Swinging in the Swamp Diane Robaina Tessa Sheridan Diana Burich
Swinging in the Swamp
Diane Robaina
Tessa Sheridan
Diana Burich
Angela Giles-Moulton
Nancy Zawada-Clair
Susan Marie Terra
MarshAccess Model of Program Accessibility
MarshAccess Model of Program Accessibility
• Name tags
• Sound field
• 20 Minute rule
• Consistency of visuals
• Powerpoint
• Schedule review prior to program
• Debrief
Science Content
• What is a Habitat?
• Identification of common plants & animals
Great Swamp Content
• Swamp Characteristics
• Common Plants & Animals in the swamp
STANDARD
Science Tools & Tech Fieldwork Documentation
• Biodegradable Focus Scopes
• Flip Charts, Pictures, Lenses
• “Swampo” - Bingo game
• Biodegradable Focus Scopes
• Journal
What are we going to do?
• What is a habitat?
• What is a swamp?
• What are the common plants
& animals in the swamp?
• Create a bio-craft
• “Swampo”
• Conclusions
Habitat
Mud
Woody
vegetation
Fresh water
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Plants of the Great Swamp
Animals - Mammals
Birds
Biodegradable Focus Scopes
MarshAccess Model of Program Accessibility
Barriers
Visually impaired
• Difficulty seeing things to identify in the swamp
– Portable magnifiers
– Biofacts with textures i.e. bark, pelts, leaves, models of organisms
– Things to smell – white cedar balls, skunk cabbage
• Difficulty moving from place to place
– Assisting movement
• Can’t use focus scopes – make audio scopes
Barriers
Age related difficulties
• Mobility issues
– Assistance while traveling
• Visual issues
– Magnifiers
– Large text & pictures on field guides
• Hearing issues
– Recorders for e-journaling
– Digital cameras for photojournal
MarshAccess Model of Program Accessibility
Barriers
Intellectual disability
• Difficulty understanding concepts
– Shorten walk
– Fewer activities conducted
– Simplified field guides
– Stickers & pictures as reference materials
– Participants look for general named items i.e. rock, bird, tree
Barriers
Visually impaired
• Difficulty seeing things to identify in the swamp
– Bring specimens and artifacts inside for viewing
– Biofacts with textures i.e. bark, pelts, leaves, models of organisms
– Things to smell – white cedar balls, skunk cabbage
• Difficulty moving from place to place
– Shorter trails
– Level ground areas for moving around
Barriers
Age related difficulties
• Mobility issues
– Shorter trails
– Level ground areas for moving around
MarshAccess Model of Program Accessibility
Special Programs
• Shorten walk
• One animal and one plant will be covered
• Simplified field guides
• “Swampo” – larger pictures
• Focus scope pre-made; participants just decorate them
