Astech Switch Training Software
Astech Software uses an innovative, fun and motivational method to encourage children to activate the switch and wait on cue. The same visual and audio cues, as well as interfaces and choice making processes are used in all Astech switch software, making the transition from one title to another easier for the child.
Learning single switch skills can lead children to:
- Access assistive technology communication devices
- Make choices in their lives and let others know what they want and how they are feeling
To utilise computer technology, children need to activate a device that commands the computer. The device could be a single switch, mouse or alternative keyboard.
The actions the child needs to understand are:
- When to activate the device
- When not to activate it
- How to make choices with the device
Understanding these three concepts opens up the benefits of computer technology. Click here to see how the Astech Approach helps to do this using Astech Software titles.
Astech Switch Training Software teaches children with physical and learning disabilities to access a computer using a single switch in the following progression:
- Pressing the switch
Cause-and-effect … Press the switch and something fun happens
Relevant programs:
In these titles, children learn about cause and effect, to press the switch on a consistent verbal and visual cue, and to increase their visual and/or auditory attention. Astech Software recommends that children begin by using ‘Press’ titles before progressing to ‘Press Wait’ titles.
There is an example of a ‘Press Wait’ song or story on each ‘Press’ title so the child can trial it to see if they are ready to go onto the next step in the switch training progression.
- Waiting
Learning when to ‘wait’ and when to ‘press’ the switch
Children are cued to wait both visually and verbally and they cannot continue through the song or story etc. until they wait and refrain from pressing the switch. This skill is essential when children have to wait for their preferred choice when choices are presented in scanning form.
Relevant programs:
This series uses the same interfaces, songs and stories etc. that are in the ‘Press’ series of titles.
- Choice making
Learning the scanning and choice making skills needed to use communication devices, educational software and other switch accessible technology
Relevant programs:
Astech Software recommends that children master the skills of pressing the switch and waiting on cue before they use this program.
In this title, children learn:
- to develop preferences and to select this preference when cued
- that a response from them will result in them participating in the selected activity or watching a fun animation
- to wait until the preferred or named choice is cued and to activate the switch or mouse at this time
- the concepts of more and finished
Other titles in all ‘Press’ and ‘Press Wait’ software also teach choice making. These programs all have an interface that allows the child to choose between the different stories etc. by activating a single switch when choices are presented at timed intervals.
In these titles, children learn:
- to become familiar with the choices available so they can make a preferred choice with assistance or independently
- to make choices on the computer and off the computer using Choice Cards.
Mouse access
Although the above titles have been specifically designed for teaching switch skills, children of all abilities can access the interfaces and songs and stories etc. using a mouse.
In the ‘Songs and Stories’ and ‘Fun and Adventures’ titles, the mouse can also activate the action within the stories etc. This means mouse-using friends and family can use the software by themselves or alongside the switch-using child.
Click here to see how to implement the Astech Approach using Astech Software titles.
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