A weekly half hour chat focused on improving access to education for PK-12 students through the use of Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Assistive Technology (AT).
Hi! Rachel from the PATINS Project here! Broadcasting live from Franklin Indiana! Funniest thing a kid said to me was "I thought this was a barber shop" right after he chopped off the back of my hair! #PatinsIcam
Welcome back friends! @PATINSPROJECT is so glad to be chatting again! I'm Daniel, PATINS State Director, former SpEd. T, Para, Behav. Therapist.
Thanks for being here! #PatinsIcam
I am Kelli the PATINS Specialist in Indiana of #autism, SLD, Chrome Accessibility, AEM & AT #UDL Integration. Also ur Moderator 4 this evening! Funniest line from a student: "R u growing a mustache?" #PatinsIcam [GIF woman with mustache]
Julie Kuhn PATINS Specialist for Orthopedic Access to the curriculum and AAC Device Access. A student responded when a co-worker showed him a stern face and said, this is not a happy face. He smiled and said, "THIS is a happy face". #PatinsIcam
Sheila Hobbs, Richmond Community Schools. I have lots of crazy things kids said... I worked in Alt Ed, thereforee I can't put it on Social Media. #PatinsIcam
A1: Seating and positioning can be the game changer for S focus. U could consider changing the term flexible seating to "learning tools." That is essentially what the seating becomes. #PatinsIcam
A1: Ss learn differently and are engaged in different ways, including how they sit! We need to provide a wide array of offerings to get the best out of them! #PatinsIcam
Jen Conti, Data&Outreach with PATINS. Hoping I can keep up with my first Tweet Chat in Noblesville. Funniest thing - S said to me "I'm the big dawg" and walked away. #PatinsIcam
A1: Because I (and most teachers I know) rarely sit in the same place from one hour or day to the next. What makes us think Ss are any different. #PatinsIcam
A2: Indoor tents with soft lighting. Can be a sheet draped over a table with some pillows underneath or a refrigerator box transformed into a reading rocket #PatinsIcam
Kelli Robertson - SLP origins... turned Autism Consultant... turned AT coach. Parent of #2e unique thinkers. Engineer of Ss supports & environments. One student said, "Whoa... you look a lot older than your picture on your badge." 😄#PatinsIcam
A2: Lots of textures and levels of support. I like to see chairs on the floor level...just saw off those legs! Don't forget to include traditional chairs too...some kids still prefer them! #PatinsIcam
Come see my home office! I have a kneeling chair that rocks and a mushroom ball chair! I like anything that moves! I have never been more comfortable on the floor than in a #HowdaHug seat. You can borrow one of those. The other 2 are off limits! #PatinsIcam
A2: Some alternative seating I use in my classroom are.. beach chairs, pillows and mats on the floor, office rolling chairs, therapy balls, and...free standing... I have trouble sitting still so that’s my favorite! #PatinsIcam
A3: The STUDENTS! Just ask them their preferences and maintain that student centered environment. Appyling student voice is a powerful thing #PatinsIcam
A3: Students...ALWAYS the Ss. The parents, the OT, PT, SLP, and the admin and school board who can potentially help fund some additional flexible seating. #PatinsIcam
A2: I love a variety of options. Bed risers on desk legs can create standing desks. Just remember that flexible seating can be overwhelming for Ss with #anxiety. Might give just 2-3 options for those Ss, embed student feedback & option to change. #patinsicam
BLV teacher should test functional vision in a variety of seating --will help identify field loss, or possible mild cortical visual quirks. #PatinsIcam
A4: Take data after intro time and guide Ss through their own data, helping them to make informed decisions about their own success with various seating options. #PatinsIcam
A4: Create an expected and unexpected use of seating with ur Ss and have it posted. Explain that seating should be their secondary focus and not primary focus to ensure their best learning. #PatinsIcam
A4 Before you introduce it, set expectations. But in reality, if it is normal, part of your room. Kids will treat it just as though it belongs. #PatinsIcam
A4: I model the types of flexible seating and we discuss how and why we might use each type as a class community. Students and staff have to be mindful and respectful of learners and learning space. #PatinsIcam
BLV teacher should test functional vision in a variety of seating --will help identify field loss, or possible mild cortical visual quirks. #PatinsIcam
A3: Students! Build student self-advocacy early. Have a convo, build in feedback (private feedback if #anxiety), and let parents know the goal of flexible seating and giving student choice. #patinsicam
A4: Always, always do expected-unexpected chart. Video modeling of how to use can also be fun & engage Ss in setting boundaries of how to use new materials/equipment. #patinsicam
A5: Model it. Offer relevant examples of how they felt during the most uncomfortable seating/positioning they have experienced and reflect on how that felt physically AND mentally #PatinsIcam
A5: I'd simply ask them how often they sit in the same place to work every day to produce their best ideas and secondly, if they are pleased with the achievement results they are currently getting from ALL students. #PatinsIcam
A5: I had the pleasure of listening to 7th graders commenting on a newly "UDLified" room. "I wish this was my class." "I would love to learn in here" "I wish my job was designing classrooms like this." Listening to them validated all of the research for me! #PatinsIcam
A4: love the ground rules and modeling ideas. Can be taken a step further with older Ss by beginning the process of choosing the seating, show catalogues and prices, have them determine what is in the budget to be purchased, and create a sense of shared responsibility #PatinsIcam
A4: love the ground rules and modeling ideas. Can be taken a step further with older Ss by beginning the process of choosing the seating, show catalogues and prices, have them determine what is in the budget to be purchased, and create a sense of shared responsibility #PatinsIcam
A6: No and if you do not have a Pinterest account...put that on top of your list of to dos. I like exercise bands on chair legs and stand up desks! #PatinsIcam
A6: fb market place... tell the seller that you are teacher and what you plan to do with it and they are likely to give it to you for free! #patinsicam
A7: I think some would think it is crazier...and it might be the first few days...but it becomes the norm and suddenly your Ss are REGULATING. Hmmmm..#PatinsIcam
A7: In my speech room, the rule was safe and I had I see your mouth. I had a student that wanted to kneel away from me with a mirror for me to see his mouth. Why? No idea, but for that month he was engaged and felt safe, get creative with management! It's worth it! #PatinsIcam
A5: I try to make apparent the neurodiversity of adults & get some perspective-taking activated. Maybe collect a little visual data (e.g., photos) of Ts sitting/standing in varied positions. #patinsicam
A7: A "managed" class should be redefined from ...facing the front, hands up to speak, sitting in assigned location, and seeking out visual, tactile, or auditory feedback in less socially appropriate ways will likely decrease. #PatinsIcam
A6 grab those lawn chair cushions that flew off a truck into a ditch of they don't come claim them, instant seating. My anxious angry kids love yo build a square around themselves. #PatinsIcam
