Emerging Literacy Through Assistive Technology
By Beck, Jennifer; Teaching Exceptional Children, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 44-48Publication Date: November/December 2002
Study conducted to determine how assistive technology (AT) affected the emergent literacy of ten preschool children who were three years old with multiple disabilities. The children were monitored when using the following AT in the study: (1) Picture Communication Symbols, which were used to teach vocabulary related to the book or theme of the week, (2) adapted books, (3) a BIGmack switch, which is a single-message communication device that was programmed to repeat a storyline, and (4) a computer with Intellikeys, Intellipics, Overlay Maker, and an alternative keyboard. When using Intellipics, an electronic book was prepared that allowed the children to activate a single switch that would take him or her through the entire book. The program turns the page, speaks the text, and provides descriptive multimedia. The authors contend that the AT interventions utilized in the program helped to improve skills that are necessary for emergent literacy. Implications for further use of AT in the classroom are discussed.
Assistive Products Discussed: INTELLIKEYS
OVERLAY MAKER
BIGMACK COMMUNICATOR
INTELLIPICS
PICTURE COMMUNICATION SYMBOLS BOOK I, II, III & PICTURE COMMUNICATION SYMBOLS COMPLETE SET
Published by:
Council for Exceptional Children (Web Site: http://www.cec.sped.org )
