Assistive Technology for Young Children: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments w/ CD / Edition 1

by Kathleen Curry Sadao, Nancy B. Robinson

Overview

Assistive technology (AT) can help young children with disabilities fully participate in natural, inclusive learning environments—but many early childhood professionals don't get the training they need to harness the power of AT. Fill that gap with this unintimidating, reader-friendly resource, the go-to guide to recommended AT practice for children birth to 5. Developed by two leading early childhood specialists with in-depth expertise in assistive technology, this book demystifies AT and gives readers solutions they can implement right away, regardless of their technical experience. Early childhood professionals will learn about the broad spectrum of AT supports for children with disabilities-from low-cost, low-tech options such as Velcro and homemade switches to higher tech options such as speech-generating software. Educators, early interventionists, SLPs, and other professionals will

• discover how AT tools can help children make progress toward specific OSEP outcomes
• follow the guiding principles for selecting, purchasing and implementing AT devices
• determine funding options for assistive technology
• assess children's needs and identify appropriate tools and strategies for individual children
• use AT to aid implementation of universal design for learning
• embed AT into activity-based intervention
• involve family members in all phases of AT service delivery
• support communication, language development, and early literacy skills
• increase opportunities for play through AT that supports motor, cognitive, and social skills
• teach computer skills to young children with disabilities, making adaptations when necessary
• understand the current laws that help increase access to and availability of AT

To help them get started with assistive technology, professionals will get a CD-ROM with 3 in-depth, printable forms for evaluating children's AT needs, determining which types of tools and strategies to use, and creating individualized AT "toolkits" that help children meet OSEP outcomes and developmental goals. Readers will also find extended case studies and child profiles, so they can see how AT supports the participation and achievement of children with a range of disabilities.

A must for AT novices and seasoned users alike, this professional resource and supplemental textbook will help readers use the best of today's technology to ensure a fully inclusive education for young children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598570915
Publisher:	Brookes Publishing
Publication date:	12/01/2010
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Kathleen Curry Sadao, Ed.D., Program Specialist, Supporting Early Education Delivery Systems (SEEDS) Project, Sacramento County Office of Education, P.O. Box 269003, Sacramento, CA 95826.

Dr. Sadao has been in the field of early childhood special education (ECSE) for more than 25 years. She received her doctorate in educational administration from University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1995. During the 1980s and 1990s she traveled the Pacific Islands providing training and technical assistance to newly developed ECSE programs as a Head Start Technical Assistance consultant and later a National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center coordinator. Her research focus has been on interagency collaboration, parent involvement, inclusive practices, and cross-cultural issues in education. In 2007, she coauthored a book with Dr. Nancy Robinson focused on interagency collaboration and evaluation. Since 1997, she has spent her time in California focused on preservice and in-service training programs in ECSE as a faculty member of the University of the Pacific, Gladys Benerd School of Education, and as an administrator of an early intervention program. Most recently, under the auspices of the Supporting Early Education Delivery Systems (SEEDS) Project at the Sacramento County Office of Education, she has worked as a program specialist developing training materials for the field and facilitating a state-level assistive technology (AT) work group creating web-based AT training products. Currently she and her SEEDS Workgroup on Early Education Technology (SWEET) team have been fieldtesting the AT training modules around the state of California. She has presented her work at the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Early Childhood, conference and other state, national, and international conferences and has published several articles on the SWEET AT efforts.

Table of Contents

Contents of the Accompanying CD-ROM vi

About the Authors vii

Foreword Sharon Judge ix

Acknowledgments xi

1 Introduction 1

2 Legal Foundations and Funding Options for Early Assistive Technology 9

3 Assistive Technology for Inclusion in Early Childhood Environments 25

4 Dynamic Assessment and Intervention in Early Assistive Technology 47

5 Assistive Technology and Communication 69

6 Assistive Technology and Play 97

7 Assistive Technology and Emergent Literacy 123

8 Assistive Technology and Computer Access 155

9 Bridging the Divide with Assistive Technology Toolkits 183

Resources 203

References 213

Index 229

Editorial Reviews

"Implementing the innovative tools in this resource will help children overcome challenges and successfully enjoy experiences with their friends and family."

Deb Daulton

"All of the content depth presented in this text highlights the masterful overview of AT for young children in a manner that is child-oriented with impressive analysis and consideration to the wonders of this developing domain."

Research & Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities

"Provides an excellent review of all [AT] tools available."

Midwest Book Review Education Shelf

Special education teachers will consider this a winner!

April 2011 California Bookwatch

"[Dr. Sadao and Dr. Robinson's] experiences and knowledge of dealing with early childhood special education clearly shine in this book . . . I proudly place [this book] on my shelf in my library. I recommend it to every teacher, administrator, and consultant working with assistive technology, and to every parent."

Assistive Technology News - John M. Williams

"Provides an intentional and purposeful discussion of assistive technology as an invaluable approach for including all children across various early learning environments."

Attorney and Special Education Professor - Robin Cunconan-Lahr

"A must-have professional resource . . . comprehensive and evidence-based, yet practical and accessible."

Professor, Department of Special Education, San Francisco State University - Gloria Soto

"The nuts and bolts of AT with solid research and policy support . . . this practical book has it all."

Senior Scientist and Director of Outreach, FPG Child Development Institute, Research Professor, University of North Caro - Pamela J. Winton

"Provides concrete examples about how, why, and where AT can be helpful. AT is not just about devices but is about how to use these devices so that children with disabilities are included in everyday settings."

Occupational Therapy Professor, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia - Philippa Campbell

March 2011

Education Shelf Midwest Book Review

Volume 31, Number 2
http://fcsn.org/newsline/v31n3/book_reviews.php

FCSN Newsline