Adaptations with Devices and Software

Activities with Portable Communication Devices

A variety of portable communication devices are available for young children to use, including ChatBox, Cheap Talk 4, Message Communicator, and TalkPad, Twin Talk, Vantage Plus, and Voice-in-a-Box. These devices designed to be used by children who need assistance with speech. Some communication devices, such as the TalkPad and Cheap Talk use an electronic chip that records the voice, similar to the chip used in talking greeting cards and photograph frames. Other devices, including ChatBox and Vantage Plus use a built-in language with a core vocabulary. Portable communication devices are ways for children with language limitations to be active participants in classroom activities and everyday activities such as saying good morning to the teacher and classmates.

Programming the repetitive lines of stories or songs is a simple way to use communication devices so children with limited language and physical abilities can be part of the activity. Teachers or family members can record the phrase into the device and encourage the child to activate the device at the appropriate time. Snippets of children's favorite songs may also be recorded from a CD or cassette into the communication device. For example, when reading The Three Little Pigs, a TalkPad can be programmed with the wolf saying, "Little Pig, Little Pig, let me come in," and the pig saying, "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin." Picture labels to identify the corresponding sounds can be printed, laminated, and placed on the communication device.

Switch Activities

A switch, a method of input, may be beneficial for children who are in the 0-3 developmental age range. Any switch can be used with the computer through a switch interface (e.g. Switch Interface Pro or IntelliKeys), which allows children to use a switch with software specifically designed for switch input. When a switch is pressed, the child receives an immediate reinforcement from the computer. This may be animation, music, voice, change of picture, or with storybooks, reading of the words on the screen. Depending on the software these stimuli may be presented individually or in combination. Since children learn through multiple intelligences, this feature of technology is especially appealing for helping children meet developmental goals.

Switches can be purchased in various sizes, shapes, and degrees of sensitivity. For children who have disabilities that prevent them from using standard input, keyboard or mouse, an appropriate switch should be selected to match the child's abilities. This decision is based on input from the child's family and support team. Switches can be used with any reliable body movement, allowing a child to use his/her head, arm, leg, foot, without being limited to only hand use.

Many switch-activated stories are available to use with young children. Some of the more popular titles include Eensy and Friends, Circletime Tales, and Old Mac's Farm Deluxe. These titles use simple sentence and story structure based on traditional children's songs. Stories and songs such as these that encourage children to discover patterns and rhymes build young children's literacy skills.

View Old Mac's Farm Activities PDF

Activities with Touch Tablets and Screens

Another method of input which is appropriate for young children is a touch tablet. The computer market now has a variety of touch tablets available including various touch screens that connect directly to a monitor. A popular adaptive tablet is the IntelliKeys, available from IntelliTools. This touch tablet takes the place of the keyboard or mouse for any commerical software. The appealing feature of this device for younger users is that it can be customized with picture overlays and software, Intellipics and Overlay Maker, to create interactive storybooks. The software has options for adding children's photos, digitial pictures from children's environment, art work by children, and voices of familiar adults, children, or even themselves. By pressing a picture on the IntelliKeys overlay, children can activate a page of a story to animate characters, or read text, or turn to the next page. This device can be used by individual children or in small group activities in which the tablet is passed among three or four children participating in a storybook reading activity.

View IntelliPics Studio 3 Activity

Similar to touch tablets, touch screens are touch-sensitive surfaces that are either built-in or attached to the computer monitor. The surface is activated with the touch of a finger or stylus. Touch screens may be considered a natural adaptation because children often point or touch an object of interest.

View Teach to Talk Activity