Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist C.T.R.S.

Inclusion is so important. We have so many opportunities for people to grow together rather than apart. In a classroom there are so many different ways to help. Assistive devices and services are expanding and growing in so many ways as time has continued. We have reached a new level of understanding and communication. Communication boards, ASL, text to speech, dyna-vox, iPad or Android apps that help. Communication boards are available, however they need to be available for all others. They should match up to what the students need, what their parents need, and the teachers. Having something that they can choose and adjust for themselves. Vocabulary or technological services are important to be tailored to each individual. Making inclusion second nature is so vital, in my life I always have captions on. As a teacher in different situations I try to make sure it is clear I will do what is needed done for everyone, things such as captions, handouts, writing things on the board, a...

Being Deaf, Mute, Hard of Hearing, or Nonverbal due to any number of conditions can be an insurmountable problem for a student in a classroom. Unable to hear simple directions or understand the videos that are shown without captions.  Teachers should understand some of the difficulties that surround communication difficulties. While Assistive Technology has made leaps and bounds in their abilities to help those who have difficulties communicating there are many ways to improve these. The different assistive devices will be shown in the different posts on this website.  Some simple things can be done to help those who fall into a category of needing assistive devices, even learning simple sign language phrases. The second video shown here shows some simple words that if you learn as a teacher can make an impact on a student allowing them to feel as though the teacher does understand and care about their learning.  The first video listed is a high schooler in a schoo...

There are so many ways to help students in their recreation and play. There is everything from blind swimming to wheelchair fencing. Painting with your mouth or feet. So many wheelchair sports and so many many more. Just because there is a disability does not mean they have to live life with a no recreation or play!! There are many careers and professions that want to improve life for those with disabilities and still want to live life in the fullest way possible!

A study done in the Netherlands in 2013 it was a study done with cerebral palsy and it was all school-aged children. The Development of social functioning and communication in school-aged (5-9 years) children with cerebral palsy. *  This study was done over the course of two years. This study was done with the intent to understand some of the difficulties that students have, and when some of those may appear. The need for students to connect and have discussions only increases as they age. The students that were participating in the study were those who had the primary diagnosis if CP and few other secondary disorders that affect the motor or communication skills. The study also excluded those whose parents did not have a good grasp of Dutch, as the children participating needed a good foundation of help at hone, school, and community. It was found in this study that the more severe the disability the lower the scores for their social functioning and their communication. It...

There are so many alternative ways of communicating with those with disabilities.  ASL is very common as something that is used to communicate with those who are nonverbal.  Communication boards, which I have discussed in another blog post, the communication boards I spoke about for the most part are considered low-tech.  The new rise of technology allows for opportunities to use a new variety of materials.  Did you know texting was originally for those who were deaf? There are so many things that become easier for people in general to use, if we only try to use technology to benefit everyone, but those with disabilities in mind. This video is all about how how this works! There are a lot of apps available on Apple and Android devices, everything from text to speech devices, pictorial based apps that can string together sentences for the client, or speech to text devices. Working with children pictorial options may be the best option, however as they g...

I was able to visit with a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who works with the Idaho Rehabilitation Services in Rexburg. Her name is Emma and she provided a lot of insight as I began to research about the issues that can arise from nonverbal to verbal communication in a classroom. The following is the interview I had with her. How long have you worked as an SLP in schools? 2 years What is the age range you focus on? 5-10 years old What is the most common problem you find in your groups? The speech sounds, things such as the 'r', 's', or 'th' sounds. Do you work with only the school or also the Idaho Rehabilitation Center? Four clients here, I also do some Geriatric work. Do you work with groups or one on one?  Mostly one on one, the biggest group is about four or five. What is your favorite low tech you use?  Velcro binders with different pictures that you can move them around, it takes a lot of time. Go-Talk 4, it looks like a PECS device, it has four b...

This is something that teachers of all types will work with no matter if they are special education or general education. Academic issues range over such a broad spectrum. This covers some of the following: Literacy Math Social Skills Writing Science Memory Skills. Academic AT should follow and help with things related to any of the following, but also any other difficulties that the student may have. It must be taken on an individual basis, it is easy to say "This student has autism, give them X, Y, & Z help." We need to learn what exactly they need help with.  Things to help with writing are things like larger pens or pencils, pencil grips, writing supports for the hand.  For math there are a lot of visual supports to help students who have difficulty grasping the concepts of large numbers or how they combine. Things like the counting blocks that stack and combine can be incredibly helpful to show students.  Memory techniques would be vital ...

Just posting an update! By now I should be Midway done! I've finished my interview and narrowed down the articles I want to quote and have a basic outline finished. Next is to write up some of the articles and get it all posted!