OT Assistive Technology @katiewecke - Tumblr Blog

Unit 4

This is an article that I found on Weebly that explains how the SETT framework is laid out. Since we learned and focused on the HAAT model, I thought it was interesting to see a full description of what SETT is and how it compares to what we learned about the HAAT. This is important for us as future OT’s because nothing is ever set in stone, and some of our employers may prefer us to use frameworks that are different than what we are used to.

katiewecke

Torey, I agree that it is important for us to know about and utilize the different frameworks other than the HAAT model. There are many similarities between SETT and HAAT, but it is helpful to know about both. This is a good resource and gives a great summary of the SETT. I like how they described each section using questions that you would ask yourself (as an OT) when deciding what technology to use.

This article is about the specialized college programs that are available for students with intellectual disabilities. I think it is great that these schools are taking the initiative to be more inclusive for those individuals who may not have had the opportunity to attend college prior to these programs being created. It’s important to show that these individuals are capable of being successful, they just might take a different route to get there compared to the “traditional” one. Everyone learns in different ways, regardless if you have a disability or not, so it’s nice to see that these colleges are aware of that and have decided to make a change for the better. One of the colleges is in Missouri, so I think it’s helpful for us as OTs to be aware of such a program that is close to us.

I feel like this article is a great summary regarding service delivery for OTs, and it also ties in everything we have learned over the semester. It discusses our role within the assistive technology world and how we can help clients learn about and obtain AT to make their lives easier. The article has a few case studies as well to give the reader a better idea of what we do in a real life situation.

Claria Zoom is an all-in-one application helping elderly & people suffering from eye diseases (AMD, glaucoma…) stay active and independent.

The Claria Zoom app helps people with low vision use their smart phones by providing several different features that make it easier for them to see the content on their phones. The video is very descriptive and shows examples of the features, such as zoom text and changing the color contrast to make it easier to read. I wondered how different this app could be compared to the basic settings already on smart phones that help people with low vision. I was glad that the video addressed the differences in these and how this app is much more beneficial than just using the basic accessibility settings. It made me think about certain features and difficulties a user with low vision may have when using those accessibility settings. Although they are helpful in some ways, it is important to be aware that they might not cover all visual problems and that an app like Claria Zoom may be necessary to get the most out of your smart phone.

#low vision

ahill1-blog

At the American Occupational Therapy Association's Checking the Pulse blog. you will find news about occupational therapy, current health news, and more. I regularly blog about apps that clinicians can use in practice, autism issues, managing chronic conditions, wounded warriors, and more. We share relevant and interesting news, videos, blogs, and more. I read hundreds of articles about health, wellness, and policy every week to find the most engaging and enlightening content for you. Blog readers can stay in the know, go beyond the news, and find out how the latest health news affect occupational therapy.

As a soon to be new grad (low on cash) stumbling upon an article like this is pure gold. After reading through the list I found some suggestions more useful than others. Though I didn’t necessarily like some of the options it got me thinking and prompted new ideas. I think this showed me that as an OT we’re always going to be modifying existing ideas. There is no ONE right way. I think this list gives us as students a good look in to the simpler side of possible activities we could utilize.

katiewecke

Great find, Allie! There were some nice ideas in this article, but I definitely agree that some of the suggestions were more useful than others. You make a good point when you said there is no one right way to do an intervention or use certain tools. This article is a great example of that, and is also a useful “jumping off” point for when I want to think of my own ideas or think of ways to modify what is already listed.

This $200 alternative to a power wheelchair could get thousands of physically impaired kids mobile

Go Baby Go! is a program from the University of Delaware that modifies toy cars to provide mobility for children with disabilities. Each car only costs around $200, compared to other extremely expensive mobility devices. The website also posts videos and manuals for free describing how to build them, so parents and caregivers can do it themselves. Not only are these devices helping the children with their mobility, it is also allowing them to play and socialize with other children their age regardless if they have a disability or not. This is an awesome program!

megtat

In many communities, children in wheelchairs don't have the opportunity to enjoy the playground experience, like other kids. But that is no longer the case i...

