Update February 2018: This Handwriting/Writing AT Survey is Still Active: Calling all OT, AT, special educators and other professionals working with children and adults with writing limitations:
Could you please take and share a quick 10 question (multiple choice) survey for an upcoming presentation I’m performing regarding the use of handwriting/writing assistive technology supports? It’d be greatly appreciated.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HDFMPG3
Molly Shannon, MS, OTR/L, ATP
What If Children Should Be Spending More Time With Screens? – By Christopher Mims of The Washington Post
A must read! Lots of key points about passive vs active learning, opportunities for extraordinary learning and balance. Interesting that the title of the actual newspaper article was “Not All Screen Time is Equal” versus the title seen in social media on Twitter which was the more invocative “What if Children Should Be Spending More Time With Screens?” Obviously a lot of negative comments with that tweet as written.
I truly have followed the concepts noted in this article my whole life with my children, grandchildren, and my students with disabilities. Always encouraging educational and creative aspects with use of technology as well as working on self-esteem, social interaction, and independence.
The old adage of our grandparents rings ever true today with regards to technology “Everything in moderation.”
Great new longitudinal research about eye-gaze AT with showed that the children improved in time on task after 5 months and became more accurate in selecting targets after 15–20 months. This study indicates that these children with severe physical impairments, who were unable to speak, could improve in eye gaze performance. However, the children needed time to practice on a long-term basis to acquire skills needed to develop fast and accurate eye gaze performance.
Excellent article and blog about hand function from Seekfreaks! Mentions the need for implementing early use of compensatory methods and AT early on with those children with CP as a result of MACS.
Understanding the importance of the GMFCS, a group of doctors, professor, OTs and PT in Sweden developed the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) “to
Source: ARTICLE REVIEW: Can Hand Function Be Predicted in Children with CP?
Wow! As OTs we know this, but I also think it is less recesUs,lless PE, less outdoor play, less unstructured play, more finger foods, and less play in general! A must read.