The Paths to Literacy site promotes the design, provision and enjoyment of tactile books for children who are blind or partially sighted and provides advice and information about designing, producing, using, buying, and borrowing tactile books. Additional resources for making story boxes, using sto- ry boxes with older children, making and using page turners, making object books, making squishy books, creating interac- tive sensory books using objects, and making reflective books can be found on The Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project. Ways to adapt books are numerous and limited only by your imagination. Consider expanding the reading experience into a “Lit Kit” with related stories, puppets, visuals, props, games, and songs (Image 10). Provide readers with a voice and a choice us- ing visuals and or incorporating their customary communica- tion method (Image 11). SWITCHES Off the shelf battery operated toys can be switch-adapted with online instructions and materials from a hardware store. For example, Therese Willkomm provides instructions on how to create a business card switch and battery interrupter for pennies. Positioning the switch and device may require the use of mounts to put each object in the optimal position for access. Mounts can be fabricated from easily found materials such as non-skid shelf liner, suction cups, Velcro, PVC pipe, and C-clamps (Image 12). DIGITAL PLAY There are many free online sites for children to engage in digital play with and without switches. Check out Free Web- sites to Use with Switches in a Special Ed. Classroom, Switching Skills, Ian Bean SENict, and Toy Theatre. Tar Heel Gameplay has a collection of free, easy-to-play, and accessible videos. Each game is speech enabled and may be accessed using multiple
Image 10: Lit Kit A mash up of books and toys such as this one centering around the word go can become a playful learning experience.
Image 12: PVC switch holder allows the user to use a swipe motion to contact switch.
Image 11: Give readers a voice and a choice with a visual choice board.
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