This is probably one of the most innovative and extremely underrated inventions created. I do not know about you, but I personally overlooked children in wheelchairs and their inability to participate in play ground activities, or simply play on a jungle gym. It amazes me that this never occurred in my thought process and how the inability to participate in playing on a jungle gym was a huge limiter in social skills for children in wheel chairs. This truly handicapped accessible playground opens up a wide array of possibilities and new play milestones for disabled children. It brings us one step forward to increasing equality for all, disability or no disability.

katiewecke

I agree with Megan in that I never considered the impact of not being able to play on a playground would have on a child in a wheelchair. This is such a great, inclusive idea, and will hopefully spark a trend for playgrounds around the country. I think having more playgrounds like this would give children without disabilities the opportunity to play with children with disabilities and see that there aren’t really many differences between them at all. I think this could possibly break down any negative attitudes or misunderstandings about people with disabilities. I know when I was a child I had very little experience with children with disabilities and saw them as different from me, kind of like outsiders. I think if I would have been given the opportunity to play and build friendships with children with disabilities, my mindset would have been totally different and I would have never thought such negative things about something I didn’t even know about.

alappe1

This $200 alternative to a power wheelchair could get thousands of physically impaired kids mobile

This video that I found on Pinterest introduces the Go Baby Go project. The Go Baby Go project was founded to increase exploration for kids with special needs. Since power wheelchairs are not made for children under the age of three, it allows these children to operate a mobility device. The Go Baby Go project buys motor cars off the shelves of stores and modifies them in a way children with a disabilities can use. By doing this, they are giving these children the opportunity to be mobile and get around with their friends where they usually would fall behind. These devices incorporate therapeutic activities into them. One girl in the video usually doesn’t keep her head upright and straight. With her mobility device, they made a switch on the head rest so that she has a reason to sit up and operate the switch to move the device. The mobility device they offer Zander in the video requires him to stand up while using, therefore increasing his muscle strength while enjoying himself. Most importantly, this project allows individuals with disabilities the opportunity to bond with typically developing children. They now are able to keep up with their friends while playing in a large area, and could even take over the leadership role by moving faster than their friends.

katiewecke

What an awesome project! You made some really good points about the opportunities these children will be given with a device like this. We have been learning in our classes that the earlier you begin intervention, it usually has a better outcome for the future. I like that you mentioned the physical improvements this device would give to children, but also focused on the social aspects as well, because as we know, OTs focus on the whole person.

alappe1

Parents and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) children tested and reviewed three new watches that promise to grab your child's attention and teach them valuable lessons about schedules and responsibility.

While looking on Pinterest for types of assistive technology, I found this great article. Until I read it, I never would have thought of a watch as a type of assistive technology. Children with attention deficit disorders use a watch as an alarm to remind them of certain activities of daily living. Since individuals wear watches on a regular basis, a child doesn’t stand out while using this device. It can be programmed to go off multiple different times a day as reminders for whatever they may need. One of the parents set up their child’s watch to vibrate every 20 minutes saying “Pay Attention” while the child was in class. This vibration doesn’t disrupt other students, but gives a child with ADD or ADHD the extra reinforcement to focus. Another parent used the watch to remind their child to take their medicine throughout the day. These are just a few of many examples that an individual with attention deficits could benefit from using this device.

asteinbecker1-blog

This product is really interesting and the purpose behind its development makes sense! It gives children with ADHD a feeling of responsibility for their own actions, chores, medications, etc. I also like that because a watch is a common accessory, they don’t stand out from other children for having it on. I’d love to hear more personal testimonies from parents and children, as it seems there are a few issues some families have run into regarding set-up and adherence. However, maybe if they were assisted with set-up and the child was trained to use the device properly, this problem could be eliminated!

trishamk94

Unit 2:

This watch is very awesome and interesting. I have never heard of this watch or anything similar to this which makes me even more interested in the device. It is such a useful product for kids who have ADHD and trying to keep them on task. Since it is a watch, it is less noticeable and the vibrate for the alarm really keeps it less noticeable. For kids that need to set the watch to help them pay attention, it is great because it will not distract others with a loud noise. Being that it is a watch, other students will not think it is used for anything other than to tell the time. This is such a cool product that can be so beneficial for kids who have ADHD.

katiewecke

This is an interesting product that I never would have considered to use for kids with ADHD. Like my other classmates have mentioned, because a watch is a common accessory for anyone to wear, this wouldn’t look different or draw attention to the child in a negative way. Even as an adult with ADD, I feel like I could personally benefit from something like this to keep myself on track. Very cool find!

