Jessica: Where It's AT

Have any of you seen the movie Soul Surfer? It’s the true story of a surfer whose arm was bitten off by a shark and despite this loss of limb, she made it back into the professional surfing circuit. I was mesmerized by this movie. One of my favorite moments in this movie, I must admit, was when the girl’s father adapted her surfboard by adding a handle to the center so she could duck dive with one arm. When he revealed it, I said to my husband, “That’s assistive technology.”

Assistive technology (AT) is a growing source of interest to me. It started with this amazing video I watched about the many AT devices used by Richard Devylder, a man who has lived his whole life without arms or legs. It really showed me how people with even the most seemingly unconquerable disabilities can achieve success and independence in life. Then, last February, I attended the California Association for Resource Specialists’ annual conference. It was the first time I’d attended a special educator conference, and it made for a great first experience.

One of the workshops I attended was a presentation by Rob Mayben, a special ed teacher from northern California who had invented the Desktop Desk. Mayben was presenting this specific AT device for his workshop, so most of the presentation was dedicated to its uses and benefits. As part of the presentation, though, he talked about how he came up with the idea: Mayben had a student with cerebral palsy who struggled to fully participate in wood shop, so Mayben constructed a large box of wood that slid onto the work space. This made the work space higher and more vertical, so the student didn’t need to lean forward as much. The idea worked, and the student happily progressed in wood shop. Riding on that success, Mayben realized that other students could benefit from it too. Fast forward to several years later, and now Maybe has a manufacturer and the product is sold in several different catalogs - ever seen an educational catalog item with a bubble added to it that says “Invented by a Teacher”? This is one of those items. While I admire the Desktop Desk (particularly its portability), what I really gained from this presentation was more fascination for AT.

In all of these examples - Mayben’s student, the girl in Soul Surfer and Richard Devylder - AT is helping  someone do what they need to do. Whether it’s duck diving, shaving, or participating in wood shop, AT is the versatile little helper that gets people from point A to point B. Sometimes the AT device already exists, but all three of these examples involved people having to create exactly what was needed (in Richard Devylder’s case, the video uses both store bought and homemade AT).

Currently, I work with a student who struggles to use a multiplication table - keeping track of the column and the row is proving difficult. What I really wanted was a regular old multiplication table that was hard plastic with two colored overlays that slid back and forth. In my online searching, I found tons of different slide rules, slide charts, poster-size multiplication tables, dry-erase tables, color-coded tables, counting dots tables, et al., but not quite exactly what I wanted. I finally got annoyed, thought to myself “I bet I could just make this,” and promptly went through my supplies. One file folder, one colored plastic report cover, a paper copy of a multiplication table, some clear tape, some glue and a pair of scissors later, I had this:

Voila!

This is exactly what I wanted, as I wanted it (and as a bonus, cost me nothing). I’m sure someone out there has invented this before, and maybe I didn’t use the best search terms when I was trying to find one to buy, so please, don’t think I’m trying to take credit for a brilliant idea. I’m using this moment to illustrate something much more important, that the goal of AT is no different than the goal of the whole of special education:  We, as special educators, are charged with identifying a need, and addressing it. Whether we address the need through store bought or homemade means is irrelevant, we must do it nonetheless.

Comments

[Alyse]

I am also amazed at all the different types of assistive technology there are. I had to do a presentation about technology in education. I chose to do assistive technology in education and then realized there were way too many things to even begin to explain. Then I narrowed it down to "switches" and even then there are hundreds of different types of switches. Switches can be used with a hand, knee, chin, tongue, blowing, sucking, etc. Anything that can be moved can activate the switch.

[Rachael]

AT is such a fascinating concept that is allowing more and more students with disabilities to learn. A student I worked with could not use his hands to type and could not speak but could blink to answer "yes" and "no" questions. The AT at the school found a device that picks up blinks. This device has allowed this student to be able to academic things just like his peers.
The idea of the plastic strips over the multiplication problems is an excellent way to help keep students on-task and the ability to learn. They have those for reading but you never think to use that for math.
It's interesting and neat that by just adding one adaption to a students learning it allows them to learn in a better way. Just like the girl in Soul Surfer by having her dad add that hold to the surf board she was able to overcome her loss of an arm and surf again.

[Karyssa]

Your AT multiplication table looks great! I find that I often do the same thing you did for your student. Sometimes it's just easier to make the AT yourself (plus, being an arts-and-crafts person, these little projects can be a nice change of pace). Another bonus is that is usually doesn't cost anything, especially if you can get by using the school's supplies. As special educators, I think we are constantly changing and adapting our teaching styles and materials to fit the needs of our students. We can plan and prepare as best we can for our students, but sometimes you just won't know what the student needs until they are in the middle of a task. That's when those creative, immediate ideas come in handy. I'll definitely be adding this to my book of tricks for the future!

