APE

APE is a physical education class that has been modified appropriately for students with disabilities. It helps develop a child’s motor skills, flexibility, balance, endurance, strength and confidence.

The benefits of APE for students with disabilities include:
- Increased independence

-  Participation in age appropriate activities

- Strengthening of the core

- Development of listening skills and teamwork

- Learning strategic planning and implementation

- Improved health from physical activity

- Increased coordination and cognitive functioning

We spoke with Mr. Donald C., an APE teacher

May 14th- Apraxia Awareness Day!

Today is Apraxia Awareness Day. Apraxia is a motor speech disorder where a person has trouble forming specific movements of their tongue, lips, jaw, and palate making it difficult for them to speak. Children with apraxia understand language but they have difficulty in transmitting their thoughts to create the correct muscle movements that would allow for speech.

Some early warning signs of apraxia in young children may be, but are not limited to:

- The child's first words are delayed

- The child may be leaving out sounds in the words they are trying to express

- The child has difficulty in combining sounds

- The child does does not babble at all as an infant

(More information about childhood apraxia may be found at www.asha.org)

It is important for your child to be evaluated by a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) if you feel they  may have a speech problem. Children who are diagnosed with apraxia receive therapy to help them learn the correct muscle coordination they need to speak. Initially or in more severe cases, children will rely on other sources to help them communicate, such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devces (AAC) or sign language.

An AAC device such as a  7-Level Communication Builder, is a transitional communicator which allows for a child to express themselves.  The 7 Level Communication Builder gives them the opportunity to grow with the device since it can be programmed from one message to sixteen messages on different levels. Another communicator that may be used is the Visual Speech Trainer which not only allows a child to hear a pre-recorded message but it also allows them to use the attached mirror to see and imitate the movements for formulating speech.

Communication devices are helpful tools not only for children with apraxia but for any individual who needs help expressing themselves.

10 Products for Your Child's Sensory Diet

Sensory diets are activities that help a person stay focused and organized. These are designed by an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory processing disorders. Here are a list of 10 products that can help with your child's sensory diet at home!

1. Skin Massager #3123

2. Crash Pad #3139

3. Weighted Blanket #3941

4. Vibrating Seal #9300

5. Classroom Fidget Kit #4393

6. Portable CD Player w/radio #3414

7. Hanging Chair #2090

8. Aromatherapy Fan #123

9. Chew Set #3071

10. Plasma Orb #9119

Halloween: Some helpful tips on having a safe and healthy spooky-fest!

Halloween is a fun exciting time where kids get to be kids; dress-up, eat lots of candy, stay out till after dark... sounds fun right? For special needs parents this can be a major task that takes lots of planning, organizing and patience.

Have you picked out a costume yet? There are many great ideas for costumes that involve wheelchairs. Here is a very creative costume of an ice cream truck! Carter, a little boy with spina bifida has one awesome dad! Not only does he get to participate in all the Halloween festivities, but he also has the coolest costume!

Here are some other creative costumes!

If your child has Halloween anxiety make sure you show them your game plan before you head out trick-or-treating. Practicing the process is a great way to get them adjusted to the night ahead. Also, always remember that you can choose to have your child help you pass out candy. They will get to dress-up and still be in the comfort of their own home.

There are also many other fall traditions that can help ease into the "Spooky" season, like pumpkin carving, apple picking, hayrides and arts & crafts that can be done at home!

What are your plans for this Halloween? Have a costume you want to share? Email us enablingdevices@gmail.com!

iPads, Tablets, Accessories & More! Back by Popular Demand, Plus Much More!

Last August we interviewed Vinny our Tech Support Manager/Product Specialist. He enlightened us about all the wonderful tech products that are available. To see the post from last August please click here.

Today Vinny is going to share with us some more new products and he is going to answer questions about adapted electronics.

Enabling Devices Blogger: I know that you sell a touch screen stylus, but do you carry a stylus option that doesn't require hand movement?

Vinny: We recently developed item 9098 Adjustable Touch Screen Mouth Stylus. It adjusts from 8½" to 15". This stylus is controlled by your mouth and does require some head control. The plastic bite has rubber sleeves which allows the bite plate to fit firmly and comfortably in your mouth. We do include an extra set of thermoplastic rubber sleeves with the product.

#9089

EDB: Do you carry software or hardware for the iPad that will control a TV?

