We're very keen on the old BigKeys for young pupils with accessing
difficulties because of the large keys, and because its small enough
(compared with expanded Maltron and TASH King keyboards) for the child to
reach across. Its also robust and cheap.
The new Big Keys Plus is identical in size and shape to Big Keys, but
available in QWERTY as well as alphabetic layout. It has lower or upper
case letters, with a choice of key colours. And it has shift, backspace,
function and puntuation keys.
The only problem is that to get the punctuation, it appears you have to
hold down the space bar (ie use it as a sort of shift key) and then hit
another key.
This is not much good for kids with accessing difficulties because they may have difficulty holding down two keys at once. I've suggested to KCS that the key to get punctuation should be sticky or latching at least, and if you agree, why not email them and tell them, and they might change it?
The problem is there is no separate Shift key to stick because the keys are
the same as the standard Big Keys - to get Shift, it looks as though you
hold down the spacebar, and then press another key. I spoke to KCS on the
phone and they confirmed the space bar acted as a shift key, but I've
emailed them to check and I'll post the reply to SENIT.
Paul Nisbet <pauln@cogsci.ed.ac.
WWW. http://call-centre.cogsci.ed.ac.uk/CallHome
the pros of IntelliKeys are:
better access options (key response etc)
it's supplied with 6/7 overlays which don't need any software in
the computer
you can get a fair amount of ready-made software which runs with it
there are many keyguards available
it has two switch sockets so you can plug in switches for some of
the IntelliTools software
Intellikeys has a stand so you can prop it up at an angle
pros for the Concept Keyboard are:
cost
they use standard A4/A3 paper overlays (Intellikeys is a US format)
works with Mac, Acorn and PC (Intellikeys does work with A7000's ,
but the special software doesn't)
infra-red option
I think it depends on what you need. If you have the time to design your
own overlay files to operate standard software (using the Concept
Plus/Informax software), or create activities with Concept Plus Multimedia,
then the concept keyboard is fine. Or if you use Acorns, the Concept
Keyboard is the one.
If you don't have time and you have the money to buy MathsPad etc, or if
the user needs some special keyboard settings, then IntelliKeys is better.
Paul Nisbet <pauln@cogsci.ed.ac.
WWW. http://call-centre.cogsci.ed.ac.uk/CallHome
IntelliKeys:
An extremely robust, well designed overlay keyboard with sockets for one or
two switch access. It plugs into the keyboard port, with a splitter so you
can still have your normal keyboard.
An intelligent overlay keyboard with build in memory.
Incorporates a stand so it can be angled appropriately.
The sensitivity of the board can easily be very finely tuned - making it
ideal for
special needs use, especially for those who have physical difficulties.
The overlays slide into place and stay in place!
IntelliKeys comes with a set of alternative keyboard overlays, ranging from
large QWERTY, alphabetical, arrow keys, numerical etc. These overlays are
barcoded and you just need to slide in the overlay and it works! No loading
of extra files.
We find this makes it ideal in settings where an alternative keyboard is
needed.
The board even remembers the last overlay used, so you can unplug it and
move it to another computer (college or secondary settings?).
With Overlay Maker, you can design and make your own overlays, layer
overlays etc. So it can also be used in the traditional overlay keyboard
ways that we are all familiar with.
Paul is incorrect when he says that the switch access is only for
IntelliKeys products. With OverlayMaker you can program the keys to be
whatever your switch software needs, as long as switch access can be made
through keyboard presses. The usual in the UK is Spacebar/Return.
The real beauty of the IntelliKeys for me comes when you combine it with
other IntelliKeys software products - IntelliPics, MathsPad, ClickIt!. They
just all work together so smoothly. Activities using images, animation and
sounds, all accessible by mouse, touchscreen, switch(es) etc without having
to keep loading separate bits and pieces.
ClickIt! will provide overlay and switch access to standard point and click
software. We hope very soon to have overlay and switch access to most of the
Edmark CDs and Living Books.
Accessibility for as many users as we can manage in the SAME curriculum
activities!!!
This may become more and more important if you think about the Excellence
for All white paper and its emphasis on inclusion.
Inclusive Technology incorporate IntelliKeys overlays in many of our own
products as well. Loaded from within the software, sometimes automatically -
so you don't even need to think about it.
We are localising the IntelliTools products, so they won't appear American,
if that is an issue for you. We have added a set of Lower case overlays to
the set that comes with the board, and a pad of blank ones.
