The Back to School season for children with special needs and their parents is a dynamic time marked by excitement, anxiety, anticipation, and undoubtedly-expense. School supply lists are growing as family budgets tighten. Selecting the right tools for children with disabilities can mean the difference between success and struggle. Parents, however, are not alone on their quest for innovative answers to their children’s challenges.
Discussion of assistive technology is a mandatory yearly component of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings. Teachers, psychologists, inventors, and advocates provide support in finding which tools truly work. This guide introduces a few of today’s most unique and ground-breaking Back to School tools.
Morning Routine
For many families, the drastic change from summer’s ease to more rigid morning and bedtime routines is the most difficult part of the back to school transition. It can lead to fights, frustration, and learning losses associated with a lack of sleep. A few products may be helpful, but it is first imperative to identify the greatest barrier blocking your child’s ability to go to sleep, wake up, and prepare for the day in a calm and timely manner.
Many children with special needs, including between 40 and 80 percent of children with autism, have difficulty falling and staying asleep. Early wakeup times for school, daylight savings time, and traveling can make establishing sleep routines even more challenging. The Good Nite Light was developed to teach children how to recognize when it’s an appropriate time to get out of bed. It utilizes changing cartoon faces and light levels to teach children the natural association between darkness, sleeping and light, waking. Throughout the night, the child is reminded by a dim image that it’s time for sleep. At a specific time programmed by the parents, the light becomes brighter and a sun image appears. The Good Nite Lite is available for $34.99.
Routine charts are another tool that promotes independence and ownership among children adjusting to the new school year. These charts can break down the steps of one task, like brushing teeth, or provide an overview of the entire morning process. Hippo’s Morning Routine is an interactive chart that can be customized with 8 of 20 task cards available. When children complete a task, moving the task to the strip below offers a sense of accomplishment. Parents and children and work together in establishing which tasks make up their routine in what order. Hippo’s Morning Routine is available for $34.95.
The On-Task On-Time for Kids is another interactive tool that teaches children organization, time management, and self-motivation. Parents and children establish the routine by placing stickers that illustrate each task on a dial. This dial is placed on a large timer. The timer comes with three dials so many families use this tool several times throughout the day. Once started, the timer denotes tasks that already completed in red, those that should be in progress now in green, and what’s coming up next in yellow. Children with autism and ADHD have benefited from this tool. On-Task On-Time for Kids is available for $49.95.
Keeping children occupied on the way to and from school is another aspect to maintaining a calm family environment that supports school success. I Spy bags promote coordination and tactile development. They can be handmade, like this school bus bag by Etsy seller Jaime Greathouse, or purchased. Back to School jitters can also be calmed in creative ways. One company produces “Super Hero Spray” in a peppermint scent. It comes with a personalized letter encouraging children to be courageous in difficult situations. Peppermint has been shown to ease nausea in some cases. "Super Hero Spray" and others are available for $10. Children who may be anxious about school may feel more comfortable talking about their day as their focus is somewhat diverted to another task or subject.
Tools that Support Success in School
The ability to grip and demonstrate fine-motor skills necessary to hold a pencil or crayon is a challenge faced by many children with special needs. Several products provide solutions. Crayon Rocks are an eco-friendly way for children with disabilities to color using a tripod grip. Crayon Rocks are available for $4.99. As children learn to write, some struggle with keeping their handwriting within lines. Others feel as if the paper is slipping out from under them. MaxiAids offers a wide range of tools that include paper with lines that are raised to the touch and non-slip grip mats to hold papers in place. MaxiAids are available for between $2.75 and $9.95.
Children, like adults, can learn best when they are comfortable. Adaptive Design works to ensure that children with disabilities have comfortable seating options at school and in the home. Their innovations use heavy-duty cardboard that is eco-friendly. They’ve built footstools for school desks and made it possible for children with balance issues to join their friends on traditional cafeteria benches. The possibilities are limitless. Learn more about how to place an order for a completely customized item at http://www.adaptivedesign.org/. For children with attention and focus difficulties, special education teachers say Lap Cozies are a low-tech way to increase classroom calm. The slight weight provided by the Cozies offers a soothing sensation that is actually explained by our brain’s pathways. Lap Cozies are available in a rainbow of colors for $39.99.
