Learning single switch skills can lead children to:

• Access assistive technology communication devices.
• Make choices in their lives and let others know what they want
  and how they are feeling.

To utilise computer technology, children need to activate a device that commands the computer. The device could be a single switch, mouse or alternative keyboard.

The actions the child needs to understand are:

•  When to activate the device.
•  When not to activate it.
•  How to make choices with the device.

Understanding these three concepts opens up the benefits of computer technology. Until now there has been no simple, progressive, logical and fun way to do this.

The answer is 'The Astech Approach'.
Details about the whole of 'The Astech Approach' are on the Software Page.

In these titles, children learn:

• when they press the switch or input device, something will happen (Cause and Effect).
• to activate the switch or input device on a consistent audio and visual cue.
• to increase their visual and/or auditory attention.

We recommend that children begin by using 'Press' titles before progressing to 'Press Wait' titles.

CD-ROMs available:

'Songs and Stories Press' 

'Fun and Adventures Press'

'Sights and Sounds Press'

There is an example of a 'Press Wait' song or story on each '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.

Software
Type:
'Press Wait'

In these titles, children learn:

• there are times not to activate
  the switch or input device.
• to wait when they are given
  a visual and auditory cue.

This skill is essential when children have to wait
for their preferred choice when choices are
presented in scanning form.

CHOICE
MAKING

Learning the scanning and choice making skills needed
to use communication devices, educational software and other switch accessible technology

CD-ROMs available:

At present there is only one Astech program that specifically teaches scanning and choice making skills -

'Making Choices'

We recommend that children master the skills of pressing the switch and waiting on cue before they use this program.

In this title, children learn:

• to develop preferences and to select this
  preference when cued
• that a response from them will result in them participating in the selected activity or watching
  a fun animation
• to wait until the preferred or named choice is cued and to activate the switch or mouse at this time
• the concepts of more and finished

Choice making skills taught in other programs

An element of choice making is also in all our 'Press' and 'Press Wait' titles. These programs all have an interface that allows the child to choose between the different stories etc. by activating a single switch when choices are presented at timed intervals.

In these titles, children learn:

• to become familiar with the choices available
  so they can make a preferred choice with
  assistance or independently.
• to make choices on the computer and off
  the computer using Choice Cards.

All our software can be used with a conventional mouse. Our switch training software is specifically designed for use with a single switch which takes the place of the left click button on the mouse.

The switch adapted mouse to the left is the simplest way of setting up a single switch.

See our Links page for suppliers.

'Making Choices' is the final step in 'The Astech Approach'

Once a child masters the skills taught in our 'Press' and 'Press Wait' programs, the next step is learning how to scan.

'Making Choices' teaches scanning and choice making skills in easy progressive steps in a fun, effective way.