Focus on Summer
Supporting Assistive Technology in Summer Activities
Summertime! No school, summer vacations, sunny days, outside activities! If plans include going to summer camp, vacationing at the beach, weekly visits to state parks, trips to grandma's place, or just hanging out at home, don't forget to include assistive technology (AT)! AT devices used at school, on the job, and in the home, are also valuable tools for summer activities, too.
To avoid or overcome barriers to using AT during summer activities, ask these simple questions before - visiting a new site, such as a camp, community recreation center, swim club or state park:
- Are the facilities accessible (ramps, doorways, railings)? Can everyone enter the facilities safely and independently?
- Can we navigate throughout the facilities, grounds and area, including the rest rooms and changing areas?
- Are all activities of the facilities accessible and available to all participants, regardless of abilities?
- Is there clear communication, in multiple formats (visual, auditory, words, pictures, etc), throughout the facilities and used effectively by the staff?
Facilities should provide appropriate environments for all participants, including safe and adequate building and site accessibility, with built-in accommodations for entrances, bathrooms, and activity areas.
Individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, as well as parents of children with disabilities, should provide the following assistive technology devices, as needed for each summer activity:
- Mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches.
- Communication tools, such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, communication boards and notebooks, and photographs.
- Self-care items such as transfer boards, personal care items, eating utensils.
- Activity participation devices, such as specialized flotation devices or modified computer access devices.
In addition to providing needed AT devices, individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, as well as parents of children with disabilities may consider introducing the program/facility staff to the provided AT. If a staff person has never worked with someone with a disability, or isn't familiar with the specifics of the AT devices the person uses, it is imperative they learn how! Take the time to teach staff members what the devices are, how they work and how a person uses them to be independent, all critical steps to ensuring inclusion for a individuals with disabilities. Don't assume, even in a specialized program which works with children with disabilities, that staff members know how to use a particular assistive technology device.
Those who are knowledgeable, and support the use, of assistive technology must reach out and train those not equally experienced, the help ensure that AT will be included in an individual's day to day use, regardless of the location, environment or situation!
AT Lending Library Highlights
Here's a look at just some of the items available for loan from Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library.
For more information or to borrow one of these items, go to our website: www.disabilities.temple.edu/atlend.
Social Skills at Work, Win/Mac
Description: Social Skills at Work, v 1.9.1 features real-life workers with developmental disabilities and their employers in on-the-job settings. It covers five valuable skill areas: Dress Right, Be on Time, Be Friendly, Be a Team Player and Be Ready to Work. It provides a "Book" option which reinforces and expands the movie concepts and "Movie" which are closed-captioned and run about five minutes each. They illustrate the relationship of good social skills and job performance. You can also choose a talking selection which reads the text aloud. This software is touchscreen compatible (which must be borrowed separately). It is also compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, and Mac OS-8.6-9.2, OS X Classic, OS X Native.
Inventory Code: ED-SW-ATWORK
Accessories (borrow separately): None listed
Does use of this item require support? Some
Replacement Cost: $99.00
Loan Time: 4 weeks
Manufacturer: Attainment Co. Inc.
Community Success, Win/Mac
Description: Community Success Software, v. 2.2.1 presents step-by-step illustrated instruction in community activities and the social skills needed for each activity. Users receive illustrations and instructive auditory cues which gives students the opportunity to rehearse skills and understand activities before they go out. The Social Skills sections picture both "good" and "not so good" behaviors. The 45 activities are organized by category: Shopping, transportation, eating out, important places and appointments. Activities range from basic (using restrooms) to complex (grocery shopping). Create an activity sequence to reflect an actual outing, or have students "explore" on their own. Print colorful illustrations of social skills and instructional steps for classroom use or as community cues. This software works with a touchscreen, single switch and Intellikeys (which must be borrowed separately). This software is compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Mac OS 8.6-9.2, OS X Classic, OS X Native.
