Technology in Special Need

1. Technology inSpecial Need Presenter: Albert Krynski Special Ed Teacher PCI Junior Life skills class

2. Diversity • A-Z of Special Needs • Autism • ADHD • ADD • Visually impaired • Bi-Polar disorder • Oppositional Defiant Disorder • Hearing impaired • Heart conditions

3. Diverse Population • Asthmatic • Allergies • Seizure Disorders • Cerebral Palsy • Stroke victims • Down’s Syndrome • Fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorder • Non-verbal • Hearing impairments

4. Smart Board, Projector, Laptops/computer • Foster creativity • Strengthens Imagination • Enhances diversity • Eye hand co-ordination • Motor skills • Promotes group skills • Encourages turn taking • Independent skills

5. World Wide Web, Software • Imagination • Discovery • Creativity • Academic skills • Multi level abilities • Thinking Skills • Reasoning • Patience

6. NEWS-2-You • http://www.news-2-you.com/index.aspx • Promotes co-operation • Encourages risk taking • Strengthens academic skills reading, printing, spelling, math, science • fine motor skills/gross motor skills • Fosters independent skills

7. Success-Maker • http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZk99 • Strengthens academic skills • Instant positive feedback • Independent skills • Level appropriate • Programmable • Multi-leveled

8. Benefits • Provides immediate feedback • Promotes inclusion • Increases co-operation • Fun gross and fine motor skills activities • Increase learning • Students see their progress • Allows for individuality

9. Wii • Fine Motor Skills • Gross Motor Skills • Balance • Turn Taking • Team Work • Competition

10. Assistive Technology • Promotes Independence • Encourages growth & exploration • Enables participation • Provides a voice

11. Multi Sensory Enviroment • Promotes Independence • Encourages growth & exploration • Enables participation • Provides a voice

12. Background • have been in existence since the 1970’s beginning in Europe • first MSR was introduced in Canada in 1992 in Toronto’s Children’s Centre • also referred to as “snoezelen” rooms (a combination of the Dutch words “snuffelen,” meaning to seek out or explore, and “doezelen,” which means to relax) • the Public Schools Finance Board refers to “snoezelen” rooms in discussing space standards for special education areas

13. Purpose Multi-sensory rooms are designed environments that provide a safe place to promote: • communication • stimulation • sensory exploration • relaxation • Intellectual activity

14. Approaches Two main approaches in using Multi-Sensory Rooms: • to provide an experience where students can relax and explore under the guidance of a teacher or educational assistant • for achieving specific and measurable educational goals (e.g., communication goals, such as turn taking, academic goals, such as alphabet knowledge)

15. Who Can Benefit Students with: • autism • multiple disabilities • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder • cerebral palsy • pervasive developmental delays • fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

16. Portage Collegiate Institute’s Multi-Sensory Room Usage • to calm down agitated/upset students • create a learning environment where non-verbal students can explore different sensory experiences (e.g., scents, textures, visual prompts & stimulation, hand-on manipulatives) • to achieve IEP goals (e.g., develop motor skills, stimulate visual and tactile skills)

17. RECYCLING http://www.thinkrecycle.com

18. Recycling Technology • Recycling Ink Cartridges, Laser jet Cartridges, Cell-phones, and soon digital cameras • Provides meaningful work experience • Supports environmental causes, sponsors tree planting • Raises money for classroom projects • Gross motor skills

19. Technology provides abilities for those that are less able. Questions ???