Power Point Add-On for "Switch Happy" Students

Barrie over at One Switch has shared this great add-on to make Power Point slide shows a bit more usable for our students.  The add on is called 4Pete's Sake in reference to the wonderful sensory stories at Pete's Stuff.  

 

(I am considering having my December Theme Unit be either "Oz-mas" and using Pete's Wizard of Oz and some of Alicia's activities or "Dickens Holiday" and using Pete's "A Christmas Carol). 

4Pete's Sake has two modes.  The first mode, called Padlock, locks the slide so that the student cannot turn the page until a second switch (or button on the keyboard) is pressed.  The second allows the students to move forward and backward withing a slideshow using one switch and a scanning box with arrows on screen. 

Padlock seems like a great way to allow students to turn the pages of a story or another kind of slide show for themselves or a group without worries of that "12 switch hits in 6 seconds and the book is over" situation.  Back and Forth mode could be a great way to teach beginning scanners.  You could even have yes/no on two slides to answers questions.  Or a student could have two slides with Red Light/Green Light and run a fun game for friends.  The possibilities are endless.

One Switch Sliding Puzzle

thanks to One Switch Blog for the link



A Sliding Puzzle for Helen is a free, one switch activated slider puzzle that comes out of the A Game for Helen contest. The only other special needs slider puzzle I know of is Flip It Slider by MKP and it only works with touch screen or mouse.

Online Switch Activities (for Special Needs)

For most current list please click here.

This is an update of the post listing online switch activities for learners with multiple or significant special needs. The activities listed are chosen because they can be used with switches, they are simple and they are enjoyable. The activities listed are free. Some activities may require set up by an assistant before switch use. Although care has been taken not to include switch activities with any violence or graphic images teachers and others still need to check activities for age and general appropriateness before use.

Cause and Effect (and Press to Play):

• Hiyah
• Kneebouncers
• Priory Woods Videos Revamped
• Learning Tools (scroll down)

Single Switch Scanning or Timing Required (sites may include some cause and effect games as well):

•  A Sliding Puzzle for Helen (download)
• Bullseye
• CBBC
• CBeebies
• Cow Jumped Over the Moon 
• EleJumper
• Flabby Physics
• Jack Be Nimble
• My Switch Games by Scott McKay
• NGfL Switch Coloring
• Papunet
• Priory Woods Kids Only
• SEN/Switcher
• Shiny Learning 
• SwitchedOn Games Bowling
• The Great Fish Race (download only)

Two Switches (unless otherwise noted you music click in the area of the game and then use tab and enter to play):

• Accessible Book Launcher
• Bug Memory
• Fruit Memory
• Space Memory
• Sensory House (tab and enter)

Lumisonic: free speech and music software

Today Barrie over at One Switch sent me a great link for some free software that acts as a visualizer for voice, vocalization and any sound input to the computer OR it acts as a way to manipulate recorded sound being played on the computer. It is called Lumisonic and is available from Sonic Arts. You can download it in PC or Mac version, with or without the other software you need (C++ and Quicktime). It can also be used with a Wi in order to manipulate music or sound through movement. A link is included with ideas to use the software as a visualizer and as an instrument.

Adapted You Tube Player

Last weekend my father asked me how to stop a You Tube video once it was playing, a question that may seem obvious to a digital native but certainly isn't obvious to everyone.

The One Switch blog just featured a You Tube player with adapted buttons for those who need them called Easy You Tube. I doubt it will solve school filter issues, but it may solve some usability issues and will certainly make You Tube more accessible to touch screen users.

Ability Net on You Tube

Today link of the day comes (again) from Barrie at One Switch. After I posted the overview of AAC video below he e-mailed me the link to Ability Net On You Tube. If you have some time this weekend, why not check out these assistive technology videos

Website of the Day - ORI Wheelchair Mobility Training

The Oregon Research Institute (ORI) has available free software for use in training children (and adults) with multiple or severe orthopedic disabilities in use of a power wheelchair. All they ask in return is for you to keep data (on children between 5 and 21) and share it with them.

The software can be used with a specialized computer joystick, an unadapted gaming joystick, a gaming joystick adapted using the free JoytoSwitch software from One Switch.

Thanks to Barrie from The One Switch Blog for this link.