I can... use my switch!

April 2010

Switches can be used to allow kids with physical disabilities to participate in a variety of activities including reading a book, playing on the computer, playing with a toy, making art, cooking, listening to music, taking photographs and making a movie. Get your students participating in fun and functional activities with their switch!

I can use my switch to get online!

Using a switch to access a computer can be a great way to get kids excited about using their switch.  If the program you are using only requires the equivalent of a click of the mouse, you can connect a switch to a switch adapted mouse. If the program needs some other key (space bar, enter etc.) you will need to connect your switch to a switch interface.  Check out some of these switch interfaces: https://store.bridges-canada.com/C-115/Switch+Interface  

I can use my switch to read on the computer!

·   Tar Heel Reader is a website with a collection of switch accessible books for all ages.  You can also create your own book to add to the collection.  Once you’ve selected a book, choose a voice on the left hand side to have the book read aloud.  http://tarheelreader.org/

·   Tumblebooks is an online library of children’s books.  Although this website is not specifically for switch users, books can be accessed with a switch by placing the mouse cursor over the turn page button and ensuring that the mode is set to manual. 

·   In London, you need to enter in your library card to access the books: http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/kids/ click on the Tumblebooks link on the left hand side and enter in your library card.

·   In other communities check your local library website to see if you they have a subscription.  Some libraries do not require you to enter in a library card.  For example, if you go to the Waterloo Public Library website, you can click on the Tumblebooks icon on the left hand side of the screen.  http://www.wpl.ca/kidbits/
 

·   Bookshare is a website that requires a subscription.   You can download e-books and use free software (Don Johnson’s Read Outloud) to have the books read aloud. You can place a cursor over the read button and have the student read at their own pace.  http://www.bookshare.org/

I can play online switch games!          

·           http://papunet.net/games/

I can use today’s technology!

·    Check out this link to information on a switch adapted camera, camcorder and mp3 player:https://store.bridges-canada.com/SearchByKeyword.aspx?word=switch%20adapted

·    www.pisp.ca

No-Tech Ideas

·     Create a low-tech picture display of all the switch activities that your child can participate in, to allow for choice making. A symbol representing the activity can also be placed on top of the switch to reinforce the symbol/activity connection.

Light Tech Ideas

·     Try using an adapted switch toy.  Here are some commercially available products:

     

http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/toys_for_disabled_children

http://www.adaptivetechsolutions.com/cat-adapted-toys.cfm

 

·     To see some switch adapted toys in action, type “Switch Adapted Toys” in the YouTube search box.

·     A switch toy interrupter cable makes simple battery operated toys switch accessible.  

·    Care of Switches: To prevent damage, do not wrap the cord around the switch.  Instead, secure the wire to itself with an elastic.  When removing the switch from a port, hold the switch by the plug instead of pulling the cord.

High Tech Ideas

·     Use Ablenet’s Powerlink to connect a switch to a mixer, tape recorder or other simple electronic device.  Kids can then use their switch to turn the device on/off.  See these links for great ideas on how kids can use switches to participate in a variety of activities: