Tale of Two Switches by Carlie Madsen

ATMakers.org

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 17:37:12 UTC

Bill Binko, known for education based Lesson Pics, has this fantastic resource for helping potential AT Makers

Website includes Exemplars and Inspiration for AT Maker Projects
Advice on Robotics Clubs learning about AT tech
Give advice on AT Makers and Users Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14Q2mFu3WoS/

Volksswitch's Ken Hackbarth

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 17:42:08 UTC

Ken Hackbarth is an AT Maker small business owner.

Volksswitch has tutorials for making custom 3d printed keyguards
Tutorials for custom styluses
Tutorials for custom tactile symbols
A 3d printed, no-solder customizable switch. (I have not personally built this switch yet, but I have printed the parts for the evaluation switch)
Ken is in a variety of Maker Roundtables and helps the community at conferences and more.

Makers Making Change

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 17:48:00 UTC

Makers Making Change is an organization with a network of Makers who can make and ship a variety of assistive technology designs at cost. They also have a variety of free to access designs for a variety of assistive technology. Makers Making Change is based in Canada, but a very active group is based in NYC.

https://www.nycmetrommc.org

The NYC Metro Makers Making Change will host local meetups, but they will also host digital training events.

Who Can Help

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 17:51:53 UTC

These creators tend to focus on switch adapted toys, but they do make or feature switches at times. Some of the skills used for adapting toys crosses over to making switches. These are only some of the creators. Suggest more by email carlie@chantillyspeechtherapy.com

AAC for All Instagram

A SLP and AT professional who shares low cost ideas for adapted play.

https://www.instagram.com/aacforall?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=OHlvdmRvYjUwcWpl

Jessica Smith

Jessica is on Instagram and Facebook, sharing her creations and projects with her local community. She is well connected in the AT Maker World. If she doesn't know, she knows who will! Jessica will present at conferences and volunteer a lot in her community!

https://www.instagram.com/stickfortsd1?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWV2a3p1cjZmd3Izdw==

Santa's Switch Adapted Toys on Youtube

Excellent tutorials on youtube for building switch adapted toys and making DIY switches. Check out his comment section as he gives excellent ideas for sourcing materials. He can teach you how to wire stereo wires to mono wires.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheLaserguy2/videos

Santa Little Hackers

This group will ship adapted toys worldwide, and they hold a popular maker event in Colorado. They have excellent beginner switch adapting tutorials. Plus they share reels from kids who got the toys.

https://www.santaslittlehackers.com

Adapted Designs

Free tutorials, Excellent book for $25 for beginning switch-adapting toys

https://adapted-design.com/pages/adapting-tutorials

Mr. Jeff's Adapted PE

Award winning PE teacher who shares excellent ideas for switch adapted PE fun!

https://www.instagram.com/mrjeffadaptedpe?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXFyNTh0dzd6M2V4OA==

Adapted Creations on Etsy

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 17:53:04 UTC

AdaptedCreations@Etsy.com

They sell an excellent basic manual switch. They have an awesome inexpensive pourer available.

They have creative mounting ideas.

Switched Adapted Toys

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 17:55:25 UTC

Switched Toys helps you set up switch adapted toy give aways! Between online tutorials on youtube and mentoring available, they can help you get started switch adapting toys, and getting them to kids in the community. They have excellent tutorials, and they have two 3d printed switch designs that can be purchased from their website or they give away the tutorials for free.

Interact Switch (Intermediate Project)

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 18:33:44 UTC

This tutorial is available in a variety of places including Makers Making Change. It is a sensitive, easy-to-activate switch. It has a variety of ready to print variations. This is gold standard of the DIY switches. Adapted Creations on Etsy sells a switch similar to this if you don't want to make it.

Challenges: sourcing the internal switch was difficult at times. It is cheaper in bulk and not readily available on common websites. Switched Toys sells the same internal switch for a mark up, but may be a reasonable place to source if you want to just make one.

Inserting the screws into the design has been an ongoing challenge for me.

There is a space between the base and the top that may be difficult for some users to resist playing with.

The Adaptable Switch (Advanced Beginner)

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

This switch is easy to assemble. It does well at public events like adapted PE events. This is an excellent first soldering project. The internal switch is very inexpensive, and it is easy to source. There are variations by the creator https://www.thingiverse.com/Pole_ergo/designs

Challenges: The 3d print needs some processing after printing. Either you print without supports, and there may be stringing needs to be removed or you need to print with supports and need to remove them. This is no different from most other 3d printing projects, but a challenge if you are new to 3d printing and this is one of your first projects.

