Technology Tuesday

This week’s Technology Tuesday comes from Imagine!’s Assistive Technology Lab facilitator Stephanie Tilley shares five apps for tablets and mobile devices that may benefit individuals with a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Stephanie is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who has worked for Imagine! for more than 10 years, and is the author of “101 Adapted Games for Kids,” which provides adaptations for children’s activities to create inclusive activities and environments. 

This week I’d like to highlight a program that we use on the computer called Boardmaker Studio. Boardmaker Studio is part of a family of programs which include Boardmaker, Boardmaker Plus, Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamic Pro, and Boardmaker Studio. Boardmaker Studio is a design program that lets you make and adapt curriculum materials for clients who need symbols to support their participation. Teachers and staff can use the program to make computer activities or printed materials. There is also access to an online community that allows teachers to share templates or projects that have been made using Boardmaker. Many of the activities shared include schedules or teaching on life skills topics.

We have used the program in a variety of ways, but there are two ways that I would like to highlight. First, we are using Boardmaker on the computer during our cause and effect class. This class is set up to help teach and support clients in learning the basic communication by pressing switches to activate preferred activities. I was able to set up a variety of activities individualized to the different client’s preferences using the Boardmaker Studio program.

 Another way that we have used the software is to set up a printed schedule for a client to use at work. We took pictures of supplies that are used in his work setting to help him complete his work. Each of these real life pictures was imported into the Boardmaker Studio software and organized into schedules. The schedules were printed and laminated and combined into a book for the client. Each day he gets his book, looks at the supplies that he needs to gather, and starts on his cleaning schedule. He can reference the book throughout the day and complete his job more thoroughly and more independently.