Overview
Never underestimate the importance of play in child growth and development! Removing barriers and providing access to young children with differing abilities can expand play repertoires. Whether working virtually or face to face, simple adaptations with easily found materials can make play experiences more meaningful. Children and caregivers may need coaching including scaffolds, scripts, guides, and modeling. This presentation will highlight adapted toys and books, communication supports, play guides, and adaptations to art tools and musical instruments to facilitate and expand the play experience.
Learning Objectives
- Describe three or more readily available low cost or no cost materials that can be used to stabilize, display, or contain toys, art materials and/or musical instruments to provide physical and sensory access.
- Identify three or more ways to adapt toys, art materials, and music to increase participation in play and the arts.
- Recommend three or more online resources to find out more about adapting toys, art tools and/or musical instruments.
Primary Strand
Education and Learning
Secondary Strand
Assistive Technology for Physical Access and Participation
Target Audience
- Accessibility Professional
- AT Specialists
- Caregivers
- Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
- Consultants/Trainers
- Disability Services
- Occupational Therapists
- Paraprofessionals
- Physical Therapists
- Special Education Educators
- Teachers of the Visually Impaired
Experience Level
Intermediate
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
Birth - PreK
Content Area
Professional Area
Course Schedule
This course was included in the ATIA 2021: AT Connected virtual event education program.
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs
This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.
Speaker/s:
Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA
Independent Consultant, Occupational Therapist/Assistive Technology Professional
Biography
Judith Schoonover is an occupational therapist and former elementary school teacher. She is certified as an assistive technology professional (ATP) by RESNA and is a founding member of the Loudoun County Public Schools Assistive Technology Team. Judith has worked in schools for more than 44 years. She has authored articles and chapters and has presented on the topics of school-based occupational therapy, transition, literacy, and assistive technology internationally. She is the former vice president of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association and served as the communication liaison for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Early Intervention and School Special Interest Section. She participated in several National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) workgroups addressing response to intervention (RTI), and virtual schools. Currently, Judith represents AOTA on the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities and participates on AOTA’s Transition Work Group and on the Editorial Board of ATIA’s journal, Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits (ATOB). As a Strand Advisor for ATIA Judith receives complimentary registration for the ATIA conference.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA receives honorariums for speaking engagements and webinars, and financial compensation for authored chapters. As a strand advisor for ATIA, she receives complimentary conference registration and an honorarium.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA represents AOTA on the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities and participates in AOTA's Transition and RtI Workgroups. She also serves on the editorial board of the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits Journal. She does not receive compensation for these affiliations.