Part 4: What you can do with a switch

Simple on/off battery toys
Battery operated toys or devices can be adapted for use with a switch using battery device adaptors that bypass the toy's on-off switch with a jack socket, into which you can plug your own switch. A latch and timer box is essential to prevent the user having to maintain pressure for a period of time on a switch to gain their reward.

What you need:

• A battery device adaptor (from most switch suppliers)
• An appropriate switch
• A switch latch and timer box
• A small file or craft knife to make a notch in the battery compartment of the toy for the adaptor cable

Simple on/off mains-operated electrical devices
The ability to control mains-operated equipment is often very rewarding and motivational.The following equipment is needed:

What you need:

• A mains switcher box (from QED2000 Ltd, Liberator)
• An appropriate switch

Most mains switcher boxes have built-in latch and timer functions. Look at the potential to use a range of relevant devices such as tape recorders, radios, videos, TV, room or Christmas lights, hair dryer, etc. It's worth emphasising that an ordinary accessing switch should never be directly wired to mains electricity - always use a mains switcher box.

Simple speech output devices

There are a variety of basic but useful devices that give a single spoken message when activated, for example the BIGmack and One Step communicators (Ablenet) and Little ED. The device or a switch connected to it is pressed to give a message of maximum length of about 20 seconds. These devices can also activate a battery-operated device as a reward or reinforcer. The Step by Step Communicator (AbleNet) enables the user to step through up to 45 messages and has a longer total message time.

Seek professional advice about the application and use of other speech output communication aids.

Computer software

There is an extensive range of software designed specifically for switch users (see part 5)

What you need:

• A serial switch box (enables switches to be plugged into a PC computer to enable the use of computer software which is specifically written for a switch user. Available from the switch software supplier or switch suppliers). The switch boxes from Don Johnston (PC and Mac) enable a switch to replace a specific keyboard control or mouse press within a piece of software.
• A Mouser 3 and switch box (available as a combined unit that enables a switch press to take the place of a computer mouse click. The switch user can actively participate in joint point and click activities such as CDs. Available from SEMERC)
• Appropriate software

Suppliers:
Liberator 01476 550391 www.liberator.co.uk
QED 2000 Ltd 0870 787 8850 www.qedltd.com
Cambridge Adaptive Communication (for Tash) 01223 264244 www.camad.demon.co.uk
AbleNet communicators available from Inclusive Technology 01457 819790 www.inclusive.co.uk
SEMERC 0161 827 2927 www.semerc.com
Don Johnston Special Needs 01925 241642 www.donjohnston.com

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