Alisha+Fitzwater

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Switches are a type of assistive technology that is most beneficial to those students with severe disabilities. Switches can be operated by students in wheelchairs with just a slight movement of their head, hand, or even their knee. Once the switch is pushed by the student, the switch is able to do many actions, including play a pre-recorded word, dialogue, or an entire song. Other switches can be connected to portable electrical outlets, which in turn can power whatever is plugged into the outlet, like a light, a fan, or a radio. I have seen switches used in the classroom for a lesson on wind. When the students pushed the switch, it powered the fan to blow their hair to show the concept of wind. Also, they pushed the switch to power the fan to blow the paint on their paper for an art project. This video shows switches being used by students with severe disabilities to perform a talent show. One student is hitting the switch when it is time to change the PowerPoint slides. Others are hitting their switches to play an instrument, tell a joke, or sing a song.