What is HelpKidzLearn?
HelpKidzLearn is a collection of free software for young children and those with learning difficulties to play online. The software is split into four sections:• Games and Quizzes
• Stories and Songs
• Creative Play
• Find Out About
You will get the most out of these activities if you play them together with your child. Use them as a focus for chatting. Speaking and listening is very important for young children's educational development, particularly reading and writing.
Who has made HelpKidzLearn?
HelpKidzLearn has been created by Inclusive Technology Ltd., a commercial organisation providing assistive technology and educational software. Many of the activities at HelpKidzLearn are free samples taken from our own software titles. Inclusive's primary focus is special needs education, but we also have catalogues for early years and primary education. Click on the IT logo at the top of this web page to go to the Inclusive Technology web site. To contact us please email info@helpkidzlearn.com
Interactive Visual Timetable for Home and School Use.
The Down's Syndrome Association have created this software which is ideal for sequencing any series of events, including what will happen at home and in school. It may be especially useful to produce timetables with pictorial clues for young children and those with more complex difficulties.
Interactive Visual Timetable for Working Life.
This simple software is ideal for sequencing any series of events, including what will happen during the working day. It may be especially useful for sequencing activities that are difficult to remember. You could even use it to show rewards or outcomes for successfully completing activities. Most commonly it is used as a visual reminder of tasks and activities.
Interactive Visual Timetable
Produced by the Down's Syndrome Association, this program can be downloaded and used to easily produce timetables with pictorial clues for young children and those with more complex difficulties. These timetables are great for sequencing simple events to aid memory and are particularly useful to promote positive behaviour (i.e. if you do your reading and eat your dinner you get to play a board game.)
Connecting switches to your computer
Some of the software on HelpKidzLearn can be played just using the space bar or a few other keys on your computer's keyboard. This software can also be used with special switches, for children who are unable to use the keyboard. Switches for this kind of use come in all shapes and sizes.To connect these switches to the computer you need a "switch interface". This is a little box with a cable that normally plugs into your computer's USB port. The switch interface has about 4 small round sockets. You plug your switches into these. Simple!
When you press a switch, the interface box makes the computer think that the space bar (or some other key) is being pressed. So if you run a storybook activity, where normally you would press the space bar to turn the pages, you can now use a switch to do the same. Interface boxes can be set to behave like different keyboard keys or even the mouse buttons.
Switches and switch interfaces are all available from Inclusive Technology.
HelpkidzLearn recommends the NEW Simple Switch Box from Inclusive Technology.
Look out for this symbol when choosing an activity. This means the activity can be used with switches.
Turn off the mouse "right click" function.
To prevent your child or person with learning difficulties accessing system functions or,
properties whilst using a computer, simply disable the "right click" function on their mouse.
This will instantly eliminate the problem of accidental right clicks, resulting in context menus popping up and causing confusion.
It will allow them to learn and achieve goals without being distracted and simply help them to learn to use the mouse.
www.basicmouse.com
Assistive Technology Wales: ATWales supplies programs that have been directly requested by other professionals who have asked for them to be included on their downloads page.
www.atwales.org
Inclusive Technology Alternative Mouse (Single Button Mouse):
Often requested by teachers across the country, this mouse is great for both SEN and Foundation pupils that have problems distinguishing between a left and right mouse click.
Single Button Mouse
Making your mouse pointer larger.
The BBC website has useful advice on making your mouse pointer larger. click here to view
(Simply choose your computer's operating system from the list)
Often children or those with learning difficulties have great difficulty using the small Windows (default) mouse cursor.
This can instantly be eliminated by simply changing the cursor settings inside the Windows control panel.
You can also download colourful, animating arrows to attract more attention (see below).
Downloads:
Priory Woods Download your own customized mouse cursor.http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk
ACE-Centre Over 80 additional pointers and cursors for those with visual or perceptual difficulties. Icon styles include animated, coloured, large, I-beams and circles.
http://www.ace-centre.org.uk
BBC Accessibility Do you need help in making the web easier to use?
www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility
BBC Accessible Newsreader
The CBBC Accessible Newsreader is a service designed to make more of their content available to users who may have a need for a simpler more accessible interface, including those who use switches to access a computer.
Why not visit the BBC Accessible Newsreader
CBeebies Games for Switch Users
Inclusive Technology and CBBC have teamed up to give switch users the chance to play with their favourite CBeebies characters. Inclusive has modified several CBeebies games so that they can be accessed using switches.
Tweenies: Make Music with Max: Listen to the names of different musical instruments and the sounds that they make, then choose four to create your own tune.
Teletubbies, Peek-a-boo: This simple, highly visual timing and observation game encourages children to spot the Teletubbies as they hide in Teletubbyland.
Tots TV, Counting Song: This game works on counting up to ten in French and English with both words and numbers.
And many many more. CBeebies 'Switch' gamesCBBC Switch Accessible Games - by Inclusive Technology Ltd.
Six CBBC games have been re-versioned by Inclusive Technology Ltd, for children who use Switch technology.
CBBC Switch Accessible GamesFeedback from parents and teachers.
Dave BeeleyThankyou for this brilliant format of education for special needs it has answered my search for web based education links for VLE for our students not catered for in general educational provision - superb please continue to expand and develop.
Lisa Brown
I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the link to the wonderful www.helpkidzlearn.com site. It's fab!!! I support all the special schools in Northern Ireland and can't wait to tell them about this.. that's if they don't already know.
Elaine Short
loving your web site I've been spreading the word to colleagues and parents. keep up the good work! Elaine (HLTA)Access/ICT support. Ps looking forward to BETT to get a look at new products
feedback page
Useful Links:
Communication 4 All Classroom resources to support inclusion.Down's Syndrome Association help people with Down's syndrome to live full and rewarding lives.
SEN Teacher Free special needs teaching resources.
Special Needs Kids An information directory and shopping site to help parents and carers of children with special needs.
Teaching Trends providing School Supplies to parents and teachers.