V: Similar to item 1041 Switchamajig, we have a brand new product 1042 IR Switchamajig. This interface works in conjunction with a free app and can control anything that uses an infrared remote control such as; TV, stereo, DVD and Blu-ray player or a camcorder. You can select the remote control buttons that you want displayed on the iPad, you can also adjust the size. This is a great item that can give independence to many individuals.

#1042

We also sell item 5161/5162 Mounted TV Remote Control. This remote is universal and compatible with most TV, cable and satellite systems. What I like about this product is that it can be mounted to any wheelchair, tabletop or bedrail.

#5161/5162

EDB: What other adapted electronics do you carry that can either be mounted on a wheelchair or places on a wheelchair tray?

V: We actually just released a brand new item: an adapted DVD player. This item is flying off the shelf! We sell this two ways- 1578 Adapted DVD Player and 1579 Adapted DVD Player w/Mounting Arm. We adapted two functions so the user can select pause and play using their switch. It has a colored LCD widescreen display, integrated stereo speakers, headphone jacks, multiple languages, subtitles and parental controls. There are 2.3 hours of playtime and the device is rechargeable. This item can be used anywhere; school, home or even in the car. We had one customer tell us that this product was perfect for lunch time in her classroom.

#1578/1579

Lastly I want to mention item 5900 Sony CD Control Center. This is a great tabletop CD player. We added six 2½" gumball switches on the device so a user who is visually impaired can use the product. The switches control volume, forward and backward, play and pause, and stop. There is a built-in speaker which has excellent sound quality and also a jack for headphones or ear buds which are included.

#5900

EDB: Thank you Vinny for your time today and for all this great information. 

If you have any further questions about anything we discussed please feel free to email Vinny at customer_support@enablingdevices.com.

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." - Vince Lombardi

www.enablingdevices.com

It's that time of year again- Some helpful Thanksgiving Tips!

Thanksgiving is a special time of year where we spend time with family and friends and reflect on what we are grateful for. It is important to introduce your traditions to your family and maybe create some new ones for your child with special needs. Make them feel involved and let them know they can participate in all the holiday fun!

Here are some helpful tips for Turkey Day!

- Your child won't eat turkey? It's OK! Let them have whatever they usually eat for dinner, even if it means they will be having chicken nuggets. If this will make your child feel more comfortable, and quite frankly make it easier for you, then go for it! Thanksgiving isn't just about the turkey!

- You don't have to conform to the "norm". What is the "norm" anyway? Let your child pick out their own outfit. Don't worry if it doesn't match, they will be happy that they were included in the decision making process.

- Make sure your child still gets their own down time during the day. Maybe think about bringing their favorite movie or music to listen to. This will help calm them down during all the holiday chaos. 

- Think about hosting the holiday at your house. Your child will be the most comfortable on their own turf. Change is very hard for some children and by having the dinner at your own house it is one less variable for them to get used to. Divide up the meal among your guests so all the pressure isn't on you.

What are your plans for this Thanksgiving?

What are your holiday traditions? 

Also if you have any helpful tips for the holidays please feel free to share!

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

"Gratitude is an inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is following that impulse." - Henry Van Dyke

www.enablingdevies.com

#NikeLetter

Matthew Walzer a 16 year old junior from Parkland, FL had a brain injury when he was born which caused him to have Cerebral Palsy. Matthew explains in his blog that he has overcome many obstacles in his life. His parents were told that he would never walk and if he ever did talk he would have a major speech impediment. Beating all odds, Matthew can walk (independently at home and with the help of crutches at school) and he never had problems with his speech. His strong passions for writing and journalism helped motivate him to excel in school with a 3.9 grade point average, and he plans to go to college in the future.

Although there is one challenge he is still trying to master- trying his shoes, "My dream is to go to the college of my choice without having to worry about someone coming to tie my shoes everyday."

Matthew reached out to the CEO of Nike Mark Parker and wrote him a letter asking to create a shoe that is better suited for a physically challenged individual. Matthew only wears Nike sneakers because of the support that he needs, "If Nike would design and produce basketball and running shoes with moderate support and some kind of closure system that could be used by everyone, Nike could create a shoe line that attracts people that face the same physical challenges I did and still do, yet it could still be possible for anyone to wear them."

Within 48 hours after writing the letter, it went viral, #NikeLetter and he received an unbelievable amount of support. Parker responded to Matthew and is now working with a team to create an existing shoe that still gives him the support he needs but redesigning it so it can be closed with Velcro. He is hoping the sneakers will be on his feet in no time!

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." -Wayne Gretzky

www.enablingdevices.com