The Polk County Developmental Achievement Center would like to recognize The United Way and thank them for allowing them to purchase a Smartboard for their clients through the United Way grant.
Polk County DAC’s mission is to increase independence and improve the quality of life for those individuals served in our program with developmental disabilities or related conditions.
This interactive whiteboard uses touch detection for user input so our clients can write and draw on it. They can research different topics, use the internet, play music, and play interactive games. This smartboard on wheels has been used in almost every classroom, and the clients enjoy it very much. Stacey Ellingson, a long-time employee of the DAC, shared this about the smart board. “Love, love, love the smartboard. It is an excellent way to get people up and moving. We have used it for problem-solving activities such as cooking games, where the person playing has to “look” into a cupboard refrigerator in a virtual kitchen to find the various ingredients listed in a pictorial recipe.”
The person who plays the game chooses what item they want to “cook,” and it shows pictures of the next step needed, including ingredients and supplies.
This has helped people to move more, dance with various dance genres, learn new dance moves, and exercise to the oldies. It has also been used to stretch muscles and fine motor skills as a game where they pop balloons that come up on the screen. It has been used for number recognition, matching, choice-making, and math skills at every level in fun game-type activities.
Teams have played memory games together, which is fun for all involved. It also has been used to play springy, upbeat music with pictures as we work on other activities.
Julie Clarke, one of the job developers, stated, “Thanks to United Way gifting the smartboard to DAC. It has been very helpful in doing activities with my groups,” said Clarke, “ They have played solitaire, math program (adding and identifying) puzzle matching, letter identification, music (learning how to use different instruments and sounds). What I like most is how the individuals can be very independent at the activity they are doing, and that is what we want to see and how much they enjoy the never-ending programs they can learn from.”
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