Jason,
Regarding the 2 firewalls you are trying to SSH into, check out the following document. It shows a sample config of how to set up SSH and/or telnet access on the ASA. After making the config changes on the ASA's, you will be able to SSH or Telnet into them. In the document you will also see the "username password " command which will allow you to create the new username/password that you mentioned in your post.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/vpndevc/ps2030/products_configuration_example09186a008069bf1b.shtml
The above document contains directions for SSH and Telnet. Just keep in mind that SSH is preferred over Telnet, because Telnet sends communication in clear text (including passwords).
And finally, assuming you are running IOS on your switches, here is a second document with directions for configuring SSH on your switches:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk583/tk617/technologies_tech_note09186a00800949e2.shtml#settingupaniosrouterasssh
Mike Veedock