Switches, Switches and More Switches

What is a switch?

In terms of Assistive Technology, a switch is basically something that turns something on/off.

There are a variety of switches made by a variety of vendors.  Switches come in all shapes and sizes but some may vary in ability. Below is a basic overview of different switch functions.

Types of Switches

Momentary, Direct Select:   These switches activate a toy or object with a single activation.  The student must maintain the activation by holding the switch.  Once the switch is released, the circuit is released and the activation will stop.  This type of switch is used very commonly with beginner switch users and for basic cause and effect.  

Ideas for using momentary/direct select switches:   turn on tape recorders,  battery operated toys that can be activated with a switch using a battery interrupter.  See link,   bubble blowers,  simple single switch software, fans,  water piks,  spin art,  spinners for games,  appliances connected to an environmental control unit.

Latch Switch:    These switches are used to turn devices on/off, With the first activation the user opens the circuit and turns the item “on.” The second activation closes the circuit and turns the item “off.”  

When a child activates a  latch switch to turn something on,  such as battery adapted “Dora Doll” the doll will dance.  When the child activates the switch a second time the doll will stop dancing.

This switch is used in the next step of the switch hierarchy.  The latch switch also develops the cause/effect skill but at a higher level.  The student must activate the switch for something to happen and then re-activate the switch for something else to happen.Ideas for using a Latch Switch:  turn the lights on/off,  turn the music on/off,  turn a fan on to cool something down,  then off when finished

Switch Latch Timer:.  The Switch Latch Timer works well with environmental control devices.  This switch is activate by a single activation for a certain period of time.  Many Switch Latch Timers come with the option to activate an item from seconds up to minutes.  Depending on the length of time chosen the device will remain activated until the timer turns it off.  This encourages repeated activations of the switch.  When working on switch activation training,  such as turn the music on,  a switch latch timer may be set for 10 seconds.  When activated a song may play for 10 seconds and then turn off.  To listen to the next portion of the song the student must re-activate the switch.