Concept Keyboards
Like many of you, I feel I was weaned on Concept Keyboards. I used them very
widely in schools and as an Advisory teacher. They have given so many
children access to learning and recording that learning. They are still
extremely useful for that purpose. The new infra-red option does help to get
rid of the spaghetti very effectively.
Paul is right when he says it depends on your learners' needs. In my view,
if you want to provide off screen support for literacy, probably in a
mainstream setting, then the Concept will provide this at a relatively low
cost.
If you have more complex needs and your learners have a wide range of
difficulties then IntelliKeys is probably the one to go for. It does give
the teachers/carers extra help too, by hiding a lot of the file loading/
storing etc.
Paul is also right that if you have Acorns then you have to go for Concept
keyboards.
He says IntelliKeys will work on A7000s. Yes it will in a limited way, but
we don't recommend it.
If you have PCs or Macs then either option is available. In fact because the
products are from the US, there is an even greater range of
software/activities for the Mac than any other platform. Windows products
are growing fast.
Apologies to Concept for the large amount of this spent on IntelliKeys! Only
because I think IntelliKeys needs more explanation and because it is
relatively new to many people here. Many of the people reading this will
already be very familiar with Concept Keyboards.
I hope that helps a little. If anyone needs more info/clarification please
email or phone or visit our website.
Trish Hornsey
Inclusive Technology Ltd
trish@inclusive.co.uk
http://www.inclusive.co.uk
From: Lesley Rahamim
Subject: Re: SENIT Concept kbds v Intellikeys
Paul's answer might give the impression that you cannot make your own
overlays with Intellikeys - You can if you have the Overlay Maker
program (2 levels - Easy and More Complicated).
Also you can use overlays made by other people even if you haven't got
Overlay Maker - Inclusive or Intellitools can expand on this one. The
Intellitools website has lots of downloadable overlays.
I am very impressed with Intellikeys. It is rather big for a switch box
but then it does provide another input alternative as well. The things
I have tried with it so far work so easily. And I think it is brilliant
that Inclusive Technolgy are putting Intellikeys as an optional input
for new programs. e.g. In Living and Growing you can load appropriate
overlays without having to know about file management.
Discover Switch from Don Johnson is another great way of making life
easy for people working with switch users. It automatically loads up
the necessary access file when you start up a program, so again there is
no need for file management.
I suppose there is an underlying issue here ...
Do we aim for software that starts up, works, and shuts down without the
user/facilitator having to learn about file management, or do we aim to
give everyone a minimum standard of IT capabilty that includes basic
knowledge of where to find and save files?
Lesley Rahamim
CENMAC, Eltham Green Complex, 1a Middle Park Avenue, London SE9 5HL
Tel: 0181 850 9229 Fax: 0181 850 9220 e-mail: lesley@cenmac.demon.co.uk
www.cenmac.demon.co.uk
Don Johnston Special Needs Ltd. are pleased to announce the availability of
Discover:Board for Windows 95. Developed in conjunction with IBM Special
Needs Systems, Discover:Board gives complete access to any Windows 95
application to overlay keyboard users.
Discover:Board is a complete solution consisting of all necessary hardware
and software with nothing extra to buy.
Discover:Board plugs into the keyboard port of the PC (either AT 5 pin DIN
or PS/2) and a through connector allows the standard keyboard to be
attached at the same time. Discover:Board features an integral wrist rest
and is cut away underneath so that it can be used with a laptop, sitting
over the laptop's keyboard. A range of wheelchair mounting options are
available as are keyguards.
Discover:Board is provided with 5 standard overlays: simple ABC keyboard
with basic mouse control, advanced QWERTY keyboard with full mouse
emulation, simple mouse control, simple number keyboard and generic Living
Books® keyboard. Discover:Create software provided with Discover:Board
allows you to quickly and easily create your own overlays using text and
graphics (graphic library provided) and print them out in full colour.
Other features include:
On screen markers: invisible tags associated with a specific place on the
screen that the mouse pointer can be moved to easily. Markers can be
selected directly or scanned. Markers can be relative to a window or
screen centre and have synthesised or digitised speech feedback and cuing.
Provides full access to multimedia titles.
Full mouse emulation: move the pointer in any direction, scan menus, move
directly to specific on screen features such as scroll bars.
Autoloading of overlays: a specific overlay can be linked to any
application so that when that application is launched the selected overlay
automatically becomes active. All the user has to do is place the paper
overlay on the Discover:Board.
Speech Feedback: Overlays have audible feedback using either synthesised
or digitised speech.
