'Christmas Tree Fun'

This switch training program is the second CD in Astech Software's Choice Making series for children who are learning the skills needed to access communication devices and other assistive technology.

Although it has a Christmas theme, children will enjoy using the program throughout the year.

Suitable for ..

Switch users - physically disabled children learning to use a switch and scanning arrays. The program was designed with younger children in mind but older children may have fun and benefit from using it as well.

Although it was created for switch users, this program can also be used with other access devices:

Touchscreens - although the verbal cues in some parts of this program tell the child to press the switch, touching a touchscreen will work in the place of a switch. The sounds and animations will play when the screen is touched but the rollover sounds will not play.

Mouse - there are mouse controlled sections of the program that can be enjoyed by learning disabled and able-bodied children who use a mouse. This makes it fun for the whole family. Pre-school children especially enjoy rolling over and clicking on the ornaments to hear the sound effects and see the animations.

Skills taught ...

• Developing preferences.

• Understanding that activating the switch when a choice is cued visually and verbally, will result in a sound and/or animation.
  
  
• Learning to wait until the preferred choice is cued and activating the switch at this time.

There are 2 types of scanning in this program:

Mouse controlled scanning ...
The adult uses the mouse to roll onto a variety of decorations on a Christmas tree at a time interval that best suits the child. The child presses the switch when they see/hear their choice. A fun sound effect or animation plays.

Computer linear scanning arrays ...
The computer scans across horizontal scanning arrays at 10, 7 and 4 second intervals. As each choice is scanned, it is highlighted and a sound effect plays as a clue to what the animation is.

The child must learn to press the switch when they see/hear their choice. When the switch is pressed an animation plays, and when finished the computer starts scanning back at the beginning of that array.

Once the child masters this skill, it is possible for them to use this section independently.

GRAPHICS, SOUNDS & ANIMATIONS ARE IDEAL FOR CHILDREN WITH VISION IMPAIRMENTS & SHORT ATTENTION SPANS

The simple characters and graphics in this program move around on plain backgrounds which helps children to concentrate. Children with vision impairments learn to listen for the rollover sound effects to give them clues as to what the animation will be if they press the switch.

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Astech Software switch training programs ...
are a fun and effective way to teach special needs children how to press a switch or touchscreen on cue and use a scanning array - skills needed to access assistive technology.

SCANNING &
CHOICE MAKING
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 or scanning educational software.

To successfully access simple linear scanning arrays, children need to understand that there is a time to activate the switch or touchscreen etc. and a time to wait. The 'Press' and 'Press Wait' programs teach children how to do this.

Once they have mastered these skills they can then go onto 'Making Choices' and 'Christmas Tree Fun'.