Almost, but not quite . . .

I like the catalogues. I seem to collect them, and I read the faithfully (while cringing at the prices.) But as cool as some of the adaptive products on the market are -- they are just not quite what we want.

Here's an example. Daniel's OT at school introduced us to this nifty little thing called "the bird". The idea is that you can place a pencil or pen into the screw-tight hole, and then the used can use larger motor movement to manipulate, and mark a page. Paired with a slant board, Daniel does ok with this.

But -- pencil marks are a little underwhelming when one has significant cortical vision impairments. And a lot of the activity of an elementary school aged kid is done in color -- with markers or crayons.

Markers and crayons do not fit in the bird.

Curses.

This "back to school" shopping season, I'm on the lookout for markers that will fit. I've struck out with crayola and rose arts. I hear that the cheap novelty kits, like hello kitty items, will fit.

{the black velcro strip added to the bird -- makes it easier for Daniel to a) see the device and b) grasp it. Great problem solving by Daniel's para-educator J.}