On December 19th 2020, disability professionals of all types participated in a sponsored workshop focused on making therapeutic exercise fun using the Makey Makey. Participants in the workshop were asked to bring a specific idea or project they want to explore using the Makey Makey device.

During this Show and Tell you will see the fun therapeutic projects they have invented for their clients and learn more about upcoming courses!

What Did We Learn?

• How to create a low tech switch out of cardboard, tinfoil and bubble wrap and adjust pressure sensitivity
• How to use the Makey Makey to output sounds, control videos, games and more!
• Where to find simple online games that are easy and fun to use with a switch that involve no coding.
• How to use the Makey Makey for virtual therapy sessions
• How to use the program Scratch (new window) to code simple actions (ex: on switch press make X sound)

What is a Makey Makey?

The Makey Makey (new window) device looks like an old school Nintendo Controller; it is a electronic invention device that works by opening and closing a circuit. Just attach any conductive object to the Makey Makey board with alligator clips and connect to the internet. This allows anything conductive to be a switch and trigger actions on another device! For example, through simple movements with your body, you can trigger sounds (new window), or an action on a software program (see the awesome video below!) Disability professionals can use the Makey Makey to motivate and engage their clients to participate in fun therapeutic exercises. The device can be used to help clients adopt switch use, and practice their fine motor control, strength and balance activities and more!

Join The Make Therapeutic Exercise Fun “Show and Tell”

Jan 26, 2pm PST or 5 pm EST, disability professionals who participated in the course will demonstrate the projects they created for their clients! Sign up Here (new window)
To check out some of the other Makey Makey course submisssions, ideas and discussions go to our forum (new window)

Interested to Join the Makey Makey for Therapeutic Exercise Course in the Future?

Join the waitlist here (new window) and we will alert you when the next workshop is scheduled!