FUNdamentals

YEAH!  Today we got some more experience with hands on Assistive Tech... and lots of it.  We started our day viewing a video that was probably from the 80's, showing 3 students. Todd, Justin and Joy were able to use switches at home and school to enhance their independence and communication in high interest engaging activities.  I loved the shot of Joy laying out on her kitchen counter participating in cooking and how much OT support was available for the individuals.  BUT NOW, we have even more choices in what is available for both FUN and FUNction and at affordable costs for families and schools.  MANY of the items we explored today are readily available, from apps, to multiple switches, on iPads, computers, tablets and chromebooks.  

Powerlink

The first station we looked at was using a variety of switches with a powerlink.  A powerlink could be used to power a bunch of things, such as a blender, mixer, lights, cd player, buzzer, TV, video games, amp, microphone, computer monitor, microscope or anything else that is able to be plugged in.  I had used a powerlink before, but had not used the tiniest switch (jellybean), the antenna style or the squeezable switch.  It seems these switches would be used for students with low mobility/fine motor challenges that wouldn't turn things on or off easily in a traditional method or would have a difficult time controlling the item the switch is powering due to less physical strength.  The switch allows participation without teaching directly how to operate multiple types of systems.  Hand over hand support can also be used for success for a greater variety of users.  In the learning centre where I had worked, switches were used for nonverbal and physically challenged students in a variety of ways, primarily in the kitchen, which was built into the IPP.  Devices were also used for a "morning meeting" to communicate a message for greeting and socializing with peers, also in the IPP.  A student with minimal vision or cognition learned that a switch made something happen.  This student LOVED the produced result.  Switches were FUN, but also made him more a part of the social, academic and active life of the classroom. Students used switches to operate music in plays, cuing repeated sounds.  BIG part of the room!

Bluetooth Switch

        What a fun way to engage a student in a task!  I had never used a bluetooth switch before, but loved all the choices available to use with it... Wow what a lot of apps there are; I made a word cloud above noting a few of them.  The technology could be used for people who want to engage in social interactions in a fun way, especially those who are used to switches.  For students with gross motor skills, but limited fine motor skills, those who like to throw things or are spastic, or those who can't isolate their fingers well can use this tool so they can participate productively.  

Alternate Keyboard

My goodness my dear what  BIG KEYS you have... The alternate keyboard would have uses for students who were visually challenged or needed a really high contrast keyboard.  The letters are easily visible and in the traditional locations, although there are no home key "bumps" so those who are used to "feeling" the key's "home" may find a little challenge.   It's pretty portable and easily attaches to a chrome book.  A  student could have straps on the outside of a chrome book case or just a bigger case to transport them both.   It would have been nice if there was some sort of track pad/mouse with the keyboard, but we are assuming that could have been attached as well.   

Eye Gaze

What a fun thing to try!  The eye gaze attachment was easy to calibrate with minimal eye movement and almost no head movement.  It would probably be best done in collaboration with OT, PT, classroom and resource teachers and AT consultant (if available).  The team would be able to work together to train those involved and help identify uses for the technology.  It seemed to only require the use of the eyes and the ability to follow some very basic movements of things on the screen, quite natural since the objects were eye "catching".  The technology would be very useful for anyone with minimal physical movement abilities, such as people with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, ALS, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, locked in syndrome, or MS.  Eye-gaze could be used for such things as typing on an onscreen keyboard for those who knew letters/words, selecting YES/NO, text to speech, games to enhance quality of life, scrolling, selecting or communicating using the computer or social engagement with the class. It could be used to operate a morning message or a buzzer in the gym or just about anything that could be a sound or signal in the classroom or with peers.  I kept thinking of Stephen Hawking and all the intellect he has which now relies on AT to be used in production of his writing, which includes books.  We did feel that after a while, this task would become tiring on the eyes.  Also, it worked well for those with and without glasses.

 Accessibility Options:  WOW.... FUNctional

Our group was shocked at the amount of accessibility options on both chrome book, iPad and tablets that we looked at.  Font size, magnification, dark/reverse screen, text to speech, accessibility short cuts, rapid key input, voice assist, spoken passwords and color inversion were only a few of them... WOW! I was quite familiar with the Read Write Toolbar as I've been using it with LD students in my resource program.  The process of creating a vocabulary list with definitions and pictures is awesome.  It is especially helpful in areas like cell organelles notetaking in science class.  The ability to highlight any text and have it read to you is also extremely easy to use.  My students enjoy how well the word prediction tool works.  It is also available in a free version for teachers and there are several YouTube videos to demonstrate its usage.  Many accessibility apps helped those with vision, hearing or motor challenges, as well as learning disabilities or reduced reading/spelling abilities.   

Keyboard Scanning with Trackball

I realized after the fact that I did not have a picture of the actual trackball, but it was quite lovely, as was the scanning feature.  The trackball allowed a large motor actively to replace what would typically be a fine motor activity.  It would work well for people with limited movement ability.  It could be used for people with CP, stroke, or any other challenge in controlling a traditional mouse.  Visual acuity would need to be quite good though as the keys on the screen were small.  Patience and spelling ability would be required in using this method for typing.  I have an LD student who I think would find the hovering piece "cool" since the letters appear almost like magic.  The word prediction feature was useful too.  This device eliminated the need for a two step mouse operation, allowing a shortened task.  The scanning feature would seem really useful for someone like Stephen Hawking who may have a lot to say, but limited physical skills.  

Finally, our group found many videos with people using switches.... I chose three that showed a progression from intro to switch use, right through to fully independent use in completing a course of study.... LOTS here.... FUNdamentals that are FUNctional and FUN.

This is Alice learning to use a switch for intentional communication... the Youtube link is available by clicking on the video.  

Maddy's video is moving and informative.  She used a knee switch since her eyes and hands can not operate AT.  She is able to clearly and independently communicate with this technology.  

BUT if you haven't heard or seen Christopher Hills video, you better grab a tissue. Technology is extremely important to him.   So moving... but I feel that if our professor Barb Welsford met with him and his family she may have suggestions to add so that his dad wasn't doing so much of the typing... or maybe over time there will be more available for Christopher, as there has been since the first video that started our class....