Favorite Early Childhood & Assistive Technology Web Sites
Team members have contributed the following sites they found to be useful:
www.ataccess.org/resources/wcp/endefault.html The Alliance for Technology Access provides information on how to adapt toys for children with disabilities.
http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/ The Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education lists articles regarding using technology with children in the classroom.
letsplay.buffalo.edu This website of the Let's Play Project offers ideas about enhancing play opportunities to children including assistance with positioning, mobility, communication and toys.
www.lburkhart.com This site provides useful information about assistive technology from hands on information to web and vendor resources.
http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/ec/Profile5.htm This website contains great ideas as well as examples of the various ways assistive technology aids small children with their development in the pre-school classroom. Included are descriptions of many different types of hardware which boost children’s autonomy by allowing them to develop decision-making skills, participate in class discussions, literacy skills, and learn consequences to their actions.
http://www.eparent.com/ This site describes how using assistive technology devices will encourage children with disabilities to improve efforts of communication and other developmentally important skills. The earlier a child is taught with these devices, the more willing he/she will be to accept this type of learning, which can greatly improve the quality of life. Parent involvement with the use of assistive technologies is encouraged, and many resources for obtaining assistive technology devices are listed. Included is a story of a four year old boy whose life was changed drastically by using an augmentative communication device and intensive speech therapy. This site is a great resource for learning the goals of assistive technologies and ways to reach those goals.
http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html This contains a comprehensive list of a large number of considerations when using assistive technology. This website walks one through all the steps taken for evaluation of a person with assistive technologies needs, as well as frequently asked questions, hints for parents, case studies, and guidelines for making assistive technology decisions. Also included is funding for assistive technologies, how to apply for funding, and tips that lead to success. In addition, many low cost, low technology solutions are listed to aid children in their development. For those who are just beginning to learn about assistive technologies as well as those who are already advocates, this site has a plethora of information which may be helpful in the process of choosing assistive technology devices that will provide appropriate services to children.
http://www.circ.uab.edu/Sparks/Speech/cburk.htmThis website contains great ideas for augmentative communication. When augmentative communication and spoken language are used together, children respond better, because more knowledge on the meaning of words is obtained. Examples of augmentative communication for children are simple signs, object boards or boxes, picture boards or displays, and tape recorders. These devices can greatly improve a young child’s ability to communicate and interact with others.
Additional Assistive Technology Web Site Favorites
Abilitation.com - provides a platform for the creation, administration and analysis of a wide variety of tests or assessments for anyone with access to the Internet.
Ableplay.org - toyrating system and website that provides comprehensive information on tap for children with special needs. Includes product reviews and ideas of how to play with the toy.
Arizona State University - Tots n Tech
Bookshare.org - this membership site allows the user with a documented print disability (blindness, low vision, reading or mobility disability) to legally share scanned books. Membership can be attained through school districts/groups or individuals for a fee. Books are available from grade three through adult. Text reader software as well as embossed Braille copies are also available with membership.
Enchanted Learning - a website with resources on all the topics that kids love. It is loaded with art activities, rebus stories and nursery rhymes, arts and crafts suggestions, and bilingual materials. It has a membership fee but much of the information can be accessed for free. Contributed by Maureen Melonis because it is very kid-friendly and has many good resources for doing school projects.
Intellitools- look within the Intellitools vendor site under the heading of "Support" for the IntelliShare section with free shared activities for use with Intellitools products. This site has downloadable "Players" for Mac and Windows to support student using the products after they are created.
Nectac.org - The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
QIAT - is an acronym for Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology, pronounced like the word quiet. Check out all the resources related to the ongoing process of identifying, disseminating, and implementing a set of widely-applicable quality indicators for AT Services in school settings. Contributed by the SWAAAC Web committee.
WATI - the website for the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative is full of great resources. Their mission is focused on ensuring access to AT for kids. You will find free downloads of resources and materials for evaluation-- both in English and Spanish. Contributed by the SWAAAC Web committee.
WheelchairNet - a resource at the University of Pittsburgh with many useful resources for those interested in the topic of wheeled mobility. Contributed by Mary Ellen Buning who is the person who worked to develop the site.
Zerotothree.org - topics on healthy development.
Last Updated: June 30 , 2008
