Proposal for Pre-conference Workshop

							                The Switch is not the Activity!!
                               ATIA 2010
                        By Karen M. Kangas OTR/L
      6925 Upper Road, Shamokin, PA 17872570-644-1032 Email:
                            kmkangas@ptd.net
                   By Lisa Rotelli, Education Consultant
  Adaptive Switch Labs, Inc.125 Spur 191, Suite C, Spicewood, TX 78669
               1-800-626-8698; Email; lrotelli@asl-inc.com

      Unfortunately, switches, have become the activity, or more important
than the activity when working with children with the most challenges.
These switches, their placement, their expectation of use can really alter
the actual learning itself. By changing to the use of electronic switches,
transparency can readily be encouraged.
      Using zero pressure switches (electronic) can assist dramatically a
student’s ability to control multiple switch sites. However, the switches
themselves are not the only reason abilities can increase. Switch placement,
seating postural control and seating support for task involvement, monitor
placement, onscreen keyboard choices, are all important.
      However, really using mouse emulation, particularly with 3 switches is
not being utilized as well as it might be. We are presuming that
understanding its physical configurations, how to set it up with existing
powered mobility, or how to set it up without a powered chair may not be
known. We will share actual equipment set-ups, the physical configurations
required and share learning strategies which appear to work.
      We will then analyze a student’s seating postures, and how to assist
the student in access to their use of switches, for mouse emulation and
control.



I. Why head access needs to be considered
       A. Head is the first extremity to gain control, without it, no hands
either
       B. Seating for head control is generally not available nor understood
             1. Seating for task performance or with postural control
                   a. Pelvic weight bearing and mobility
                   b. Use of vestibular system
                   c. Increase freedom of movement


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            2. Use 1,2 or 3electronic (zero pressure) switches, at head,
                   proximity switch (fixed or adjustable)
            3. Use 1 at head (with individual with weakness), fiber optic
                   switch
      C. Type of Scanning to be used
            1. Two switch scanning does not require “waiting”
            2. Single switch scanning requires “rhythm,” timing, and fluency
                   with what is being scanned
            3. Can become transparent to task quickly
II. What is the software & hardware being used?
      A. Software must be analyzed, and “taught”
      B. Expect errors, but attend to activity not access
      C. Familiarity and Fluency in use of software
          How familiar is the child with it? Is the adult
teacher/therapist/trainer fluent?
      D. Physical configuration of hardware
            1. Its location
            2. Its availability
            3. Others to use, also, in specific circumstances, with
                   particular activities
III. Use of Mouse
      A. Two switch access can easily lead to 3 switch Mouse Emulation
      B. Must teach how to use mouse and how it works
      C. May need to use a powered chair, first to teach access
      D. Great “training” for direct head access, like HeadMouse or tracker
            system for children/adults with tone
IV. Use of powered chair’s head array for AAC use or computer access
      A. Equipment needed
            1. Must have (from wheelchair manufacturer) their interface
                   called aAuxiliary Control Module or Environmental Control
                   Unit, or Communication Interface
            2. Must have cable from interface to AAC device or Mouse
                   emulator
            3. Must have remote programmer to powered chair, to set up
                   parameters
      B. Can use single switch, two switch or 3 switch mouse emulation




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          Equipment Discussed in this session and where it’s available
****Please note: When you are ordering this equipment, call the
manufacturer and explain what you want to do, with what equipment,
and what configuration. This will ensure that you get the exact
equipment you want which will work with your student and your
hardware.
Also, this is not an all inclusive list of equipment, rather it is equipment I use
and know works, consequently I am eager to share this information with you.
KMKangas

Proximity Switches:
1. Mini head array or Elite Head array with mini-laterals with fixed
proximity switches (can have one, two or three embedded in above head
support)
2. Head array can be used for driving on a powered chair (An Auxiliary
Control Module
       must be purchased from the powered chair’s manufacturer but cable
is purchasedfrom Comation or Adaptive Switch Labs, Inc. )
3. Head array can be used with a battery pack on a manual wheelchair (and
also as a headrest)
       a. One switch, two switches or more switches
       b. Can also have a “bag” for them, to hang on push handles of
wheelchair
       c. Switches can be adjustable or fixed proximity switches
4. Proximity switches can be purchased separately and placed at head, or
behind existing head rest (if base of headrest is NOT metal), will need
adjustable proximity switch for this configuration.
From: COMATION, 125 Spur 191, Suite D, P.O. Box 255, Spicewood, TX
78669; 830-798-1914; Fax: 830-798-6021 www.comation.com
2. Fiber optic switches
1. Can be located anywhere, but cable must be protected, generally best in
tubing
2. Have adjustability in distance (nearness) to switch
From: COMATION, 125 Spur 191, Suite D, P.O. Box 255, Spicewood, TX
78669; 830-798-1914; Fax: 830-798-6021 www.comation.com




