A Brief Hiatus

Hello everyone,

I know my posts have been scarce since I changed jobs two and a half years ago and even more scare lately.  As you can see above I am dealing with some health challenges right now.  I am actually doing very well, all things considered, but I need to get more rest and have less stress for a while.  Thus this blog will be on a hiatus until things settle down.  I am still dedicated to sharing information about best practices in working with individuals with severe or multiple special needs and will return to posting at some point.  I will leave the blog up, with all of its information and I will continue to moderate comments.

Thank you for your support,

Kate Ahern

Welcome MPS OTs and SLPs!

Here is a slideshow designed for a workshop presented to OTs and SLPs in a public school system.  It is intended as a beyond the basics introduction to AT.

Melted Crayon Art with Switches

These crayon projects have been all over Pinterest and a few weeks ago my wonderful and artistic assistant teacher put together a project for my students to make some.

Most versions of the project on Pinterest call for using hot glue to attach the crayons to canvas and then using a hair dryer to melt the crayons.  We needed a less expensive version, so ours are mounted on rectangles of some fore core board we had and black masking tape covers the cut edges.  The silhouette images were made on a Cricut, but could have been hand cut is needed.  They are hanging from some left over black silk ribbon attached with more hot glue.

The project was adapted for the students, of course.  Students spent time choosing crayons and creating their pattern of colors.  They also choose their silhouette.  Staff hot glued the crayons on the fore core board.  Then came fun with switches!  The hair dryers were attached to an environmental control box (a Powerlink) and switches were used for the students to control turning on and off the hot air.

Didn't they come out beautiful?

Switch Access to iPods/iPads Expands

iPortal Accessibility

Several companies have announced new ways for those with physical or multiple disabilities to access the iPod and iPad.  Here is the list of what is currently on the market.

Control the iOS Device with Switch(es)

• iPortal Accessibility allows users with certain brands of power wheelchairs to use their driving mechanism (joystick, switches) to control all aspects of an iPhone 

Control Music on iOS with Switch(es)

• iScan MP3 single switch (visual based) scanning of the music on your iPod (the picture is deceiving - it does work with current versions of the iPod)
  

  

  Ablenet Hook

• Ablenet Hook auditory scanning of music with one or two switches designed to be adjustable in terms of cognitive load
• Adapted 2 Switch iHome a two switch controller of an iHome dock for iPods
• Adapted 6 Switch iHome an adapted iPod dock system with switches for every function
• Big Button iPod Remote is a console of large switches that access music on the iOS devices
• Scan 5 is a console of switches that control iOS and include scanning, Select 5 is the same thing without scanning
• iPod Switcher is another remote console, it has 3 built in switches to control music

Control an App with Switch(es)

• RJ Cooper iOS Super Switch and Switch Interface
• works with the following apps
• Rad Sounds
• Alexicom
• Go Talk Now
• Predictable
• Scene and Heard
• Tap Speak Series
• Ablenet Blue 2 Switches with External Switch Ports
• works with the following apps
• Tap Speak Series
• Sounding Board

Use the iOS Device as a Switch(es) to Control Other Things

• Switchamajig turns your iPad into an adaptive remote control for adapted toys
• Attainment SWITCH is an app that turns your iPad into one or two switches to access any program on a Mac or PC and some apps on another iOS device wirelessly

A Request to App Developers:

• please make your apps switch accessible 
• please demand that the makers of switch interfaces add non-proprietary switch settings to their interfaces (i.e. make all iOS switches/interfaces compatiable with all accessible apps and let customers choose your switch or interface based on the quality of construction and the design of the product not which one gets more bang for the buck in terms of which apps it controls)
• when choosing non-proprietary switch setting to run your app consider using standard keystrokes that can be sent via a bluetooth keyboard (i.e. arrow keys, tab/enter), switch interface makers will eventually have to add these if you insist on them in your apps
• please be sure to make your apps auditory scanning as well as visual scanning

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Denies Lifesaving Transplants to Girl with Developmental Disabilities

CHOP has denied this little girl, who has Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome a lifesaving kidney transplant because she has developmental delay.  Read her story.  Sign a petition. Sign another petition.  Write on CHOP's Facebook Page.


CHOP has issued the following statement justifying their actions:

"We have watched with great concern the comments regarding criteria used in making transplant eligibility decisions. We understand your concerns and reactions to the Facebook postings.

We strive to provide the safest possible care for our patients and we make transplant eligibility decisions based on widely-accepted, medically valid methods, with many factors considered. We want you to know that CHOP does not have any criteria which exclude patients from being considered for transplant solely on the basis of their cognitive status. Transplant programs at CHOP have never declined a patient for transplant based solely on their cognitive status and we have performed transplants on many children with disabilities and impairments.

CHOP’s transplant programs continue to evaluate and perform transplants on some of the most complex cases in the country. We use an established framework for consistent evaluation and transplantation. Each child is evaluated on an individual basis, taking multiple medical, surgical, and psychosocial aspects into consideration. In each evaluation, we consider the possible risk and outcome of the recipient, potential donor options, as well as alternative therapies.

In order to determine eligibility for transplantation, a multidisciplinary evaluation is completed by several members of the transplant team, which would include careful assessment of a patient by surgical and transplant specialists, as well as, psychosocial, and neurologic specialists. Parents and family members are very much a part of the discussion.

