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How to make a simple pressure switch

Why should people with severe disabilities learn how to operate a switch?

There are various studies done on this topic but I will only highlight the most important once for your context. Most of you are working with children with disabilities and it is important to understand the role of switch use in the developing child.

For a child who has poor cause and effect skills it is important to teach to this child an understanding that their actions has an effect and this effect control objects in the environment like for instance a toy.

When the child learns the impact of cause and effect, can use this skill to operate a two option device to indicate choices. The number of options for choice selection can then be increased and you are on your way developing a person who can communicate at least needs and wants. So the ability to learn how to use a switch, although it is in a playful situation, will also teach the child to interact more with people.

For a young child, play is his way of learning about the environment and his effect on the environment. However, when you are disabled and you do not have the motor abilities to interact with your environment appropriately, activities need to be adapted in order for the child to have meaningful play opportunities that will lead to learning. These activities can range from sensory-motor activities where there is a lot of sensory stimulation for instance sound and vision or it can be symbolic play activities creating opportunities for fantasy play using toys such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines or mixers. It could also include music activities where a tape recorder or CD player is adapted for the child to access when he wants to listen to his favourite songs.

The most important of all is the opportunity that switch use would facilitate the carry over of skills learnt in a non-threatening play situation, to other contexts like for instance the use of the joystick to operate a powered wheelchair, the mouse of the computer, or even the use of a communication device. These skills are necessary for independence, however, we as interventionists, need to see the value of early intervention using play activities on the later life of the child.

Independence is something that all parents will tell you is a priority in their lives and with the ability to understand the use of a switch to control another object, children can be taught to use environmental controls like blinds or the TV’s remote control.

I hope it I sketched a positive picture for you regarding how important it is for children with disabilities to learn how to operate a switch and the cause and effect relationship it has with objects in the environment.

As I stated in the beginning, I have focused on the reasons for using switches when focusing on the child with disabilities, but is it only children who cannot talk that we need to have switch training as part of their individual intervention plans? No. Because of the cognitive load involved in switch use, children with cognitive impairments like Down’s Syndrome could also benefit from this intervention. Children with acquired disabilities like head injuries will also benefit. Neurological disorders like musculo-distrophy is another physical condition that would benefit from switch use. These children had a typical development and have already acquired a vast amount of skills that they will be able to use as the condition progressively deteriorates. For these children independence is fundamental and a switch operated device for environmental control or communication should then be provided. Just because a child cannot write due to his condition, does not mean that we cannot give him access to the academic stream of the school. A switch adapted to a computer is al it takes to provide access to participation in school activities.

However, all the diagnoses of children we include in switch training, can also be used for the adult population. Their needs might be a bit different due to the contexts the functioning in.

So, after all of this theoretical input, I need to explain to you what a switch is. It is something that can be pressed to activate a toy or any device that is turned on or off by opening or closing a circuit.

How does a switch work? Like a pump that pushes the water through the hose, a battery is pushing electricity through the wires to the toy. If the circuit is broken, the electricity is blocked. The switch is the main man that can regulate the flow of electricity by opening or closing the circuit.

Today we are going to learn how to make a simple pressure switch. However, there are a quite a variety of switches available so that you can match a child’s skill with the type of switch selected. Sometimes you need try out different switches before you can be sure which switch is the best match for the child. Keep in mind that you want to keep the effort low, but the success and enjoyment high. This way you know the child will continue to use the switch even if you are not there to assist.

The following table explains step-by-step how to make a simple pressure switch.

|Preparation | |

|Cut a 1m piece of ripcord |[pic] |

|Split the ripcord at both ends about 5 cm |[pic] |

|Remove a 2cm piece of plastic coating on both sides of the ripcord to | |

|expose the copper wire. | |

|One side for the Jack plug | |

| | |

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|One side for the switch | |

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|Jack plug (Male) | |

|Use the other side of the ripcord and twist the copper wire to keep |[pic] |

|the separate wires together. Do each one separately | |

|The “male” jack plug has only 2 places where the wire can be attached.|[pic] |

|You will use both. | |

|Stick one strand of the ripcord through one hole, fold it double and |[pic] |

|twist it around to fasten it tightly. Use the nose pliers. | |

|Do the same with the 2nd hole |[pic] |

|Use the nose pliers to flatten the “wings” and secure the wire |[pic] |

|Solder these wires to the jack plug for durability | |

|Cover the wires with the casing |[pic] |

|[pic] | |

|Simple Pressure Switch | |

|Materials |Rip cord |

|2 CD’s |Jack plug (Male) |

|2 Pieces of paper to cover the CD’s |Soldiering iron |

|2 pieces of foil cut in the size of the CD |Flux |

|Glue |Insulation tape |

|Glue the outside of both CD’s |[pic] |

|Cover it with an appropriate cover |[pic] |

|Glue the other side of both CD”s |[pic] |

|Use the other side of the rip cord and spread the wires out | |

|Stick the rip cord to both CD’s |[pic] |

|Make sure that the plastic of the rip cord is on the CD | |

|Now cover the wire with the foil and rub the foil onto the wire. Do |[pic] |

|both CD’s | |

|To secure the rip cord – use 2 pieces of insulation tape. |[pic] |

|Stick one piece over the rip cord and CD | |

|Turn the CD around and fold the insulation tape over onto the cover |[pic] |

|Do the same with the second piece of insulation tape from the cover’s |[pic] |

|side | |

|Turn the CD over and fold the insulation tape over. Rub it. |[pic] |

|Get 2 pieces of foam. This is for the individual who needs a quick |[pic] |

|response as there is little pressure needed to activate the switch. | |

|If you add 2 more pieces of foam, it will take more effort from the | |

|child to activate the switch. | |

|Use enough glue to glue the pieces of foam onto the foil | |

|Now add glue on top of the foam pieces |[pic] |

|Put the second CD on top of the foam, but make sure that the one rip | |

|cord is above the other rip cord | |

|Your switch is now finished |[pic] |

|Test your switch |[pic] |

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