Category Archives: Accessibility

Promoting Independence In Teens With Diverse Learning Profiles

Accessibility, Assistive Technology, Autism, Daily Living, Executive Functioning, Occupational Therapy, , , , , ,

The ability to independently complete essential daily living tasks becomes increasingly more important as individuals near the pre-teen and teen years. For teens with diverse learning profiles the ability to master these critical skills can be challenging. However, there are readily available tools that can help promote independence! In this post we are covering a few low to mid tech solutions that can be a game changer for teens struggling with the ability to independently complete critical self care tasks.  

  1. Elastic Shoe Laces. There is nothing more frustrating than a loose shoe or tripping over untied laces but asking for help can be even harder. The good news is there is a simple solution, elastic shoe laces!  Simply replace standard shoe laces with elastic shoe laces. Once in place, secure with a double knot and standard bow. The elastic shoe laces provide enough stretch to simply slip on and slip out of shoes, eliminating the need for tying. 
  2. Schedules & Time Cues. Remembering when to do something or remembering the correct sequence of a task can be difficult for teens who struggling with executive function deficits.  These teens often rely on a support person to provide prompts for task initiation and sequencing which decreases their overall independence.  The good news is there is a variety of readily available assistive technology tools that can support a teen’s ability to manage time with greater independence.  Check out our previous post, Assistive Technology for Time Management, for ideas! 
  3. Picture Adapted Cookbooks: Preparing a simple meal or snack is one of the greatest acts of independence for pre teens and teens. This simple right of passage can be missed for teens who struggle with reading or have difficulty with multi step tasks. Picture supported cookbooks can help users with limited reading abilities prepare simple meals and snacks.  The Stepwise Cookbook series takes this concept a step further and truly simplifies the process.  Each cookbook has a set of picture supported recipes that are presented in a simplified, easy to follow format.
Schkidules visual schedule display
SchKIDules
White shoe with white elastic shoelace a low tech solution for independence with self care
Elastic Shoe Laces
stepwise cookbooks
Stepwise Cookbooks

Small modifications and the use of mid to low tech assistive technology can be a powerful tool for independence.  Be sure to visit to assistive technology section of Therapro’s website to see all of the available tools! 

clock and calendar icon

Assistive Technology for Time Management

Accessibility, Assistive Technology, Autism, Daily Living, Executive Functioning, Occupational Therapy, , , ,

The ability to manage time is an essential life skill that is critical to independence. When the ability to manage time is impeded by factors like decreased executive functioning abilities or cognitive limitations, independence can also be impacted.   In this post we are covering a few mid to low tech assistive technology solutions that can support time management abilities.

Schedule Reminders

Remembering to do a task at a scheduled time is one time management skill area. While smart devices are often loaded with ‘reminder’ features, there are times when a non screen option is preferred. The Time Cue and Voice Cue are great options!  Simply record any message and set the time for the message to be played. 

The Time Cue allows for a single message, up to 10 seconds long to be recorded and played back at a set time. For example, record “go to gym class” and set it to play 1:25 (or whenever gym class is happening!).  There is even a space to include a picture of the activity for additional support! 

Time Cue an Assistive Technology Tool for Time Management
Voice Cue an Assistive Technology Tool for Time Management

The Voice Cue can record up to five messages, with 60 seconds of total recording time.  This is a great tool for tasks like remembering to take morning and evening medications.

Sequencing Helpers

Multi step tasks are another area of time management that present their own set of challenges including remembering the order of the sequence, remembering to do all of the steps in the sequence, and doing the steps for the correct amount of time. There are a variety of assistive technology options available that can help.

Two Minute Turtle toothbrush timer

The Two Minute Turtle Toothbrush Timer helps cue the user through the steps of toothbrushing, ensuring all quadrants of the mouth are brushed for the recommended amount of time. It works by pushing a button on the top of the turtle which causes one of the turtle’s fins to light up.  Each of the turtle’s four fins represents a quadrant of the mouth. Each fin will stay lit  for the recommended 30 seconds of brushing time. When time is up, the light in one fin will turn off and the next fin will light up indicating it is time to move to the next area of the mouth! Pro tip, this is also a great tool for handwashing!

Visual schedules, whether written out or picture supported, can be a game changer for individuals who have impaired executive function skills and who need support managing multi step tasks. Schedules can be created for specific routines (like a morning self care routine), for parts of the day (like a morning classroom schedule), or the whole day.  SchKIDules offers a quick and easy solution for creating picture supported schedules.  The Home Bundle includes 72, 2”x2” magnets that depict common routines, chores, outings and extracurricular activities.  The Education Bundle includes 66, 2”x2”,  magnets that depict common school and special education activities.

