Alternative Access

The Switch Progression Road Map is utilized at NSSEO programs to help identify students motor abilities and match an activity. The Switch Progression Road Map will helps to assess a learner’s baseline, set achievable learning milestones and provide support to help teach important skills in a way which is both meaningful and motivating for our students. At every stage along the way the booklet provides advice on which software and hardware works best and how to set them up to personalize the learning experience. We have also implemented a tracking form (that can be accessed below) to help document students performance while at NSSEO.

Alternative Writing tools are important to have available for students that have fine motor and or visual perceptual deficits. Below are a few tools that could be helpful to address how students are able to access their handwriting abilities.

Pencil Grasp Patterns

Alternative Writing tools are important to have available for students that have fine motor and or visual perceptual deficits. Common alternative writing tools utilized in the schools are: adapted paper and adapted writing tools. Certain paper can also help increase a students independence. Also utilizing different pencil grips can increase legibility for a student.

Alternative Pencils

Writing with alternate pencils allows students with significant disabilities to develop beginning writing skills by supporting them to go through the same developmental writing phases typically developing students do. Alternative pencils also address a students’ other developing abilities like eye gaze or switch use. For example, the alphabet eye gaze frame may be helpful for students who are learning to eye gaze. Alternative “pencils” were created for students who are unable to hold a traditional pencil or physically manipulate a standard keyboard. Alternative pencils can be used with writers of varying abilities and ages including students who are emerging writers and those who are able to write more conventionally