Discover:Board costs £350.00 (Excluding VAT and Carriage). *As a special
introductory offer to SENIT members, order mentioning your SENIT membership
and get Discover:Board for £299.00 until the end of the Summer Term! *
Discover:Board is shipping and in stock now.
Discover:Board requires an IBM-PC compatible with 486 Mhz or higher
processor-Windows 95, RAM: 8 MB of memory (16 MB recommended), 14 to 18 MB
of available hard disk space, VGA or higher resolution monitor, mouse or
compatible pointing device (for ease of installation only), sound
capability and speakers (Sound Blaster or compatible sound card),CD-ROM
recommended (Discover:Board software will be shipped on a CD-ROM with disks
supplied on special request.)
------------------------------
Jamie Munro - Director
Don Johnston Special Needs Ltd.
18 Clarendon Court, Calver Road,
Winwick Quay, Warrington WA2 8QP
01925 241642 (Fax 01925 241745)
----------
I'm looking for a small (PC) trackerball with a latching facility for a
child with a strong tremor and small stature.
Or maybe I could use an ordinary small trackerball with software which
assigns the click-and-drag to one of the mouse keys ...
Any ideas?
Lesley Rahamim
A PS2 splitter ?
(I keep getting catalogues from people who make leads and connectors that
should have something like that in ....HCCS,MISCO,Lindy and the like)
The Semerc mouser has two PS/2 sockets you can switch between
and it would allow you to use a couple of switches as well
or
use a serial and a PS/2 mouse and roller ball.
I did this successfully the other day on a Risc PC which only has one PS/2
port.
I do know the PC usually objects to running a PS/2 and a serial driver at the
same time. Perhaps you could contact Stuart Tyrell he should know if you can do
this in Windows (Stuart@stdevel.co.uk)
I've never heard of a small latching trackerball, but I think it might
expensive.
I'm sure you could use a standard small trackerball with Togglemouse software.
Thank you to those colleagues who sent suggestions in response to my
request for information about small trackerballs for a PC. I like the
looks of the Kensington Orbit - has anyone used one? KCS do it for
about 45 pounds and offer a 10 day trial.
Lesley Rahamim
Don Johnston Special Needs have released an updated version of their PC
Switch Interface which is now compatible with all available UK switch
software.
To avoid the problems some users have experienced with serial interfaces,
the DJ PC Switch Interface plugs in in line with the pc's keyboard and is
supplied with an adaptor for either a 5 pin DIN or PS2 socket.
The DJ PC Switch Interface supports up to 5 separate switches. These
switches will mimic a number of keyboard and mouse functions depending
which "key lock" is active on the computer's keyboard.
No Key Lock: up arrow, down arrow, left arrow, right arrow, enter
Caps Lock: space, enter, tab, shift tab, backspace
Scroll Lock: 1, 2, 3, 4, 0
Num Lock: left mouse button click, right mouse button click, left mouse
button double click, space, enter
The DJ PC Switch Interface is available now from stock and costs £73.00
(excluding VAT and Carriage). Existing owners of the previous Don Johnston
PC Switch Interface can upgrade. If you purchased your DJ PC Switch
Interface after 1st January 1998 you can upgrade your interface free of
charge. If you purchased your DJ PC Switch Interface before 1st January
1998 you can upgrade your interface for £20 (excluding VAT).
------------------------------
Jamie Munro - UK Manager
Don Johnston Special Needs Ltd.
18 Clarendon Court, Calver Road,
Winwick Quay, Warrington WA2 8QP
01925 241642 (Fax 01925 241745)
------------------------------
Our Discover range (Discover:Kenx, Discover:Board and Discover:Switch) also
include the ability to have either direct selection or scanning of "hot
spots" via switch and overlay keyboard for both Macintosh and Windows 95
computers.
Jamie
There is a very detailed review of on-screen keyboards in the Call
centres new book "Special Access Technology" by Paul Nisbet and Patrick
Boon. Clicker is also on the PC, Clicker 3 (the latest one) is only
available on the PC. There is also Point and Windows switch (the
advisory unit), SAW (the acecentre), Discover:Screen (Don Johnson), EZ
keys for Windows, Winscan (Academic software) and several others...
Ablenet, Don Johnson and QED for switches.
Switches need to reflect the physical skills of the pupils, so in
addition to
general classroom switches many pupils require their own personal switch
setup.
This is often simply a case of positioning or mounting the switch so it
can be
used effectively but it sometimes requires a special input device to be
made
for an individual.
