT colleagues. Then it expanded to more of a ‘how to’ guide, as I wanted other professionals and parents to take a more proactive role with technology in everyday activities. And then I started doing training events, and had this idea of getting a ‘companion book’ for my sessions, to expand on topics I lacked the time to cover in those trainings and clarify any other technology questions.

Here is the link, only £2.10 on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B0W8FDK/ref=pe_385721_48724741_TE_M1T1DP

And for those of you who don’t like the Kindle format so much, I can send out PDFs to be printed at your leisure, just send me an email or subscribe and every new person that joins, will get a free copy. Don’t worry, I won’t bombard you with spam afterwards! Although you might get updates of the book this way.

Feel free to share it with anyone that might benefit or have an interest in this area, and even leave a mini-review on kindle, is you’re feeling generous.

Thank you so much!

 

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Digital Assistive Technology and Visual Supports for Autism: A quick guide to motivating and effective resources to support independence.

 

Visual Supports picture.jpgMost people with Autism already have an intense relationship with digital technologies. Digital Assistive Technology (DAT) is just a step further from the visual supports concept: it is fast, versatile and motivating to people with Autistic. More importantly, it has quickly developed a range of accessible options for users with autism to participate in a large range of activities (i.e. academic/educational, self-care, communication, choice-making, schedules, creative, sensory and self-regulating, etc.).

DAT consists of any electronic equipment or adaptive devices that enable a person with a disability to access a range of functional activities such as communication, play, academic work, leisure interests / games, etc. Some examples of DAT can include an adapted laptop, specialist mice and keyboards, switches, iPads and Tablets, mobile phones, iPods, etc.

The main interface with the technology is predominantly visual and tactile, which makes it attractive, predictable and simple to the person with autism. Additionally, most digital devices allow two-way interactions for the users and are not merely passive visual rewards. The special needs market is currently flooded with offers of software, hardware and applications (apps) for people with autism, to help with participation in a range of areas. There is also plenty of ‘anecdotal’ evidence from parents to support the use of devices for children with autism, although this should be treated with caution, as more rigorous research has not been carried out at this stage.

As DAT options continue to change, with new products and updates being launched every week, the following sections aim to summarise some of the most useful software and apps that have been developed so far and proven useful in assisting people with autism in the area of visual supports:

  1. Visual Supports Software

This is a web-based solution to create personalised boards, with many features such as speech output (in different languages) and access to good quality images through an  integrated Google image search, plus thousands of unique, custom symbols with SymbolStix© and the new PiCS© symbol system. The board can be shared between different users and devices, and there is an app version for iPads.

A free Windows application, Picto-selector is able to create boards and sheets, inserting the user’s own pictures or symbols or choosing from over 24,000 pictures and symbols in the programme. It saves as a PDF and copies can be printed as well.

Their Visuals Engine offers the possibility of creating quick social stories and charts. Resources can be created within the webpage’s templates and with access to Boardmaker symbols or any other personal images. There are many templates to choose from, such as choices, time, rules, schedules, personal stories, etc. It can be printed or saved as PDF to be shared.

Similar to Pogoboards, this is an easy-to-use online resource that allows users to create various customized learning materials and social stories. Resources created can be saved, shared and printed.

This programme is one of the first and most widely-known visual resource creator that also can double-up as a communication system. Their range of symbols has become familiar in many educational settings, due to their simplicity and quality. Their large online community has thousands of already-made resources, books, charts, schedules, etc. that can be readily used by subscribers. It is based on their own ‘symbol set’, Picture Communication Symbols™ (PCS), but other graphics or images can be added as well.

A ready-made board created with Boardmaker

Boardmaker

Similar to Boardmaker but with the popular ‘Widgit’ images is the symbol-based programme Communicate in Print: http://www.widgit.com/products/inprint/index.htm

  1. Visual Supports Apps

The following are a few useful applications (apps) available for Apple (iPhone, iPod and iPad) and Android devices to create social stories and other types of visual supports. Most of them have symbols/picture libraries, but can be modified to add the user’s own images and even familiar voices / sounds / music. Most visual supports created with these apps can be are editable, printable and can be shared among devices afterwards.

