THE TOOLS
INFUSE EMERGENT LITERACY : Many of our students have had very limited opportunities, if any, to engage with writing and exploring books as they can’t physically hold them. Many of them are “emergent” readers and writers and need to have the early literacy opportunities similar to young children before they start school. We know those early emergent experiences pave the way for conventional literacy when children enter school and learn to formally read and write. Emergent literacy is meant to be the play of young children- we can do the same thing with our students, but with switches to experiment with books and writing with alternative pencils! The beauty of emergent literacy is that it’s about exploration which fits the needs of our students who are exploring using switches! No correct answer or accuracy is needed! At iHope, we have found that all of the above beliefs are the foundation for teaching switch use. Now, let’s turn to tools and activities for getting your students going! From play and art to games, toys, cooking, books, apps, alternative pencils, practical jokes, and DIY tips, we'll explore creative avenues to engage students and enhance their AAC learning experience.
ACCESS TOOLS There are SO many different types of switches, either commercially available and DIY. They are all different in regard to size, shape, color, strength requirements, travel, sensitivity, auditory feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback and durability. The key point is that all of our students have different physical abilities and sensory needs. Students need to be carefully assessed for the types of movements they can make, along with their strength, sensory needs, timing, endurance and personal preferences. Once these things are considered, the appropriate switch should be selected to match the students’ needs. This can be done informally through professionals’ observations. This is not a one size fits all approach! SWITCH MOUNTS In many cases, students will need a mount to position the switch in the spot where the student can move. For example, if a student can turn their head, a mount would be used to position the switch next to their head where it is easiest for them to activate. There are many different types of mounts and finding the right one makes all of the difference.
35
June / July, 2024 | www.closingthegap.com/membership Closing The Gap © 2024 Closing The Gap, Inc. All rights reserved.
BACK TO CONTENTS
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator