Ford Repair: headlights stay on continually, daytime running lights, ford taurus

Question
1999 ford taurus, 6 cyl with daytime running lights. My headlights will not go off. I discovered this when the battery died. Well I didn't discover it at that moment, had to wait until I had gone thru the ever fun and exciting experience of purchasing a new battery. Behind the headlight switch, if you unplug the headlight switch assembly, the headlights still stay on. I have had to resort to taking the low beam fuses out of the car during the daytime so the lights don't stay on when the car is turned off and at night time I have to put the fuses back in till I get where I'm going and then have to take them out again. I can't tell you how much fun it has been getting under the dashboard in a skirt. All the fuses have been checked and they are fine. If the fuses are in, the daytime running lights work and when you turn the headlight switch the lights do come on as if it is working fine, however when you turn the car off they just stay on indefinately. Also, when this first occurred and I turned the car on, while the car wouldn't start, the windshield wipers came on, which made me so happy since it WAS NOT raining. Can't imagine how this fits into the picture, but thought you outta know. Can you help this mechanically challenged female? Thank you in advance for your time.

Answer
Hello and thanks for the question...I'll try to help.
It sounds like the DRL (daytime running lamp) module has died OR the multi function switch has died. I would lean towards the multi function switch...seeing as you mentioned the wipers were doing their job......when it wasn't raining out.
Erik