Description
Recorded: October 25, 2023
Length: 90-Minutes
Students with Complex Needs are often unable to participate or access games/activities during school events. Students with Complex Needs are often placed to observe play. A few key purchases and an imagination can change the role from observer to participant!
This interactive workshop will both outline the importance of accessing assistive technology in play for all individuals and discuss techniques for how to put this into practice. Presenters will demonstrate the effectiveness of including assistive technology that can be utilized for play, along with specific examples. Examples will include students/clients with complex needs evidenced by physical/motor impairments, intellectual disabilities, and extraneous factors such as cortical visual impairment.
Presenters will identify key strategies used within a holistic setting to implement these strategies within school, home, and community settings. Discussion will include specific information related to training new team members, family members, etc. for populations outlined. The presenters will open the topic for participants to discuss their own experiences with various populations in AT-based intervention.
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:
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Identify the need for adaptations and accessibility for individuals with complex needs to participate in leisure activities and playful explorations.
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Describe the multiple uses of assistive technology within leisure activities and playful explorations.
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Evaluate at least 3 specific examples of games/activities that can be made more accessible using assistive technology including switches, powerlinks, and/or smart technology.
Teresa Giardina, is the Co-Director of HMS Connect and a special education teacher at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy where she has been employed for over a decade. Her professional journey started with volunteer opportunities, then paraprofessional work, onto a classroom teacher, and now education administration. Teresa is a proponent of DIY assistive technology, playful exploration, and interpersonal play.
Courtney Grimes, has been a special education teacher at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy for 17 years. Her early experiences as a camp counselor at Easter Seals inspired her to infuse play and playful exploration in all that she does. Courtney aims to create accessible play activities for all her students using assistive technology and creativity.
