Songs and Stories Press
by Astech Software Ltd
This CD-ROM is a fun and motivating way for your special needs child to learn how to use a single switch.
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This CD-ROM is a fun way for children with physical disabilities and learning disabilities to learn how to press the switch on cue. It is a collection of fun songs and stories that can be chosen with a switch or a mouse. Suitable for pre-school and early primary school aged children. This may vary from child to child.
Click here to see how to implement the Astech Approach using Astech Software titles.
The Songs and Stories series is available in two versions:
- Press – Teaches cause-and-effect … Press the switch and something fun happens
- Press Wait – Teaches switch timing… When to ‘wait’ and when to ‘press’ the switch.
CD-ROM contains
- Three Songs
- Humpty Dumpty
- Row Your Boat
- Old MacDonald
- Humpty Dumpty
- Three Stories
- Little Chick Gets Lost
- Pip ‘n Squeek ‘Cheese On The Breeze’
- Hurry Up Teddy
- Little Chick Gets Lost
CD-ROM Contents Description
- Three fun songs to join in with and enjoy the sound effects and animations
- Little Chick gets lost in the woods and meets new animal friends. Lots of repetition to anticipate and join in with
- Pip the hungry cat is, as always, trying to eat Squeek the mouse. This humorous story is in rhyme form and there are lots of fun sound effects to anticipate
- Teddy gets ready for school. Lots of repetition to join in with
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
Children learn to press the switch on a consistent verbal and visual cue. Astech Software recommends that children begin by using ‘Press’ titles before progressing to ‘Press Wait’ titles.
Relevant program:
- Songs and Stories Press
There is an example of a ‘Press Wait’ song or story on the ‘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:
- Songs and Stories Press Wait
The ‘Press Wait’ series uses the same interfaces, songs and stories etc. that are in the ‘Press’ series of titles.
- Choice making
Scanning … Choices of songs, stories etc. are presented at timed intervals for children to choose from
The ‘Songs and Stories’ and ‘Fun and Adventures’ titles all have an interface that allow the child to choose between the different stories etc. by activating a single switch when choices are presented at timed intervals.
Relevant programs:
- Songs and Stories Press
- Songs and Stories Press Wait
- Making Choices
- Songs and Stories Press
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. The mouse can also activate the action within the stories etc. so mouse-using friends and family can use the software by themselves or alongside the switch-using child.
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)
Songs and Stories Press is targeted at the following age ranges:
- Early Primary
- Mid Primary
- Upper Primary
Songs and Stories Press is designed to foster development in the areas of:
- Switch use
- Cause-and-effect
- Switch timing
- Choosing with a switch
Users can access Songs and Stories Press in the following ways:
- Mouse/ Trackball/ Joystick
- Keyboard
- Touchscreen
- Single Switch
- Switch Adapted Mouse
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