[Kathleen]

This summer when I was watching Soul Surfer, I thought the same thing. I was watching how she was able to adapt to her surroundings of the ocean with a board that was made for her. I think that it was amazing and to know that it is a real life story! I loved that part about the teacher being able to adjust the work station for the student to be able to progress in wood shop. I have a story kind of like that from my practicum while student teaching. One of my students was unable to reach and work with a sewing machine because she could not get close enough with her wheelchair. It was one of her favorite activities to do because she lost her mother a few years back and she was the one who was taught to sew as her task. As a teacher, I felt that we should not be limiting her to not be able to not participate at school. I was able to talk to the custodian and see what he was able to help with. I came back to school the next day and there were two simple extension arms put on to rise the table up then it was able to drop down on top of her wheel chair table. This allowed her to be able to use the sewing machine at school to relax her when she was worked up. It was amazing to how much of an improvement it made in her education along side the amazing things that she made. I was impressed so much we were able to make her a website and have two days a week where she could sell stuff after school.

I was impressed with your multiplication table. I would not have though about making the strips myself. I think that it is very inventive. I like that it was easy to use too. Good thinking! There are so many little things that you can be adjusted for students that take less than a few minutes to make. One way that my student teacher said one way to keep looking for ideas is to go to garage sales. Many parents have already adapted some toys or other items for their children that might give you ideas!

[Leighann]

This is an awesome blog! I have not seen Soul Surfer, but now I am even more determined to see it than I was before. I always find it interesting when I can relate aspects of special education, such as assistive technology, to movies or TV shows that I view. I think that assistive technology is so important. It allows students to participate to the fullest extent possible.

I have seen some assistive technologies that have worked wonders in my various practicums. I had one student in my practicum who was in a wheelchair, and, much like the student in Rob Mayben's class, he was not able to participate in many of the art projects that we did each day because the wheelchair back was at an angle and he was not able to sit up straight enough to work at the table. So, he had a table that could be attached onto his wheel chair that sloped downwards so he could draw and color with the rest of the children. He had so much fun doing art projects. This would not have been possible without assistive technology!

It is always nice to create something on your own and know that you did not have to spend money on it. Your assistive technology looks great, and I hope your student benefits from it. I will take that idea into my student teaching, and always remember that since money is tight in school districts, it is important to take the initiative and be creative. It is so easy to make simple tools that can have a long-lasting positive benefit. Thank you for some wonderful ideas!

[Nicole]

I just watch the video about Richard Devylder and it was incredible! We take so much for granted, every single day. We have to ability to brush our teeth without assistance, get dressed without even thinking about it, can open our own doors! It really makes you thankful for what you have. Not only that, but it is so inspriational! Most people in his situation would give up or feel sorry for themselves. Not him! He has a sunny attitude! I know some people in much better situations than him who are just miserable! He finds ways for himself to make himself as independent as possible. I don't know how he thought of some of those AT ideas, but it is fantastic! I love that you made your own AT devices. Especially in the teaching profession, we don't always have the funds to buy expensive curriculum or AT items. It's always reassuring to see clever ideas on homemade items. An added bonus: we can make/tweak our curriculum/AT items however we want to make it the most useful and tailored to our own students!

[Alyssa]

I am so thankful for assistive technology no matter how cheap it may be! You made a great adaptation for your student and I hope that it helps that student. It seems like a good plan to start with and I'm sure it will work like a charm. Student teaching this semester I have seen how difficult it can be to get the expensive equipment out there. We have a student who broke their springboard communication system and so we needed to replace it. We are currently in a trial and it has been hectic to figure out what works and at what cost. So much has gone into getting this new trial as you need medical proof as well that the student needs it. It's been a hassle getting all necessary signatures! I am quickly learning that the little things DO count!

[Megan]

What a great idea! Assistive technology is such a great asset for all students these days. Not only different communication things such as computers or switches but there are simple things that can be made. I am always looking for different things to benefit my students and I love learning about accommodations that have worked with other students. I love trying new things with my students and finding what works for them.

[Janine Stanton]

So many things go un-noticed by us in everyday life that is considered AT. I think it's important to share with students, co-workers, parents, whomever on how simple the technology can be. We use just a simple piece of paper and a paper clip to help my students read/follow a schedule. After each task is done, the paper is moved down. Like you showed in your picture, highlighting things can help so much for students with disabilities because it helps them focus on what they need to answer versus all the other numbers around.

[Caitlin]

In my Read 180 class we just read about a girl named Bethany Hamilton whos arm got bit off by a shark while surfing. After she recovered from this tragic event, she began to surf again. Talk about determination! AT is extremely wonderful! I don't know what I would do without it! Last week I went to visit an AT from a different district. It was really interesting to see some of the things that she has made for her students with little to no cost!

[Carissa]

Soul Surfer has been such an inspirational to me as well. When i saw that part, I thought immediately of assistive technology. Some means that are used as assistive technology are so simple but yet so beneficial to students with a disability. Something to an additional handle or a plastic overall, can make a world of differences for them to be successful. It is things like that that makes me want to go into special education and help students. Whenever I think about helping students, I feel as a special education teacher I will do what I can to help and make students successful.