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Did you know March 27 is National Assistive Technology Awareness Day?! All of us at Time Timer are honored to be a part of a community of organizations dedicated to supporting and serving individuals of ALL abilities. According to a declaration established by the United States Congress in March 2019, assistive technology (AT) 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.” 

It is important for all of us to foster a sense of inclusion throughout our communities, which ultimately enriches life for everyone. We all need each other, and we all need a little help with something in our lives. So, it’s up to each of us to ensure everyone has what they need to live their life to the fullest, no matter their perceived limitation or ability. Time Timer loves being a part of that philosophy! 

According to the Administration for Community Living, examples of AT devices and tools include: 

• Hearing aids 
• Vehicle modifications, such as hand controls or wheelchair lifts 
• Devices that help with bathing and eating 
• Software modifications for those with hearing and visual challenges 
• Equipment, such as grab bars in a shower, to help prevent falls 
• Eye glasses and magnification devices to help individuals with low vision 
• Communication devices for individuals with speech disabilities 
• Wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility devices 

Time Timer offers a range of practical and helpful tools that help people visualize time in an engaging, easy-to-interpret way. Our mission is empowering people of all abilities to conquer time! 

When our company’s founder, Jan Rogers, invented Time Timer in 1994, she based her concept on the visualization of elapsed time in a clear, high-contrast format differing from traditional digital or analog clock formats. Following lots of field research and consultation with professionals serving people with different abilities, it became apparent that Time Timer would be especially beneficial for people with cognitive, behavioral, and other challenges. 

Time Timer is an especially supportive aid in teaching time awareness for these individuals, as well as those with learning and sensory difficulties. These may include people with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Dyslexia, executive function deficits, and many other cognitive and behavioral-related diagnoses.  

Adults and children with these and other disabilities may have marked difficulty understanding the concept of “passing time”, where the difference between five minutes and 30 minutes is not clearly understood. Time Timer provides a stress-free solution and encourages responsible independence and autonomy, as well. For those with sensory issues, it is worth noting that Time Timer is designed without any ticking noises, which can be common with kitchen timers and traditional analog clocks. Even more, Time Timer may be used with or without an audible alarm at the end of a set time period. 

Keeping track of your time is important for everyone, no matter their abilities. Time Timer’s suite of new products can help anyone conquer time, and maybe even have some fun doing it! And if you’re a visual learner, like many adults and children of all abilities, Time Timer can be your hero. Our innovative timekeeping tools will help keep you, your family, and children stay focused on what’s most important throughout the day.  

We encourage you to check out everything Time Timer has to offer your family, students, and anyone who is differently abled. If you’d like to explore and learn more about assistive technology, please visit the Administration for Community Living. You’ll also find additional information on state AT programs and related data, as well as additional resources to help you find and obtain assistive technology that fits your needs. 

Today we are sharing a potty training bundle that makes the perfect duo for any child new to potty training! 

As you begin to potty train your child, it is important to have a schedule. Starting out you will want to have your child try to use the potty every 30 minutes. After a few days of the 30 minute schedule without any accidents, bump it up to 1 hour. After a few days of an hour, you can push it to 2 hours. After 2 hours you can try to go without the time increments.  

The Time Timer PLUS 120 Minute is the perfect tool for establishing this schedule. The PLUS 120 Minute can help keep you and your child accountable for this time. If you set the Time Timer, you are less likely to start folding laundry, get sucked into a work project, or get distracted in doing a task around the house while you’re in the depths of potty training. The high contrast colored disk helps you continue to do what you need to do while quickly and easily seeing how much time you have in your peripheral before you will need to help your child make their way to the bathroom. Losing track of time and breaking the schedule may result in your child having more accidents.  

In addition, young children can easily understand the colored disk. Your child can know that once the “purple disappears,” it’s time to go to the toilet. They don’t need to understand what time it is or how long a half hour is. This gives your child control and a sense of independence. In fact, you may find your child going to the bathroom on their own once the purple disk is gone, or reminding you while you are working on something else! 

Once you remove the potty training schedule, there may be a period of regression where your child starts having a couple of accidents. With the Time Timer PLUS 120 Minute, there is no need to fret. You can easily go back to your 2 hour time schedule, just as a reminder for your child to head to the bathroom and try to potty. By keeping a schedule, you can reduce the stress of potty training for you and your child. Also, you can make it a fun independent task, where after your child potties, they get to set the Time Timer PLUS 120 Minute again.  

According to the CDC: “Good handwashing early in life may help improve child development in some settings*” And what better time to start enforcing good handwashing habits than when you are potty training? Kids have shown that they can understand handwashing as early as 18 months, and understanding the importance of handwashing after using the potty is an essential part of toilet training. 

The Time Timer WASH is the perfect tool for teaching proper handwashing. This visual handwashing timer can help children of any age or ability understand the handwashing process.   

The WASH breaks handwashing in a simple 3 step process:  

1. Soap (5 seconds), 
2. Scrub (20 seconds) 
3. Rinse (5 seconds) 

Depending on the age of your child and if they have been exposed to proper handwashing yet, your child may not get the full 20-seconds of scrubbing that is recommended by the CDC at first. However, the Time Timer WASH will help them understand the steps and work up to the proper duration. It gives them a tool that is understandable and is easily used independently. And if you have a child that likes to dance, the Time Timer WASH includes an option to play a song. The music can remind your child that handwashing (and using the toilet!) is fun! 

Keeping a routine is very important while potty training and using the Time Timer WASH as part of the routine can further help them grasp potty training while staying accident-free and safe.  

During this time, it is especially important to keep your children and their fellow classmates safe and healthy. The CDC cites a study that found that “Handwashing education reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29-57%**” As your child gets potty-trained and into the daycare or classroom, these skills will not only keep them and their classmates healthier, but it also will give them a more consistent routine and schedule, furthering a healthy development.  

For a limited time if you buy the Time Timer PLUS 120 Minute and the Time Timer WASH, you can receive 15% off of your total purchase! Use code: POTTY15 at checkout.  

Only available when purchasing BOTH the Time Timer PLUS 120 Minute and the Time Timer WASH at timetimer.com. Retail Only. Offer valid through 9/1/2021 at 11:59 pm.  

*Bowen A, Agboatwalla M, Luby S, Tobery T, Ayers T, Hoekstra RM. Association between intensive handwashing promotion and child development in Karachi, Pakistan: a cluster randomized controlled trial.external icon Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012 Nov;166(11):1037-44. 

** Wang Z, Lapinski M, Quilliam E, Jaykus LA, Fraser A. The effect of hand-hygiene interventions on infectious disease-associated absenteeism in elementary schools: A systematic literature review.external icon Am J Infect Control 2017; 45: 682–689. 

February is Low Vision Awareness Month. Read more about what low vision is and ways occupational therapists can help people live a full life with low vision. In today’s blog we will bring some awareness to this diagnosis that affects millions.