Schkidules visual schedule tool

Time Visualization Helpers 

Conceptualizing the passage of time is a third area of time management and this can be tricky!  Offering a visual repression of time and time passage can not only help with this concept but it can also decrease stress and anxiety.  Visual timers are the perfect solution for this challenge area.

Time Timer an Assistive Technology Tool for Time Management

Time Timers offer a simple solution for time management.  With the patented red disk, Time Timer makes elapsing time concrete by reaffirming the analog clock in its clockwise movement and provides the ability to judge how much time is left without having to know how to tell time. Simply move the colored disk to the desired amount of time,  as time elapses, the colored disk disappears.  

Resetea is a time management tool that offers the ability to sequence up to 12 related tasks. It is different from a typical schedule because of the unique light cue that marks the passage of time.  To set it up, first use the included  template builder to create a sequence of tasks (for example homework and then free time or math class, English class, lunch) and then place the  visual in front of the light screen. Next set the desired time for each activity (up to 60 minutes) and press start. The activity schedule is back lit with  progress colors; no light indicates future task(s), white light indicates the task in progress, and red light indicates task(s) completed. 

Resetea atech tool for time management

There are a variety of tools available to support users ability to manage time. Helping users access and utilize these tools will support overall independence!  

Therapro's demo table at ATIA 2023

ATIA 2023 Conference Highlights: It’s All About The Free Resources!

Accessibility, Activities, Conferences, , , ,

As a part of Therapro’s effort to be the resource for families and professionals the Therapro team attended the recent 2023 Assistive Technology Institute Association (ATIA) Conference where we had many opportunities to demonstrate the resources Therapro is known for.

Did you ever notice that Therapro’s logo includes the line “The Resource for Families and Professionals?”  Why? We believe that achieving goals toward independence is not only about the use of products, but also about the resources that educate consumers on the uniqueness and rationale behind the products. Because of this strong belief, all of Therparo’s  resources are FREE and include FREE webinars, FREE catalogs (5 catalogs), free TheraGram newsletters, free Handy Guides and more. 

At ATIA the Therapro team was able to meet up with specialists in the field of assistive technology and share with them many of Therapro’s assistive technology resources that were created by occupational therapist, Allyson Locke and graphic designer Dave Asselin. In this blog we are sharing some of the favorite resources from ATIA 2023.

Therapro’s Mechanical Switch Comparison Chart

Do you work with switches? Do you sometimes struggle to decide which is the best switch to choose for a client? Then this chart, created by occupational therapist Allyson Locke, is for you! It features 11 switches and compares each of them by 6 important factors: Connection type, Activation type, Activation Surface, Feedback, Plug size and Mounting plate. This Chart will help in your decision making and explanation to staff and family members regarding switches.

Switch-Comparison-Chart-1Download

The Functionalhand: Live Demos & Information Sheet 

Getting a chance to try out the functionalhand was a big hit at ATIA 2023 and was one of the most important pieces of adaptive equipment used in activities of daily living  shown at ATIA. Created by Linda Merry, OTR and Celine Skertich, PT, the functionalhand has been engineered to assist individuals who have difficulty with grasp. Attendees were amazed by its simplicity and versatility in being used with almost any object. The accompanying handout was sought out by many; it includes a QR Code that takes the viewer  to a  terrific video showing its MANY  different uses.  When used with the  EazyHold (see next paragraph) the adaptations are greatly expanded.

The-functionalhand-2Download
EazyHold Universal Cuff

EazyHold – What Can You Adapt?

The patented design of the EazyHold gives children and adults the ability to hold onto many items with ease. ATIA attendees loved the soft feel and flexibility. EazyHolds comes in multiple sizes to help get a better grip on objects small to large. Therapro’s Handy Guide, What Can I Adapt, has great explanations to help you decide which size is best and the many pictures illustrate how to use them in everyday life!

Assistive Technology Handy Guide for Daily Activities

Therapro’s Assistive Technology Handy Guide provides a quick snapshot of available technology, from low to high tech that is available at Therapro.  Looking for ideas for increasing access and independence in the classroom or at home? This resource is for you!

Powerlink

PowerLink Activity Ideas

Another great opportunity we had at ATIA was sharing activity ideas with fellow therapists and of course we brought along some of our favorite ideas! In a previous blog, The Power of a PowerLink in Promoting Access, which is definitely worthy of reading, we shared several ideas for switch adapted activities that can be done with a Powerlink. While at ATIA, occupational therapist and writer of the blog, Allyson Locke, explained and discussed with attendees one of the activities, Switch Adapted Bowling. Check out the blog for additional ideas.