Tiny buttons on the MP3 player. Small on/off light switches. Power buttons on computers or tablets. Climate control operation.

These types of things can sometimes be a challenge for people who have average amounts of manual dexterity can become an impossible task for someone living with a condition that impacts his or her fine motor skills.

The good news is that a variety of adaptive switches are available, enabling a person with limited or no dexterity to operate electronics with a light touch of the hand or other body part, or in some cases, his or her breath by sipping and puffing through a tube. Rehabmart carries these innovative switches from Adaptivation to meet a wide variety of needs.

The Flexible Taction Pads are made of clear plastic with an adhesive backing, allowing them to be used for diverse applications. They work by sensing the moisture on a persons’ hands or fingers, turning electronics on and off with the touch of a feather. They can be used flat in applications such as on a table or desktop, wrapped around items such as lamps, or thanks to its adhesive backing, mounted on a wall to operate lights or climate control. The Taction Pads come in four sizes and can be trimmed if needed. To clean, simply wipe with a soft cloth while they are unplugged. Options include the LinkSwitch for adaptation to toys, switch overlay pockets, and the HandiBoard Cord Organizer.

While most puff-and-sip devices have the user activate them by inhaling and exhaling through what looks like a drinking straw, the Pneumatic Switch Kit makes usage fun by using any toy that can emit puffs of air. It can be used to activate any toy with a 1/8-inch adaptor jack, allowing it to interface with communication or mouse-operated devices, or switch adapted toys. Tubes and connectors are included, allowing any squeezable toy with a small air hole, such as the one included, to operate the switches.

Using radio frequency signals, the Wireless Pal Pad Environmental Control Unit allows the user to adjust lights, heat, and air conditioning within a 25 foot radius with the simple touch of a finger. The Pal Pad sits on a desk or a table, and when activated through touch, sends the signals to an X-10 transceiver installed next to the lamp or thermostat. Two control modes, ‘latch’ for items that need to be on for extended amounts of time, and ‘direct’ for those which only need to be on for as long as the switch is pressed, can be set with the help of a small screwdriver. A one-second delay where the switch must be held down for a full second may be programmed to prevent unintended activation by a user who tends to drag his or her hands. The Pal Pad comes in a choice of five colors and has a rubber backing to prevent sliding on table tops.

To record messages for special needs kids or others who respond better to spoken words than to written ones, the VoicePal K8 can record and play back eight messages up to eleven seconds long. It can accommodate up to eight external switches such as the optional Pad Pal ones. The VoicePal K8 is 5.75 inches long by 3.75 inches wide by 1.25 inches high and weighs in at a highly portable ten ounces.

Enhancing the communication of special needs kids at home or in the classroom is the Ultimate Communication System. It includes the Pneumatic Switch Kit, SwitchBoard Pressure Switcher, Flexible Switch Kit, Taction Pads Switch, Pal Pads Switch, and Six-Pack Pressure Switches. They can all be used with one of the three assistive communication devices: the Medley for recording up to eight 11-second messages and replaying via switch activation or its built-in keypad; the Sequencer which plays back messages of up to 90 seconds in length at each of the three levels in sequential order; and the Randomizer which replays messages of up to 90 seconds per level in random order. Each communication device comes with external switch and relay jacks for cause and effect lessons. The Ultimate Communication System also includes a ProxPAD Plug-In Power Adaptor and a copy of Adapt This, a guide for adapting everyday items in the classroom or at home.

Adaptivation products are made in the USA. Because they have such a committed focus to creating superior quality and high performance products that are built to last, less than one percent of their products which were purchased by customers in the last two years have been returned for repair or replacement under their manufacturer’s warranty. They are constantly striving to create the best solutions to bridge the communication gap for differently abled children and adults.

The Adaptivation products are perfect for use in private homes, special needs classrooms, and residential care centers by people living with a wide range of conditions that impact fine motor skills and manual dexterity, helping them to live as independently as possible.

Fran Jablway,
Senior Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO