Use your iPad to control switch toys: Switchamajig!

Wouldn't it be great if your child or students could control switch-operated toys with the iPad?

Phil at PAW Solutions has come up with a very clever switch interface that works with your iPad. It allows children to control up to SIX switches or actions through one screen. Can you imagine the possibilities for fun play? It even lets your child steer...how cool is that!

Since so many of you have children who use iPads, I thought Phil's amazing app would have real interest. Be sure to check out the video he has provided. Here's his story...and a special discount for Adapting Creatively readers at the end!

* * * * * * * *

Thanks to Rose-Marie for inviting me to tell you how my own creative adapting turned into a new business.

I used to adapt toys back in college, so it was a bit surreal when I starting doing it for my own son, Jackson [editor's note: you will adore the clip of Jackson at the end of the video. Don't miss it!]. I wasn't trying to do a good deed or show off (although my wife was far more impressed than anyone in college ever was.) All that really mattered was that my little guy needed to have fun.

Having fun. Isn't that what being a kid is all about? My childhood memories are of running with the dog, building with Legos, and kicking a soccer ball around. My medical appointments were mercifully rare and tinged with anxiety and terror over the inevitable vaccination. But Jackson's childhood revolves around the medical profession: PT, OT, SLP, and flavors of MD I wish I'd never learned about. More interventions, assessments, and adaptations than I'd like, but letting nature take its course just isn't going to work, not for Jackson.

Once we did find time to play, we needed something to play with. I didn't like most switch-adapted toys; pressing one button was great for cause-and-effect, but Jackson needed more imaginative play. So we bought two switches and adapted a two-button RC truck. Jackson liked it. With two switches, he could drive it all over the living room. He took special delight in crashing it into the couch.

We also looked for creative solutions to help Jackson communicate. We convinced relatives to give him an iPad for his second birthday. Now you may think that a two year-old with disabilities would have trouble using such an advanced piece of technology, and you'd be right. He loved that it made fun noises and showed cool pictures as he rubbed his food-encrusted fingers over the touch screen, but he didn't seem to understand that he was in control of it. His frustration would build. And build. And build until we declared “no more iPad.” Then he would scream as only a two year-old can.

I decided to make the iPad control his truck, and built a box that received commands from the iPad and worked like four switches. The iPad shows buttons that, when touched, activate a toy. Suddenly all sorts of new toys were available to Jackson, from RC construction vehicles to flying fish balloons (I like remote controlled toys because they are designed to be fun when pressing buttons.) I showed it to Jackson's therapists and teachers, and from their reactions decided I was on to something. I decided to turn my project into a product, and recently started selling it as the Switchamajig Controller.

Along the way, I found new uses for Switchamajig. There's an RC car that needs someone to hold down two buttons to turn, and the RC fish balloon's tail control requires toggling between two switches. Even with the iPad, Jackson couldn't control either one, so I added special buttons that he can press to steer the car

or make the fish swim.

The Switchamajig includes a free iPad app for operating up to 6 switches
from a single iPad. This allows kids to determine a lot of movement for their toys.

 

I've spent my career in silicon valley working on cool technology. But there's nothing cooler than unlocking some of the joy of childhood for my son and other children with disabilities. Nothing prepared me for a product demo with a giggling child and a mother choking back tears. Now I'm looking for ways to make Switchamajig push aside more obstacles for more people. Have any ideas? Let me know with a comment or email me at info@switchamajig.com.

Play on!

* * * * * * * * *

Phil has generously offered a $50 discount if you order using the coupon code "adaptingcreatively." Thanks Phil!

Note:  We don't own an iPad or a Switchamajig, so I have no personal experience with either. I thought this switch interface and Phil's story of how he came to create it might be of interest to many of you.

                                        --Rose-Marie

Hands-free Card Holder

Last month’s CD-disk card holder tutorial was so wildly popular that I figured folks might find today’s hands-free card holder tutorial to be useful as well.

After all, some kids lack the motor skills to hold cards at all, yet they would still enjoy playing card games with family and friends.

Just like the first, this card holder is quick to make and very inexpensive.

It isn’t limited just to playing cards, either. It can be used to hold picture symbol cards for non-verbal communicators to choose with eye gaze. Feel free to make it longer or shorter to meet your needs.

For playing cards or communication cards, this holder
is quick and very inexpensive to make.

All you need is a pool noodle (our dollar store carries them for a buck; each 4-foot noodle makes 6 card holders) and a serrated knife. You can use an electric carving knife (an ideal device for cutting foam and the only reason I have one) or a serrated bread knife. Since most people have access to a low-tech bread knife, that’s what we’ll use in this tutorial.

You simply need an inexpensive pool noodle
and a serrated bread knife.