We wish to emphasize that all determinations of eligibility for transplantation are treated on an individual basis. We make all decisions regarding eligibility using a non-discriminatory approach, after a multidisciplinary assessment and discussion, which is the standard of practice throughout the country.

These communications are very important to us and provide us with an opportunity to always re-examine and reassess our approach and process. We hope that we can continue to improve and continue to provide exceptional care for children with organ failure."

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

Fine Motor Work Boxes

Toothbrushes into holders. Designed by our COTA.

 

Sorting change.  The ones with Velcro are for the sample.

Sorting by color.  Cups and blocks from Dollar Store. Pizza box was free.

Containerizing pom-poms with some size sorting.

Sorting dollar store clips.

Popsicle sticks from dollar store into a coffee creamer bottle or spray paint bottle tops to sort by color.

Sorting silverware.  We also wash with our power dish brush.

Folding brochures.  The jig is from APH.  Ask your vision teacher.

Directions to Use a Switch to Scan Playlists on YouTube

  

 

A Few Workboxes

Writing on the Wall

A few different educators have made Mock Facebook activities for classrooms and all are creative and wonderful.  A couple of the ones I like (get it?) are these ones at Plug-n-Plan and this one at Teaching Blog Addict.  Also this teacher's explanation of using a Facebook style bulletin board to post her schedule.

Today I saw the Plug-n-Plan Mock Facebook on Pinterest and thought it might be perfect for encouraging choice making, reflection and combining symbols into sentences.  Students find their name/picture to replace the standard image.  They can dictate a "status update" using communication boards or devices.  If needed they can even choose from prepared "status updates".  This would be a great accompaniment to journaling or school-to-home notes. Students can "like" other students "status updates" to work on interconnection between students and pro-social behavior.

A mock Facebook is great for reflecting on activities, emotions and the self.  A mock Pinterest might be fun to use to hang photos and work on choice making and learning about peers.  Discussion can be held about what we learn about a peer who "pins" a picture of himself skiing or herself horseback-riding.

So here are my "Facebook" and "Pinterest" boards.  The originals are in Power Point and can be downloaded from the SlideShare web site or you can download from Google Docs (or choose make copy from the pull down menu on the left to save to your own account and edit).  You will want to edit the info in the "profile" to fit your class and make it more relevant.

Facebook classroom wall

View more presentations from Kate Ahern.

As always if the SlideShare doesn't work for you please check out the Google Docs version or email me to ask for the .PPTX file.

Core Vocabulary Learning

We are about to embark on a new project in my classroom.  It will focus on learning 30 or more core vocabulary words through symbols and auditory language.  We will focus on one to two words a week.  The idea is to embed this into our normal routine with one or two lessons about the word/symbol meaning as well.  One of the things we will use to do this is the Core Vocabulary Learning Book I am posting below.  Please share your thoughts and ideas!

Core vocabulary learning book

View more presentations from Kate Ahern.

If you have trouble with SlideShare here it is in Google Docs.

In case you don't have Boardmaker, Communicator or some other program here are Core Vocab Cards in PCS and SymbolStix.  Email for the Communicator file (.cdd).

Core vocab cards pcs and ss

View more presentations from Kate Ahern.

Finally here are core word communication boards in Arasaac, PCS and Symbolstix.  Email for the Tobii Communicator file (.cdd).

Core words in three symbol sets

View more presentations from Kate Ahern.

Bloggerversary

Somehow I missed my blogging anniversary!  On November 19th this blog turned 5!  I can't believe that it has been five years!  Five years, 1800 posts and nearly 150,000,000 visitors! 

There may be some changes to this blog soon.  Some of you have already pointed out some changes.  Most are due to my two hour a day commute.  I apologize to those of you who miss more regular posts.

Anyways, Happy Bloggerversary!

Please comment below if you have enjoyed or benefited from the blog in the past five years!

Free Printable Books (for Older Students)

First a free printable color book for learners with significant special needs that has no picture of toys, children our kid's clothing.

View more presentations from Kate Ahern.

If you have trouble with SlideShare you can also get it on Google Docs.

You can use as a slide show.  You can print, laminate and bind.  Play "Eye Spy" with the pages for receptive language, use descriptions or functions of objects to add new skills.  Hand out the pages and have the kids collect items the same color as their page and then share with their friends.

Here is a book that has the numbers 1-10 appearing on each page.

Numbers book

View more presentations from Kate Ahern.

If the SlideShare link doesn't work try Google Docs.

Enjoy!

Do you Pinterest?

Pinterest is a visual social networking site.  Members "pin" images or even videos to their pin boards.  Membership is free, so you might as well check it out.  And, like everything else, there is an app for that.

Some of my Pin Boards you might like to look at include:

• Teaching and Learning  (I deliberately mix general education and special education content in an awareness raising effort)
• Crafts
• Free AT

Wicked Proud!

 

I am so proud to share with all of my readers that my brother, Brendan, just became on of 34 Board Certified Behavior Analysts in the state of Hawaii and under 5,000 worldwide.  He is one of only 46% who passed the recent boards.  Also he is the only person who has even given me a way to explain an extinction burst in a way everyone will understand.  You rock, Brendan! 

Please leave your congratulations in the comments!  

Ohhh... I am such a proud sister!!!

(And thanks in advance for all of the help with all FBA's and behavior plans I will continue to send you.  That one you helped me with before worked out, by the way. We have maintained a 97% decrease in the behavior for over six months.)