1. Assisting Teachers in Understanding Assistive Technology: What Recent Research Says
  2. Introducing the Assistive Technology Blog Series
  3. Assistive Technology to Support Writing
  4. Preparing Pre-Service Educators to Make AT Decisions
  5. 3 Key Questions When Considering Assistive Technology
  6. Data Tools to Inform AT for Reading and Writing
  7. Supporting Online Reading Using Assistive Technology
  8. FOCUS To-Do Increases Time Management Skills in Pre-Service Teachers
  9. Assistive Technology Solutions to Support Math
  10. Behavior and Burnout? Values-Based Practice Using ACTCompanion
  11. Assistive Technology to Support Young Children
  12. AT Goes to the Big and Little Screen: Tech for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
  13. CIDDList: Assistive Technology Tools and Resources for Young Children
baby hand next to an adult hand

CIDDList: Assistive Technology Tools and Resources for Young Children

Author: Samantha Goldman and Dr. Katie Zimmerman Tuck; info@ciddl.org

In a recent blog, we delved into the world of assistive technology for young children. The main takeaways from this previous blog include: (1) young children have a right to be evaluated for, given access to, and be supported by AT immediately, (2) AT use and benefit is well-documented in early childhood literature for young children with and without disabilities, (3) AT provides young children and their caregivers and families with a method to interact with the world, and (4) educators need to be prepared to evaluate young children for AT, instruct young children on how to use it, and integrate it into their curriculum. Therefore, the purpose of this CIDDList is to provide early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) faculty with resources about AT to provide to their pre-service EI/ECSE educators, including pre-service related service providers such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, developmental therapists, and interventionists. 

Learn More about AT for Young Children

The resources in the list below can be used in several ways. First, they can be used by faculty to learn more about AT use with young children. Second, they can be provided as resources and/or readings as part of a course for pre-service providers with an explicit focus on AT or with a sprinkling of AT. Finally, in-service educators and providers could benefit from the list as part of their own professional development or to share with the families with whom they interact. 

  1. AT for Infants and Toddlers Video Series: This video series, presented by AT Kansas, provides short videos that explore and explain AT for use with toddlers and infants. Topics include using speech-generating devices, adapting toys for use with switches, using hearing aids, and using reclining bath chairs, to name a few. 
  2. Early Childhood and Assistive Technology Webinar: This webinar from PACER provides educators and families with information regarding what AT is, how it can benefit young children, and specific low-tech and high-tech tools that might benefit young children. 
  3. Technical Assistance Guide: Assistive Technology for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities IDEA Part C - AT A GLANCE: While this document is specific to Oklahoma, much of the information is helpful to those outside of the state. The document summarizes categories of AT devices, questions for consideration related to AT, and the AT assessment process. 
  4. Don’t Wait to Communicate! Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)- Webinar: This webinar explores the use of AAC with young children who have communication delays or disorders.
  5. Supporting Young Children with Augmentative and Alternative Communication Needs: This module provides multiple means of exploring AT use with young children including video, activities, and websites.

Guidance for Using AT with Young Children

Below are resources from professional organizations that focus on AT use with young children. The specific guidelines that refer to or imply the use of AT can be found in this article by Lohmann and colleagues. 

  1. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice Guide: According to Lohmann and colleagues, the guidelines that support AT use include 2E, 2G, and 2J. 
  2. The Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)’s Recommended Practices: According to Lohmann and colleagues, the recommended practices that support AT use are E1, E5, INS4, and INT2. 
  3. CEEDAR and CEC’s High Leverage Practices: According to Lohmann and colleagues, the HLP that is aligned with AT use is HLP19. 

Examples of AT Use with Young Children

Below we have collected several AT resources for consideration in pre-service educator, related service provider, and personnel preparation. 

  1. Switch devices in early childhood
  2. Adapting toys
  3. Early writing development 
  4. Autonomous Mobility 
  5. Robotic Gait Trainer
  6. AAC and Switches
  7. AAC to Support Early Literacy
  8. Using Choice Boards to Help Children Communicate
  9. Using a Big Mac Button to Communicate
  10. Step-by-step Communicator

 

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