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Boy holding a pencil and writing using a slant board to assist

Empowering Classroom Engagement with Assistive Technology

Unlocking the keys to classroom participation and success begins with selecting the perfect low-tech assistive technology tools. Low-tech assistive technology refers to simple, basic tools or devices that assist individuals with disabilities in performing everyday tasks. Ensuring students have the ideal support not only fosters full engagement in classroom activities but also transforms learning into an enjoyable experience. Dive into the world of low-tech assistive technology with Therapro’s expert recommendations, paving the way for enhanced participation and a more fulfilling educational journey. Read on to discover the perfect low-tech assistive technology tools that can be empowering for classroom engagement.

Low Tech Tools for Positioning

Appropriate positioning has a powerful impact on classroom engagement. There are many low-tech assistive technology tools available to support proper positioning. These positioning materials will help students adjust their posture and their visual orientation.

Slant Boards: Slant boards are available in various sizes and can accommodate different height levels when a student is seated. Most offer stabilization of paper on the board with a metal or plastic clip. Slant boards provide a number of advantages:

  • Encourage upright positioning
  • Align the wrist in slight extension
  • Bring writing paper and visual information closer to the eyes
  • Provide one hand access using the slant board clips
Aluminum Stackable Slant Board

A Therapro favorite is the Aluminum Stackable Slant Board, which is lightweight, durable, and easily stackable. The writing angle is ideal at 20 degrees. The non-slip edge strip prevents the board from sliding when in use.

Slant board

Another great option is the Better Board Slant Board, which is a lightweight, collapsible slant board made of corrugated plastic that can be transported flat and stacked easily. Plastic clamps hold paper and it has “nonslip feet.”

Dycem: A positioning tool many occupational therapists love for its versatility is non-slip plastic called Dycem. It has innumerable creative uses in the classroom. It can be cut from a roll to the size needed to stabilize items on a desk surface, adapt handles, and be placed on a chair seat to prevent the student from slipping and sliding.

Blue Dycem a Non-slip plastic that solves a variety of stabilizing and grasping problems

Low Tech Tools for Reading

When it comes to reading, low-tech assistive technology tools can help students with key performance areas specific to reading including:

  • Tracking printed words
  • Focusing on a part of the page
  • Highlighting any written words
  • Magnifying words
  • Reading hands-free

Check out some of Therapro’s favorite low tech assistive technology tools for students with low vision or who have difficulty with the visual components of reading:

Highlighter Strips on a book page

Highlighter Strips: A favorite tool is the brightly colored reading guide strips, called Highlighter Strips that are reusable bright yellow plastic strips that brighten any written word on a page. They measure 1.5” in height but come in a variety of lengths. They aid the student with visual processing difficulty or the student with who is needs help with focus and attention.

Ultra Dome magnifier

Ultradome: The Ultradome make reading small print a breeze. The Ultradome provides powerful 4x power direct magnification and is made of solid acrylic that glides across any surface. It is available in 3 sizes from 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

Low Tech Tools for Writing

Tools that facilitate writing are abundant! They serve many purposes such as:

  • Hand and finger positioning for a writing utensil in the hand
  • Spacing, sizing, and alignment of letters
  • Weighting writing utensils
  • Creating handwriting lines

Check out these handy handwriting helpers that support legible handwriting:

	
LegiLiner Double Solid Line 3/8' tall, Pen Style Rolling Ink Stamp

LegiLiners: LegiLiners are an innovative collection of tools that are both unique and practical. Using a variety of rolling ink stamps, they create handwriting lines to improve consistent letter size and placement on any writing surface. Create dashed lines with spaces, dotted stacked lines, number line, and much more! They are available in a Starter Kit that contains 5 of the stamps to get you started. Fourteen individual LegiLiners are available as well.

Star Spacer is a clever handwriting tool made of see-through plastic which acts as a guide to help the child understand spacing, sizing, and alignment of letters and words to promote more legible handwriting

Star Spacer: The Star Spacer is a plastic, see-through guide used to help students understand spacing, sizing, and alignment of letters. The results are immediate for more legible handwriting

Low Tech Tools for Math

Tools to make learning mathematics fun and practical utilize:

  • Hands-on learning
  • Sensory learning using tactile, kinesthetic, and visual cues
  • Interactive strategies

Therapro is your go to resource for products that support hands on mathematics teaching and learning, check out some of these clever tools:

Multi Textured Tactile Ruler: The Desk Buddy Multi Textured Tactile Ruler resembles an actual ruler, but has the added benefits of a textured surface, being flexible, and being chewable. A great option for students who benefit from extra sensory input during learning activities.

