NHS STUDENTS MODIFY ELECTRONIC TOYS
Students from Nitro High School partnered with KCS speech therapists to modify electronic toys to be used as “switches” for KCS special education students.
As part of a speech therapist Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) meeting, students and staff worked together to create switch adapted toys. The toys have an internal battery and switch (for example, by pushing a toy’s hand, it sings a song).
Through modifications, toys were adapted to be run from an external switch.There are several benefits for installing an external switch on a toy. If a student has issues with fine motor skills, the larger, external switch allows them to easily operate the toy. Additionally, it helps with cause-and-effect communication.
The training was led by Savannah Bailey, a Speech-Language Pathologist who works for Kanawha County Schools contracted through the private practice Linguacare. The meeting began with a short presentation, followed by a hands-on activity adapting the switch toys. Nitro High students and staff walked the speech therapists through the process, including wire braiding and soldering. The completed toys will be part of the AAC library.
Original source can be found here
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