Research Recruitment: Bloorview Research Institute's SwitchApp

Participate in Research! 

Youth and Clinicians - Expanding digital access and employment readiness through a personalizable access technology: SwitchApp 

Are you a 16 to 30 year old who uses access technologies to communicate or an OT or SLP who supports youth with complex communication needs? You might be interested in participating in this study at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. 

Please see our webpages for more information! 

Youth Webpage: https://research.hollandbloorview.ca/evaluating-personalizable-access-technology-switchapp-youth 

Clinicians Webpage: https://research.hollandbloorview.ca/evaluating-personalizable-access-technology-switchapp-clinicians 

What is SwitchApp? 

SwitchApp is an access technology that users and caregivers can set up easily at home. It recognizes the user’s words, sounds and facial movements, and uses them to control a computer or tablet. SwitchApp evolves so it can continue to recognize these cues if the user’s speech and movements change over time! 

What is this study? 

In this study, we would like your help testing the performance of a new version of SwitchApp. We are interested in how well SwitchApp works, how easy it is to use, and how much people like to use it. This information will help us improve the access technology for many different users. 

Who can participate? 

Youth between 16 and 30 years old who:
- have a motor impairment preventing you from using standard technology interfaces (e.g. mouse, keyboard, touchscreen),
- currently use an access technology (e.g., a switch or joystick) to communicate and/or write in an independent, functional, and regular manner (at least 3 times a week),
- can consistently control facial movements and/or produce a few keywords or sounds,
- have a caregiver, family member, or friend who will also participate. 

AND 

Clinicians who:
- are certified occupational therapists or speech language pathologists, 

- have at least 1 year of experience supporting the youth described above, 

- have at least 1 year of experience supporting access technologies and high-tech augmented and alternative communication and/or writing aids. 

What’s involved? 

For Youth:
1. Three visits to Holland Bloorview to personalize and test how SwitchApp works. You will use it to complete employment-related tasks (e.g., opening programs on a computer, typing a short text) (1-2 hours), 

2. A follow-up interview to talk about your feedback and opinions of SwitchApp (45 mins). 
 

For Clinicians:
1. One visit to Holland Bloorview to fill two questionnaires, and test SwitchApp by setting up and personalizing it (1.5-2 hours), 

2. A follow-up interview to talk about your feedback and opinions of SwitchApp (45 mins). 

Contact us! 



If you think this might be interesting to you or someone you know, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our research team: 

Fanny Hotzé 

PRISM Lab, Bloorview Research Institute 

fhotze@hollandbloorview.ca 

416-425-6220 ext. 6459