Making the most of single-switch technology: a primer

A stroll through any local toy store reveals that children without disabilities embark on their foray into the use of single switch technology when they are very young. A wide variety of commercially available toys are activated by single switches. For example, PLAYSKOOL's Talking Mr. Potato Head is a toy whose hat serves as a single switch. When depressed, Mr. Potato Head recites lines from the movie Toy Story-2. Another example is Elmo's Boom Box by Fisher Price. This toy has three buttons which each serve as a single switch. When depressed, the switches randomly play segments of children's songs. These same kinds of toys are often used as tools for helping children with disabilities increase their independence and control over their environment. They can be used in the context of instruction to promote the acquisition of skills across all domains of development. For example, Elmo's Boom Box can be used during a small group activity to promote the development of cognitive skills (e.g., establishing cause-effect relationships), provide opportunities for development of purposeful motor skills (e.g., reaching, pressing), and enhance social and play skills (e.g., facilitate interactions with peers and adults).