Making the most of single-switch technology: a primer

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Publication Type Journal Article
School or College College of Education
Department Special Education
Creator Johnston, Susan S.
Title Making the most of single-switch technology: a primer
Date 2003
Description 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).
Type Text
Publisher Exceptional Innovations
Volume 18
Issue 2
First Page 47
Last Page 50
Subject Toys; Single switch; Assistive technology; Children; Disabilities
Subject LCSH Self-help devices for people with disabilities; Children with disabilities
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Johnston, S. S. (2003). Making the most of single-switch technology: a primer. Journal of Special Education Technology, 18(2), 47-50.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 381,533 Bytes
Identifier ir-main,5409
ARK ark:/87278/s63n2mr2
Setname ir_uspace
ID 704961
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s63n2mr2
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