National Assistive Technology Awareness Day
As of March 2019, the United States Congress designated March 27th as National Assistive Technology Awareness Day. They stated that “assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities and older adults.” Why have a day recognizing Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology, which includes various types of tech and devices, provides emotional and mental benefits to everyone who uses it, regardless of age and abilities. It’s up to each of us to foster a culture of inclusive innovation and build awareness around the devices that make life easier for all. At Time Timer, our mission is to empower everyone to conquer time, and we are proud to offer Assistive Technology products.
The Time Timer family of products are defined as Intuitive Assistive Tech. Time Timer believes in creating products that truly help people of all ages and abilities to conquer time – in the classroom, in the home, and in the office. While time can be a challenge for everyone, we aim to provide intuitive and innovative solutions that make a real difference.
Independent Learning at Home for all Ages and Cognitive Abilities
Now that many students are required to do their schoolwork from home, this can be a scary and confusing time, especially for students who need additional help in academics. Assistive Technology is crucial for continuing a high-level education at home for students of all abilities. Luckily, many Assistive Technology tools are available in the home as well as in school. Time Timer is one of those tools and is a great place to start with your child when creating a new at-home school routine. Providing this simple accommodation at home that your child is used to seeing at school can support stability in this new learning environment for your child.
An Educator’s Perspective
We spoke to Anita Long about Assistive Technology. Anita has been an educator for the past 16 years and works specifically with students with dyslexia. Anita uses Time Timer products both in the classroom and one-on-one with students. She finds that utilizing a Time Timer visual timer provides a framework for her and her students during tutoring sessions. With a quick glance at the timer, Anita can gauge if she is on pace to complete the session on time, and the students can easily see that they are progressing during the allotted time. This is especially beneficial for students with dyslexia, as tutoring sessions require much concentration and effort on their part. Anita says, “the Time Timer provides the assurance that they are making progress and that there is an end in sight!”
One of Anita’s favorite Assistive Technology tools is the Time Timer Original 3” because it gives her the ability to carry it with her wherever she goes. It can be transported from home, to the library, and to the classroom. While working at home with your students, as a professional like Anita or as a parent turned homeschool-teacher, and regardless of your child’s ability, Anita's advice reigns true.
Due to work-from-home requirements and school closures, do you find yourself of someone you love needing Assistive Technology in the home environment?
There are a lot of great Assistive Technoology tools out there. We recommend talking to the teachers at your child’s school about tools that can improve education and focus while in the home. If Time Timer happens to be one of those tools that can help you or your child, here are our recommendations for Time Timer products:
For any student, all the assignments, workbooks, reading, and projects are a LOT to keep track of. When it comes to homework time, help them keep track with the Time Timer MOD + Dry Erase Board. You can help them create a list of what needs to be done on the dry erase board. Set the Time Timer! With the list and timer front of mind, focus will come more easily. Make sure not to go too long without allowing you or your child a break!
The Time Timer 8” Magnet is a great one for home, especially in the kitchen. During this time, many teachers are recommending setting up a learning area in the home, and the kitchen or dining room can be a popular choice. You can easily attach it to your fridge, or any magnetic surface at home, depending on where your child will be working on their schoolwork. With one glance up, your child can see how much time is left on it, increasing their focus and productivity. It also can be used without the magnets and stand freely at times when they want to move to some place more comfortable for their reading time.
This is the perfect timer for in your child’s bedroom. It is small and compact and has two different bright color options depending on their style. This can be a great tool for your child to set to take a little break during the day and have some downtime in their bedroom. They can track their time independently before they move on to the next task or activity.
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