How do I make my iPod accessible for students with disabilities? Meet the new iPod Switcher!
Having recently told you about the many cool Apps available for "Apple iThings”, we now need to discuss how students with disabilities can drive their iPods to independently choose and play music from their own collections. We all know how powerfully motivating music can be for our students … so … meet the iPod Switcher! It offers wireless access to the iPod for students with physical disabilities, switch users, and those with intellectual disabilities who find the standard iPod navigation options a tad confusing.
Three simple buttons on the iPod Switcher control the three basic functions allowing users to go into their music collections and stop/start a song; go to the next song; or go back to the previous song. Very simple to understand and operate. And it works wirelessly from up to 15 metres away from the iPod. Plug in headphones, and your students can privately enjoy their own music without disturbing others. Plug in speakers – and they can independently control the music for the whole class – or for the whole school!
What if their level of physical disability makes it difficult for them to use the iPod Switcher buttons? Not a problem. There are three switch ports at the front of the iPod Switcher that allow you to plug in any style of switch needed – whether it needs to be activated by hand, head, shoulder, knee or foot. It will also work with wireless switches like the Jelly Beamer – so you can just place the switch on your student’s wheelchair tray or desk, and they then have control over the music wirelessly from up to 15 metres away.
How cool is that?
For more information about the iPod Switcher, visit Spectronics website.