Inventory Code: ED-SW-COM
Accessories (borrow separately): None listed
Does use of this item require support? Some
Replacement Cost: $189.00
Loan Time: 4 weeks
Manufacturer: Attainment Co. Inc.
Golf Kit
Description: This kit assembled by the Lending Library contains a variety of devices designed to decrease the amount of bending necessary while playing golf from either a seated or standing position. The kit includes: Assistive golf Stick, Back Tee Ball Tee, Kool Tee and Reacher, Upright Putting Pack, and Upright Golf Stick. Please note that the items in this kit can also be borrowed separately.
Accessories (borrow separately):
None listed
Does use of this item require support? Some
Replacement Cost: $178.00
Loan Time: 2 weeks
Manufacturer: None listed.
Kit Type: Kit - Items can be loaned separately
Meet Your Local AT Lending Library Branch
CARE for Children is a local branch in McKean County dedicated to improving the lives of children in our community through pediatric therapy and health services, early childhood education and community outreach programs.
CARE for Children
Contact: Jan Hartle
20 Russell Boulevard
Bradford, PA 16701
Phone: 814-362-4621
Fax: 814-362-1066
Website: www.careforchildren.info
ATLL in Action
Assisitve Technology Lending Library Success Story
An 8-year-old-boy who has little understandable speech and has low vision was having difficulty in school. He was able to make his needs known only at home, with well-known communication partners. At school, he was very quiet and did not interact with others. After testing several communication devices through PA's Assistive Technology Lending Library, a good match was found. The device had the right size buttons to push, the best weight and size for comfort in carrying, and the language necessary to meet his needs. Now with right device, the student became much more excited about using a voice output communication device, he became more social at school, and the amount that he communicates with everyone in his life has dramatically increased. After the positive testing period, the school purchased a device for him.
From United Cerebral Palsy Association of Northeastern PA - And don't forget to bring all communication tools to summer activities and facilities!
Need help funding your AT?
Contact the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF).
PATF provides low-interest loans for the purchase of AT. Successful participation in this program can even improve individual credit rating.
To learn more about your funding options for acquiring AT, please contact PATF at 888-744-1938 (voice/TTY), 484-674-0510 (fax), or patf@patf.us (email) or visit the website at www.patf.us.
TDDP Corner
Can I receive free adapted phone equipment during the summer?
Pennsylvania residents age 6 or older are eligible for Pennsylvania's Telecommunication Device Distribution Program (TDDP) if they meet all of the other requirements. In addition to residency and age requirements, the program requires applicants to have a disability that prevents independent access to a phone, have landline phone service in their home, be able to learn the requested device, and qualify as low income. Since only the income of the applicant is taken into consideration for eligibility, children and teens usually meet the income requirement.
The TDDP is implemented by Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT) in conjunction with the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC).
For more information, contact the TDDP toll-free at 800-204-7428 (voice), 866-268-0579 (TTY), tddp@temple.edu (email), or visit www.disabilities.temple.edu/tddp.
Websites of interest
Here are some websites that relate to accessibilty and summertime activities.
Access to Recreation: www.accesstr.com
Access to Recreation's goal is to provide customers with products that give them the ability to enjoy activities that they once thought impossible. The site carries a wide range of products from Fishing Aids to Crochet Aids, Exercise Equipment to Rehabilitation Equipment, Wheelchairs to Wheelchair Ramps and hundreds of other items.
National Center on Accessibility: www.ncaonline.org
The National Center on Accessibility promotes access and inclusion for people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism. Based at Indiana University and established in 1992 through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, NCA has emerged as a leading authority on access issues unique to park and recreation programs and facilities.
Family Village - A Global Community of Disability Related Services: www.familyvillage.wisc.edu
The Family Village is a web site for children and adults with disabilities, their families, and their friends. Family Village brings together thousands of online resources in a organized, easy-to-use directory. The centerpiece of Family Village is the library, where visitors can find information on over 300 diagnoses. Visitors can also learn about assistive technology, leisure activities, legal rights and legislation and much more.
