Final Adaptation Project Walk Through
Can do profile:
Student: Paul
Setting: Grade 1 classroom
Age group: Age 6
As seen below in my discrepancy analysis for Paul, he can:
identify letters and shapes
locate items on a paper
follow simple directions
use his fine and gross motor skills with minor level of control
hold a marker and a paper in place
copy modeled behavior, may need repetitions.
Adaptation:
The adaptation I have created for Paul will facilitate his ability to write, color, and draw. Due to Dandy Walker Syndrome, Paul has a hard time controlling his arm movements while trying to hold and move a writing utensil. When I noticed the weakness in his arms during writing and coloring, I contacted the Occupational Therapist to see what she would do when she encounters this problem. The OT said that she usually just rolls up a towel to support the arm while the student writes. I found that this was an okay solution, but that it didn't allow for mobility for the student while actually trying to engage those motor skills and move his arm. I created an orthotic support that the student's arms fits into, and while the student rests their arm in the support, they can roll it around and manipulate their arm, wrist and hand during writing, coloring or drawing.
Rationale:I chose this adaptation for Paul for a few different reasons. He is a smaller child. He is developmentally smaller than other students his age, and this would require a smaller device to modify so he made a good choice for this reason. He has significant writing challenges. That is, his handwriting is very difficult to read, even for himself. He cannot control his arms and legs very well, and when he is grasping a marker (less of a pencil hold, and just a full hand grab), his brain is telling his arm where he wants it to go but he just flails around, unable to get his arm to meet the table and then the assignment. We made the device with a pineapple design as the student loves to identify every day shapes and objects, fruits being amongst a favorite.
Construction Directions:
Materials: Yoga Block Tools:
10" x 10" of fabric screwdriver
4 small casters serrated knife
1 bag of polyfil Glue gun
8 1/2 inch screws
Directions:
1. Begin by measuring your student's arm width and
circumference.
2. Using that information, cut off 2 inches from the end of your yoga block using the serrated knife.
3. Mark a 1/2 in in from the edges of all uncut sides.
4. Using those marks, create a semi-circle (where the student's arm will rest) and carve that space out from the center of the
yoga block. Be sure to leave 1/2 inch in all directions.
5. Lay a bead of hot glue down the center of your newly excavated trench on your yoga block.
6. Lay the center of an 8x8 inch square of your fabric on the hot glue and press down to secure.
7. Wrap the remaining fabric around the outside of your shape.
8. Secure any loose edges with hot glue.
9. On either side of the trench, insert polyfill to create a cushion where the student's arm will lay and fit into the groove. Use
more than you think to help it secure around the student's arm.
10. Using an 1 1/2 inch of the remaining fabric to cover the edge of the casters. Secure with glue gun.
11. Measure out even placement of the casters on the underside of the block. Be sure to space them out so the block doesn't
wobble, and will support your student's arm weight successfully.
12. Place a hot glue dot, apply the casters while the glue is hot, and screw into place.
13. Test the device with your student, and adjust accordingly. I did find that my casters were too big for certain students, and a
smaller version would have been more accessible for more students.
Instructional Plan with Data Collection Method
My time with Paul is weekly, and due to his young age, we often trade through the activities that we complete. We call this activity my "invention time" and Paul loves it. Normally, he avoids coloring but when it's invention time, he pulls out his markers and gets ready to practice his fine motor skills. His data is collected on a spreadsheet that I have created for remote/in-person goal tracking.
paul_sample_kid.docx | |
File Size: | 27 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Self-Evaluation:
Overall, I really enjoyed this project. I was able to create something that worked to improve the way that my student works in the classroom. Though this is necessarily vision related, the handwriting skills that my student needs are not, and will his neuromuscular disorder, this is going to be an area where he will continually need help. The only real change that I would have made would have been being able to adjust and size the casters different so I could use it successfully with more than one student.
Overall, I really enjoyed this project. I was able to create something that worked to improve the way that my student works in the classroom. Though this is necessarily vision related, the handwriting skills that my student needs are not, and will his neuromuscular disorder, this is going to be an area where he will continually need help. The only real change that I would have made would have been being able to adjust and size the casters different so I could use it successfully with more than one student.
Mid-Semester check-in: 10/25/2020
My chosen student for my project is on my ASDB caseload, so I work with him weekly for at least 30 minutes. So we have had more than 10 observations.