Flexitable: Addition and Subtraction

Flexitables: The Flexitable is a simple tool for teaching math concepts. It makes learning addition and subtraction an enjoyable and tactile experience. The soft, flexible, 7.75 inch plastic square grid with horizontal and vertical channels fold to reveal answers to addition/subtraction problem. Flexitables are also available for division, multiplication, and fractions.

For More Information on Assistive Technology:

Low-Tech Assistive Devices- A Handbook for the School Setting: Low tech assistive technology tools facilitate learning and participation in the classroom. A classic resource book that therapists are passionate about is Low-Tech Assistive Devices: A Handbook for the School Setting, by Lynn Stoller, OTR/L. It is chock full of step-by-step directions and illustrations for fabrication of low tech tools. Chapters include tools used throughout the school setting (i.e. positioning, mobility, time management and organizational tools) and tools specific to curriculum area (i.e. reading, writing, math, music).

Assistive Technology Handy Guide: Therapro occupational therapist, Allyson Locke, MS, OTR/L, has created a functional guide to selecting the perfect assistive technology device for your students called Assistive Technology Handy Guide. It examines low tech AT tools in academic areas covered in this discussion, as well as other areas of classroom function including:

Low tech assistive technology can be a game changer for engaging students in the learning process and are vital in helping all learners access classroom learning experiences. Up your A-Tech game now with assistive technology tools from Therapro!

Guest Blogger: Filomena Connor, MSOT, Retired

the alert seat a large round ball inside a metal base with wheels for sitting

Flexible Seating Spotlight: AlertSeats

Could your class or sensory room benefit from a versatile seat that will absorb user energy, enhance posture, encourage time on task, moderate repetitive motion, all with a positive sensory input? 

If you’ve just answered ”Yes” then the AlertSeats® are right for you.

Therapro has them. Available is five sizes, AlertSeats® will fit every one of your students. Choose from 5 stock sizes to provide comfortable active movement seating for pre-K students to the tallest teens or adults.

AlertSeats® have seated thousands of active learners in hundreds of schools and therapy settings throughout the US and Canada since 2009.  Made in the US, they offer guaranteed durability, versatility and comfort in a proven design.

Just three sturdy components make up the AlertSeat — Base, Ball and Cover.  They ship compactly and assembly easily with adjustable firmness.

Here’s what teachers and therapists using AlertSeat are saying:

“I absolutely love your (AlertSeat) ball chairs, and have been using them in my classroom for over 6 years.” 

Jessica- New Hampshire elementary school.

“Students seem to flourish with the use of the (Alert)seats, as they are better able to focus on the work at hand.”

Indiana Life Skills teacher, students ages 7 to 12

  “We’re all about data. We’ve seen results with AlertSeats in students with a range of disabilities” 

Kate, a Pennsylvania large district school-based OT

AlertSeats® steel bases feature six or eight legs and rubber feet.  They’re warranted for 10 years.  Every assembled AlertSeats® will support up to 300 lbs. Bases nest for efficient shipping and storage, and are color matched by size.  Color coded interior balls are correctly positioned inside their cover before shipment, with a manual pump included and full instructions.

AlertSeat® covers, with double zipper pulls, go on and off easily, and include strong Velcro attaching straps and a handle for a totally secure and stable but readily removable attachment to their base.  Covers are sewn from an abrasion resistant laminated woven nylon fabric that is cold water washable and stain resistant.

Interior balls are heavy duty ABS molded to fit correctly and adjustable to provide the level of seating comfort that best suits each student.  Ball covers and balls are warranted for 2 years in classroom service.

Optional removable mobility dollies with lockable swivel casters can be added to any AlertSeat® in all sizes except the smallest.

AlertSeats® in use will never roll around the room or create a hazard. They can easily be placed on top of the desk to facilitate after school cleaning.  Other great features of AlertSeats® include:

  • No flimsy plastic parts or bolted connections to crack or fail in service.  
  • Safety and total stability combined with stimulating, energy absorbing motion define AlertSeats® wherever they are in use.

