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What do you think of when you picture a self-determined individual? Do you see someone who is self assured, someone able to advocate for themselves, making choices and decisions that allow them to ...

This video shows an 8-year old boy with CP completely a triathlon! I found this story so intriguing! I think it is amazing that regardless of physical limitations his determination and strength to finish out shined the disability. In the video you can see the boy using a walking aid when completing the portion of the triathlon on foot. This story shows that it is possible to utilize certain devices to engage in meaningful occupations!

jbyrnes2ot-blog

Unit 4:

I thought this was a great accomplishment on this young boy’s part! This video made me think of 3 figures I’ve recently been exposed to: two comedians doubling as disability advocates, Stella Young, and Maysoon Zayid, and a speaker I attended mentioned in my previous post. These three individuals all had one overlapping idea- that people with disabilities are tired of being thought of as inspiring! Of course, this goes against how society represents people with disabilities who accomplish great physical feats. This new perspective has been brought to my attention by the three aforementioned figures and I am starting to process how we as OT’s can show deeper respect to individuals with disabilities by challenging them rather than constantly praising them. I think these thoughts can be better applied to adults rather than children who still need more praise, just as any child does. My thoughts on this were inspired by the way it was represented in the news story.

The growing use of computer-based assessments is opening the door for all students to tap into accommodations once reserved primarily for students with disabilities.

Unit 4

I was inspired to further understand current assistive technology and testing accommodations after I attended a speaker at school. The speaker was the director of disability services- a psychologist by trade. This article was put out by education week, which was neat because I like gaining different perspectives on OT related topics. One thing that stood out to me in this article is that typically developing students, “at-risk” students, and students with disabilities alike are all engaging in technology for educational purposes more than ever. Technology seems to be increasingly accepted as a normalcy by all students, making the implementation in social environments more successful as compared to other times in history.

HAAT Model Module: Biomedical Engineering Curriculum

Unit 4:

After learning a lot about the HAAT model the past few weeks, I became curious to see if engineering fields consider this model when developing devices and equipment. In my search, I found this lecture outline for a biomedical engineering (BME) class module at Marquette University focusing on the HAAT model. This was neat to see some overlapping ideals between technology related fields and occupational therapy. The HAAT model is not only valuable to selection of assistive technology, but also to the development of such devices. This is something I didn’t fully consider in class since we focus on the evaluation, selection, and implementation of AT in OT/ATP. This page also provides tabs such as “rehab terms” and “rehab science” containing more information highlighting rehabilitation fields such as OT. This led me to think about the potential for assistive technology professionals/occupational therapists to collaborate with biomedical engineers based on the similarities in certain foundational knowledge such as the HAAT model.

dawod123

jbyrnes2ot-blog

PROPS to Nadia for sharing this on Tumbler. I like how Nadia tied this into class content when she expanded on Maysoon’s interpretation of social media,entertainment and disabilities. Maysoon advocates for disability through her comedy, and we are advocating for various disabilities by sharing descriptions and media on tumbler for all to see and learn from.

With the amount of information on the internet involving assisted devices, how can a parent determine what technology is appropriate for a child?

Unit 3

This webpage has nicely laid out information for parents, families, and caregivers introducing them to different devices that are available for people with cerebral palsy. AAC devices such as Proloquo and Proloquo-2go, and GhostReader are mentioned among other categories such as alternative keyboard, and AT for low vision and hearing loss. It mentions the different professionals potentially involved in determining what device is best for a child with CP. I like that this website presents a lot of current options and supporting references to help inform caregivers and families. This page provides a nice overview of options for individuals with CP.

Unit 3

The “worksheets” are in fact communication boards. Here, alternative augmentative communication is used for learning social skills. This board is specifically designed for boys with ASD to use when communicating with typical girls, starting with a sister. They also provide boards designed for talking with Mom and/or Dad, available for free download from this website. I thought these boards were appropriate because communication/social skills is often an area of concern for the ASD population. I liked these boards because they are an example of a time when AAC is being used for something other than expressing self-care needs. Improving communication/social skills influences almost all areas of occupation. When one is more successful in expressing themselves and interacting with others, they are in turn more successful in developing mastery and success in occupation.

A team from Georgia Tech, led by Post Doctorate Fellow Mario Romero (School of Interactive Computing) has designed BrailleTouch for touchscreen mobile device...

