Image 7: Screenshot of My Switch Journey, a quick guide to skill development.
IMPLEMENTATION TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS When supporting switch use and development of switch skills the focus is always on the goal not the switch. Activation of a switch is not the activity but rather what the switch acti- vates. Any goals written to support switch use should refer to the switch as the tool not the activity. There are various levels or degrees of prompting to consider when supporting individuals with developing switch skills. Scaf- folding layers of prompting should always occur from least re- strictive to more restrictive based on the needs of the individual. Nankee (2016) explains that the same principles of prompt hi- erarchy for teaching individuals how to use communication de- vices can be applied with some adaptations for teaching switch access. After each prompt it is important to pause and wait for the individual to respond. Each individuals’ pause time or wait time is different and adults often do not wait long enough be- fore requesting or repeating the prompt. Below are prompt hierarchy examples adapted from Assis- tive Technology Internet Module, Switch Access – WATI - Part 1 through OCALI authored by Cindy Nankee (2016). • Environment - Present an inviting and motivational activity to the individual with no additional prompting and observe their interest and exploration of the activity. • Gesture - Use a gesture to indicate or attract attention to the activity.
Lesson 6 - Go Get It - Errorless Step Scanning Lesson 7 - Purposeful Step Scanning Lesson 8 - Step Scanning Matching Activity
There are a variety of websites that provide switch access through one to two keyboard commands to support emergent switch users. For example, YouTube uses a spacebar to play and pause. Monarch Reader provides built-in switch access for read- ing books and provides information on their website of various options. Readers can use one, two or three switches to select, read, or rate books. Example keyboard commands include spacebar, right arrow key, mouse click, tab and enter. Tar Heel Gameplay is a collection of free accessible games that can be accessed by switch, touch, or mouse. It provides access for up to three switches. Users can ‘find a gameplay’ or ‘create a gameplay’. A free registration code is needed to create gameplays, and information on how to obtain the registration code is provided on the website. While Tar Heel Gameplay does not provide activities to support all skills with switch skill pro- gression, it does provide both single switch and two switch ac- cess both with premade gameplays as well as the ability to cre- ate your own gameplay. When creating a gameplay, the prompt desired can be customized as well as how often the prompt is displayed and at what minute markers (See image 8 and image 9, next page).
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