The following is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but a few useful apps that can assist setting up visual supports in a range of DAT devices (all for iPad, with some Android versions as well):

  • StoryMaker for Social Stories
  • Stories About Me
  • Stories2Learn
  • i Create… Social Skills Stories
  • All about me Story Book
  • My Life Skills Box
  • First Then Visual Schedule (Android version as well)
  • iPrompts (Android version as well)

With over a thousand apps now available to help individuals with special needs it has become increasingly difficult to find and choose the right special needs app. It is worth looking at websites that regularly review and update apps and software for people with Autism, but even these sites keep increasing in number and frequently updating their content. In some cases, it might be worth to trial the Free or ‘Lite’ version of the app first, before a decision is made to purchase it. Some trusted reviews can be found in the following sites:

OTHER RESOURCES and USEFUL WEBSITES:

NAS – National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society has excellent and free handouts on visual supports and social stories with examples, reading materials and other ideas for resources.

http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/strategies-and-approaches/visual-supports.aspx

Do2Learn

www.do2learn.com
Do2Learn provides special learning resources for individuals with disabilities and professionals and caregivers around them. They freely offer many pages of FREE good quality visual resources, with templates and ideas to incorporate them in daily situations.

WIDGIT SYMBOLS

Most software packages that contain Widgit symbols can be found here: http://www.widgit.com/

MORE FREE RESOURCES:

Free downloadable databases and picture dictionaries that can be used as visual supports for a variety of situations:

 

 

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT SCREEN EXPOSURE IN EARLY YEARS: IMPLICATIONS FOR OTs working in paediatrics

Image

In 1999, the American Academy of Paediatricians issued guidelines to limit screen exposure in children less than 2 years of age and caution for under 5s in general. These recommendations were again ratified in 2011, although digital media has dramatically changed since then. However, there is little current research to show any detrimental effects of media use in such populations. In fact, interactive media screens are becoming part of children’s everyday life and they have increased participation in children with special needs and disabilities.

Following a special issue on the Zero to Three Journal published last March 2013, I will attempt to summarise their findings and possible implications for OTs working with younger children.

Traditional video Vs. Interactive screen media

Most studies on very young children have been carried out solely on the effects of ‘passive’ media (i.e. TVs, video and DVD players). The results appear conclusive, over the past ten years of research:

–          Background/foreground TV: Background TV (media directed at adults and older children) seems to affect attention, language development, reduces parent-child interactions and quality/ quantity of language directed to the younger child. In contrast, Foreground programmes directed to younger children does not seem to have such negative consequences, but young children (under 2) seem to learn better from real-life demonstrations or require higher number of repetitions from the same videos (this is called Video deficit).

–          Commercial videos and targeted programmes: it is now proven that some claims from programmes such as Baby Einstein or Brainy baby are not supported by evidence and at times are misleading altogether. Producers do not seem to be able to develop useful learning media programmes for under 2s, but older children seem to benefit from certain programmes. Sesame Street tops the list of favourite programmes for learning new concepts in pre-schoolers, especially from more deprived backgrounds. On the other hand, watching videos together with their parents and interactive questioning from the programmes looks like a promising way to develop new learning in the thinking and language areas.

Although there is quite limited research at the moment, experimental studies have shown that interactive computer games can be as helpful as face-to-face learning, and they are definitely more effective than passive media. Apparently, babies as young as 6 months can recognise familiar pictures on a screen, and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from parents allowing their babies to use their touch screen devices with simple apps. These findings seem to support the thought that future uses of interactive media are likely to aid young children’s learning and skill development, but it might too early to come to any definite conclusions just yet.

 

 

What this means for OTs working with children with special needs:

Most parents continue to disregard the most recent advice from the AAP about ‘screen time’ for younger children, primarily due to positive memories of their childhood educational programmes (i.e. Sesame street) and also due to convenience within their family routines (i.e. keeping children busy while adults get on with chores). As a result, children are increasingly filling large chunks of their day engaged in interactions with screen devices, which are becoming more interactive and providing instant feedback on their actions and efforts.  OTs need to carefully consider how and when to facilitate participation and access to these activities as part of a child’s regular routine.

Advantages of digital media:

–          New technologies such as smart phones, games, tablets, interactive video chats and touch screens are making the child an active participant and increasing opportunities for disability access.

–          They are part of children’s everyday occupations and even younger children are now regular media consumers: OT can increase attention and motivation by using media that children are already familiar with.

–          Immediate feedback: interactivity and contingency are strategies known to promote learning in infants and toddlers.

–          Opportunities for learning: it can be part of our bag of tools to practice a variety of ‘traditional’ OT tasks, from letter formation on a screen to practicing hygiene tasks on a virtual child model.

Disadvantages:

–          General lack of evidence into the short and long term effects of interactive technologies on the children’s learning.

–          Transfer of learning to the real world: are children able to generalise the skills learned to other contexts? Are they able to use their newly acquired words or concepts in other settings such as the classroom?

–          Potential to limit the child’s natural interaction with people, especially if social communication difficulties are already present. Excessive preoccupation by technology can already be found in certain populations, such as ASD.

–          Consideration needs to be given to fine motor skills and visual/auditory perception in children with special needs. Alterations may be required for those children with physical/coordination difficulties and sensory impairments.

Any opinions / comments are welcomed. Do you regularly use any type of technology as part of your assessments/therapy sessions? What have you found more/less useful?

Watch out for an upcoming post on the use of iPads in education settings for children with special needs. Also, the last edition of our ebook will be available to download, in August 2013: Assistive Technology and AAC in the Classroom. An essential guide for OTs and SLTs working in paediatrics.

Want to find out more? Some sites:

Center for Media and Health: www.cmch.tv

Common Sense Media: www.commonsensemedia.org

Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Street: www.joanganzcooneycenter.org

Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at St. Vincent College: www.fredrogerscenter.org

Book: Screen Time: How Electronic Media – from baby videos to educational software – Affects Your Young Child. L Guernsey (2012). New York, N.Y: Basic Books.

Photo Credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/21663950@N06/5072654465/”>Alfredi</a&gt; via <a href=”http://compfight.com”>Compfight</a&gt; <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/help/general/#147″>cc</a&gt;

7 STEPS THAT WILL HELP YOU DECIDE ON THE BEST DIGITAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUR CLIENTS

assistive technology

I feel passionate about digital assistive technology, and I don’t think it has to do with the fact that I work with younger clients (well, maybe a little). As an OT, for many years I have seen the different a well-chosen piece of equipment can do to assist a person access a meaningful daily activity. For me, digital assistive technology is just a step further from this concept: it is fast, versatile and motivating to a wide range of people from different backgrounds, interests and ages. More importantly, it has quickly developed a range of accessible options for people with disabilities and it can work excellently as a means to an end (i.e. environmental control).

Professionals from every field have rapidly acknowledged the value that technology offers to their clients; however, OTs frequently decide that they lack expertise or that it may be other profession’s remit to deal with these issues. Additionally, OTs already have knowledge of important underlying skills, such as how to improve positioning, arm and hand function, visual-perception, etc., all of which play an essential role when deciding the type of technology to prescribe.

At the end of the day, one Ipad-size does (NOT) fit all!

It can also feel daunting to dig deeper in this area, since there are currently so many choices and the technology changes fast, at times to attract further consumers but frequently to improve its functionality and resolve glitches.

So here is a quick guide to restore confidence on our skills and encourage the use of digital assistive technology in our day-to-day practice:

  1. Address Postural Needs: This should be the first thing to consider before further assessment is carried out. In most cases, the person will need to accurately use their hands or other body parts to access technology: your job is to make them as stable and comfortable as possible, so don’t hesitate to use appropriate chairs, work surfaces, footrests, cushions, angled desktops, wrist supports, etc.

