exemplar activities

Unit 5 Activity 10 - On-screen grids

I have been using Clicker 4 with one of my pupils for 2 terms now. He is a 16 year old boy with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment (MDVI). DX has cerebral palsy and no speech but has a reasonable level of understanding around about 5 years. He has limited hand and arm control but can operate a switch with either side depending on his mood.

DX has a cortical visual impairment and this results in damage to the brain so visual messages are not relayed clearly. It also means that he can have periods when he may visually black out from second to second or minute to minute. This in turn means that although DX has visual responses they cannot be relied upon in isolation and that sound is an equally important reference.

Clicker 4 has offered this and has allowed DX to be part of his learning and express his feelings. He can clearly hear the statements or questions being asked and can respond by pressing the switch as to how he feels. It is also used as a testing ground for other questions that have right and wrong answers and this has proven his understanding of the world around him. The pictures themselves are as bold as possible with good contrast so DX can spot colour differences and backgrounds. It is too difficult to say with any certainty if DX can see exactly what is on the screen but he certainly detects different colours etc.

DX has been working on giving a response to one of two choices although he is now at a stage where the amount of options could be increased. It is also useful to be able to change the time each option is highlighted for and this has been intentionally slow for DX as it takes a lot of effort for him to activate the switch.

The 4 clicker grids are a selection taken from a bank of about 50 that have been made up.

Download 'Drums' Clicker grid
Download 'Mum' Clicker grid
Download 'School' Clicker grid
Download 'Computer' Clicker grid

(Each grid is about 4 k. If you are using Netscape and the files try to open in your browser hold down Shift before clicking on the links to get the 'Save to disc' dialogue box.)

More exemplars

This ICTS website is maintained by Inclusive Technology.