My students need switch adapted toys in order to develop their cognitive skills and prepare them for switch-controlled communication devices.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Mata's classroom raised $589
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students are delightful, special education preschoolers with unlimited amounts of energy throughout the day. Many of these students have motor or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to interact with their peers and learning materials in school. They have the desire to be able to interact with their environment, but many of the toys and activities of preschool are too challenging for them to participate independently. Many of the students are medically fragile or in wheelchairs which limits their ability to explore their environment and develop their sensory, cognitive and motor skills.
My Project
Switch adapted toys are battery operated toys that are activated by pushing a large "switch". They produce lights, sound and movement when the switch is pressed and are extremely motivating to our preschool students. For students who have motor or cognitive impairments that make them unable activate traditional battery operated toys, this is a great way for them to be able to engage with their environment, including their peers.
Using switch adapted toys is a proven method to help young students develop an understanding of the cause and effect relationship when they push a switch.
Many of these preschool students will utilize similar switches for their communication devices in the future. Switch adapted toys establish the foundational skills that the students will need in the future for communication and assistive technology.
Currently, our preschool students have limited access to these toys, as there are more students who need them than there are toys. We have the potential to incorporate these switches into every treatment session. This project would target the Utah Core curriculum of English Language Arts, as switches will help to develop the students' cognitive skills and prepare them for communication devices in the future.
This project would provide sustainable resources to the special education preschool students. These devices are extremely durable and can be used for many years to come.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Mata and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.