DAY FIVE - morning

Inventions Presentations

Sticky Tray

• double sided suction cups
• stick objects to tray
• students who have difficulties holding on to objects
• Great idea!! love the multiple ways to use the suction cups!!

Turkey Baster Pencil Holder

• holds pencil
• bigger to hold on to
• fine motor difficulties
• Very inventive!!  Interesting how the top of the baster can be used as an eraser.

Squeeze Bottle Pencil

• holds pencil in place
• elastic bands on the bottle to grip
• for a weighted pencil - sand in bottle to weight it down - gives orientation for students who need it
• Very cool and lots of thought went into this project!!

Sponge Stand-up Clipboard

• slit in sponge with a flexible cutting board in it to hold paper
• Another great idea, Shauna!!

Easy Grip Magnetic Letters

• whiteboard strip on a a stand with suction cup towel holders for handles on the strip of board
• magnetic letters on ice cube tray (for handles to lift letters)
• WOW!!  Looks like this could be sold in stores!  I like how there were different colours for vowels and consonants.

Spongy Whiteboard

• whiteboard is elevated off the desk with sponges - not on an angle, but that was the goal
• Neat idea!  Great way to prop up a surface for writing!

Spatula Scissors

• cut handles off  regular scissors and place spatula ends on for handles.
• clamp is to a table, so the motion is just to push and lift the scissors
• This idea is very useful for anyone who cannot use scissors properly!  I can see using this idea with students who would benefit from this!!
• Someone who only has the use of one hand could benefit from this idea as well

Dice Master

• container that has dice in it to help someone shake dice without shaking them in your hands
• no more dropping dice, excellent!!
• can have bigger and smaller containers

Swim Buddy

• 2 L bottle with a sheets of what to do when in the water (ex: swimming terms - social stories) inside the bottle
• waterproof and child can take it with them in the pool
• GREAT IDEA!!  I would NEVER have thought of this!  Awesome!

One-Handed Marker Pull

• clay (mix-up kit and hardens) in the bottle of a pot to hold lids of markers
• Child does not have to take on and off lids, just have to pull out marker and push markers back in.
• Works very well with MANY students and small children who cannot take on and off the lids of the markers

Popsicle Painter

• This is our invention - to view more information about it and pictures, see previous blog postings

Measure-Assist

• flex squeegee with velcro on the end and can stick to rulers, protractors, etc (velcro attached as well) to help measure
• for students with fine motor difficulties
• Interesting idea!  May have to steal this one :)

 Skater Rex

• Help children engage in active play with others
• velcro T-Rex to a skateboard
• Rex can open and close his mouth - to pick things up
• Skater Rex can move around and helps child engage in play

Camera Floater

• attach to a zipper
• large grip (floater part) so easier to grip on to zip up zipper

Clothespin Alphabet

• letters on clothespins and child can clip on to a container to sort in order, spell words, etc.
• Great for early literacy!!

WOW!! Everyone's ideas of off the shelf items and inventions were amazing!  Many different ideas and involve many needs of children with disabilties.  I really enjoyed shopping for different items and thinking differently about basic items.  I also enjoyed creating our invention!  It was difficult at first because it was overwhelming to decide what to do; however, once an idea got started many followed!  You have to think differently about basic things, and isn't that why we are all taking this course?  Thinking differently starts with the basics and working your way up to more complicated things.  It was great to start with the basics of the Dollar Store! :)