Elizabeths AT Blog

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Go Baby Go Program Modifies Toy Cars for Children with Disabilities

A program called Go Baby Go is helping children with mobility challenges to explore their worlds with more independence

This article discusses modified toy cars that enable children with disabilities to be mobile. Commercial wheelchairs for children under 3 can cost $30,000 and are not covered by insurance. Therefore, Oregon State University decided to train Oregon clinicians to “alter off-the-shelf, ride-on toy cars using plastic pipes, plastic foam swim noodles, kick boards, fabric fasteners and an activation switch.” The toy cars enable the children to be more independent and learn how to engage with their environments and peers. These toy cars are potential alternatives to commercial wheelchairs for children under 4 if parents are having a hard time receiving funding for mobility AT.

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This study describes the core concepts of the Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) model and discusses its development over three successful versions. It states that the HAAT model is one of the earliest models of AT and is an important framework within the field. After investigating the HAAT model, the researchers concluded that it is highly relevant and applicable for occupational therapists; occupational therapists can use the HAAT model as a conceptual guide during clinical practice.

Reference:

 Giesbrecht, E. (2013). Application of the Human Activity Assistive Technology model for occupational therapy research. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 60(4), 230-240. doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12054

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AT Resources Funding Guide How to pay for needed assistive technology is challenging for many and can seem overwhelming. As an association working hard to ensure access to all, we understand that access does not only include assistive technology but also access to potential funding necessary to obtain what is needed in technology. This ATIA ...

This is the AT Resources Funding Guide by Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA). It identifies resources that people can use to explore funding options for assistive technology. Some of these resources are: organizations, insurance, federal and state programs, special education and the public schools, advocacy groups, state vocational rehabilitation centers, veterans administration, scholarships, and grants. Occupational therapists can use this guide to help their clients receive funding for assistive technology. This guide could enable more people to access assistive technology.

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Graphic designer Christian Boer, who has presented at numerous TED conferences, created a font called Dyslexie. The letters of the Dyslexie font are designed so people’s brains cannot flip or twist them. Dyslexie uses slanted letters, letters that are bolder at the base, larger capital letters, and bigger spaces between words. It is available for users to download to their Macs or PCs. Recently, we discussed an iPad application that enables users to set OpenDyslexic as their default font when they are browsing on the Internet. Finding a font or strategy that enables students with dyslexia to read easier is essential because students read to learn, meaning they cannot succeed academically if they cannot read. Fonts like Dyslexie are not only important because they make reading easier, but they also enable students with dyslexia to feel equal to their peers inside the classroom.

Additional Resources: 1. http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/dyslexie-font-kickstarter/ 2. http://www.emergingedtech.com/2016/09/3-ways-assistive-technology-helping-students-with-dyslexia/

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Cutting Edge School Tech: Focus On Differences

This year, Education Week published another report that said teachers still face systemic challenges in adapting their instruction to new technologies in ways that would transform education.

This articles focuses on writing with assistive technology. The author discusses programs such as CoWriter, Read&Write, and Microsoft One Note. She also states that everyone, not just students with disabilities, would benefit from using technology in the classroom. In fact, one survey revealed that 80% of students felt technology was improving their education. To those who say technology is distracting and unfair, the author says technology is merely a learning tool, not an answer key. In addition, with cursive writing on its way out, schools need to take typing mastery seriously. For occupational therapists in school-based practice, this is awesome news. Inclusive classrooms that use technology would enable OT clients to reach higher levels of learning while being treated the same as other students.

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ChatAble - symbol and scene based communication app on the App Store

Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about ChatAble - symbol and scene based communication app. Download ChatAble - symbol and scene based communication app and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

ChatAble is an alternative augmentative communication (AAC) application that uses symbols and scenes to support communication. It enables individuals with speech and language difficulties (diagnoses such as autism, aphasia, & cerebral palsy) to use photographs or symbol based grids to communicate with friends, family, classmates, colleagues, etc. ChatAble contains additional features such as text-to-speech, on-board switch scanning, and GPS tagging. Occupational therapists can use this iPad application to create page sets for clients within minutes. ChatAble is available for $99.99 on iTunes; educational institutions can receive a 50% educational discount. ChatAble takes AAC to a new level!

Additional Resources: 1. https://www.therapy-box.co.uk/assistive-technology/apps/ca-english 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNSGQHlJp0w 3. http://ndipat.org/blog/chatable-a-new-twist-on-an-augmentative-communication-app/

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shortcut the digital prosthesis

shortcut the digital prosthesis is a digital wristband that translates phantom hand gestures and planar movements into a wireless computer control.

