Team of Advocates for Special Kids
Technology E-Newsletter

December 2014

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Upcoming Assistive Technology Workshops


Apps for Older Students

Tuesday, January 13

6:30 - 8:30 pm

Raising Sages Integrative Pediatrics, Newport Beach

Contact Aarti Chahuan at (949) 788-1111 for more information or to register for this workshop. 


AAC Workshops with Margaret Perkins/SoCal AAC Therapy:

TASK is thrilled to announce our collaboration with Margaret Perkins and SoCal AAC Therapy! Margaret will be presenting FREE quarterly workshops for parents and professionals on various topics surrounding augmentative and alternative communication. Our next workshop will be held at TASK's Anaheim location:

 

Small Steps: How to Integrate AAC into the Day 

Fri., Jan. 9, 2015
 

Call us at (714) 533-8275 or download the flyer for more information.


For more workshops, including our workshops on special education and parental rights and responsibilities under the law, please visit the full workshop schedule on the TASK website.

   

TASK Membership 


Please consider joining TASK as a member! Members receive the following benefits: 

  • Free TECH Labs and access to our lending libraries
  • Bimonthly 28-page TASK newsletters 
  • Membership is tax-deductible

Membership is as low as $35.00 per year, per family. We need your support to continue to provide a central resource center for legal rights and responsibilities information and to continue providing TECH Center services. You can join online; visit the Membership page on our website for more information. 

 

 TASK Needs Board Members

  

Are you the parent of a child with special needs? Has TASK helped you in the past? Perhaps you are a professional that has worked with TASK advocates or attended one of our many workshops? TASK is currently recruiting members for our Board of Directors. Make a difference by helping to guide our organization into the future.  Please note that board positions are on a volunteer basis. Board members must be willing to participate in our monthly board meetings via toll-free conference call. Call Marta Anchondo, our Executive Director, at (714) 533-8275 for more information about this exciting opportunity or to request a board packet. 

 

 

Hello and happy December! Since the holiday season has begun, I wanted to share with you some ideas for gifts for kids with special needs. I have included toy and app resources along with some educational websites to keep your kiddos entertained through the winter break.  

 

Toy Resources

 

Hasbro Releases Online Toy Tutorials for Children with Disabilities

Toymaker Hasbro is piloting online videos and tools to help children with developmental disabilities play with their toys. The initial series will highlight several toys to demonstrate how to play with them independently or with someone else, and suggest alternative ways to play with the toy.

 

Toys "R" Us 2014 Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids

Toys "R" Us, Inc. has a long history of supporting the special needs community. For 20 years, they have published the Toys "R" Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, an easy to use resource featuring specially selected toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. During the past several years, Toys "R" Us has worked with many celebrities who have served as the "face" of the Guide. This year's cover features Albert Pujols, father of five, philanthropist and baseball World Champion. This complementary, one of a kind resource speaks to a child's individual needs and offers qualified toy recommendations based on research from the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization that evaluates all of the toys featured in the Guide.

 

Fat Brain Toys

This amazing resource offers toys, games and tools for children and adults with special needs. Visit their Special Needs Resource Center, where toys and games are categorized by Special Needs Challenges and Development Goals.

 

Melissa and Doug

This very special collection of toys was handpicked by Dr. Melissa Liguori for parents, therapists and educators of children with exceptionalities. These are the top toys and trusted skill-builders that help boost developmental skills in children of all abilities, organized by therapeutic and skill criteria to create a practical resource for families with special needs. They also have a special needs toy guide that you can download.

 

Fun and Function

The Fun and Function website has educational toys and games, sensory items, fidgets, weighted items, chewable jewelry, books, music and much more. Lots of "outside the box" gift ideas.

 

Tangle Toys

What is a Tangle, you ask? The Tangle Toy is not your traditional toy for children. Tangles are based on the concept of infinity and continuous motion. This "magic in the motion" that you feel when you play with a Tangle is truly therapeutic and calming to the soul! Once you put a Tangle in your hand, you just can't put it down!

 

Discovery Toys Special Needs Guide

Discovery Toys is committed to bringing fun, safe and developmentally appropriate toys and products to children and adults of all abilities and special needs. Children with developmental disabilities, like all children, develop at a unique rate and pattern of development. These products have useful applications for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

 

Kaplan Toys

With over 50 years of experience in early childhood education, Kaplan Toys provides exciting and fun educational toys that focus on helping your child develop. They encourage creative thinking and independence as well as mastery in core educational subjects. From LEGO sets to language games, from pretend play to building and construction, Kaplan Toys strives to make playing fun so a child's learning doesn't stop. Their products encompass multiple learning styles, so whether your child wants to be a daring explorer, a sports star or a music sensation, Kaplan Toys has them covered!  

 

Enabling Devices

Enabling Devices is a company dedicated to developing affordable learning and assistive devices to help people of all ages with disabling conditions. Founded by Steven E. Kanor, Ph.D., and originally known as Toys for Special Children, the company has been creating innovative communications, toys and switches for the physically challenged for more than 35 years.

 

DIYAbility

Want to try your hand at making your own capability switches or adapting your own toy? If so, visit DIYAbility's Projects page!

 

Need Ideas for Toys?

Family Education has an online toy finder that searches by age and interest.

Informational Articles

 

Top 14 Free Educational Websites for Kids

The Smart Apps for Kids website has a great list of free educational websites!  

 

Toys for Children with Special Needs: What to Look for and Where to Find Them

While most of the U.S. is looking for the latest gadget or the newest toy, families of children with special needs may be looking for something very different. Many of the common toys available hold no interest or are not suitable for children with autism and other special needs. This resource has 19 articles discussing toys for children with special needs.

 

Apps for Children with Special Needs

This website lets you explore the 100 most popular apps on iTunes in every categoryexplore the 100 most popular apps on iTunes

 

Android Resources

Do you have an Android tablet? If so, pop on over to AppyMall's Android page and Smart Apps for Android, two great resources for suggestions and reviews.

On behalf of myself and the TASK family, have a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year! We look forward to seeing you in 2015.

 

Laura Simmons-Martinez

Technology Project Director

Team of Advocates for Special Kids

TASK is a nonprofit Parent Training and Information Center that serves all ages and all disabilities. TASK is funded in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the California Department of Education. The views expressed in this e-mail newsletter do not necessarily represent those of TASK, the U.S. Department of Education, the State of California or any other funding source, nor are they an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before congress. Advertisements or refernces to trade names, commercial products or organizations do not constitute endorsement by any of the above.