Software for developing access skills (cause and effect/accuracy etc)
from
Inclusive technology, Don Johnson, Semerc, (a good single source is
REM).
Powerpoint (microsoft) can be used to make some very advanced point and
click
type activities.
Switch scanning is a difficult skill for people with learning
difficulties.
It's probably worth making a series of graduated switch scanning grids
using
your choosen scanning software that develop the skills needed for switch
scanning.
Switch access to multimedia CD roms which only respond to point and
click can
be done through !Clikit (Intellikeys/Inclusive technology) and
Discover:switch
(Don Johnson).
I think it might be worth your while looking at the range of switch
based
software, if you were in the south I could recommend several places but
I don't
know anywhere in the north.
Access: aims, recording
Hello, would appreciate your help with this.
The following is a sequence of objectives which could be reviewed when considering an ICT objective (in
one of the NC IT strands Communicating Information)
for a child in an SLD school. Obviously any objective set would be
contextualised to the wider
curriculum eg topic work etc and further refined with respect to individual
children.
*In terms of content skills and sequencing which items would you
modify/substitute/insert/replace at a different level?*
1.briefly show awareness when adult operates a communication switch
2.shows awareness of the adult, the switch, the adult pressing the switch
and the sound
3.shows interest in adult repeating the switch press
4.imitate use of simple switch in direct communication situations
5.use simple switch to gain attention
6.use a simple switch to request something/request more
7.use 2 switches to produce messages/colour simple pictures/produce sound
effects
8systematically explore equipment where there are many choices for
communication eg keys to produce sounds/colours to scribble with/pictures
which speak out words
9.colour more complex pictures on screen, selecting colurs
purposefully/imitates circle and straight line/selects sounds
purposefully/selects symbols from array to record,communicate ideas
10 paint free representational pictures, records ideas by assembling a
scene of pictures or shapes, or a sequence of symbols or sounds
11 begin to use electronic communication over a distance/assemble words to
produce simple messages/compose sequence of sounds as part of topic work
and record it/paint pictures based on topic content, use several tools eg
brush thickness, shape and fill
12 produce a sequence of sentences to communicate ideas, using keyborad and
wordbanks/compose a sequence of sounds using symbols and save this,
replay/paint pictures using a wide range of tools eg shape, straight
line,symmetry/save work and reload it with some help to continue with what
they were doing/ use a range of modes of electronic communication over
distance
David Fettes (Mandeville School)
Brunel University, UK
ad97ddf@brunel.ac.uk
It seems credible but I think you have to be clear in your own mind as exactly
what you are assessing.
Some of the objectives are far apart developmentally and some are not. There is
a very uneven spread of skills.
I have to own up to being uncomfortable with this kind of causal paradigm.
I find its very easy to go down the road of more and more detailed recording to
no specific purpose refining it endlessly for individual learners,
but then isn't that computer databases are for :-;
I suppose in the end if its useful to you then its useful to you (and only you
can judge if its useful to you).
I feel that once you start to include the wider curriculum you'll find it
getting bigger and bigger and less and less useful.
Richard
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 12:08:45 +0100
From: richard.walter@argonet.co.uk (Richard Walter)
There is a full description with recording sheets of an access progression
based on the schemes in "IT for All"* on the text side of the Meldreth school
web site (on the eduweb). I have also rearranged the sequenced steps from the
Widget website (as written by Tina) to fit in with the access progression as
outlined. These can also be downloaded from the Meldreth site (you need to go
through the help and information pages to get to the text site from the front
rebus page).
The access progression is only that; a possible scheme for monitoring and
developing access.
There is obviously a great deal more involved in ICT for pupils with SLD/PMLD.
* book needs serious rewriting now....
Richard Walter
Meldreth Manor School
Meldreth
Nr. Royston Herts
email: richard.walter@argonet.co.uk
web: http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/meldreth/
I also promised I would get back to the group on connectors.
Using a mini-headphone splitter (1.50 ukpounds from Maplin) you can plug two
switches into a single socket, both switches are active, switch turntaking and
sharing can be easier with each individual having a switch.
You can continue daisy chaining switches and splitters endlessly (my record so
far is 11 the basis of the interaction was that no one (of 11 pupils) was
allowed to press their switch.....fun.
You can also get a Two into One Adaptor (1.10) which does the same (but I tend
to prefer leads to adaptors since they put less stain on the sockets and seem
to work better).
You can do similar things with 1/4 inch jackplugs.