They can come apart on impact if they are dropped, but they are very easy to reassemble.

Easy Make Switch (no soldering required; beginner)

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 19:13:54 UTC

This switch is optimal in the larger size. I've made it in the smaller size, but I had to just solder the wire and switches together. Make sure to read the excellent tutorial instructions for best results in printing. The tutorial also has ideas for tools. The switch is a medium-light activiation. No soldering required! Excellent youtube video tutorials. Parts inexpensive and readily available on Amazon (or other places). This design would be excellent for younger students who want to try making for the first time.

Challenges: I had to print it multiple times to get the print correct on my 3d printer. (I didn't read the tutorial carefully.) The wires and switch are attached with a spade connector which is inexpensive, but it does require excellent wire crimpers and hand strength to crimp effectively.

Light Touch (Advanced Beginner)

carlie13 — 2025-10-11 19:27:00 UTC

Very quick to print. Inexpensive internal switch. The internal switch linked in the tutorial is a special light-press switch, but it is a standard size. You can then look at sourcing the internal button elsewhere of the same size, and it will be even cheaper. It won't be quite as sensitive if you can't get the light press version. This has held up well at adapted PE events. It is a nice size to leave with adults who are waiting for AT trials. The designs available have a tool to help you solder easier. If you are getting someone else to print for you, make sure you have them only print that once.

Challenges: Print it on the side with supports for the curve in the top to come out nicely; otherwise, you'll need to do some sanding. It is worth experimenting beyond the 3d printed fulcrum, but it works well with cutting and sanding to ensure it is smooth.

Proximity Switch Instructable

carlie13 — 2025-10-12 17:31:20 UTC

Katie's tutorial for making an inexpensive, customizable proximity switch.

Time of Flight Sensor Instructable

carlie13 — 2025-10-12 18:16:14 UTC

Time of flight sensors can be used in sinks, waterfountains, automatic doors, paper towel dispensers, and now in a DIY Switch. If you can download, move files, copy and paste, left and right click, you can make this switch!

Switched Toys Version 2 Switch (advanced beginner to intermediate)

carlie13 — 2025-10-12 19:05:55 UTC

3 designs of a small, medium, and large switch. It uses the same internal switch as the Interact Switch. It has multiple internal parts, and sourcing the internal switch can be difficult. But the DIY switch kit they offer can be great for a just right project for someone curious about learning AT Maker skills. The design uses more slightly more 3d filament than other designs, but that means it is sturdy to demands. For advanced AT Makers, you can design variations of the top as it screws on and off.

There is a Version 1 of this switch. It used a keyboard switch which had the disadvantage of handling less power, but it had the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to source. Version 1 of the switch was easy for enthusiastic kids to unscrew in our testing, and that is likely the case with version 2. When I initially printed Switched switches, I didn't know much about supports, so the person helping me made really difficult to remove supports. The files from Switched includes all the settings needed to print with easy to remove supports, so that should be more beginner friendly now.

Cool Maker Projects: Custom Software

carlie13 — 2025-10-12 20:19:21 UTC

This Creator/Maker created a custom AAC set up with switch scanning for his family member. This included games and entertainment controls. They use double presses creatively for more capability. You can learn more about this family and even see a browser based version of the software https://beacons.ai/narbehouse/benssoftware

Cool Maker Project: Custom Switches Made by Makers

carlie13 — 2025-10-12 20:20:40 UTC

Ella's switch helped inspire Katie's Proximity's

Switch!

Fun 3d designs

carlie13 — 2025-10-12 20:30:19 UTC

Here are some free to download and use 3d designs that we've been inspired by or printed ourselves. Eventually you may get enough keyguards and not need to make quite as many Switches. So what else can your printer do, and how can it be used in therapy!

Flexi Rexi is an excellently designed fidget toy.
https://www.printables.com/model/46241-flexi-rex-with-stronger-links
High Interest Cookie Cutters (good for playdough not recommended for food use)
https://www.printables.com/model/1067306-bluey-cookie-cutter
So many puzzles of different levels and abilities
https://www.printables.com/model/1031896-bear-insert-puzzle-for-kids
Intermediate to Advance: customize keychains with RFID tags printed inside for safety, lost and found, etc
https://www.printables.com/model/367569-rfid-tag-holder-keychain-inside

Logictech Adaptive Gaming Kit

carlie13 — 2025-10-13 16:10:56 UTC

Excellent adaptive switch kit for professionals looking to build supplies. 8 high quality switches for $79.99 to $99.99.

