Saturday 1 May 2010

I can...juggle numbers!


May 2010

Math concepts are part of many important life skills.  For kids who use AC, it may provide them with the opportunity to become more independent and have control over their day-to-day lives. 



Money, Money, Money:  Kids who use AC need experience dealing with currency so that they can develop the life skills to handle money in adulthood.  Try some of these software and online activities:
·           Counting Coins Software (with Canadian currency):http://www.specialneedscomputers.ca/index.php?l=product_detail&p=568
·           Online activity to practice making change: http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/cr.cgi?A1=s&A14=medium&country%5Bcan%5D.x=75&country%5Bcan%5D.y=25
·           Canadian currency symbols are available within Boardmaker™ for creating low-tech displays. 

It’s about time:  Concepts of time are also important for kids who use AC so that they can manage their own schedules and appointments. 

·         Try creating a number board on your student’s communication device so that they can practice saying numbers and answer questions in math class.

Making online games and software more accessible:
Try using partner assisted scanning or live voice scanning to allow kids who use AC to make choices when online games and software are not switch accessible. In this method, a caregiver would read aloud (and possibly point to) the choices.  Ask the student to indicate “yes” when the caregiver gets to the choice that they want.    

No-Tech Ideas

Light Tech Ideas

  • Try using a Step-by-Step communicator to count out loud.

High Tech Ideas

·         Check out SGDs for ready-made math pages.  You can also check on the manufacturer’s website for additional pages.
·         Do you have a student who uses voice recognition software and would like to use his/her voice to complete math assignments too?  Check out:  http://www.mathtalk.com/products.htm


Resources:
·           RJ Cooper has accessible calculators available: Talk ‘n Scan calculator http://www.rjcooper.com/talk-n-scan-calculator/index.html and Big Calc http://www.rjcooper.com/big-calc/index.html