Measure 15-16” from one end. Cut down through the foam using your serrated knife.

Cut straight down as though you were slicing a loaf of bread.
15 - 16" is a good length, but feel free to make yours longer or shorter.

Now slice lengthwise through the center of the piece. Try to keep the slice as straight as you can. Also try to stay in the middle so both halves are equal.

Slice down through the center to make two halves.

Set the slice, flat side down, on a table. At the peak of the arch, use your knife to cut a slot 1 /4 -1/2” deep the full length. It might help to draw a straight line with a Sharpie marker, both for you to follow with the knife and for your child to see the slot.

Drag your serrated knife along the top of each half,
allowing the blade to cut only 1/4 - 1/2" deep to
create a slot.

To use the card holder, simply slide the cards into the slot.

Rest the holder, flat side down, on a table.

There you go! Easy, inexpensive, and hands-free!

If you like what you see on Adapting Creatively, sign up to follow. You’ll be part of a growing group of parents and educators working together to meet the needs of our kids with disabilities in creative ways.

Adapting Simple Battery-Powered Toys: A Tutorial

Since it’s the holiday season and many parents are looking to find gifts for their children, I thought today would be perfect to share a quick tutorial on adapting simple battery-powered toys. Roll up your sleeves, grab your toy catalog and tools, and let’s get started!

Select a battery-operated toy

Before we start, you need to pay attention to differences in the way battery-powered toys operate. Some have simple circuits…a basic exterior on/off switch…that can easily be interrupted. These are what we are going to talk about here.

Some sample toys that work well:

The dog walks and barks when the child presses the switch.
Pressing a switch causes bubbles to stream out of the wheel.

Drop beads in the center container, press the switch,
and the threader automatically strings beads onto
string or elastic thread. A fun way for your child to
make jewelry for herself or for gifts!

Make fun and easy art with a paint spinner!

Other toys have fancy internal switches that are activated by pressure, often located in the hands, feet, ears, tummy. This last category is much more complex to adapt, so I’m not going to dig into that one today (but I will give you links at the end if you feel especially crafty!).

Round up a switch

You’ll also need a switch. A simple switch, such as a Jelly Bean, will activate the toy as long as it is pressed. Most single message output switches can also be used in this same way if you attach a speaker cable to it. How fun is it to call your puppy (“Here, puppy puppy!") and have him walk to you!

Buy or make a battery interrupter

In addition to a simple switch toy and a switch to activate it, you’ll need a battery interrupter. These can be purchased for about $13 US from Ablenet, Enabling Devices , EnableMart and other sources.

You can also make your own; see:

http://www.ataccess.org/pdf/Adaptingtoy.pdf (sturdy, uses a copper wafer)

http://www.deafblindresources.org/devices/batteryinterrupter.pdf (perhaps a bit more delicate, uses a plastic disk and tin foil)

Other tools (you probably already own)

Other than that, you just need a notching file and perhaps a screwdriver to remove the battery door.

Clockwise: screwdrivers, utility knife and files, battery interrupters

You're ready to adapt your toy

Slide the copper plate (or foil disk) between the negative end of one of the batteries and the spring contact.

The red arrow points to the plate inserted at the negative end of the battery

To avoid crimping the wire leading from the toy, you will want to notch the battery door. Locate a corner near the spring contact. If the plastic is soft, you may be able to cut off a corner using a utility knife. Typically, though, you will need to rasp away a triangle of plastic using a notching file. I try to remove the plastic from a corner whenever possible, as this is simplest.

Notice the notch at the lower left. It is just large enough to allow the
battery interrupter cord to move freely, without being pinched in the
battery door.

Now, plug the male end of the switch wire into the female jack of the battery interrupter, turn the toy on (it shouldn’t be doing anything at this point!) and it’s time to play! When your child presses the switch, the toy should activate.

Playing with your child

One comment on directing your child to “hit the switch…” Avoid that phrase at all costs! Instead, focus on the result of hitting the switch. “Make it go!” or “Blow me some bubbles!” are much more conversational and real-world and just a lot more fun. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

That was easy, now, wasn't it? I'll admit, with the advance of fancy internal switches, it's gotten harder to find simple toys to adapt. But they do exist if you shop around. Have fun!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As promised, here are links to instructions for hardwiring complex switch-activated toys:

http://www.smasupport.com/hardwiring-toys.htm

http://www.adaptableminds.com/adaptingtoys.html

http://www.glenallen-sch.vic.edu.au/instructions/adapting-simple-switch-toys.pdf

http://scienceshareware.com/bobthebuilder.htm

* * * * * * * * * * * *

You might also be interested in:
Building Communication through Play
Playtime Communication Book and GIVEAWAY!