This is a little more complex but still doable at home and it’s GREAT for older kids who want to help out more with things at home such as cooking. Using a device called a powerlink you can plug in an item such as a blender, hand mixer, or even a radio, attach a switch to it (the jelly bean switch mentioned earlier would work) and now your child can turn on appliances and with hand over hand assistance they can help cook!
In the schools I use this a lot! The kids can be “classroom DJ” and activate the radio to play music, or we use the box to help us complete a cooking activity.
Alexa
Nest
Ring
These devices are super common in every home nowadays! While they aren’t marketed as “adaptive technology” if your child is verbal, but in a wheelchair and cannot reach the thermostat, or has limited arm movement, voice activated home technologies make everyday tasks easier and gives them independence in their home! These few devices can be used with voice activation to control the temperature of the home, play music, read an audiobook, and activate the home security system. They can also be installed by you and would benefit everyone in the house.
Oftentimes we focus so much on making the outside world inclusive that we forget our actual home may in fact be restricting. These simple adaptive devices help make everyday tasks possible!
As parents of course you don’t mind doing things for them and helping when it’s needed but giving independence where it’s available gives such a confidence boost and the increased stimulation of being able to control things independently will benefit your child in so many ways! Switches and assistive technology aren’t “therapy only” They are available to everyone and are more user friendly than you think. Now go make your home inclusive!