I do have preliminary ideas for my adaptation project. My student has a neuromuscular disorder and his arm strength for writing isn't really what it should be. One of his IEP goals is to trace the outline of a shape but his arm sort of flails around in space. I am developing a moving arm support to increase handwriting muscle memory. I did ask the OT what they would normally do for this issue but she said they just use a rolled up towel or blanket, which doesn't move and can make handwriting more challenging.
My chosen student for my project is on my ASDB caseload, so I work with him weekly for at least 30 minutes. So we have had more than 10 observations.
I do have preliminary ideas for my adaptation project. My student has a neuromuscular disorder and his arm strength for writing isn't really what it should be. One of his IEP goals is to trace the outline of a shape but his arm sort of flails around in space. I am developing a moving arm support to increase handwriting muscle memory. I did ask the OT what they would normally do for this issue but she said they just use a rolled up towel or blanket, which doesn't move and can make handwriting more challenging.
Modeled Student: Samuel
kreed_online_udl_adaptations_framework_chart_sam__1_.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
My Student's Adaptations Framework
kreed__do_it__serp_515_own_student.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Unit 6: Do It!
Adaptation #1: Prodigy Near and Far Electronic Magnifier
Uses: This magnification system is fantastic for anyone from the basic elementary school user to the older adult student. The Prodigy magnifier includes a Bluetooth zoom camera for spotting those far away objects like the teacher's notes on the board; and it also has close up magnification, where you can lay the paper under the dangling tablet, and you can pinch zoom the paper or object you are looking at. This also has an OCR screen reader, which allows you to take a picture of ANY text, and it will convert it all to readable text to speech for your student with visual impairments.
Who?: This would be good for anyone who could use a video magnifier. It is good for use in academic subjects (reading, writing. It is internet compatible so you can email your teachers your completed assignments!) It could also be great for an older adult with a hobby that requires near to far gaze shifting, such as embroidery. Finally, if you're worried about not being too tech savvy, the Prodigy is easy to assemble and use after the first initial setup.
Adaptation #2: BookShare (Read2Go)
Uses: Bookshare is an online website/app that allows you to assign students texts that can be provided in many different formats. Books available can include academic texts as well as leisure reading and informational texts. Once the book is assigned and the student has downloaded it onto the appropriate device, they can have the book delivered to them in their most accessible mode.
Who?: But what does that mean? Most accessible mode? Well, BookShare can deliver the book to a refreshable braille display that can display .brf files. It can deliver the book in a visual form to a tablet or phone, that allows you to pinch zoom/enlarge the text. Finally, you can also have the text delivered in an audio form, that allows the learner to listen to the text they are trying to read. This app is great and is really only limited by your imagination and the books they have in their servers. Students with any diagnosed disabilities receive a Read2Go account free, indefinitely.
Adaptation #1: Prodigy Near and Far Electronic Magnifier
Uses: This magnification system is fantastic for anyone from the basic elementary school user to the older adult student. The Prodigy magnifier includes a Bluetooth zoom camera for spotting those far away objects like the teacher's notes on the board; and it also has close up magnification, where you can lay the paper under the dangling tablet, and you can pinch zoom the paper or object you are looking at. This also has an OCR screen reader, which allows you to take a picture of ANY text, and it will convert it all to readable text to speech for your student with visual impairments.
Who?: This would be good for anyone who could use a video magnifier. It is good for use in academic subjects (reading, writing. It is internet compatible so you can email your teachers your completed assignments!) It could also be great for an older adult with a hobby that requires near to far gaze shifting, such as embroidery. Finally, if you're worried about not being too tech savvy, the Prodigy is easy to assemble and use after the first initial setup.
Adaptation #2: BookShare (Read2Go)
Uses: Bookshare is an online website/app that allows you to assign students texts that can be provided in many different formats. Books available can include academic texts as well as leisure reading and informational texts. Once the book is assigned and the student has downloaded it onto the appropriate device, they can have the book delivered to them in their most accessible mode.
Who?: But what does that mean? Most accessible mode? Well, BookShare can deliver the book to a refreshable braille display that can display .brf files. It can deliver the book in a visual form to a tablet or phone, that allows you to pinch zoom/enlarge the text. Finally, you can also have the text delivered in an audio form, that allows the learner to listen to the text they are trying to read. This app is great and is really only limited by your imagination and the books they have in their servers. Students with any diagnosed disabilities receive a Read2Go account free, indefinitely.