Unit 2

When I watched the video, my first thought was, wow- an alternative to an alternative! BraileTouch is much like a corded keyboard, that uses combinations of touches for letters. It seems that it requires high cognitive functioning in order to elicit the letter you meant to based on the combination f touches. The screen shot above shows the 1′s (touch) and 0′s (no touch) pattern for each letter. This concept of braille on a touch screen was new to me. The braille I know is mainly based on tactile input. My knowledge of Braille is limited, but I wonder if the combinations of touches for each letter correlates to the patterns of raised bumps in traditional Braille.

This app enables the visually impaired to use a touch screen by giving the user auditory feedback as to what letters they have pushed to aid their awareness in what letters/words/sentences they have formed in real time. He made a good point about this app being a potentially cheaper and more long term solution. Adding it to a smartphone your client already has is much less expensive than purchasing a Braille keyboard or a corded keyboard separately. Not to mention it takes up less space. Based on this video, I assume that the user handles the phone and types, while the smartphone is connected to say a desktop computer on a word program where the output shows up.

davidthesloth-blog

Unit 2

For many people, auto-play ads are an annoyance; they might play sound, video, or simply flash some pointless ad. Flash-enabled ads have become in the news as of late, where major browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari allow individuals to block flashing ads. They might be irritating to one, but for various individuals with disabilities, they can inhibit internet browsing. For example, someone with epilepsy might be at risk of seizure from a flickering image. Those with learning disabilities might lose attention, and those that use text-to-speech might experience difficulty as the ads can interfere with the software. With this, ad-blocking software has become crucial for many to engage in proper internet use. Ads can bring one to another website without warning, and that can cause frustration. The concept might seem simple, but it is bigger than many realize.

jbyrnes2ot-blog

David, this post jumped at me for its simplicity. I never thought about how ads could interfere with software that we've learned about in class such as text-to-speech or even eye-gaze. The article states that android already had this feature, but it's combination with apples accessibility features is a bonus for Apple users.

cbaumbach1

This vertical mouse not only helps to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but may also be useful for those with physical impairments. There are a few different features to this mouse, including the thumb rest, adjustable optical sensor, pointer speed indicator, thumb buttons, and pinky rest. Limited range of motion users would definitely benefit from this type of mouse, but those with tremors may also find this setup easier to utilize if it is paired with arm supports. While this specific brand is a little pricy, ringing in at $90, there are similar products between $15-$25 that may be more affordable.

jbyrnes2ot-blog

Thanks for posting this Cassie! My brother in law has been complaining of carpal tunnel-like symptoms, but he can't slow down because he is working on his thesis, has 3 children under age 2, and lives on a farm. Among other suggestions, I'll tell him about this ergonomic mouse because he currently uses a laptop touch pad.

Unit 2:

The digital divide is something I’ve been pondering as I have been introduced to new expensive technology for populations with varying degrees of disability. This summary evaluates the impact of technology (in general) on low socioeconomic groups. For these groups, it could be challenging to persevere in the ever-changing digital world i.e job applications, college applications, research, general access to information and multifaceted perspectives on topics. Another example is with young people. Public education systems in poorer communities may have less access to funding for technology compared to affluent communities. This poses a problem for the “at risk” students. By at risk, I mean students who don’t qualify for an IEP/special education and who are not introduced to alternative learning via technology. Without access to certain technology, individuals may not discover new and better ways of learning that are available. They also may not be as competitive as their more affluent peers in the workforce. I think it is important to remember that high tech solutions are not always practical or feasible. From an OT clinical standpoint, an inner city rehab center or a clinic serving rural populations may high tech options may not be feasible. This challenges us as OT’s to think of the “best fit” option when planning interventions or making recommendations. Sometimes, low tech solutions may be the best option. That being said, I think it is great to try high tech options, but to keep in mind your client’s natural environment, or other factors that could influence the success of an AT recommendation. When your client leaves the clinical setting, or school, will this be a long standing solution? Will it be a learning moment? Will it flop? You decide!

dawod123

Unit 2

In class we spoke about accessibility features that can be found on our devices. I pulled up the page for accessibility features of Apple devices. I think it is important to familiarize ourselves with these features because it can enhance productivity when individuals use these devices. I like how this page is set up because it allows you to pick an accessibility feature based on what you need such as, vision, hearing, physical/motor skills, and learning/literacy. If a device is not compatible with the individual’s needs, it may just need some simple adjusts. We should be able to access these features and teach our clients how they can adjust them to improve their function. There are also sites for android and other devices that explains the use of accessibility features.

