Handicap Control of Button Switch with Toggle Attachment

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This project was originally designed for V-LINC, a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers specializing in medical engineering solutions. As a new volunteer, I was assigned to tackle the problem. A client who held a position as an telephone operator frequently dropped calls that needed to be transferred. The issue was thoroughly analyzed and the discovery made that the client lacked the dexterity to hold the off-hook button down long enough to guarantee transfer. The solution I came up with involved designing a small 3D-printed box that snapped on top of the off-hook button. Inside the box was a large toggle mechanism that snapped into position by pushing or swiping across the toggle part. The bottom of one side extended far enough to push the off-hook button down and engage the switch. Now, the operator can transfer calls without having to hold the button down long enough to complete the transfer. Dropped calls became a thing of the past, and the special needs client is now successfully performing his duties. This entry is not just intended to showcase the solution but also demonstrate how this simple concept can be used to convert any push button into a toggle switch of any size. Projects for children, people with disabilities, seniors, or any application that could benefit from having a larger or easier means of controlling a switch are all potential applications. A complete description and video can be found at the following website: http://www.instructables.com/id/Toggle-Switch-Assistive-Technology/