Future Support
Early Years Support Packages
Following the positive evaluation of the Play AT IT Project we have developed a range of packages aimed at services supporting Early Years children with Special Needs beyond the end of the project, e.g. Specialist Teaching, Portage and Speech & Language Therapy services.
They are designed to enable you to have a choice of services ranging from face to face assessment days, remote assessments and access to the AbilityNet loan bank of equipment to support the remote assessments, training sessions to build your own knowledge and capacity in continuing to support pre-school children with special needs through using Assistive Technology.
One Day Face to Face Assessments for up to five children- £850 + travel + VAT
Please note this service does not include access to the loan bank.
Five one hour assessments at the same location in one day followed by a short report outlining the recommended solutions with prices and suppliers and giving a short overview of the strategies suggested to support implementation.
Remote Assessments + access to Loan Bank- £1,500 + VAT
FIVE remote assessments
The remote assessments will be followed up with a short report providing information that related to the assessment including recommendations.
The child will also have an opportunity to have equipment on a four week loan through the AbilityNet loan bank and includes collection and delivery costs. This will give you an opportunity to monitor their progress and also give families who may like to purchase equipment, to try before they buy.
Remote Assessments, access to the Loan Bank and an option to either receive 2 x training sessions or one day Assessment Day- £2,350 + VAT + Travel
FIVE remote assessments
The remote assessments will be followed up with a short report providing information that related to the assessment including recommendations.
The child will also have an opportunity to have equipment on a four week loan through the AbilityNet loan bank and includes collection and delivery costs. This will give you an opportunity to monitor their progress and also give families who may like to purchase equipment, to try before they buy.
Plus
TWO face to face training sessions
The AbilityNet consultant will come along to your service to carry out the training sessions.
“No Cost Adaption’s to Make the PC Accessible For Everyone“ – includes information on free resources available for pre-school children and easy adaption’s that you can make to the computer that can make a huge difference to anyone who has a physical, cognitive or sensory impairment.
“Early Years Switching and Early Communicators” – includes information on how to introduce and motivate a child to use a switch to access the computer and introducing children with speech and language difficulties to using very simple communication aids.
You can choose to have both training sessions on one day or two separate half day training sessions.
Or
ONE Day of Face to Face Assessments
FIVE one hour assessments at the same location in one day followed by a short report outlining the recommended solutions with prices and suppliers and giving a short overview of the strategies suggested to support implementation.
For further information on these support packages please e-mail preschool@abilitynet.org.uk or call our Advice and Information service on
0800 269 545.
Children in Control - Switch adapted play
Transcript of video
“We are actually visiting the Kool Kidz playgroup in Birmingham and we are here to see the children playing with the assistive technology toys which we (Excitim Limited) produced for them, which were supplied by the AbilityNet programme Play AT IT.”
Arnold The Snoring Pig - I snore and talk in my sleep
Cowley sings Old MacDonald had a farm
Making Computers easier to use
Free downloadable switch access software & websites offering free games and activities.
| Web Site | Description |
|---|---|
| www.tuxpaint.org/ | Free noisy painting program |
| www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf | Only one program but great for making a flower garden with a mouse or touch screen. |
| www.northerngrid.org/ngflwebsite/ sennew/sen_software.html |
SEN Switcher |
| www.oneswitch.org.uk/ | A resource with some great arcade style switch games. |
| www.helpkidzlearn.com | free games and activities from Inclusive Technology |
| www.inclusive.co.uk/downloads/downloads.shtml | Music Games, Talking Faces and SEN Switcher |
| http://priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/ resources/restop.htm |
Fun switch games designed by pupils with SEN. Also includes a Big Book Template to create your own talking books. |
| www.camgoo.com/content/uk/home.php | Download free demo software to use with a webcam. |
| www.symbolworld.org | SymbolWorld is a website created by Widgit Software, dedicated to people who use symbols. It has material for all ages and includes personal contributions, stories and learning materials. |
| www.playkidsgames.com | Free games to build mouse skills. Some games are particularly aimed at learning the alphabet. |
| www.starfall.com | Free learning games to build mouse skills. Would be great to use them in an inclusive setting where the teacher is playing the games with the children. |
| www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/drilldown/fun/3/1/1/ | Switch games and mouse &keyboard games to build skills. |
| www.allkids.co.uk/kids_pages/childrens_free_fun_sites.shtml | A site packed with lots of information surrounding children and PLAY including links to online stories and games. |
| http://rjcooper.com | A site that has a range of switch, mouse and keyboard activities that allows you to download and use FREE up to 7 times. |
Windows Vista Skillsheets for free download
The latest version of Microsoft Windows has been released and it’s called Windows Vista. If you are an old hand to Windows, or if you are completely new to PC’s, there is some learning required!
To help you get the very most out of your initial Vista set up we have created a range of Windows Vista specific skillsheets to help.
As always, these factsheets are free to download. However, we do ask that you make a text donation if you find them useful. Instructions are at the end of each skillsheet.
Skillsheets to download (all in PDF):
- Introduction to the Ease of Access Center
- Customising your display in Windows Vista
- Customising your mouse in Windows Vista
- Tuning your keyboard in Windows Vista
- Using the accessibility options in Windows Vista
Downloading documents
All our PDFs are made to be as accessible as possible.
Download a copy of the accessible version of Acrobat Reader.
Visit the Online conversion tools for Adobe PDF documents page which allows you to convert PDF documents into HTML or text formats.