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Open Labs - Access Fairs

The Bridge School’s Open Labs - Access Fairs are great opportunities for professionals, students, and families to have hands-on experience with state-of-the art assistive technologies, adapted toys and games, and specialized software and equipment to enhance participation, communication, learning and recreation. At these Fairs, everyone will be encouraged to interact with professionals, peers, and children or adults who use the assistive technologies and to share their information and experiences with the group.

The Bridge School staff and family members will be providing ideas, demonstrations, guidance and hands on experience with a variety of the creative adaptations and solutions that open up new possibilities for individuals with access challenges.

This year, two separate events are scheduled and will focus on 1) adapted toys and games, and 2) commercially available assistive technologies. See schedule below. Everyone is welcome to come explore, play and learn!

Date	November 19, 2011 Access Fair: Adapting Toys and Games	March 24, 2012 Access Fair: AAC/AT Vendors
Location	North Hillsborough Elementary School 545 Eucalyptus Avenue Hillsborough, CA 94010 Directions and parking information Click to view in Google Maps	North Hillsborough Elementary School 545 Eucalyptus Avenue Hillsborough, CA 94010 Directions and parking information Click to view in Google Maps
Room	Multi-Purpose Room	Multi Purpose Room (located on upper campus near Crocker Middle School) 2600 Ralston Avenue Hillsborough, CA 94010
Schedule	Morning session 9:00 – 10:30 Presentation: Adapting Toys and Games Presenters: Christine Wright-Ott and Peggy Barker 10:30 – 12:00 Adapted Toy Share: come explore adapted toys and equipment or bring something you have adapted already to share. Afternoon session 1:00 – 2:30 Presentation (Repeated): Adapting Toys and Games Presenters: Christine Wright-Ott and Peggy Barker 2:30 – 4:00 Adapted Toy Share (Repeated): come explore adapted toys and equipment or bring something you have adapted already to share.	9:00 – 9:45 Follow Their Lead and Language Will Come Presenter: Joan Sharp, Regional Consultant, PRC 11:00 – 11:45 InterAACt Language Software Presenter: Christopher T. Salvo San Francisco Bay Area Representative DynaVox Mayer-Johnson 12:00 – 12:45 iPad as an AAC Tool Presenters: Peggy Barker, Rehabilitation Engineer, Bridge School Consultant Holly Hamilton, SLP, The Bridge School 1:00 – 1:45 The Sono Suite Toolkit From visual scenes to phrase prediction:  Where does your AAC user fit on the Sono Suite Continuum? Presenter: Susan Hearn M.S., CCC-SLP Regional Sales Consultant Tobii Assistive Technology, Inc. 3:00 – 3:45 Funding for AAC Devices Presenter: Christopher T. Salvo San Francisco Bay Area Representative DynaVox Mayer-Johnson
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Flyer	Download, print and distribute the flyer [860KB, PDF]	Download, print and distribute the flyer [PDF, 221KB]

Adapting Toys and Games

At the first Open Lab - Access Fair: Toys and Games, parents and caregivers are invited to bring games and toys they have purchased for their children and need ideas/strategies for adapting them for easy access. Bridge School parents will take the lead in offering suggestions on fun, appropriate toys and games, demonstrating how they have adapted toys for their children and providing guidance in toy selections that can be readily modified. A couple of dads will share how they’ve adapted or constructed “big” toys like tricycles, scooters, go-carts, and all-terrain wheelchairs. Get ready for the holiday giving!

We are thrilled to have Christine Wright-Ott, occupational therapist, and Peggy Barker, Rehabilitation Engineer, to share their vast experiences during this first Access Fair. Christine and Peggy both worked at Stanford Rehabilitation Engineering Center and now are consultants to The Bridge School. Both Christine and Peggy are internationally known professionals in the field of physical impairments, physical access and mobility.

AAC/AT Vendors

At the second Open Lab - Access Fair: AAC/AT Vendors, local and national vendors of devices to assist in communication and education will answer questions and have devices available for hands on. This will give you an excellent opportunity to explore the new technology, talk with representatives from the various manufacturing companies, and discuss your child/adult’s needs with people who are knowledgeable and who will be available for follow-up. Representatives will also be giving presentations on a range of topics related to AAC.

For further information contact the outreach program staff at: .