1. Assistive Technology October 21 st, 2008

2. Why are we talking about this…?

3. Definition of Assistive Technology (AT) “Any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities” AT Act 1988

4. What are some examples?

5. Examples… Wheelchairs Walkers Hearing aids Reachers Medi sets PDAs Computers Augmentative Communication Devices The list is endless…

6. Who Qualifies for AT? Since AT is specifically related to those with impairments, anyone with any type of impairment can and may benefit from AT Cognitive impairments Mobility impairments Visual impairments Auditory impairments Speech impairments The list goes on…

7. History of AT No real beginning in history… Advances in AT seen following wars Major advances in sockets for artificial limbs created post Civil War First hearing aid was patented in 1890s but it was post WWI when the development dramatically increased Huge increase in AT in recent history due to advances in technology

8. Polio Chronicle – 1932 http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/

13. Assistive Technology Act 1988 Amended in 1994 and 1998 First federal legislation regarding AT Does 3 things Supports states in their AT programs Support the investment of AT in federal agencies and departments Support microloan programs for individuals who want to purchase AT

14. Rehab Act of 1973 and Assistive Technology Many employers and universities made architectural and environmental changes as a result of the Rehab Act Begin seeing assistive technologies to help create LRE Act was amended in 1986, 1992, 1993, and 1998 1986 amendments included provisions that required accessibility to “electronic office equipment” This is where we start to see accessibility of computers

15. IDEA 1975 and Assistive Technology Guarantees educational services for all children ages 3-18 (now it is birth to 21) Amended in 1991, 1997, 2004 1991 Amendments included language regarding assistive technology Gave policy statement regarding what was possible to include in IEP and included AT If it is included on the IEP, the school has to provide it 1997 Amendment was a requirement that AT must be considered when creating an IEP

16. How does one get AT? On own Employment Children might receive it through school Health Insurance Medicare and Medicaid Private insurance Many times rehabilitation therapists specialize in the more non-off the shelf devices Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists You can become a certified assistive technology specialist (ATP)

17. Now a focus on AAC… AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Definition Use of any other method besides speaking to communicate a message Can augment (assist) speech or be an alternative to speech Involves no tech, low tech, and high tech

18. Who benefits from AAC? Technically we all use AAC when we communicate AAC is specifically used with people with speech and/or language impairments severe enough that they cannot functionally communicate with verbal speech

19. Who is AAC appropriate for? Any and all… Infants to elderly No matter diagnosis No cognitive minimum

20. AAC Categories Unaided Only uses your body Gestures Facial expressions Aided Uses something besides your body Broken down into: Low tech Medium tech High tech

21. Aided Communication Low tech Pencil and paper Alphabet board Etran

23. Aided Communication Medium Tech MessageMate GoTalk

24. MessageMate GoTalk

25. Aided Communication High Tech Devices Examples DynaVox V Mercury LightWriter PalmTop Vantage

26. Vantage by Prentke Romich Company LightWriter Tango! by BlinkTwice ChatPC

27. Deciding on a system…features analysis Physical Sensory Cognitive Other technologies

28. Physical Ambulation Wheelchair or no wheelchair This affects the size, weight, and durability of a system

29. Physical (cont.) Access Direct Indirect Joystick Mouse Head Hand Foot Eyegaze

30. Sensory Visual Auditory Digitized Speech – recorded speech Can be labor intensive The person recording should be a similar age and gender of user More human sounding Quality of recording can be poor which greatly impacts intelligibility Synthesized Speech – computer generated speech This is important for spelling as you can have text-to-speech Computer sounding and so it is quite hard to understand Previously used DecTalk Voices but now moving towards AT&T and Acapella voices Mainly available in English, beginning to do Spanish, French, German

31. Cognition Attention and memory Dynamic Screen – screen changes when you hit a button (think in terms of links on a webpage) Static Display – screen always stays the same

32. Cognition Icons based Transparency Concreteness Spelling based

33. Boardmaker Symbols from Mayer-Johnson

34. Minspeak symbols from PRC

36. Connection to other devices Computer Printer ECU Cell phone Wheelchairs

37. So how does one get one of these devices…? Go home and check your insurance plan Look under your Durable Medical Equipment Provisions Medicaid Medicare School districts DVR (Department of Vocational Rehab)

38. Why I do what I do Survey results from 40 adults who use AAC indicated that 45% of individuals experienced crime or abuse. Theft – 56% Physical harm – 44% Unwanted sexual touch – 39% Treat of sexual assault – 28% Forced sex – 22% Only 28% reported their experiences to the police Bryen et al. 2004

39. Myth 1 “I want my child (friend, parent, sibling…) to talk so we don’t want them to use AAC” NOT TRUE!! AAC is not a speech replacement Think about communication AAC is all about communicating and letting a person’s needs and wishes be known People will communicate in the method that is easiest and most efficient Research has shown the opposite to be true with SGD

40. Myth 2 “Why don’t we just teach the child (adult) to use sign language?” ASL is a completely new language so it is requiring a person to learn a new language to communicate Not everyone in an environment uses sign language Sign language takes an incredible amount of fine motor skills which is something that is problematic in persons who use AAC

41. Myth 3 Anyone can pick up and use AAC… AAC takes an incredible amount of training of the user, facilitators, and partners

42. Special Considerations when Communicating w/ Someone use AAC Patience is key Before you try and predict what they are trying to say, ask them what they prefer Don’t touch their device, that is an extension of them

43. Links to People Using AAC http://youtube.com/watch?v=1rXUxk3w FZo&feature=related http://youtube.com/watch?v=1rXUxk3w FZo&feature=related http://depts.washington.edu/enables/pr ofiles/profiles_at_aac.htm http://depts.washington.edu/enables/pr ofiles/profiles_at_aac.htm