Not all activities can be made comfortable, but many can be made less painful. Buzzy is a product designed to provide needle-pain relief for children who require injections. It can be used daily or for the occasional shot. It easily slips into a backpack for travel. The combination of vibration and cold sensation alters pain receptors to decrease the pain felt by the needle prick. The child-friendly bee design can also decrease stigma attached to receiving injections at school. Buzzy is available for $34.95. Distraction is another key to minimizing pain. Use flashcards of sight words to get children’s minds off a medical treatment or therapy while improving their reading skills. Several card sets are available at http://www.lightningbuglearning.com/ for $5.95.
Learning independence is perhaps the most important lesson for children with special needs. A number of products can support the development of independent living skills. Myself Belts make it possible for many children to dress themselves and toilet without assistance. Belts are available in child patterns and adult versions that appear very much like traditional belts. Myself Belts are available for between $9.95 and $29.95.
Opening a locker is another developmental milestone that evades many children who struggle with fine-motor, limb differences, and visual skills. Master Lock offers a solution in a revolutionary lock that opens using directional movements (up, down, left, and right) instead of the traditional numerical rotary dial. The lock has been well-received by teens for its stylish appearance. The Master Lock 1500iD Set-Your-Own-Combination Lock is available at Staples for $6.99.
High-Tech Assistive Technology Tools
Electronic pens may be useful for many students working to improve their reading and comprehension skills. There are a growing number of pens on the market. Consulting with your school’s assistive technology expert may be one way to find out if this tool would be helpful for your child. Wizcom Technologies has developed the ReadingPen to serve as a portable “reading assistant” to children who need support sounding out words and completing phrases. The ReadingPen spells out words, offers definitions, and recognizes a wide range of fonts and text sizes. It can be used by children who are left or right-handed. The ReadingPen is available for $179.99.
Play Attention is a computer-based program intended to increase focus and decrease impulsivity in children and adults. Using a wired helmet and an interactive game, children can train their brain through a series of exercises and consistent interaction with the program. Play Attention is used in schools, psychologists’ offices, and homes. Since it could benefit many students with ADHD, autism, traumatic brain injuries, and other special needs, your child’s school may consider purchasing this assistive technology. See http://www.playattention.com/ for more information.
What Money Can’t Buy
Annie Fox, an author and child advocate, reminds parents that the most important back to school item can’t fit in a backpack and isn’t for sale. It’s often in alarmingly short supply for teens and tweens and evades many children with disabilities. Self-confidence isn’t prepackaged but there are a few products that can assist parents to instill a strong sense of self in their children. Annie’s books, including Middle School Confidential, are a great start. They are available at http://www.anniefox.com/ for $9.99. Stacy Kannenburg is another author that offers child-centered stories on the preparation process of entering school. “Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten” and other titles can be found at http://www.cedarvalleypublishing.com/ for $15.00. Affirmation cards with messages like “I am a Champion” can also promote the development of self-esteem in children with and without disabilities. Magnificent Cards can be ordered from http://www.magnificentcreations.com/ for $15.95.
More than any school supply, your child needs your support during this exciting but challenging transition back to school. Kelly Harmsen wondered how she would support her son’s start of school following his diagnosis of Amblyopia (also known as “Lazy Eye”) at just two years of age. In response, she developed an interactive DVD called “The Eye Patch Kids”. The DVD includes singing, dancing, and encouragement for other children to try wearing an eye patch. It answers questions, reduces stigma, and is especially useful to children who have begun wearing an eye patch over the summer. “The Eye Patch Kids” DVD is available at www.bjortandcompany.com for $15.99. Parents interested in supporting their children with different special needs could assist teachers to incorporate similarly educational and fun programs into the start of the school year.
The products available to support children with disabilities are as varied as their special needs. Considerations, including price, durability, and age-appropriateness, are all important factors. Parents are not alone in the quest for assistive technology. Consultations with advocates, educators, and other empowering experts are encouraged. Keep in mind your ultimate goal for preparing children for the upcoming school year or just the next school day: Set them up for success!
