Making Choices
by Astech Software Ltd
Teach the scanning skills needed to use communication devices, educational software and other switch accessible technology
Astech’s ‘Press’ and ‘Press Wait’ software teaches children the skills needed to press the switch and wait on cue.
Making Choices is the next step in the ASTECH APPROACH to switch training.
Being able to select from a scanning array with a single switch is a pre-requisite skill for using switch accessible assistive technology such as
- communication devices
- environmental controls
- scanning educational software.
Making Choices is a program that teaches the child how to scan and how to make choices in easy progressive steps in a fun, effective way.
Through participation in enjoyable activity, the child can learn to develop preferences and then how to select these preferred activities and items from a scanning array using a single switch or mouse.
Being able to make choices and use a communication device enables a child to let others know what they want and how they are feeling.
Program Features
The scanning skills are taught in easy progressive steps with two separate sections to select from – Activities and Choices.
- Activities
This is the first and easiest step that allows the child to choose from pairs of activities.
Two preferred activities or a non-preferred and a preferred activity, are presented separately on individual pages.
Once a selection is made, the child must then carry out their chosen activity with the adult they are working with e.g. playing with a toy or listening to music, reading a story or going for a walk.
The activities are:
Music, Toys, Story, Walk, Jokes, Computer, Book, Stereo, Sing and Instrument.
- Choices
This section has three progressive levels where items are presented in a scanning array – 2 or 3 scanning boxes across a page.
When a choice is made the child is rewarded with a fun animation.
Concepts introduced: More and Finished, Categories.
The categories of choices are:
Animals, Tools, Music, Actions, Nature, Tongue Twisters, Transport and Household.
Access Methods
There are 3 access methods in ‘Activities’ and Choices’:
- MOUSE SCAN
With the mouse, the adult selects the choices and the time they are active and the child selects with a switch.
Children who can use a mouse can also use this access method.
- LONG SCAN
Each choice is highlighted for 12 seconds before moving to the next choice.
- SHORT SCAN
Each choice is highlighted for 9 seconds before moving to the next choice.
Click here to see how to implement the Astech Approach using Astech Software titles.
Requirements and ResourcesexpandClick to collapse
Minimum Hardware Requirements for Windows
- P133 MHz (200 MHz or greater recommended)
- Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 7
- 128 MB of RAM (greater recommended)
- Sound card
- Switch and Switch interface for ‘Press’ and ‘Press Wait’ CDs
- Computer mouse for ‘Mouse Skills’ programs
View / Download
- What is the Astech Approach? (697 KB)
Making Choices is targeted at the following age ranges:
- Early Childhood
- Early Primary
- Mid Primary
- Upper Primary
Making Choices is designed to foster development in the areas of:
- Switch use
- Switch timing
- Choosing with a switch
Users can access Making Choices in the following ways:
- Mouse/ Trackball/ Joystick
- Keyboard
- Single Switch
- Switch Adapted Mouse
Prices
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