Developing Cause and Effect Skills Through Switch Use

Developing cause-and-effect understanding helps learners recognise that their actions can influence and control their environment. This fundamental concept underpins all future learning and allows individuals to explore and interact with the world around them.

However, it can sometimes be challenging to determine whether a learner fully grasps cause and effect. For example, a child pressing a switch and then looking up at the screen may simply enjoy pressing the switch and watching the screen separately, rather than understanding that their action is creating the response. Careful observation and a strong understanding of the learner’s behaviours in different contexts are essential to ensure they have developed this skill.

Choosing the Right Switch

Selecting the most suitable switch is crucial to ensure ease of access and comfort for the learner. Some popular options include the Jelly Bean Switch, which is wired and touch-sensitive with a large activation surface, providing tactile and auditory feedback. It comes with 4 interchangeable tops, making them attractive to touch and easy to distinguish.

The Big Red Switch includes a generous 125mm activation surface, making it useful for learners with visual impairments or physical disabilities. It also offers both tactile and auditory feedback and comes with different coloured tops.

The Smoothie Switch is one of our most popular switches because of its low-profile and angled surface. It’s useful for learners that have limited movement. It offers both auditory feedback and tactile feedback. It’s a wired switch, but is available as a wireless option if paired with the it-Receive, which is available in a bundled it-Switch Starter Pack.

A very flat and ultra-sensitive switch, such as the Pal Pad may be used in situations where the user is unable to lift their hand to touch the surface of a deeper switch. It comes in different sizes and colours and has silent operation for learners who are distracted by audible clicks.

The iSwitch is a great choice if you’re looking for a wireless solution that has built-in mouse click functionality (left, right, double click), and that works on iOS, Windows and Android devices. It’s perfect for using with switch-adapted software. The iSwitch is both a switch and an interface, so you don’t need a separate switch interface to connect your switch to a computer.

Additional Equipment for Cause and Effect Learning

Toys and simple devices are commonly used to introduce switches as they are highly motivating and provide immediate feedback. Watching a learner activate a switch adapted toy or device can help assess their understanding of cause and effect.

You can use Toy Control Boxes to extend the functionality of toys including direct, latched timed etc. The Twin SLAT is a great choice.

If you’re planning on using the switch alongside an electrical device like fans or lights, you can use an iClick, it-Click-On-Plus or Participation Box.

To use switches with computers or tablets, you’ll need a switch interface so the device understands and can talk to the switch. There’s options to connect via USB or wirelessly by Bluetooth. Good options to consider are the Inclusive Simple Switch Box or Crick USB Switchbox.

Suitable Software for Cause and Effect Learning

Early-stage cause-and-effect learning benefits from software that provides engaging, dramatic responses to a single switch press. We have a wide collection of cause and effect software to help learners understand the influence and control they can have on their environment. Some excellent options include Big Bang, or titles from the Big Bang Series, which offers high-contrast visuals and sound effects, perfect for capturing attention and encouraging interaction.

HelpKidzLearn’s Games & Activities is another great choice. It includes structured milestones like ‘Press and Hold’, ‘Press and Let Go’, ‘Press it Again’ and ‘Exploration’, to guide learners through their switch skills development. Games & Activities includes 48 cause and effect games such as the popular Growing Musicians, Animals (Silhouette) and Hidden Stars.

HelpKidzLearn also offers free resources, such as the guides ‘Starting Your Switch Skills Journey’ and ‘My Switch Journey’. These guides provide everything you need to develop switch skills alongside HelpKidzLearn’s software, whilst tracking progress along the way. They also offer a ‘Learning Progression and Outcomes Guide’ to assists educators and therapists in planning suitable activities for different learners.

Supporting Learners in Developing Cause and Effect Skills

Helping learners succeed with switches involves several key strategies:

Positioning matters – Place the switch, screen, and learner in a comfortable and effective position for easy access.
Use consistent cues – Simple, repetitive phrases like ‘press it’ or ‘now’ reinforce the link between action and outcome.
Keep sessions short but frequent – Regular, brief practice sessions help maintain engagement without overwhelming the learner.
Introduce variety – Using different activities, from switch-adapted toys to electrical devices and computer software, keeps learning dynamic.

Provide immediate feedback – Reinforce learning through verbal praise, visual cues, and auditory rewards to strengthen cause and effect understanding.
Model interactions – Demonstrate how switches work and guide learners through the process to build confidence and competence.
Celebrate achievements – Acknowledge progress, no matter how small, to boost motivation and encourage continued learning.
Adapt to individual needs – Every learner progresses differently, so tailor activities to their specific abilities for the best experience.

Vat Relief

Some of the products in your order may be eligible for VAT Relief. See A Guide to VAT Relief for more details. If you do qualify for VAT Relief, please tick the relevant box below.

Please note: VAT Relief cannot be claimed by schools, other educational institutes, LEAs or companies - it is for private individuals and charities only.

Name of eligible person

Address of eligible person

Reason for eligibility

Please note there are penalties for making false declarations

You declare that you (or the person for whom you are purchasing the products on behalf of) are chronically sick or disabled*
The products that you are purchasing are eligible to be supplied at a zero rate of VAT*
The products that you are purchasing are being supplied to you (or the person for whom you are purchasing the products on behalf of) for domestic or personal use only***

You (or the person for whom you are purchasing the products on behalf of) do not have to be registered disabled, but the nature of the illness or disablement must be specified below.

If you are in any doubt as to whether you are eligible to receive goods or services zero-rated for VAT you should consult Notice 701/7 VAT reliefs for disabled people or contact the National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 before digitally signing the declaration.

I declare that I am chronically sick or have a disabling condition and that I am receiving products from Inclusive Technology which are to be used for domestic or my personal use and I claim relief from value added tax.

By completing this form you authorise Inclusive Technology Ltd to hold your information on file. This data will be used for VAT accounting purposes only.

Name of eligible person

Please note there are penalties for making false declarations

You declare that you (or the person for whom you are purchasing the products on behalf of) are chronically sick or disabled*
The products that you are purchasing are eligible to be supplied at a zero rate of VAT**
The products that you are purchasing are being supplied to you (or the person for whom you are purchasing the products on behalf of) for domestic or personal use only***

You (or the person for whom you are purchasing the products on behalf of) do not have to be registered disabled, but the nature of the illness or disablement must be specified below.

I declare that the goods which are being supplied are for a disabled person's personal or domestic use.