We recently built a new assistive technology switch we’ve called the LIP switch that’s designed to help young children or older students develop their switch skills.
It’s simple to use in a training environment. The tutor connects a standard switch into one of the sockets on the front of the LIP; there are three training intervals (20, 30 and 40 seconds) programmed into it and the LIP connects between the users switch and, for example, an adapted toy, through the socket on the side of the LIP switch. A second lead is used to connect the LIP with a communication device, such as a BIGmack or 4Talk4, onto which a prompt ”press the switch again” has been recorded by the tutor.
Let’s say the tutor selects the 20 second training interval and a switch adapted toy and BIGmack are connected to the LIP switch.
When the student presses the switch the toy will play. Since the exercise is all about encouraging the student to press the switch again the LIP monitors the time from the student’s first press until the next. If the period exceeds the 20 seconds training interval the LIP switch sends a trigger signal to the BIGmack to play its recorded prompt i.e. “press the switch again”. This trigger prompt is repeated after 20 seconds until the student presses the switch.
Tony Jones at TalkSense was the inspiration for the LIP switch and it is only one of a series of new assistive technology Dream-Switches available from Excitim and a number of approved resellers.
Take a look at the set-up shown below to see how it could be used in your switch training exercises.