Most things work with the smaller jackplug size (3.5mm) and I've been slowly
working through all our switches and replacing the 1/4 inch with 3.5mm
jackplugs. However there are times when a 1/4 inch is necessary (old
mousers/BBC interface, Master controller boxes and light room equipment)
You can get 3.5mm to 1/4 inch plug adaptors but I have found that short patch
leads are more reliable.
You can buy a coloured Patch lead set from Maplin (5.90) which is a short lead
terminated by 1/4 inch plugs.
If you cut these in half and solder a 3.5mm socket on one end you have twelve
very atractive 3.5mm to 1/4 inch short patch leads (which can also be used
additionally as a personal adornment).
You can get a Mouse/Keybord splitter which allows an extra mouse, roller ball
or joystick to be connected to the computer (approx 10 ukpounds from Misco).
This is not guaranteed to work on some PCs but does on any Acorn.
If all this makes any sense then fair enough.
We have another IT open day at Meldreth on the 16th July when anyone is welcome
to come and see (and if they want to join me in replacing 1/4 plugs soldering
on 3.5 plugs it can be very Fung Shwi).
I can't upload onto the school website at present but there is already a map
somewhere on it.
Richard Walter
On Mon 14 Sep 98 (18:39:58 +0100), nick.burnett@pipemedia.co.uk wrote:
>The range of pupils needs that need to be covered are extensive and a
>range of accessing devices will be required. Is there a limit to the
>number of serial ports that can be put on a computer ? Is there likely
>to be a standard connection in the future?
>
>Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
We normally recommend a PS/2 mouse and two serial ports as standard. In
Windows 95 with PCI cards there is no limit to the number of serial ports
but practically its best to get an internal Modem (or ISDN card if you are
that lucky) to keep the normal ports free for other interfaces.
David Colven
The ACE Centre Advisory Trust
Waynflete Rd.
Headington
Oxford OX3 8DD
see us on http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/acecent/ or
http://www.ace-cent.dircon.co.uk/
mailto:ace-cent@dircon.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1865 763508 Fax +44 (0)1865 750188
I think the future of all access devices is via the keyboard interface. Mouse
button emulation is easy as is a direct switch input via this method. Don
Johnson, Intellitools, Inclusive technology have all developed hardware and
software to use this input method.
Having said that our commonest input method is still via mouse switches (Mouser
or similar). We very rarely use a serial input switch input (almost never).
Richard Walter
Dear Nick
All of our special access devices, such as overlay keyboards, mouse
alternatives and switch access systems, plug into either the mouse or
keyboard ports. I know other manufacturers are developing switch
interfaces that plug into the keyboard port rather than the serial
interface. So depending on what access devices you are looking for the
number of serial ports may not be that critical.
A possible standard for the future would be the Universal Serial Bus, which
some pc systems already have fitted. The new Apple iMac has also gone over
to the USB instead of Apple's own Apple Desktop Bus which most other
Macintoshes have. The USB will take keyboards, mice, scanners, printers
and a range of input and output devices and you can daisychain a number of
devices (I can't remember the maximum). So far take up hasn't been great
and there aren't that many USB devices.
Jamie
At 12:28 pm 5/12/98, Richard Walter wrote:
>I was giving a sudden guest appearance at a training session on IT and
>communication with some advisory teachers the other day. It was a cold day
>(physically and metaphorically).
>
>I was demonstrating the ways of getting total access by anything, to anything,
>on the computer,
>and last night I was checking out the BETT awards thing.
>
>It got me thinking....
>I don't think people fully appreciate the difference between direct access and
>scanning access.
>
>That is between using a selection sets (Clicker, Windows switch, SAW)
>and using hotspots access to hyperlinks,
>and further the difference between scanning through hotspots (Windows switch,
>Hotspots) and direct access to hotspots (ClickIt).
>
>The fact that you can directly link a switch to an active region on any
>multimedia CD rom has enormous implications for inclusive use of any computer
>program by the whole range of people with cognitive and physical difficulties.
>The added fact that the mouse is still active allows for fully differentiated
>access (so you can enable full shared access between all pupils using
>mouse/adapted mice/keyboard/overlay board and any kind of switches all working
>simultaneously and cooperatively).
>
>Scanning switch access is an extreemly difficult, and usually an inefficient
>access method that is rarely mastered by our pupils.
>
>ClickIT from Intellitools/Inclusive technology is the only program that allows
>you to directly link active areas (hotspots) directly to keyboard control and
>integrates fully and easily with the intellikeys board/switches.
