Their suggestion was to use a laser pointer or penlight to cue a Dynavox user to properly use their device. The idea is that you are respecting the device as their voice and not touching it or blocking them from it with your arm and hand. The laser pointer can be used to guide them to an answer or action. It can also help someone who doesn't pick up on social cues know that they have an opportunity to respond and interact.
It works great with the Dynavox. I love being able to step back and not lean over Clara-Bear or reach across her during activities. The visual cue of the little red dot really draws her attention to what I'm talking about and she's not as easily distracted. I'm already using less hand over hand to keep her on task. I'm thinking of other ways I can use a laser pointer to provide cues and assistance so I can fade into the background and not dominate Clara-Bear's activities.
I don't have big hands, but when I'm pointing to words in the kids' books I feel like I have sausage fingers. I can never find a way to point without wondering if I'm blocking their view instead of drawing attention to a word or picture. I'm not going to use the laser pointer every time we read together, but I will definitely use it when I want to make sure Clara-Bear is focusing on specific things.
What are some other ways I might use the laser pointer? If I'm not sure Clara-Bear is really looking at the proper image on the screen during an educational dvd. We have just started doing color by numbers, so this will be a way to remind her where to keep her colors. To draw her attention to the next item in a series when she is following steps. During arts and crafts projects. And, as she gets older and her lessons get more formal, I might need to continue to use it to keep her focused on areas of an assignment page.
I tried the penlight first. The beam was too broad and white to be effective. The laser pointer and carabiner clip was $2.99 in the pet department of my grocery store. I was worried about distractions and safety if I set it down during an activity and one of the kids picked it up. The grocery store had a plastic coil keychain on sale for 75 cents. I wear the laser pointer on the keychain as a bracelet so I never have to set it down. The kids have been amazingly good about not trying to grab it. They are both too busy looking for the little red dot to care!
It's also helping my chronic back and neck pain - a lot less stooping. I'd love to hear how you plan to use a laser pointer or penlight to encourage independence, focus, and a higher level of functioning with your Special Needs child. Leave a comment so we can all learn together!
Our cute pink laser pointer is encouraging independence by letting Clara-Bear (and her TD brother) function without as much physical assistance - or even as much of my physical presence. I can stand back and facilitate instead of standing over to help. After years of guiding Clara-Bear's hands, going remote is a great feeling! A laser pointer. Who knew?
All of these links are to the Dynavox Mayer-Johnson website. You might have to register, but it's worth it. There are good tips here about facilitating communication - communication, not just speaking. There is also an online store, which is in my Directory of Toys and Supplies for Home Therapy because they offer a variety of therapy and educational products at reasonable prices. It's a good resource site.
AAC 101
Aphasia and AAC
Behavioral Supports for Individuals with Autism
Chain of Cues Video
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