Day 5: Severe Physical Disabilities

         Students with severe physical disabilities are fewer in number but require more assistive technology.  Today we were introduced to Tyler, a student on the south shore of Nova Scotia.  His journey has been lengthy and his skills have developed along with the development of new technologies. He has Cerebral Palsy which includes severe fine and gross motor and self help delays. Cognitively, Tyler is a bright boy with a great intellect. His difficulties were actually first noticed by a nurse and his grandmother who realized he wasn't meeting typical developmental milestones for movement. Tyler has had quite a journey already with varied technologies and many professionals involved but they key to all of this is TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING. The only constant is his perseverance!  He continually must learn new technologies and those who work with him must always be up to date on the technology as well.  Recently he has made the move from indirect selection with a head switch to direct selection with the iPad and keyboard. With technology, Tyler is able to reach his full potential and has managed to achieve high grades even now as a teenager in the 8th grade with increasing task demands! 

The PowerLink4 is a MUST HAVE assistive technology device for children with severe disabilities. 

 The PowerLink4 is an AbleNet device used in conjunction with a switch to provide students with environmental control. A single switch activates any electrical device with a plug and allows students to actively participate (inclusion) in the classroom setting.  It has 4 control settings including direct, timed seconds, timed minutes, and latch.  For $250, it is a must have for students being introduced to assistive technology. 






In the public school setting, INTEGRATION is key for students with severe physical disabilities.  Assistive technology can provide them the ability to achieve goals which, perhaps equally as important as educational engagement,  include social development and the ability to develop friendships through communication and having control in their environments.  






sidenote:  It is important to ensure that teachers and EPA's are TRAINED to use few, yet appropriate, prompts when teaching children to use a switch.  PATIENCE between prompts is KEY! These children often require more processing time to link all steps together and make them happen. Also, ensure appropriate CUEING! When using a switch, request that the student "turn on the lights" rather than "hit the switch".  The lights are the task they are actually trying to achieve USING the switch.



great acronym I found online:


S.W.I.T.C.H.  -  See What I Totally Can Handle