Put a correctly sized AlertSeat® into your classroom, therapy or sensory room soon. 

Guest Author: Howard Newman. Howard Newman of Newman Adaptive, introduced his unique concept of fitness and nutrition in the work place in 1991. Howard is the engineer of AlertSeat and AlertDesk.

The Therapro booth at the 2023 AOTA annual conference buzzing with activity

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) 2023 Conference Highlights 

The Therapro team was truly inspired at the 2023 American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference (AOTA) in Kansa City, Missouri. The Therapro booth was buzzing with activity from the grand opening of the expo hall on Thursday morning through the final pack up on Saturday afternoon. Read on for conference highlights!

Celebrity Sightings!

The occupational therapists at Therapro definitely consider the special guests and visitors who stopped by the Therapro booth celebrities!

The Therapro team was joined by Linda Merry, OTR and Celine Skertich, PT the creators of the functionalhand, Polly Benson, OTR/L creator of LegiLiners, and Carolyn Murray-Slutsky, MS, OTR & Betty Paris, PT authors of many publications including Is It Sensory Or Is It Behavior?. It was inspiring to listen to their passion as they discussed their creations and publications with attendees.

The Therapro booth was also visited by many other ‘celebrities’ including Jenny L. Clark, OTR/L, BCP (author and creator of  creator of the “Learn to Move” curriculum and Letter Treasure Hunt), Dawn Winkelmann, M.S, CCC-SLP (feeding specialist for EZPZ), Kerry Mellin (co-creator of the EazyHolds) and John Pagano, Ph.D., OTR/L (author of FAB: Functionally Alert Behavior Strategies). The booth was a constant buzz of activity, it was great being able to engage with so many other professionals!

Live Demonstrations!

By far one of the best features of an in person expo is the ability to give live demonstrations; while we do our best to adequately describe the products on our website, there are some things you just have to experience! Happy Senso, Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet, and the Luminea Multisensory Environment products were just some of the products out for demo that really got people buzzing!

Happy Senso sensory foam

Happy Senso definitely elicited some of the best reactions from attendees who tried this amazing sensory gel. Happy Senso has a unique cold feeling and it pops and fizzles when it is squished by the hands. Attendees couldn’t get enough of this fun sensory gel and many even brought their friends back to the booth to give it a try!

black chair with 	
Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet attache

Once the Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet were put on a standard chair in our booth, that chair became the instant favorite by both booth staff and conference attendees! Attendees especially appreciated the subtle but impactful movement the Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet provided and that they were more discrete than other available options.

Luminea bubble tube and tablet showing the luminea app

The Luminea Bubble Tube and Fiber Optic Lights were an eye catching display but once attendees started to interact with the Luminea App, set up on our tablet, they quickly realized these elements offered much more therapeutic value than the standard bubble tube or light display. In conjunction with the free Luminea app, the Luminea line of products allows therapist and users to target skills like fine motor precision, isolated finger use, and language. An added bonus, the Vibroacoustic Cushion can also be paired with these elements to offer vibratory input. Attendees were pleasantly surprised by the subtle but powerful vibrations that were produced by such a small cushion!

The Therapro team had so much fun showing how these great tools could be used therapeutically and we loved hearing about how attendees were using these tools in their own practice!

Giveaways!

Therapro loves giveaways; at AOTA 2023 we had so many things to give to attendees.

Prizes! Several lucky attendees won a functionalhand of their very own, other attendees won one of the many EazyHolds options, and still others won some great books including Exploring the Spectrum of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (2000) and Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum for K-5.

Resources! One of the core beliefs we have at Therapro is that achieving therapeutic goals is not only about the use of products, but also about the resources that educate consumers on the uniqueness and rationale behind the products. Therapro’s Handguides are one of the many free resources we have available. At AOTA 2023 Therapro’s Find Your Fidget! Handy Guide, Get a Grip on Grips! Handy Guide, Gear Up for Games with Therapro! Handy Guide, and What Can I Adapt? Handy Guide were well received by attendees!

AOTA 2023 attendees a big thank you for the warm reception we received, we enjoyed talking to you all! The Therapro team is looking forward to AOTA 2024 in Orlando!