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3. SCATIR switch (Self calibrating auditory tone infrared) switch,
     IT comes mounted on a gooseneck, can work for single switch scanning.
now owned by Ablenet, Inc., 1081 Tenth Ave. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414-
1312;1-800-322-0956

4. Mouse Emulation
a. Mouse emulation, 3 switch or 5 switch, USB, wired (a cable)
The “hard-wired” mouse emulator is both a 3 and 5 switch mouse emulator
It can be configured either way.
From Comation: www.comation.com or From:TASH, Inc www.ablenetinc.com
b. Mouse emulation, 3 switch, wireless
With a wireless system, a transmitter and receiver are needed. You also
must choose whether you will use it as a 3 switch or 5 switch. It does not do
BOTH.
From: TASH Inc. makes the 5 switch configuration. Comation makes the 3
switch configuration and the 5 switch configuration.

5. The Head Mouse
     I love the head mouse. However, many of the individuals I work with
can’t get control of it quickly, as they are very unfamiliar or inexperienced
with the programs/software they are attempting to control. Consequently,
another form of mouse emulation or alternative mouse, I think, is more
helpful to begin. Once an application or other software becomes very
familiar, then a new method of access can be tried. This is when a Head
Mouse can be tried. Many of the manufacturers of these costly products do
have “loaner” programs, please avail yourselves of these for your students.
However, you need to learn to use it first, not just set it up for them to use.
You need to move it through the programs to be tried, and become more
familiar with it yourself. I have been around these Head Mice for a long
time, and they have come down in price, and “new” ones appear periodically.
Please don’t just look for the cheapest one, make sure you know the
company, how long they’ve been around, how many have they sold and
serviced, and what happens if one breaks?. . Instead of “saving” money up
front, “spend” money wisely, by purchasing reliable, durable products. Here
is my favorite:
From: Origin Instruments’ Head Mouse and Head Mouse Extreme:
www.orin.com




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      I’ve seen new products at CTG and at ATIA, but I haven’t yet used
them all. When considering them, please make sure you pay attention to how
the device mounts, how it is calibrated and most importantly, what software
are you managing. You will need to look at On-Screen Keyboard programs
when using a head mouse. Make sure you look carefully analyze these, too.
Again, you can find them through searches on the internet, your local AT
resources may have some, like Infogrip,(www.infogrip.com) as they carry
several choices, including the popular REACH on-screen keyboards. Then,
you need to choose looking at word prediction and screen reading programs
too.

6. Communication Device Mounting
       Each Augmentative Communication device Manufacturer has mounts
for their systems, Prentke-Romich, Dynavox, Saltillo, Words+, Zygo, etc. .
These are made to fit their devices exactly, and I usually order from them.
HOWEVER, you must know where and on what brand chair, and the tubing
diameter of that chair’s part so that you make sure they will fit the chair.
Each chair and each part of each chair is NOT the same diameter tubing. If
there is unique tubing, or the company does not make a size to fit your
child’s chair, call Daedelus below because they can make a fitting for ANY
Chair! I use them most often.
Daedelus Technologies, Inc., 2491 Vauxhall Place, Richmond, BC, Canada,
V6V 1Z5; 1-800-561-5570; FAX: 604-244-8443: Mounting systems for
communication aids, too, switches, and trays; www.daessy.com


         Equipment Set-Up and Physical Configurations Required
1. Mouse Emulator (Mouse Mover) Interface Box
     a.. Three & 5 switch Mouse Mover (from Adaptive Switch Labs or TASH)
     b. Wireless Mouse Mover, either 3 or 5 (3 only from Adaptive Switch
            Labs, 5 either from TASH or Adaptive Switch Labs)
2. USB Cable from Mouse Emulator to Computer (comes with Mouse
      emulator)
3. Switches to use the Mouse Emulator which can be plugged into the
     Mouse Emulator
     a. 3 or 5 mechanical switches
     b. If electronic, then a battery pack is needed to provide power to
            the switches



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With this set-up, literally you can just plug it in, and you will have a Mouse,
ready to be used with any software. In 5 switch configuration, each switch
performs one action. But with 3 switch configuration, each switch performs
more than one action. One switch moves cursor left and right. A different
switch moves the cursor up and down
And a third switch manages click, double click and when held “click and drag.”
These different functions work by performing a switch hit, then release,
then switch hit again (this reverses the directionality of the cursor).
       So, if electronic switches are used you need:
1. The electronic switches (3 of them, known as “sensors”); proximity
       switches, fiber optics, whichever are used
2. Mounting of the electronic switches (tray, Elite head array, mini head
        array, etc.)
3. A relay interface box, (has a cable for the monoplug interface to Mouse
        mover), and a cable to connect the electronic switch
4. A battery pack to power the electronic switches
5. Or, a wall plug-in to power the electronic switches
6. Please note: Attention needs to be paid to switch location, and switch
mounting so that is does not interfere with the computer activity to be
managed. Using electronic switches at the head provides the child with
efficient access to numerous switches.




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