chelseathome

Nadia, thanks for sharing this - I have personally hopped on the Apple train and had no idea about all of these accessibility features (until we discussed them in class). It is amazing how Apple incorporates these features into their devices, which could really come in handy for our clients (they don’t have to go out and purchase another device). Overall, I love how Apple designed this webpage; organized based on accessibility features vision, hearing, physical/motor skills, and literacy. Allows clients and therapists to easily find features they are searching for.

jbyrnes2ot-blog

I agree with the above comments. I knew there were accessibility features, but I hadn’t explored them before like we did in lab. This site shows them in similar detail, helping the apple user understand the capabilities of the device they may already have for using certain other software. These accessibility features are quick and easy ways to adapt the device to the user’s needs without needing anything additional, unless they connect a switch, which is also easily installed. A agree with Chelsea, the way the website categorizes the adaptations helps the user sift throught the accessibility options on their device, making it easier to hone in on what they aim to adapt.

SeniorNet provides nonprofit computer and Internet education for older adults and seniors. SeniorNet is the premier senior site for content and community.

This nonprofit- SeniorNet- aims at increasing computer access for seniors. I think this is important because technology has become the norm for communication. People who don’t have access to technology, not necessarily due to disability, but from lack of knowledge and skill are also prone to marginalization in the world of technology and therefore the world at large. This organization has so many curriculum sets for almost any common/standard technology and software that you can think of. This is very important because it can lead to greater inter-generational participation and meaning for older adults.

Hardware: Intellikeys is an adaptive keyboard that connects to Apple IIGS; Macintosh (SE or...

After being exposed to Intellikeys for the first time in class yesterday, I thought it was a really useful alternative keyboard. This article helped me learn a little bit more about the device. This article further illustrates the appropriateness of the tool with physical, cognitive, or visual disabilities. Customizable overlays further adapt the tool for individual use. I think it is a great tool, but if a user requires the auditory feedback “beeps” due to the lack of tactile feedback from the intellikeys, it may be distracting. This may not be the case with everyone, but it is important to consider the social context in which computer adaptations are used when determining appropriateness, be it public, group, or private settings.

(Beginning of Unit 2) This is a video tutorial on an accessibility feature on the iPad. A man from AbleNet, an AT company, talks though setting up a switch with one of their products, a switch called Blue 2. This tutorial is for iOS7, but it was still very helpful in understanding the general process. It is neat that the capabilities are already in the operating system, which could support someone’s decision in choosing an iPad instead of other tablets depending on their needs. The settings are simple to navigate, making it easy for users to customize their switches. This tutorial made me think of clients like Jean (and others) from class who use and IPads for education, leisure, and work. For clients with whom a switch is useful, using this accessibility feature can enable them in different areas of occupation.

Podcasts, articles and more are available on the app Clarospeak Plus ($6.99). It provides educational resources for students and adults with dyslexia. It is also a text-speech device specifically for people with dyslexia. I thought this was pretty neat because it can help people with reading difficulties get around their limitation towards higher achievement in school and other endeavors. I learned that 6.3 million Americans have dyslexia- the population of a very large city. I liked reading about how much Sean valued assistive technology. Once he found out more about AT, it became very important to his personal achieve.

The Music Glove is an awesome tool used for remediation/rehabilitation - occupation as means- to regain control and coordination of the hand. Even though the tool’s actions are preparatory, they are purposeful through virtual reality games. Testimonies in this video are very positive. It seems that the game gives the client structure and the music makes it fun and entertaining. If financially possible, this tool could have a place outside of rehab at home. Otherwise, if it were available during free activity time in a rehab facility, it could allow clients to work on fun fine motor rehab independently. Click link to see video! It's cool!

For our principles of adaptation lab, we filled in a table of common assistive technology including the area of occupation, the performance skill compensated for, the cost, and the compensation principle. This section of independentliving.com has a lot of affordable devices to enable feeding and meal preparation. Compensation principles for these various items could include Limited ROM, Incoordination, Loss of Use of One Side, etc. There are a lot of neat items which could benefit people with limitations in the aforementioned performance areas.

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