The
Astonishing Potential
of
Switch Access
Charlie Danger OT ATP
GREAT Conference
Doha
May 2017
Slides available online
great.mada.org.qa/handouts
Outline
1. What is a switch?
2. Switch activities for young people with congenital
or early onset conditions
3. Switch activities for people with acquired
physical disabilities
Learning Objectives
• Identify 5 types of switch
• Name 10
for switch training
• Describe 7 activities available to switch users
What is a switch?
Light bulb
Power
source
Switch
What do switches look like?
Blue2
Chin
Jelly Bean
Eye
Blink
Corn
Cup
Pillow
AbleNet Switch Selection Grid
Switches for young people
with congenital
or early onset conditions
Rule 1
Every child has
Activities accessible by Switches
Play
Communication
Learning
Mobility
Adapted Play
• Switch Progression Road Map (Ian Bean / Inclusive Technology)
• TalkSense Website (Tony Jones)
• Developing Switching Skills (ACE Centre)
• Action Dictionary (AbleNet)
• Inclusive Technology Catalogue (Inclusive Technology)
• Adapted Toys Skills Chart (Enabling Devices)
• 60 Things to Do With a Single Switch (Kate Ahern)
• OneSwitch (Barrie Ellis)
Switch Development through Play
Social skills, activities of daily
living, self care
Introduce concepts such as
shapes, animals, body parts
Scanning
Making real
choices
Timing
Sequences
Building up
Responding
Teach symbolic representation
of real world events, objects, &
people
Making
something
happen
Enrich every activity with
language from the very
beginning
Develop turn-taking and
joint attention
Play: Attending & Responding
• Watch things
• Turn to sounds
• Pay attention
• Respond
• Helps us to identify
motivators
Rule 2
Follow the child’s
Play: Making Something Happen
Effect
Cause
Rule 3
Every switch needs a
BIGMack
Play: Human Motivators
BIGMack
LITTLEMack
Play: Human Motivators
Tickle me!
Turn the Page!
Lift me!
More!!!!!
Rule 4
Motivators should react to switch activation
Switch vs Communication Aid
Play: Toys & Sensory Devices
Rule 5
Focus your
on the motivator
Let’s start
the car!
Shall we
have some
more music?
Connecting to Toys & Sensory Devices
Jelly Bean
Switch Battery Adaptor
PowerLink
Kayli
Rule 6
Follow the hierarchy of prompting, i.e.
Play: Computer Activities
Rule 7
The switch
Connecting to computers
Tecla
MicroLight
JoyCable
Blue2
Hook+
Rule 8
Secure the switch
Positioning Switches
Rule 9
Keep the position
every time!
Communication: Direct Access
Communication: Scanning
Learning
• Clicker 5
Mobility
Clare Malone
(Not Clare!)
Switch activities for people
with acquired
physical disabilities
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Switch Technology
Self-Calibrating Auditory Tone Infrared Switch
SCATIR
Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit
ACAT
G3
Rule 10
the community
List Forums
Facebook
Assistech
QIAT
SENIT
Assistive Technology
HandsOptional