"Self-expression must pass into communication for its fulfillment," Pearl S. Buck once said; and my students try to apply this quote at our school every day. However, communicating wants and needs effectively is very difficult for many of my students with cognitive and physical impairments.
My students are 5 to 12 years old and attend a public elementary school of over 900 students.
They love Music, Painting, Dancing, P. E., Gardening, playing games, going the school library, and usually academics. They have differing abilities including Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autism, Epilepsy, Visual Impairments, and Hearing Impairments.
My Project
We are requesting a double switch assistive technology device to increase students' communication and social interactions. Having this assistive technology device will increase students' ability to communicate two messages at once as well as operate two modified toys at once. It will also allow for increased social opportunities with their peers in their special education class as well as during our peer buddies program at lunch and recess. Some students will access the double switch device on their wheelchair trays and some will on a desk top. Other students will be using the double switch device while they are out of their wheelchairs and laying on their stomachs. This allows the students to work on stretching with our physical therapist while playing with the device alongside general education peers.
Having this double switch assistive technology device will greatly allow students from 5 to 12 years of age with severe disabilities to increase their communication and social interactions throughout the day.
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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