My students need adaptive switches, a spinner, talk blocks, mystery box, talking cookie jar, and tactile letter and number shapes to tell teachers and fellow classmates what the answers to asked questions are.
"Language has three important uses--it expresses thought, conceals thought, and takes the place of thought" --Author Unknown.
My students can't talk. It's not that they don't want to; it's that they are physically unable to because of a variety of medical conditions that affect their vocal chords.
My students are all just beginning their academic learning in a center-based specialized education building.
My students are dependent on adults for everything in their lives, whether it be at home or school. They all come to school in wheelchairs, are placed into various equipment within the classroom, have to be tube-fed, get their diapers changed, and participate in classroom activities that are determined by the adults in the room. They would all love to be able to walk, talk, eat, play, and run, laugh, and learn. This doesn't mean that my students can't learn; it just means that they have to learn a different way. My students all have a variety of physical, medical and health needs. Many of them receive speech therapy along with physical and occupational therapy. All of this is necessary to help my students' reach their full potential as a student in a classroom environment.
My Project
My students are enjoying learning the alphabet and beginning numbers. They love to listen to stories, attend to activities and respond to questions using a variety of adaptive devices. We need adaptive switches, a spinner, talk blocks, mystery box, talking cookie jar, tactile letter and number shapes, and more of these devices and tactile learning objects to improve our learning. My students all want to be able to make choices to do activities within the classroom and adaptive switches and spinners will help their voice be heard. Tactile letters and numbers will help with kinesthetic learning. This is a learning style where the students carry out physical activities using their hands. This physical learning helps with making learning connections. I want my students to have access to a variety of switches and spinners so he or she is able to answer questions during reading or math, make choices about what activities he or she would like to do, or even be able to take turns while playing a game with a friend. Adaptive switches, spinners and tactile objects will help to ensure this.
Adaptive equipment is expensive and school budgets are more for items like pencils, paper, markers, books, and other items.
My students aren't able to use tools like that. The tools they need to be successful in school are unique and different, like they all are. These tools would enhance their learning experience and encourage them to be able to use their 'voices' to make 'choices'. Please help my students become more "talkative" within the classroom. They deserve it.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Post and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
