My students need adaptive switch toys to teach them the foundational skills of cause and effect required for Augmentative and Alternative Communication use.
Students in my school have a wide variety of disorders, syndromes, and disabilities ranging from Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Down Syndrome, Apraxia of Speech and other disabilities. Many of my students are at the early stages of developing cause/effect skills necessary to use an Augmentative Alternative Device (AAC). My students are nonverbal or language delayed as well as many having physical limitations which impact their ability to communicate independently. Although the ultimate goal for my students is all to become verbal communicators independently, many of them rely on technology and devices to "speak for them" at this time.
My Project
The items requested in my project are all adaptive switch toys, and the necessary battery interrupter pieces to turn other toys into switch activated toys. My students have a wide range of capabilities. However, for many of them we are just building the foundational cause/effect skills required for use of an augmentative and alternative communication device. These skills will help expand students' understanding of the relationship (cause and effect) of the switch paired to communication devices in the future. The switch toys will allow my students to control their environment and interact with toys they might otherwise be unable to use without assistance. These toys and devices will also be used by peers in the classroom to facilitate turn-taking and their social-emotional development through play.
These devices and toys will be both motivating and exciting for students to "activate" by hitting their switches.
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