1. Using Assistive Technology to Increase Literacy Skills for Children PreK-3 with Developmental Disabilities
Angi Stone-MacDonald, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts, Boston 1

2. Outcomes At the end of the session, educators will be able to:
describe types of assistive technology picture symbols and where to find these resources for literacy support.
use pictures symbols and communication boards in a variety of creative ways to help our new or struggling readers and writers with developmental disabilities.
recognize quality literacy applications for iPads, iPhones, and other smart technology for students with developmental disabilities. 2

3. Current Literature
Picture communication symbols can be used to support a UDL classroom (Sadao & Robinson, 2010)
Picture symbols help children to make connections between pictures, known concepts, and written text (Center, 2009)
PCS symbols and other accommodations on paper, computers, iPads, or AAC devices help children with autism be more independent and participate in reading an writing (Leech & Cress, 2011; Parette, Quesenberry, & Blum, 2010)
Picture communication symbols are an evidence-based strategy for increasing speech and social communication in children with developmental disabilities (DiCarlo, Banajee, & Stricklin, 2000; Jonaitis, 2011; Kaiser, 1995; Yoder & Lieberman, 2010)

4. Types of Assistive Technology
Low Tech options
picture symbols and communication boards
printed pictures of objects/people
High Tech options
iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone apps

5. PCS Symbols
Pictures in black and white or color that go with words or phrases
Helps make connections between picture and word
Created by Mayer-Johnson and most easily accessible using Boardmaker 6

6. Color Coding System MISCELLANEOUS (Orange)
PCS symbols can also have color backgrounds to denote parts of speech
Can help students improve grammar and understand how sentences fit together
Goossens’, Crain, & Elder (1992) Color-Coding System:
VERBS words which tells action (Pink)
DESCRIPTORS adjectives and adverbs (Blue)
PREPOSITIONS position words (Green)
NOUNS (Yellow)
MISCELLANEOUS (Orange)

7. How can we use PCS symbols?
Have students match pictures to words using identical pictures or word and picture
Create sentence strips with mixed up pictures and words
Show pictures for key new vocabulary for a story
Add picture symbols to word wall to help students remember words 8

8. How can we use PCS symbols? (cont.)
Use color coded symbols to help students form grammatically correct sentences
Help students find their words faster using a color coded activity board
Use boards of activity or story related words to help them write sentences or retell a story about an activity 9

9. PCS Related Resources PCS Symbols – Boardmaker
iPad apps - johnson.com/apps
Widgit.com-Various Communicate programs to support reading and writing
Don Johnston-Various Products
Linda Burkhart –
Text to Speech - such as Dragon or Google
LiveScribe 10

10. How to pick a good app?
Make sure NOT in entertainment or games in iTunes
Read reviews from multiple sources
Test it first yourself
Check the reputation of the company and/or authors
Search educational apps in iTunes
If it is free, you can also delete

11. iPhone and iPad Apps
Proloquo2go ($190)-assistive communication that includes augmentative and alternative communication, easy to use.
TaptoTalk (free)-AAC app, but costs more money to customize.
PuppetPals (free)-Create your own animated stories.
StoryKit (free)-Create online storybooks.
Grasshopper apps like Little Speller (free) and Sentence Maker (free) - teaches spelling and sentence making with a matching and a variety of supports.
Booksy (free) -interactive leveled storybooks with comprehension quizzes

12. Additional Resources Writing Stories and Social Stories
iBooks author (free)
Pages ($9.99)
Book Creator ($1.99)
Reading
Blio-allows various book formats to be read allowed (free)
iTouchiLearn Words ($1.99)
Other language concepts
Splingo's Language Universe ($2.99)

13. The End
Questions?? 13