The Buddy Button and Big Buddy Button offer large surface areas, an auditory click, and tactile feedback for persons with limited arm and upper-body movement control.
Switches. The selection seems endless. Some may look alike on the outside, but each one provides switch access in a slightly different manner. As the variety of disabilities is great, so is the variety of switches. And switches are a major part of what we feature at the Technology Lending Center. Today, we present the Buddy Button and its larger sibling, the Big Buddy Button, both from AbleNet.
Buddy Button
Buddy Button is a single switch that measures 2.5 in. (6.4 cm.) in diameter, a generous area for persons with limited arm and hand control. The switch is activated by pressing anywhere on the top surface. The Buddy Button has tactile and auditory (in the form of a loud click) feedback. The switch requires 3.5 oz. (100 g.) of force to actuate. Reliable and durable, the button can be activated from any position on the upper surface, and it can withstand sudden strikes. Ever flexible, the Buddy Button can be used in a variety of positions, including a head rest. Sometimes, more than one Buddy Button is needed; therefore, the device is available in black, red, green, blue, and yellow.
Big Buddy Button
For persons with extremely limited arm and upper-body control needing a larger surface, there is the Big Buddy Button. The Big Buddy Button measures 4.5 in. (11.5 cm.) in diameter. As with its smaller sibling, the switch is activated by pressing or striking anywhere on the surface. The switch requires slightly more force to activate: 5.3 oz. (150 g.) of force. The Big Buddy Button comes in red, green, blue, and yellow. The device has two threaded inserts on the bottom, which of the switch allow for secure mounting.
Different switches have different uses for different physical disabilities. Also from AbleNet is the Jellybean Twist.
The Buddy Button and Big Buddy Button are available to New Jersey residents for a free “test drive” at our Technology Lending Center. This lending library also features many other round switches to help people with a variety of physical challenges, enabling them to find the device that meets their needs best.
