CONTACT             

Computer Access Options

Mouse House The Mouse House is a low-tech way to access a computer without special equipment. It uses the Notebook switch design to activate the left mouse button. You can get instructions at: www.lburkhart.com.

Adapted Mouse You can adapt a standard mouse using simple electrical tools. The steps are similiar to those used to adapt toys for switch capability. You can get detailed instructions at: www.uchs.edu.

BIGTrack

Trackball You can use a trackball instead of a mouse. The advantage of a trackball is that you don't have to move your arm to move the cursur on your computer. The ball is also larger and fits better in the palm of your hand. An adapted trackball is also availabe. It uses switches to activate the left and right mouse buttons. You can find these products at www.eroguys.com or www.infogrip.com for approximately $75- 100. The two shown are just a few of the available options.

AbleTrack

Don Johnston Interface Pro

Switches Interfaces Switch interfaces allow switches to act as the mouse or function keys (ex. "enter" or "space bar") on a keyboard. You can plug the interface into a USB port. You do not need to install software. Many switch interfaces are compatible with PCs or Macs. They come with the appropriate wires for hook-up. The color coding makes them simple to use and undertand. You can plug in any switch that a person can use; thereby, increasing options of access methods. Switch interfaces are a nice option for individuals that will be using the computer beyond the basic left-click mouse programs. You can purchase them at www.donjohnston.com , www.mayer-johnson.com for approximately $100. The two shown are just a few of the available options.

USB Switch Interface

Switch-Click

Switches with Built-In Interfaces Switches with a built-in interface are another possibilty. The functions depend on the model you choose. Some only work as the left-button of the mouse. Others may offer more than one computer function or be programmable to act as any function of a mouse/keyboard you dictate. A pro is that you don't need an interface in addition to a switch. However, you may be limited to one built-in function and you cannot modify the activation method of the switch. You can find these products at a variety of vendors such as: www.rjcooper.com, www.inclusivetlc.com, or www.enablingdevices.com. Prices are about $100-150. The two shown are just a few of the available options.

Switcheroo

Touch Screen A Touch Screen allows access to a computer by touching the screen with a finger. It is a concrete, direct way for the user to access what he sees on the screen. It eliminates the need to track a cursor on the screen; however, the user must be able to point and reach with fairly precise eye-hand coordination. The touch screen comes with software that tells the computer how to interpret its input. Therefore, you must buy the rights to use the touch screen window with mulitple computers. You can purchase touch screen windows for approximately $200 from a variety of vendors, including: www.rjcooper.com and www.inclusivetlc.com . Touch screen monitors or panels with built-in touch capability are also availabe at considerably higher prices ($600-1500).

Intellikeys In brief, Intellikeys is an alternative to the standard keyboard. It can be programmed to meet the need of individual users. It is very versatile and can act as one large button or many different buttons. You can program it to work with any software that is accessed through a keyboard. Find out more about this product at: www.intellitools.com.

©Heather Atkins, MS, CCC-SLP
heather.atkins@comcast.net