Switching Your Way Through High School
By Cavanagh, Cynthia; Closing the Gap, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 1, 18-20Publication Date: October/November 2004
Article focuses on switch use among high school students, which can help to provide a stable, effectively controlled learning environment. The author discusses five specific challenges that teachers of students who use switches must face in order to develop quality learning and intervention plans: (1) obtaining useful information from the student’s last educational setting; (2) setting goals that help the student move past perceived barriers; (3) providing learning experiences that are age appropriate, enjoyable, motivating, and dignity-rich; (4) establishing and maintaining peer interest within the high school environment; and (5) providing learning experiences within the high school that are sensitive to the student’s future needs. A variety of specific switch-related activities appropriate for high school-aged students are discussed. Switches utilized in the activities include the All-Turn-It Spinner and the SuperHawk, both of which provide an opportunity for the student to make a “chance” selection from a group of items. The All-Turn-It Spinner is a switch-adapted spinner with removable overlays, while the SuperHawk is a direct selection and scanning communicator application.
Assistive Products Discussed: SUPERHAWK SIX
ALL-TURN-IT SPINNER
SUPERHAWK PLUS
SUPERHAWK 12
Published by: Closing the Gap, Inc. (Website:http://www.closingthegap.com)
