Designing Literacy Tools for Switch Access: Supporting Auditory Learners with CCN and CVI

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

accessibility & UDL

Format:

lecture

Subject Level:

intermediate

Age Span:

infant / toddler
preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
adult

Target Audience:

AT specialist
consultant
educator
family member / caregiver
occupational therapist
paraprofessional
physical therapist
special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired
university professor / personnel
vision impairment specialist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.3

ACVREP CEs:

2.5

Presentation Length: 2hrs 30mins

Location:

Plaza 1

Description:

All children need access to systematic, comprehensive emergent literacy instruction. For learners with complex communication needs, significant physical challenges, and significant Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), the use of switch access with auditory scanning may be the most effective presentation. This session explores ideas for selecting and designing electronic tools that enhance, not replace, strong literacy instruction for individuals who rely heavily on auditory input. Participants will examine features that support independent navigation, active interaction, and exploration of early literacy concepts such as: phonemic awareness, letter–sound correspondence, and writing. Through practical examples illustrated through Mind Express and Switch On Literacy (Burkhart), participants will gain ideas and strategies for key principles that can be applied across a variety of grid-based tools.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• 1. Participants will identify at least two key features of switch-accessible, auditory-based electronic tools that support independent navigation, active interaction, and engagement in emergent literacy tasks for learners with complex communication needs and CVI.

• 2. Participants will describe at least two strategies for designing or adapting literacy instruction to support auditory learning, such as: phonemic awareness, letter–sound correspondence, and writing.

• Participants will explain at least two principles for selecting, customizing, or evaluating grid-based tools to enhance access to comprehensive emergent literacy instruction for individuals who rely on switch access and auditory scanning.

Disclosures:

Linda Burkhart owns a small home-based consulting business. She has previously sold software activities and books and continues to receive royalties from software activities she developed for use with Mind Express (Jabbla). She may demonstrate these activities during trainings, along with software products from a variety of vendors.
She occasionally provides voluntary consultation to vendors regarding features that support scanning access in software and devices. Linda also provides paid consultation services to school districts, organizations, and families.
In addition, she presents trainings and workshops on topics including multi-modal communication and learning, cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and PODD, for which she receives honoraria from sponsoring organizations.