Past projects 26
Technology Makes Things Possible
Funded Feb 26, 2012Thank you so much for your generous donation to this project. You allowed us to begin to fill our switch and technology library. So far this has helped the seven students in my classroom and also many of the other students in our school. Your donation gave us a variety of switches. One of our instant class favorites is a switch which not only activates other things but also lights up and vibrates. So much fun for all my students.
Our students have used their new switches, thus far, to:
make music play computer games scan through You Tube playlists play messages to others read "notes" sent home turn on the fan switch on the blender to cook turn on the shredder to help in the office activate lights and music to have a play about a book we read ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Making Music, Making Progress
Funded Dec 12, 2011We were so excited today to have our first music therapy session using our new instruments and adaptive instrument holders! We always love music therapy but it was even more fun using our new musical instruments. We used our new cabasa, lollipop drum and wave drum. The adaptive instrument holders made it so some of use could play all by ourselves for the first time ever!
We enjoyed the new cabasa and cabasa holder so much that one of the students even choose to play it during his break time later in the day! That is pretty exceptional since he is only able to use one hand and without the holder the cabasa is a two handed instrument! The gift of music and the gift of independence in one package! What could be more wonderful?
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generous donations to this project. We love our new instruments and adaptive holders and will use them for many years to come. You have made a huge difference in our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Shake That Groove Thing!
Funded Jan 1, 2011I am so excited to have this new Music Machine in my class room. In fact it is so exciting the local paper did a story on it!
With the Music Machine my students who have little ability to move or make music on there own can play percussion instruments but activating a switch. One young lady squeezes a switch to play the tambourine. Another young man presses the switch with his head to play the drum.
Imagine never being able to play an instrument or participate in music therapy and now having the chance! You gave my students that. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Scrapbooks
Funded Dec 15, 2010Scrapbooks are such a huge hobby right now. People spend time and money making fabulous displays of their memories. Scrapbooks are so much more for students who remember but cannot tell the takes of their memories and who have so few opportunities for becoming involved in hobbies.
My students are teens who are unable to speak or walk, but they love to share and laugh. Scrapbooking is an activity that lets us work on skills like communication, choice making, fine motor skills while being just like the other kids. In the end the students leave with a book of their memories to show to others.
Your gift made this happen.
Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
I've Got the Power!
Funded Feb 10, 2010To say I am astounded and flabbergasted with your generosity is an understatement. The difference this remote control switch will make in the lives of my students is immense.
The students in my class have multiple special needs. We use switches to access the computer with specialized learning software, to our environment such as lights and cooking appliances and to access sensory items. This wireless switch allow us to use anything from a blender or flour sifter to the computer with out cords on any of the multiple setting built into it. It is an expensive pieces of assistive technology my students would not have access to with out your donations.
You have impacted the lives of these students more than you can possibly know. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely, ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Avoid the Void! Something to Do During Down Time!
Funded Nov 6, 2009Thank you all so much for your generous contributions to our project! Avoid the Void brought so many wonderful sensory items into our classroom!
Just today we used at least three items you gave to us. The Mathmos Projector is aimed onto the ceiling over the bed where two students in our class take a break from sitting in their wheelchairs. Currently we have the "I Love NY" projector disc in it and the students love to watch the images pass over head. The fiber optic lamp is delightful to see, touch and listen to! It glows in time to the music and plays soothing sounds. One student chooses it as a reward and likes to sit and listen to the sound of crickets chirping! Finally the bolster is a comfortable sensory addition to our positioning area. We use it to keep students from bumping into the cold metal rails of the bed or to make them more comfortable with their legs up while positioning out of their wheelchairs.
Gifts like yours make what can be a boring experience, being out of your wheelchair and lying down, unable to participate as you would like, into a sensory experience.
Thanks so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Handy Hands
Funded Jun 15, 2009Fine motors skills can sometimes be the difference between dependence and independence. The ability to button a button, turn a door knob or even feed yourself all lie in the ability to work the small muscles in the hands and arms, while coordinating the upper body to remain upright.
Most of us learn these skills naturally, through play as children. For those with multiple disabilities it can take thousands of trials over a years and years to master a small skills like scooping with a spoon and bringing it to the mouth. The more opportunities my students have to build the muscles and coordination of their hands and arms the more likely they will become independent in these life skills.
The tools you gave us to work on our hand skills give my students just the opportunities they need to build these skills. One of the activities, the PVC and Beads Set has become one students favorite thing to do! Which is remarkable not only because fine motor skills are such a challenge to him, but also because he is blind and works through the tasks by touch alone.
Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Just Like the Other Kids
Funded Jun 18, 2009An iPod seems like such a little thing. Most teenagers in middle class America have one. Yet no one seems think to give an iPod touch to teenagers with multiple disabilities. Since the iPod you gave us arrived it has become the most used item in our classroom.
We use it for music, like anyone does, (especially with the addition of an application called Flick Tunes) but that is just the tip of the iceberg! One application we have loaded on is called Time Timer, it is a visual countdown timer and it allows a student in our room to see how long she has until she earns a reward for great behavior. When the Time Timer applauds (yes, applauds) we open an application called iStars which is an electronic star chart and give the student a star. After 10 stars the student has earned time to listen to music on the iPod.
Another application we have loaded is called Proloquo2Go or P2G for short. P2G is a picture based communication device for those who do not speak. Since none of my students speak this application gives them a voice!
In addition we have fun games like like Tune Matrix and Maracas! Our iPod is just about the best think going in our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Symbols Stimulate Student Success
Funded Jun 4, 2009Everyday my students come into the classroom excited for the day. I don't know of any other population of students that is so excited to learn. In spite, or maybe because of their multiple disabilities these students enjoy every minute of they spend engaged in the educational materials I put in front of them.
Of the students in my classroom all but one use wheelchairs for mobility, all but two have have vision impairment, all of the students have a history of, or in most cases, currently active epilepsy that impacts their life dramatically and all of my students have intellectual disabilities. None of my students are readers, but through the use of picture symbols materials can be adapted so that the students can better understand what they are being taught.
Through the materials you donated my students are able to access life skills, mathematics and science curriculum that uses symbols to enhance understanding. We have performed simple science experiments and used picture symbols to follow the instructions and create lab reports. We have done "story problems" in math using picture symbols. These materials bring academics that would not be accessible to my students in written form to them for use. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern
Cooking Up Some Learning
Funded Apr 19, 2009Thank you so much for your generous donation to my project. My students, teaching assistants and I are already learning from and enjoying your gift. So far we have made 'cook and serve' pudding, almond cake, apple coffee cake and this Friday we will be making a chicken casserole! My students are learning about cause and effect, measurement, following directions, safety and more during our weekly cooking lessons.
Having a full service oven is a real luxury, but add to that the blender/food processor and the visual recipe books and we are in business. The blender and food processor can both be operated using a switch, which is a large button students with physical disabilities can use to run toys and appliances. Being able to participate in cooking is this way is great for students who do not have the motor skills to pour or stir on their own. We use our special needs power converter and our switches to make batter, smoothies and more. We have such exciting plans for this school year using our recipe books and new appliances. It is all thanks to you. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ahern