Beata Batorowicz
Beata Batorowicz is an Associate Professor at the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Canada, and a Fellow of the AMS Phoenix Canada. She has extensive research and clinical experience in the field of childhood disability. Her research focuses on enabling communication, social interaction and participation of children and young people with neuromotor and developmental disabilities, with particular emphasis on environmental interventions and assistive technology. Prof. Batorowicz established and leads the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Interaction and Technology Lab (AAC-IT). She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has been a keynote speaker at leading international conferences in the field.
MY SESSIONS
"I have an idea!": Co-designing Child-led Play for Communication, Control and Shared Participation
Children's play with peers provides a unique context for communication, social interaction, and participation, while also supporting cognitive, social, and emotional development. However, children with disabilities, particularly those with complex communication needs, often encounter barriers to engaging in play with other children. This presentation explores child-led peer play as a guiding principle for creating inclusive play opportunities in which children's own ideas, choices, and ways of communicating shape activity. Drawing on research, clinical experience and collaborative work with children and families, the presentation will discuss how technologies can act as mediators of peer engagement, creating opportunities for children with and without disabilities to have a shared distribution of control and choice, influencing the direction of play. Examples of co-design and play experiences will illustrate how technology can support more balanced participation, reciprocal interaction, and mutual enjoyment among peers.