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PLAYING WITH SWITCHES
Finding enjoyable ways for children to play
is an ongoing challenge for all parents. What kind of toys
to select? How to play together and alone? What to choose
next?
Play is a critical component of childhood.
However, children with disabilities may have difficulty
interacting with objects and people due to the barriers
that their disabilities present. Because these young children
may be restricted in the ways they play, communicate, and
move, innovative ideas must be found that promote new ways
of playing and participating in daily activities. Assistive
Technology (AT) has been used to provide new opportunities
for children with disabilities to interact with and control
their environment. One way we have found is to connect an
adapter and a switch to a simple battery-operated toy --this
provides a way for a child to make the toy go “all
by himself”! It can also help him to participate in
playing with brothers and sisters. What a child wants to
participate in will be dictated by their daily activities.
AT can provide the means to the self-generated,
active engagement of a child, as his/her ability to exert
control becomes possible. This then promotes a pro-active
attitude of “I can do it!”, leading to increased
initiation attempts and empowerment. By finding ways for
successful interactions early in life, existing abilities
are extended into more complex behaviors. Using switches
with toys develop play skills that include: turning them
on and off, moving them for social and communicative purposes,
making choices to indicate preferences and just having fun!
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