Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Step By Step Communicator

This list was posted on the Boardmaker listserv that I belong to (Thanks, Kim!). A Step by Step is a programmable single switch that can be programmed with sequential messages. So a student can have a complete conversation and all they have to do is press one button. Here's a picture:



Here's a list of things you can do with a single Step by Step:

1. Recite nursery rhymes, poems
2. Recite days of the week, months of the year
3. Give today’s school lunch menu
4. Read a story
5. Introduce family and friends, teachers, speakers, etc.
6. Counting
7. Recite Pledge of Allegiance
8. Sunday school Bible verse
9. Give shopping list to clerk
10. Give spelling word list/quiz to class
11. Order at a restaurant
12. Take attendance
13. Give the weather report
14. Direct PE activity (10 sit-ups, 15 jumping jacks)
15. Playing board games (my turn, spin, move me)
16. Playing card games (draw four, pick a card)
17. Singing songs
18. Telling about your vacation
19. Giving a book report
20. Show and Tell
21. Conducting an interview about occupations, opinion polls
22. Delivering a message from school to home
23. Directing an art project (color, cut, paste)
24. Cheering at your teams games
25. Lines of a play
26. Directing self care activities (I need my coat, my hat…)
27. Telling a joke
28. Trick or Treating
29. Talking to Santa
30. Complaining (Am I done yet?, How many more?, She’s bugging me!)
31. Buying a movie ticket
32. Renting a video
33. Shopping for clothes ( I’m looking for a dress, red, size 9)
34. Playing pretend games
35. Adding sound effects to a story
36. Directing ball playing (roll it, pass it, bounce it)
37. Planting flowers
38. Blowing up a balloon (Keep blowing, make it bigger, let it go)
39. Playing Duck, Duck, Goose
40. Telling about a field trip
41. Direct setting the table
42. Giving recipe instructions
43. Counting down (exercise, timed games, etc.)
44. Counting up (keeping score)
45. Playing Simon says
46. Giving clues in a guessing game
47. Packing a lunch or picnic (We will need….)
48. Dressing a doll (first put on the pink dress, next…)
49. Building with blocks
50. Giving announcements
51. Matching sounds to pictures
52. Daily schedule
53. Give a phone number, address
54. Requesting assistance
55. Delivering Valentines, Christmas cards, birthday invitations
56. Greeter at church, school program, library
57. Checking out library book
58. Carving a pumpkin
59. Fishing (bait the hook, throw it in)
60. Ordering your pizza ingredients
61. Repositioning (sit me up, move my feet)
62. Starting the race (on your marks, get set, go!)
63. Directions from place to place
64. Directions for completing assignments
65. Directions for sorting a sequence
66. Directions for completing a vocational task
67. Steps for taking medication
68. Steps for preparing a sandwich
69. Getting dressed, putting on make-up
70. Brushing teeth, shaving
71. Making bed
72. Taking bath/shower
73. Packing backpack
74. Sorting laundry
75. Filling washing machine
76. Remembering grocery list
77. Collating directions, books, instruction manuals
78. Following a recipe to prepare food
79. Calling for a taxi
80. Feeding a pet
81. Packing for a trip
82. Putting up a tent
83. End of day sequence (get books,
get lunch box, go to bus)
84. Washing dishes
85. Cleaning room
86. Steps for shop project (birdhouse, shelf)
87. Tour guide at zoo, museum
88. Giving a slide show
89. Steps to make copies
90. Steps to a treasure hunt
91. Have pet do tricks
92. Recite alphabet
93. Give math quiz to class
94. Telling on someone
95. Steps to start computer
96. Telling personal information (my name is, I live, my phone number is)
97. Directions to use an appliance (starting CD player, toaster, tape in VCR)
98. Mixing Kool-Aid, drinks, or making coffee
99. Steps to use an adapted phone
100. Delivering announcements, pencils to classrooms/offices

Remember many of these ideas have dual applications.  In some cases the
device operator will be giving the messages to another person.  In other
instances the messages are intended for the device user as a way to aid with
task completion.  In these examples both verbal and non-verbal individuals can
benefit from sequential messaging.


- Patrick

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