Then comes deciding on a position for the system: this also needs to be stable and in the same place, as we don’t want to change the demands of the task every time for the user. Appropriate placing or fixed mounting of the equipment will maximise physical access to the system tried. Once a successful set up has been agreed, another job is to convince everyone not to alter it, to achieve consistency and ease of access in the long run. Use permanent markers and take pictures of the person using their system in the right set-up, then ensure this information is shared with all involved, including the client.

  1. Assess physical abilities and reliable movement patterns: as OTs, it is second nature to us to measure underlying capacities (i.e. muscle tone, range of movement, joint laxity, type of grasps, bilateral coordination, finger dexterity, etc.); but what we really need to know here are the effortless, consistent and reliable movements that will enable accurate access to a technology system. Look at the wider picture here: have a look at the ways in which the person moves and interacts with other motivating objects in a familiar situation. The hands are always the preferred (and often easier) option, but at times we may need to consider other body parts, if they are more reliable or require less effort from the user (i.e. head, knee, eyes, etc).
  1. Consider sensory needs: such as visual impairments, visual perception difficulties, auditory loss, additional sensory processing needs, etc. These will all change the way of accessing technology. Fortunately, many operating systems and websites currently offer different accessibility options targeted to sensory impaired users. Specialist software should only be considered after the ‘accessibility options’ from an operating system have been unsuccessful to facilitate access.
  1. Before meeting the user, find out first the type of communication and literacy level of the user: verbal, written, pictures, gestures/ Makaton, BSL, symbols, picture grids, etc.  Consult and involve an SLT if the main purpose of the equipment will be communicative. The level of literacy of the user may rule out options solely based on written language.
  1. Involve other people: It’s never a one-person job! Other professionals around the client will provide invaluable information for your assessments (e.g. teacher, SLT, psychologist, personal assistants/ carers, etc), and the family and the user’s views should be paramount. In the end, the user’s choices must always prevail; we are just facilitators offering the best matches to them.
  1. Function of equipment: in consultation with the user and the family/carers/education staff, determine what aims are to be achieved by introducing a new piece of equipment:  recording of work in class, communication, gaming, environmental control, etc. It is also in the interest of the student to limit the number of devices. Multi-purpose devices or compatibility between devices should always be encouraged first, where possible (i.e. tablet PC to record academic work, with adequate voice output for communication purposes).
  1. Training, Trials and inclusion in real life: It is essential to check what has been tried in the past already when choosing a new system to trial. The person’s natural environment is always preferable to carry out any assessments and trials in, to detect further difficulties that may prevent access to the system. If there is quite a high cost implication, try to get the company to do a short term loan or use their ‘returns’ policy if unsuitable after a trial.

Support is crucial after provision: ensure everybody is trained and has sufficient knowledge of the system (but don’t bombard them with too much information). Identify and agree with the user and support staff the times of the day when the equipment can be used to ensure full integration in their routines, rather than an extra chore that everybody forgets after a while.

Generally speaking, if a person appears to have a delay or a difficulty in activity participation or communication, technology should be introduced as early as possible in that person’s life. Most children, young people and adults already have access to technology round the clock as part of their school, work and leisure routines. Many older adults are already introducing it in their lives to ensure participation in meaningful activities such as talking to relatives on Skype, selecting a favourite large print book on their e-reader or reminding themselves of their medication using phone alarms.

It is an OT’s responsibility (in conjunction with other relevant professionals) to carry out a client-centred assessment of AT needs, to prescribe appropriate resources and initiate onward specialist referrals for all clients requiring AT to enhance their participation in relevant daily activities. An occupational therapist is a ‘core professional’ that has an essential contribution to this type of assessments, but further skill development may be required in this area, to match existing professional skills with the advantages of new and emerging technologies.