Organization

Organization Assistive Technology - the What, When, Who and Why

What is Assistive Technology for organization support? Assistive technology (AT) tools can help a person plan, organize, and keep track of his calendar, schedule, and homework. AT can be anything that helps support someone with weak organization skills that affect the ability to store and retrieve information for learning. Assistive technology can help students use self-monitoring techniques, visual organization, and time management. “Executive functions” are high-level mental abilities that direct attention and memory and help us to plan, organize, pay attention to and remember details, start and stop actions, form concepts and think abstractly.

Parent & Child using Time TimerWhen do I need to use them? Students need the right tools (such as notebooks and assignment pads) and basic study skills (such as reading and note-taking skills) to be successful in school.

Who? Weak executive functioning skills can be common in individuals with ADHD and learning issues like dyslexia. There are strategies that can be learned to help organize thoughts and belongings at home, school, work, and community.

Why are strong organizational skills important?

Strong or weak organization skills affect learning in four key ways:

  • Following directions
  • Learning to read
  • Literacy learning (combination of reading, writing, and grammar)
  • Learning math. See AT Discovery for Math

Where in an education setting is "organization" as a skillset needed? To be successful throughout the educational process and school system, a student must develop good organization skills to make sure that he is not causing a barrier to the development of his tasks and projects.


Resources for Organization (part of Learning, Cognition & Development)

AT3 Center Videos on Organization

Below, you'll find videos explaining assistive technology related to Mathematics (and other Learning, Cognition & Development topics). You can click the graphic to play all six videos consecutively. Or, when you get to YouTube, you can select from the LCD playlist.

ORG - Vibrating Pillow

Weighted Vest for Organization

EasterSeals Crossroads -
INDATAProject TechTip Videos

Easter Seals Crossroads has been providing assistive technology solutions in Indiana since 1979. In 2007, Easter Seals Crossroads partnered with the State of Indiana, Bureau of Rehabilitative Services to establish the Indiana Assistive Technology Act (INDATA) Project. The INDATA Project offers excellent videos and Podcasts that provide timely updates on new assistive technology.

Here's INDATA's YouTube video playlist for Tech Tips for Organization.

INDATA also offers three Podcasts that you can listen to, or subscribe to, on this page. At the top right of any of these pages you can search for a specific disability category.

The AT3Center.net wishes to thank the INDATA Project for their expertise and excellence in advancing access and awareness of assistive technology.


Information on this page addresses Assistive Technology for people with organization disabilities in...

EDUCATION   |  EMPLOYMENT  |  COMMUNITY LIVING
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EDUCATION

Organization Tiled Header

Talking Points for Organization Assistive Technology in Education

For students who struggle with time management, prioritization, organization, and focus, there are a variety of no tech, low tech, mid tech, and high tech aids and AT that can help. Students often lack self-monitoring skills, but there are a variety ways to help them learn to stop being distracted or to notice when they are off task. Think of these tools as that gentle little nudge we all sometimes need when we just aren't on our game.

The category of Education encompasses children - young and old - who are participating as a student whether at the pre-school, elementary, middle/junior/high school levels as well as institutions for higher education. The following talking points are most applicable to students grades preschool through high school.

For children transitioning into the public school at age 3 - To ensure successful AT transitions for children turning 3 years old, it is important for any AT the child is currently using or may need to use in school, whether written into the child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or not, be incorporated into the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP). You'll find this information in the Community section below.

For students transitioning into the community or employment settings upon high school graduation - To ensure successful AT transitions for students aging out of school services, it is important for any AT the student is currently using or may need to pursue employment outcomes, whether written into the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or not, be incorporated into the student's Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). IPEs are developed through collaboration with the state vocational rehabilitation agency using a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. You'll find this information in the Employment section below.

Situations Where a Child Might Need Assistive Technology for Organization:

School Environment

  • K-12 classes
  • Extracurricular activities (band, athletics)
  • Group projects

Socialization

  • Making time for friendships and activities
  • Managing time and social media

Family / Home Environment

  • Homework
  • Studying for quizzes or tests
  • Time management
  • Organization and planning

Community

  • Extracurricular activities
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Time management to attend events

Commonly Asked Questions for a Student Who Has Organization Needs

Please listen to this section and/or download a transcript here: TXT format

Solutions for Students with Organization Needs
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Helpful Links & PDF Resources
Understood.org and Understood Tech Finder
Online Rubric Maker for Teachers
Online Website Bookmarking Tool
AskJan.org maintains "Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) system designed to let users explore various accommodation options for people with disabilities in educational settings.
At a Glance: Classroom Accommodations for Executive Functioning Issues
8 Key Executive Functions Explained
Video/Webinar/Podcast Resources
Video: Free to Low-Cost Assistive Technology Solutions– Explore free to low-cost (under $50) AT solutions for multiple disability categories including communication.
Video: Assistive Technology for Learning and Cognition
Video: Assistive Technology in Action Video Series
Webinar: Learning, Cognition, and Development
 

EMPLOYMENT

Organization Matrix Employment

Situations Where an Individual Might Need Assistive Technology for Organization

Work Environment

  • Interview process
  • Meetings
  • Trainings
  • Daily tasks

Socialization

  • Work lunches
  • Social media
  • Telecommunication
  • Group and committee activities

Family / Home Environment

  • Time management
  • Organization and planning

Community

  • Extracurricular activities
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Time management to attend events

Solutions for Individuals with Organization Needs
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COMMUNITY LIVING

Organization - Community Living Tryptych

Talking Points for Assistive Technology for Organization in Community Living

The category of Community Living encompasses infants and toddlers who are under the age of 3 and not yet in school, those people who were born with or have acquired an injury and are otherwise participating in community activities (not as students or employees) as well as those who are aging in the home.  The following talking points are applicable to individuals with disabilities as well as family members and others providing support and care to these individuals with disabilities.

Sometimes an individual will make it to adulthood and have the necessary assistive technology to participate in the community and at home.  When that is the case, these pages will show other considerations regarding accessibility and accommodations.  When the person requires additional tools to participate, the Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) model will be used to show how an individual might best match up with a piece of AT to be used in the community and at home

For those children transitioning into the public school at age 3 - To ensure successful AT transitions for children turning 3 years old, it is important for any AT the child is currently using or may need to use in school, whether written into the child's Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) or not, be incorporated into the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Link to Education section

Situations where an individual might need assistive technology for Organization

Socialization

  • Making time for friendships and activities
  • Managing time, social media, and telecommunications

Community

  • Work and School
  • Shopping
  • Various appointments
  • Transportation around the community
  • Entertainment and sports
  • Friends' houses
  • Library
  • Post Office
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Time management to attend events

Family/Home Environment

  • Paying bills
  • TV/Radio
  • Doing chores
  • Games
  • Computer tasks/games
  • Time management
  • Organization and planning

Solutions for Individuals with Organization Loss - Impairment - Needs
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