[senit] Head Switching

hi any suggestions as to head switches- apparently current ablenet

Try the Turk headswitch for an integrated headswitch...:   
http://website.lineone.net/~cec.co/turk.html

Simon

-----Original Message-----
From: senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Sandra Mackay
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 8:47 AM
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [senit] Head Switching

We have had success;-

1. Embedding Mini Cup (QED) switches in the sub-occipital supports of the
Whitmyre or ProWalk headrests for a child who uses rotation to activate the
switch.

2. Embedding a Buddy Button in another type of headrest for a child who uses
lateral flexion to activate the switch.

We have found that getting the switches embedded has been far more reliable
than using either commercially available or customised switch mounts.
However it is important to ensure they are embedded in such a way that they
can easily be replaced without interfering with the headrest itself.

Hope this helps.

Sandra Mackay
Occupational Therapist
Braidburn School
Edinburgh

-----Original Message-----
From: senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of
senit-request at lists.becta.org.uk
Sent: 06 June 2008 12:00
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: senit Digest, Vol 57, Issue 6

Send senit mailing list submissions to
        senit at lists.becta.org.uk

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
        http://lists.becta.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/senit
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
        senit-request at lists.becta.org.uk

You can reach the person managing the list at
        senit-owner at lists.becta.org.uk

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of senit digest..."

Today's Topics:

   1. Re: head switches (Richard Walter)
   2. Early maths for VI youngster (andrea bennington)
   3. Re: Early maths for VI youngster (Ruth McMorran)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:17:31 +0100
From: Richard Walter <richardwalter at ntlworld.com>
Subject: Re: [senit] head switches
To: davidfettes3 at yahoo.co.uk, senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Message-ID: <4847CB4B.7090002 at ntlworld.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

david fettes wrote:
> hi any suggestions as to head switches- apparently current ablenet 
> jelly beans either side of a student's head switches held on with 
> velcro to a head rest are 1. a bit big 2. not being accessed 
> successfully consistently.
> This request is from our SLT & OT.
> thanks
> David
>
>
>       __________________________________________________________
> Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html
>
>
>
>
>
Try  the smaller spec switches on velcro straps (ablenet), they come with a
starp adjustable base for the very job of fixing to headrests.

There can be some difficulty with positioning head switches onto head rests.
If the head rest is a flat the pupil might have to swivel his whole head to
operate the switch(es). This can cause him/her to remove visual attention
from the screen and if the task is time critical (as in
scanning) then it can cause problems.
There are a number of specially made head switch mountings that can position
the switches precisely to the left and the right side of the head and can be
adjusted. This way the pupil can operate head switch(es) with a small
sideways movemet allowing him/her to keep visual attention on the screen.
Adjustable head switch mountings can be bought from DAESSY
(http://www.daessy.com/index.html) and others.

Even a small wedge to help position the spec switches so they are angled
more proud of the head rests can help to positioin the switches so the pupil
can operate the switch with a side movement rather than a head role.
we have used a number of small triangular mountings that do the job.

Richard Walter
Meldreth Manor School

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 18:55:37 +0100
From: andrea bennington <andreabennington at hotmail.com>
Subject: [senit] Early maths for VI youngster
To: SENIT BECTA Forum <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
Message-ID: <BLU112-W5839A3C3BABFA691880D3DC0B40 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi

Can anyone recommend software for a youngster working at EYFS / Reception
level?  She has a visual impairment so will need clear, contrasting colours,
ideally the screen picture should be simple and not too 'busy'.

Many thanks

Andrea

_________________________________________________________________
Great deals on almost anything at eBay.co.uk. Search, bid, find and win on
eBay today!
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000004ukm/direct/01/

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 19:34:24 +0100
From: "Ruth McMorran" <home.mcmorran at virgin.net>
Subject: Re: [senit] Early maths for VI youngster
To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
Message-ID: <20080605183431.1DD9E5D419 at smtprelay06.hostedemail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="US-ASCII"

What about some of the 'Choose It! Ready-mades' from Inclusive Technology?
They have a clear, bold and uncluttered presentation with verbal prompts and
both auditory and visual rewards.

Ruth

-----Original Message-----
From: senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senit-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of andrea bennington
Sent: 05 June 2008 18:56
To: SENIT BECTA Forum
Subject: [senit] Early maths for VI youngster

Hi

Can anyone recommend software for a youngster working at EYFS / Reception
level?  She has a visual impairment so will need clear, contrasting colours,
ideally the screen picture should be simple and not too 'busy'.

Many thanks

Andrea

_________________________________________________________________
Great deals on almost anything at eBay.co.uk. Search, bid, find and win on
eBay today!
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000004ukm/direct/01/

End of senit Digest, Vol 57, Issue 6
************************************

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG. 
Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.2.0/1493 - Release Date: 6/9/2008
5:25 PM

**********************************************************************
This message  may  contain  confidential  and  privileged information.
If you are not  the intended  recipient please  accept our  apologies.
Please do not disclose, copy or distribute  information in this e-mail
or take any  action in reliance on its  contents: to do so is strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful. Please inform us that this message has
gone  astray  before  deleting it.  Thank  you for  your co-operation.

NHSmail is used daily by over 100,000 staff in the NHS. Over a million
messages  are sent every day by the system.  To find  out why more and
more NHS personnel are  switching to  this NHS  Connecting  for Health
system please visit www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/nhsmail
**********************************************************************