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AT for Infants/Toddlers

Resource Links

The resources section includes a variety of links for further information on assistive technology for young children with disabilities and their families. Several national technical assistance organizations provide a good first step to researching assistive technology use with infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Also included is a list of SEEDS visitation sites and consultants that specialize in AT for young children with disabilities. There are also links to various products specifically targeted for use with young children.

Research

1. The TOTS-n-TECH Research Institute
   From the web site: "The Tots 'n Tech Research Institute (TnT) is an inter-university collaboration between Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), Philadelphia and Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe. TnT conducts a national research program about use of assistive technology (AT) to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities. A major component of the TnT's mission is to produce new knowledge and information about AT use and practices and, specifically, about the ways in which AT may optimize children's development and learning." The site includes research and dissemination efforts and a list of resources, best practices, and briefs that provide information on AT for infants and toddlers. (also listed in DEC Rx practices)
   
   
2. Zerotothree Brief 92k PDF file
   The 2001 brief provides information concerning the "Peril and Potential of Media For Infants and Toddlers". The article poses the possible pitfalls of media use with very young children.
   
   
3. Computer Use with Infants Brief
   A 2001 article by Patricia Cantor, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH, on the debate on whether computer use is appropriate for young children. She encourages caregivers to become educated on the positives and negatives of early computer use.
   
   

Products/Vendors

1. Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Birth-Three Early Intervention System, Birth-Three Internet Guide 184k PDF file
   The web site was referenced in the DEC Rx practices and is called "Children With special needs: internet guide for parents and professionals". Developed in 2001, the directory includes a thorough listing of resources for early childhood special education. One of the sections lists resources for adaptive toys, clothes and equipment.
   
   
2. Creative Communicating
   This web site has a list of free handouts and activities for using IntelliTalk and IntelliPics on computers.
   
   
3. Simtech Publications
   The site provides information on ordering single switch software (fee).
   
   
4. Soft Touch, My Own Bookshelf & Switch Basics
   Software for young children that is literacy based (fee).
   
   
5. IntelliPics Studio and Activity Exchange
   The IntelliTools web site offers the "Activity Exchange" feature which includes extensive numbers of free downloads with simple cause-effect programs and adapted stories for young children. The first time user will need to register on the site and download the IntelliTools player to view and operate the activities. However, there is no charge for this.
   
   
6. Don Johnston-Build Ability
   The site provides free downloads of emergent literacy frameworks under the section on Build Ability.
   
   
7. Fisher Price and Let's Play Partnership
   The Fisher Price Company provides toys and playtime tips for children with special needs that are available for purchase. "Fisher-Price® has developed a partnership with experts from the Let's Play! Projects, a federally funded program that supports family play experiences and activities for children with special needs." This web site links toys to a research project that supports AT use with very young children.
   
   
8. Let's Play Guide Books on Play and Lending Libraries
   The Let's Play Project has developed several downloadable products that "are designed for parents and professionals in Early Intervention programs. The content reflects the strategies and supporting materials useful when considering play options for young children with disabilities". The guidebooks on toys and switches among other information are user friendly and downloadable.
   
   
9. do2learn Boards
   The site contains pictures and frameworks for communication boards and are available for purchase. The site allows some downloading of example pictures and frames.
   
   
10. Enabling Devices
    The vendor provides various adapted toys available for purchase such as the bubble machine.
    
    
11. Specially Adapted Toys for Children
    This Web site, based in British Columbia, is a program of the Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program. While primarily focused on school-aged children, the site provides comprehensive resources with an on-line conference center that contains archived presentations on topics that are relevant to the development of access to communication and learning for all ages of individuals with severe disabilities.
    
    
12. Downloadable Adapted Books
    New York City Department of Education, Special Education District 75 has created many adapted books for use with young children with disabilities in several formats. All books are downloadable and free in several formats including Power Point, Boardmaker, and Writing with Symbols. For some books, you will need software in order to download and open files for use with children.
    
    
13. National Center for Improving Practice in Technology, Massachusetts (NCIP)
    The web site was developed by NCIP, National Center for Improving Practice in Technology, Massachusetts, a project supported from OSEP, 1992-1998. It includes an early learning section with a thorough guide by: P. Pierce, (ed.) Baby Power: A Guide For Families For Using Assistive Technology With Their Infants and Toddlers. Chapel Hill, NC: The Center for Literacy and Disabilities Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Baby Power is a collaborative project of The Center for Literacy and Disabilities Studies (CLDS), CB# 8135, 730 Airport Road, Suite 200, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-8135 and The Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning (CDL), CB# 7255, BSRC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7255. A 14 minute video can be purchased for $29 about AT and two inclusive classrooms.
    
    
14. Creating Literature Based Communication Boards
    This web site is part of a monthly series by AAC Intervention.com to promote curriculum adaptations for children, families and teachers in early childhood and school-based settings. This particular page was created by Lori Tufte and Julie Maro to promote emerging literacy with very young children using repetitive line books and picture-based systems. This is part of the AAC Intervention.com web site
    
    

Contacts

1. NEC*TAC
   This site is an example of one of the sections on AT at the NECTAC site. The overview provides further information on AT for young children with disabilities and their families and ways to link with other information on the topic. There is a brief reference section for more information.
   
   
2. Western Regional Resource Center
   The site is located at the Western Regional Resource Center (WRRC) at University of Oregon, Eugene. The project provides technical assistance to the state of Cal and other western states and territories serving children with disabilities 3-22. The site lists many Federally-funded Projects related to AT.
   
   
3. Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology
   "This site offers a wealth of information in its resources section as well as access to the QIAT list serve. The list serve is an excellent way to keep current with new developments in AT and the latest Web sites and other resources."
   
   
4. California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division (SED)
   This is the California Department of Education, Special Education Web site on assistive technology. The site contains information on the law, training opportunities and programs, resources, projects and related information.
   
   

Conferences

1. CSUN
   This is an annual conference held at California State University Northridge, CA, usually in March of each year that is focused on AT for children and adults with disabilities.
   
   
2. DEC
   Every Fall, the Division on Early Childhood, Council for Exceptional Children holds and annual national conference focused on the needs of young children with disabilities. AT has been a topical area at the conference the last several years.
   
   
3. Closing the Gap
   Annual national conference on AT for all ages.
   
   

Newsletters

1. Closing the Gap
   "Excellent Forums on a variety of topics relate to assistive technology. It has a searchable database, but there is an annual fee to access it."
   
   
2. NAEYC Tech. Forum
   Technology and Young Children Interest Forum and Center can be found on the NAEYC web site dedicated to fostering best practices in the education of young children.
   
   
3. The Family Center on Technology and Disabilities Resources
   OSEP sponsored grant that includes a newsletter, family guide and resources that have been peer reviewed and alphabetized. The site has available a free CD that provides information and resources on AT for young children with disabilities and their families.
   
   
4. Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative
   The WATI site includes a monthly online newsletter about AT practices.

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