Shortcut is a digital wristband that is an add-on for a myoelectric prosthesis. It translates hand gestures that most amputees can still recall into a wireless computer control. These gestures enable users to perform standard mouse functions such as cursor movement, left and right click, scroll, and zoom. Since computer mice and keyboards are difficult to control with a prosthetic hand, shortcut is a viable option for amputees. Occupational therapists should consider recommending this product to their clients. Shortcut can help occupational therapy clients with a myoelectric prosthesis to access computers easily and perform computing tasks with both hands.

Additional Resources: 1. http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/shortcut-wristband-amputees/ 2. http://www.jamesdysonaward.org/projects/shortcut-digital-prosthesis/

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When we design for disability, we all benefit

"I believe that losing my hearing was one of the greatest gifts I've ever received," says Elise Roy. As a disability rights lawyer and design thinker, she knows that being Deaf gives her a unique way of experiencing and reframing the world -- a perspective that could solve some of our largest problems. As she says: "When we design for disability first, you often stumble upon solutions that are better than those when we design for the norm."

At a TED conference in September 2015 Elise Roy stated, “When we design for disability first, you often stumble upon solutions that are better than those when we design for the norm.” She also explained a concept called design thinking: A process for innovation and problem solving that teaches us to look sideways and experiment. In regard to alternative computer access, computing devices and their accessories should be designed for individuals with disabilities first. As Roy pointed out, solutions that were originally designed for individuals with disabilities are often picked up and loved by mainstream society. During the TED Talk, I thought of the scanning keyboard that has the most frequently used letters grouped together. This keyboard was originally designed for individuals with disabilities, but it could benefit everyone (disability or not) because it is more efficient than QWERTY. Individuals can solve some of the world’s greatest problems by being creative and designing for disability first, not the norm.

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iPad App Brings Braille Keyboard to Blind Users’ Fingertips

An app that began as a prototype at Stanford now lets sight impaired iPad users type Braille on its touchscreen.

iBrailler Notes is an iPad application that enables individuals with visual impairment to type documents and notes using an alternative keyboard. The keyboard is calibrated when the user places his or her fingers on the iPad screen; iBrailler draws the keyboard keys around each finger. The keyboard uses braille English grade 1 & 2 and six-dot computer braille. Occupational therapists can recommend this application to clients who are blind, especially those who are students. This keyboard application enables students who are visually impaired to type quickly and not stand out among their peers in the classroom. This application is revolutionizing touchscreen technology.

Additional Resources: 1. http://www.ibrailler.com 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXuot-wCLrE 3.  http://news.stanford.edu/2015/02/10/braille-writer-app-021015/

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This YouTube video shows students experimenting with low-tech assistive devices in their classroom. Many of the devices shown are used to help individuals perform ADLs. In the video, there are four stations: cutting/writing/turning, grooming (ADL), feeding/meal preparation (ADL/IADL), and walking. The students demonstrate how to use numerous assistive devices that I have never seen before. This is an excellent resource for occupational therapy students to learn more about AT for ADLs and a good video that occupational therapists can utilize to show clients what devices are available and how to operate them.

Note: The students act silly in some parts of the video, but I think it is still a good video/resource. 

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Open Style Lab, Creating Wearable Solutions For Those With Disabilities

Open Style Lab, Creating Wearable Solutions For Those With Disabilities. Open Style Lab, are paving the way for socially conscious, user-centered design...

This article focused on a company named Open Style Lab. The mission of Open Style Lab is “to make style accessible to people of all abilities.” To achieve this mission, Open Style Lab conducted a ten-week research program to create functional yet stylish adaptive clothes for individuals with disabilities. The 2016 program was comprised of twelve participants who were divided into four teams. Each team consisted of a designer, an engineer, and an occupational therapist. Their goal was to create a garment that uses technology effectively and meets their client’s needs.

Adaptive clothing is nothing new. However, clothing for individuals with disabilities is often functional, but not fashionable or trendy. Unfortunately, even if occupational therapists choose the most helpful adaptive clothing for their clients, their clients will not wear clothes that do not look great. Maura Horton, a professional designer, stated, “The greater need besides being able to dress independently is being able to look like everyone else or look how you want to look.” As occupational therapy students, we must remember these lessons when interacting with clients. The information in this article is valuable because it demonstrates how wearable technology is evolving and how occupational therapists can play a prominent role in stylish adaptive design.

Go to http://www.openstylelab.com to watch a short video about each client and each team design. 

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The SymTrend ADL app (which is predominately used by parents to track their children) permits users to record important information about ADLs. It uses health logs and checklists to manage behaviors and set alarms for various activities. This app can also track stressors and tantrums. SymTrend ADL enables occupational therapists to track specific ADLs and discover how children respond and engage in different contexts. It will alert the occupational therapist to which contexts are the best for therapy sessions and which contexts provoke the child. This app can also be used to determine the effectiveness of interventions.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/symtrend-adl/id377669676?mt=8