Taking the dash out is a real PITA! I wouldnt recomend it unless you must.
You have to flex the dash fairly hard to get it in and out and the wires are short so you usually end up knocking something off!
Why not unscrew the ring on the front of the switch and pull it thru from the back, If there are no wires hooked to it, hook them back up, check the function and resinstall.
Jason