DIY Switch Interface (Swifty Equivalent)

carlie13 — 2025-10-14 03:53:59 UTC

This interface can be used to set up two switch scanning on computers, smart phones, and ipads with the correct adapter. The materials are inexpensive, and the tutorial is easy to follow. Please note, it will not do switch scanning on all AAC apps on iPad. Works great with native IOS scanning settings as well.

Commercially Available Proximity Switches

carlie13 — 2025-10-15 03:26:26 UTC

SETT Framework

carlie13 — 2025-10-29 17:19:41 UTC

Linda Burkhart

carlie13 — 2025-11-04 15:42:59 UTC

Communication Bill of Rights

carlie13 — 2025-11-04 15:44:04 UTC

Communication Bill of Rights Now in its 3rd version.

Works Cited

carlie13 — 2025-11-17 17:09:44 UTC

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Communication bill of rights. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.asha.org/njc/communication-bill-of-rights/

Adaptivation, Inc. (n.d.). HoneyBee. Adaptivation. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.adaptivation.com/product-page/honeybee

Beauchamp, F., Bourke-Taylor, H. M., & Brown, T. (2018). Therapists’ perspectives: Supporting children to use switches and technology for accessing their environment, leisure, and communication. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools and Early Intervention, 11(2), 133–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2018.1432443

Burkhart, L. (2018). Stepping stones to switch access. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 3(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1044/persp3.SIG12.33

KT-AT. (n.d.). Proximity switch. Instructables. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.instructables.com/Proximity-Switch/

Sowers, D. J., & Wilkinson, K. M. (2023). Demands associated with an augmentative and alternative communication system in relation to alternative forms of access for individuals with motor impairments. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32(1), 37–54. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00006

Sowers, D. J., & Wilkinson, K. M. (2023). Speech-language pathologists' approach to alternative access for augmentative and alternative communication for children with motor impairments. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(2), 774–790. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-23-00129

Turvey, M. (n.d.). Interact Switch. Makers Making Change. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://www.makersmakingchange.com/s/product/interact-switch/01tJR000000698vYAA

Communication Bill of Rights in Spanish

carlie13 — 2025-11-17 17:16:26 UTC

Slides and Handout

carlie13 — 2025-11-20 02:06:44 UTC

Access slides and the handout here.

Ada Fruit

carlie13 — 2025-11-21 04:44:12 UTC

Ada Fruit is a website with affordable electronic components. It is full of awesome projects that can help you learn maker skills. The components to the Proximity Switch are purchased from ADAfruit. The linked TRRS Trinkey can replace a Swifty and support up to 3 switches as a switch interface on laptops, smartphones, and ipads. Learn about all the Trinkey can do: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flearn.adafruit.com%2Fusing-the-trrs-trinkey-as-an-assistive-technology-device%3Fview%3Dall%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExQ2EzV1VnUk1tQ21vQ1llcXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6Y1s0xpVYL-grT84nJs1u6u5CpTITWPhdn6N5FevXp_aKc2phbm8NumutPLw_aem_S1tEm_JGrBnT9cwq27jreQ&h=AT0guIj724kTzTHMJAOdEZOdbAzHhNU0OrtQ-d2NSK-qRI3Q--Qy42zRVFgrQ0RNkUWliMgg2a2w8UJgBhMgeg1IeLJFyN2Su2wl1Fb68s_xyGx-x78Uq_rjGSaNmYQzU7OYfu_l0I8en9yvQg&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT3eZAzxWVPN2sgpR5dzUZPEBxMwWoISk_7j9rOXfbFkrVKByRtwxKKTk7EG_0bH_wQvrRtwMarRkLOJbl9s6JB-hjg-drqDbfI0QKcFNUQzR-7MjagD8ZF_2ocV858LWdKUdYzYUCMj2TxAZNQ_n2fQKTssEoIs7Sz-k6Y2MhY

Carlie's contacts

carlie13 — 2025-11-21 04:51:07 UTC

Feel free to reach out my website.

Email: carlie@chantillyspeechtherapy.com

Instagram: @carlie.madsenslp and @chantillyspeechtherapy

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/carlie-madsen-aacslp

Mounting!

carlie13 — 2025-11-21 05:03:18 UTC

Mount your DIY switches or any switch on a camera mount.

Katie's Contacts

carlie13 — 2025-11-25 15:17:39 UTC

Instagram: @Robertsonkam

Katie's Contacts

carlie13 — 2025-11-25 15:41:24 UTC

Instagram: Robertsonkam

Email: katie.robertson@lcps.org