If you access the iPad with one or two switches, there are some settings to adjust in order to use the Bookshare Reader iPad app with ease.  This guide will walk you through setting up single switch auto scan and two-switch manual scanning, so you can enjoy reading with ease.

What You’ll Learn:

• Adding your switch(es) to your iPad
• Adjusting switch control settings
• Setting up single switch auto scan
• Configuring two-switch manual scanning

If you prefer your instructions in video format, watch the video titled, Switch Access Tips for the Bookshare Reader App.

Step 1: Connecting Your Switch(es)

First things first, you need to connect your switch(es) to your iPad.

1. Go to Settings: Open the “Settings” app on your iPad.

2. Navigate to Accessibility: Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”

3. Select Switch Control: Under the “Physical and Motor” section, tap on “Switch Control.”

4. Add New Switch: Tap on “Switches,” then “Add New Switch…”

5. Choose External: Select “External” as the switch type.

6. Activate Your Switch: Press your physical switch. Your iPad should detect it.

7. Assign an Action: A menu will appear asking you to assign an action to the switch. For a single switch setup, you might assign “Select Item.” If you’re setting up two switches, you’ll assign “Select Item” to your primary switch and another action (like “Move To Next Item”) to your secondary switch.

Step 2: Adjusting Switch Control Settings

Now, let’s fine-tune the Switch Control settings for optimal performance.

1. Go back to Switch Control: From the “Accessibility” menu, tap on “Switch Control.”

2. Enable Switch Control: Toggle the “Switch Control” switch to the “On” position.

3. Tap Behavior: Choose “Always Tap”. This is one of the most important settings to change, otherwise switch users have to scan through extra menu items every time they want to choose an item.

4. Focus Item After Tap: Choose “Current Item” when using the Bookshare Reader app so that the user can easily press pause after they press play and they don’t have to wait for the scan to go all the way around again.

5. Switch Control Mode: Set this to “Item Mode” to easily interact with the play/pause control.

For Single Switch Auto Scan:

1. Scanning Style: Tap on “Scanning Style” and select “Auto Scanning.” This will automatically move the highlight across items on the screen. Hitting the switch will select an item.

2. Timing Adjustments:

   • Auto Scanning Time: This setting controls how long the highlight stays on each item before moving to the next. Adjust this based on your preference and reaction time. For a new switch user, I would suggest 2 or more seconds instead of the default 1 second time.

   • Pause on First Item: You can enable this if you want the scanning to pause on the first item of a group, giving you more time to select it.

   • Loops: This determines how many times the scanning highlight will cycle through all the items before stopping. When using the Bookshare Reader app, I would highly recommend setting this to just one loop, otherwise the scanning continues as you try to focus on reading.

For Two Switch Manual Scanning:

1. Scanning Style: Tap on “Scanning Style” and select “Manual Scanning.” This means you will use a second switch to advance the highlight.

2. Assign Switches: Ensure your primary switch is set to “Select Item” and your secondary switch is set to “Move To Next Item” (or a similar action). You can check and adjust this under “Switches.”

Step 3: Using Switch Control with Bookshare Reader

Once your switches and settings are configured, open the Bookshare Reader app. The scanning highlight will appear, allowing you to navigate and interact with the app using your switch(es). In Auto Scanning mode, users wait until the desired book, menu item, or reading control is highlighted and then press their switch to select it. In  Manual Scanning mode, users press one switch to move the highlight cursor around the app and when the item they want is highlighted, they press the second switch.

With the right scanning settings, users will be able to enjoy their favorite books in the Bookshare Reader app with greater independence and ease!