>ClickIT can also scan through the hotspots with scanning sounds and hotspot
>screen enlargement, it can mix scanning with direct access to hotspots on the
>same page and it can automatically change hotspots according to the page.
>
>
>This adds an essential and radical new access facility to the Windows
>environment. It allows the inclusive and independent use of the computer by
>people with a full range of abilities. Access which was previously unavailable
>to them.
>If there's anything that should be on all computers in schools then this should
>(note: I am not advocating including it any bundle from any single computer
>provider).
>
>It's also extraordinarily easy to do....I set up a ClickIT access adapation to
>a multimedia CDrom in class while the pupils were settling themselves infront
>of the computer..... they didn't notice. I'm not sure what that says about my
>classroom management or the pupils enagement but it took less than a minute.
>
>There are some ClikIt adaptions for some CDs on the Meldreth web site (on the
>text side). So far there is a generic one for any Oxford Reading tree talking
>book, The fish who could wish, Sitting on the Farm and the Cat came back.
>It really is horribly easy to set up a simple ClickIt utility to allow keyboad,
>overlay board, and switch access to any program running under Windows.
>
>
>Richard Walter
>Meldreth Manor School
>Meldreth
>Nr. Royston Herts
>email: richard.walter@argonet.co.uk
>web: http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/meldreth/
From owner-senit Mon May 18 10:46:58 1998
Tel 01604 671691
Fax 01604 671692Thu, 12 Mar 1998 20:16:44 +0000
From: David Fettes <ad97ddf@brunel.ac.uk>
We have some Big Mack Switches at our SLD school (thanks for suggestions
for using from Anna Rourke/Tina Detheridge/Gillian Nelms/Ros Chapman).
Can anyone reccommend an inexpensive *robust!* ~ 4 message device to
use in a similar manner for general class use (not dedicated for particular
child).Would like the cells *big*.
David Fettes
Brunel University, UKMessage forwarded on behalf of Trish Hornsey of Inclusive Technology Ltd
Thu, 12 Mar 1998 22:52:03 +0000
From: richard.walter@argonet.co.uk (Richard Walter)
Echo4 /message mate /4 of the latest ablenet linked switches?
The latest Echo4 seem to be more robust than the original ones, they have a
slightly longer recording time and they're quite good for small group language
sessions.
If your using the machine for a non specific interaction type language games
i.e. not for a personal messages you can connect two switches with a splitter
(couple of quid from Maplin) to one Big mack
or two splitters (two sockets to one plug) to make 4 switches...
I have actually managed to get 9 individuals switches connected to one switch
connection on the computer playing rock music using several splitters connected
in a row.
The basis of the interaction was that I had forbidden anyone to press their
switch to play the music......
you can probably guess what happened.
good fun
Richard Walter
On Sun 20 Sep 98 (02:52:49 +0100), eddyjackson@force5.prestel.co.uk wrote: >Dear Colleagues,
>
>We are reviewing the use of on-screen keyboards accessed with pointing
>devices or switches and scanning for use on PCs.
>
There is a very detailed review of on-screen keyboards in the Call centres new book "Special Access Technology" by Paul Nisbet and Patrick Boon.
>At present we extensively use Clicker on Archimedes. This has been
>successfully used to benefit children with learning disabilities who
>have difficulty using conventional keyboards.
Clicker is also on the PC, Clicker 3 (the latest one) is only available on the PC.
There is also Point and Windows switch (the advisory unit), SAW (the ace centre), Discover:Screen (Don Johnson), EZ keys for Windows, Winscan (Academic software) and several others...
>Has any one experience or recommendations for suitable PC software or
>switches for school use?
Ablenet, Don Johnson and QED for switches.
Switches need to reflect the physical skills of the pupils, so in addition to general classroom switches many pupils require their own personal switch setup. This is often simply a case of positioning or mounting the switch so it can be used effectively but it sometimes requires a special input device to be made for an individual.
Software for developing access skills (cause and effect/accuracy etc) from Inclusive technology, Don Johnson, Semerc, (a good single source is REM).
Powerpoint (microsoft) can be used to make some very advanced point and click type activities.
Switch scanning is a difficult skill for people with learning difficulties. It's probably worth making a series of graduated switch scanning grids using your choosen scanning software that develop the skills needed for switch
scanning.
Switch access to multimedia CD roms which only respond to point and click can be done through !Clikit (Intellikeys/Inclusive technology) and Discover:switch (Don Johnson).