If you’re trying to figure out the ins and outs of picture schedules and picture boards, get some actual pictures to use, get a home learning area or classroom set up, find some ideas for home art projects, come up with cheap but good learning activities, or keep saying to yourself, “is there someplace I can download and print something like that?” (whatever ‘that’ is) there’s a good chance that Do2Learn is the place you want to go first.
Their web site is a gold mine. You can wander around it for hours and regularly find yourself saying, “Wow, they have that too!” I found all kinds of stuff we needed, but I also came across things I wouldn’t have ever thought of needing until I saw they had it. How cool is that?
Best thing – most of the resources on their site are free. There are some products for sale, too, that look both good and affordable if you decide you need them.
This site is geared toward serving a broad range of special needs, not just autism. What they provide is brilliant. Here are just a few of the resources I found:
* Picture Cards – If you’ve made it to the clip art and line drawings phase of your picture exchange communication system (PECS), go here and make you some cards! (Cool bonus feature – Cards for doctors and the doctor’s office)
* Activity schedules – among the people we’ve been talking to lately, everybody and, well, their mother has been wondering about how to set up picture boards and schedules. Here’s a really simple introduction to the idea behind the ‘3-D object to pictures to word’ progression model I’ve talked about before.
* Home Teaching Kits – simple, decent learning activities you can make for probably less than 50 cents and likely from stuff you already have around your house.
* Organize a classroom – designed more for schools but parents can crib plenty of ideas from this for classrooms at home (e.g., dig the storage suggestions)
* Free Online Learning Games and Songs – Is just what it says, nice learning games and songs geared toward special needs kids; really cool ones: Facial Expressions (simulates facial expressions and emotions) and the Feelings Game (help kids know how facial expressions and emotions relate in social situations).
Do2Learn has information ranging from introductory-level to very in-depth materials. This site also gives you plenty of starting points from which to say, “Hey, that’s cool. Let me go look up more about this” and get some new ideas on what to try out yourself at home with your kids.
Bonus tip of the week – if you need photos or artwork for your home picture boards, try Google Images. You can find photos, clip art, and drawings for just about anything you can imagine. Heck I discovered that our very own picture board (the actual photo I took) is up there. As long as you use them in your home and don’t put them up on your web site or sell them or try to pass them off as yours or something, most of them don’t care if you print them out and use them on your board at home.
Have fun!
Posts that hopefully are similar:
- Think All Flash Cards Are Alike? Think Again! – A Review of Goosie Cards
- Shoebox and Folder Games
- Handy Handouts
- Our Version of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in Action!
- What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like Now? (Part 2)
- Assistive Technology Resource for People in NC
- Structured Learning at Home and Reward Pellets
