Overview

For children with complex motor and communication profiles who rely on assistive technology, mobile video gaming can be a primary play, leisure, and social occupation. While there are general training resources for mobile technology and console-based gaming accessibility, there is a lack of resources for mobile video gaming. This project addresses the gap in resources by: (1) Creating video tutorials demonstrating the set-up and use of alternative access devices in mobile games; (2) Developing a printable resource with game recommendations based on assistive device; and (3) Disseminating videos on a free public platform (YouTube).

Learning Objectives

1. Identify three or more social, emotional, and cognitive benefits to video gaming to support recommendation and implementation of gaming as an occupation.
2. Compare two or more methods of adapting video gaming, including creation of custom iOS recipes, use of external accessibility supports, and partner-assisted gaming.
3. Describe two or more drawbacks and limitations to mobile game selection based on individual alternative access strategies, and discuss improving accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities.

Strand(s)

Assistive Technology for Physical Access and Participation; Mainstream Accessible Technologies

Target Audience

Accessibility Professional; AT Specialists; Caregivers; Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities; Consultants/Trainers; Disability Services; Family Members; Government/Non-Profit Agencies; Occupational Therapists; Rehabilitation Counselor; Speech-Language Pathologists

Experience Level

Introductory

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

All

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with live-stream

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2024 Conference on Thursday, January 25 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; ASHA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours

Speaker/s:

Madison Dube-Adams, OTD

Healthy KP Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition, Assistant Program Coordinator

Biography

Madison Dubé-Adams, OTD, graduated from Tufts University with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Madison has been a life-long video gamer and play enthusiast. During her time at Tufts, she took an interest in assistive technology and the ways it can improve participation in play for all ages. Madison takes a collaborative approach to her practice and strives to empower individuals to positively influence systems that create barriers to occupational engagement in their communities. Her goal is to bring occupational therapy to emerging areas of need, such as community-based mental health settings, and hopes to demonstrate the power of occupational engagement to heal individuals and communities.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Madison is employed by Healthy KP Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition where she receives an hourly salary.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Loren McMahon, OTD, OTR/L

Boston Children's Hospital, Occupational Therapist

Biography

Loren Fields McMahon, OTD, OTR, ATP, is an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Practitioner within the Augmentative Communication Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. Loren received her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, where she focused on AT through collaboration with the Open Style Lab at MIT. In practice, Loren provides solutions for alternative access, seating and positioning, and environmental controls for adults and children with complex motor and communication needs. Working with patients across the lifespan and recognizing the value a team approach has in providing optimal patient care, Loren implements a client-centered feature-matching approach to reduce assistive technology abandonment. She has presented nationally and internationally, and enjoys sharing knowledge of assistive technology applications with the occupational therapy community to support innovations in practice with mainstream technology. She is an Advanced Doctoral Experience Content Mentor for OTD students, teaches Assistive Technology at Boston University and Tufts University, and a lab instructor at MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Loren McMahon is a full-time employee at Boston Children’s hospital where she receives an annual salary.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Jennifer Buxton, OTR/L, ATP, MEd

Boston Children’s Hospital, Occupational Therapist

Biography

Jennifer C. Buxton, MA, OTR/L, ATP, MEd is an occupational therapist and assistive technology professional within the Augmentative Communication Program (ACP) at Boston Children’s Hospital. Jennifer assesses and implements alternative access technologies for augmentative communication solutions, with focus on alternative computer, environmental and educational technologies. Jennifer also works in her private consulting practice, Assistive Technology Partners, providing AT Assessment & Implementation services to individuals and school systems. She is the Program Coordinator for the Assistive Technology Certificate Program at Tufts University, which was established in 2020, teaching multiple AT related courses to OT and engineering students for the past 20 years. She has presented nationally and internationally at ATIA, ATAAC, ISAAC, RESNA, and WFOT.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No