My multiple disabilities support (MDS) teacher is my “go to” for support on how to use adapted switches with my students in occupational therapy (OT) sessions. She uses them daily with her students, and we often collaborate on ways that we can adapt activities for all of our students, regardless of mobility or cognitive limitations, can fully participate. While there are TONS of ways to use switches, I’ve included my top three suggestions in this blog!
For more great information on how to use switches in special ed, check out SSE Blogger Stephanie’s blog here! The blog includes lots of great ideas in addition to the basics of switch use in the classroom [including videos!].
1. Switches for Communication
![student sitting at a table with core vocabulary words on switches [more, eat, etc.]](https://i2.wp.com/simplyspecialed.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Communication-Switches.jpg)
I typically spend first period in my MDS classroom at the high school. We work through morning routines and ADLs as well as morning meeting. This classroom uses a lot of core vocabulary with our students, and not all of them are able to use AAC like ProLoQuo2Go or a PECs book independently. We often put core vocabulary words on two switches [recorded on the switch and labeled with a familiar visual] in front of the student [ex: yes/no, more/stop]. Rather than more robust/complex AAC options, this allows the students to communicate by touches the switch, and they can then hear the verbal response. We have a “good morning!” switch that we pass around for greetings during morning meeting as well! Some of my OT students have goals for targeted reach [or grasp/release], head control, etc. and these are great functional activities during which to work on those goals!
Check out Sabrina’s blog on morning meeting for intermediate grades for some ideas! The Simply Special Ed Morning Meeting Resources are a great addition to any classroom! Get started with these FREE morning calendar labels!
2. Switches for Crafts or Games
As an OT, I am all about the crafts! Art works on so many skills, and crafts are so motivating for students! We have a holiday [winter & spring!] bazaar at the high school, and the students make all of the things that we sell! Historically, I have been in charge of helping the students design and create cards. Switch adapting spin art [affiliate link] was an easy way that all of my students could create splatter art cards with team work! Switches were used for student to communicate the colors that they wanted to used, and we worked in partners with one squeezing the paint and one controlling the spinner!
3. Switches for Cooking
If I’m not crafting with my students, I’m cooking with them! Especially with my secondary students, I think cooking activities are so important. We use blenders, food processors, hand mixers, etc. to make recipes several times a week! Stephanie talks about this in her blog, but you don’t have to use you hand to activate a switch! We have some students who do not have use of their hands. They are able to activate switches with their mouth or head! I love collaborating with teachers to create jobs for our students. We had a student who didn’t take food by mouth, so rather than eating breakfast with his peers, he made it for them! One of his classmates needed to eat puree textured foods, so he blended the food with a head switch!
Most of the above suggestions require use of a PowerLink [affiliate link] or some other kind of interface. Connecting a switch to the PowerLink lets you switch-adapt any electronic that would traditionally be plugged into the wall! We have used it to adapt almost all of the materials we’d like to use in the classroom!
Looking for a way to use switches with your classroom’s iPads? Stephanie has another great blog on her top 5 switches iPad apps! Check it out for some more great ideas!