French car-sharing service Wheeliz easily connects people with disabilities to owners of adapted cars.

This article describes a startup company that provides rides in accessible vehicles for people in wheelchairs. The woman who created this company is in a wheelchair herself, and was fed up with the lack of accessible transportation available and the extremely high prices for the accessible transportation that was available. Essentially, this company is like Uber in which drivers volunteer their vehicles and time, and earn some extra cash in the process. This company was started in Paris and has been spreading throughout France, and they hope to eventually take it international. I think the U.S. could really benefit from a company like this, and bring us one step closer to accessibility for all people.

Super Braille Keyboard is the most advanced keyboard of its kind. What allows it to be so exceptional is it’s implementation of Ergonomic Motion Detection© technology. EMD© provides invisible, cutting-edge motion detection as well as an easy to use interface.

The Super Braille Keyboard is a touchscreen braille keyboard app that uses special technology to detect the touch motion which can create different combinations and commands with the use of one hand. This keyboard can be a replacement for the text-to-speech apps that several people with visual impairments use currently. This app is a free download on GooglePlay. I really like this company’s motto, “we believe that instead of conforming to technology, technology should conform to you,” which is a perfect quote in relation to our roles as client-centered OTs with assistive technology.

#touch screen devices

Keyboard and Mouse re-invented! Keep your hands in typing position while moving the mouse. High speed Bluetooth + USB.

The KeyMouse is an assistive technology device that is a keyboard and mouse combined. It is a split keyboard, and each side has a separate mouse attached. This allows a person to keep their hands in typing position while they move the mouse. This would be a good device for people with decreased range of motion in their wrists and hands, or people with low endurance. Unfortunately, this device costs $495, so it may not be a cost-effective device.

Americans with visual impairments who are waiting for accessible U.S. currency will have to wait a little longer, reports Perkins Library Director Kim Charlson. It will be another five years before the Treasury Department is ready to distribute the first currency note with tactile features, said Charlson after returning from the annual conference of the American Council of the Blind (ACB).

This article was about the current works of creating new U.S. dollar bills that have tactile features on them, which will allow people with visual impairments to read them and distinguish between bill amounts. I had never even considered this to be an issue, which is why I am glad the government is trying to change it because I am sure I am not the only one who never thought of this as a problem. Changing our currency will not only improve the lives of those with visual impairments, it will also raise awareness to other similar issues and will hopefully start a norm of making everything accessible for all people.

I switched from using a mouse to a trackball, but for the past few years, I’ve been using a dual trackball setup, along with a 24-key programmable keypad. I use the primary trackball to move my pointer, and my secondary trackball as a “scroll wheel”.

This article and video is about a man with quadriplegia who customized existing technology used for computer access and made it more functional for himself. He created a dual trackball system, and later added in a programmable keypad that is customized to work differently depending on what app he has open. He also designed the case that fits all of these devices. It is impressive to see someone so proactive and willing to put in the work and effort to make his computer functional for him. It also is an important reminder that even though we may know a lot of information on different technologies as OTs, we should always consider the client’s ideas and designs to figure out what works best for them.

#mobility impairment

Technology Assistive-technology Instructables - Explore the Biggest How To and DIY community where people make and share inspiring, entertaining, and useful projects, recipes, and hacks.

This website contains tons of tutorials on how to make your own AT devices. This is a good resource for therapists, as well as clients and caregivers because it offers a low-cost version of some helpful AT devices. Although they may not all be as reliable or well-made as buying from an actual manufacturer, this gives clients who may not be able to afford the “real” product, an opportunity to still benefit from an AT device without breaking the bank.

This is a great article that shares some real life experiences and benefits of people who have used assistive technology. It really shows the impact AT can have on an individual’s life. This makes me excited to learn more about AT and how I can implement it when I am an OT!

trishamk94

This website is focused on kids with learning disabilities in the school setting. It is a great resource for student’s who one day want to work in the school setting as an occupational therapist. In the website it talks about how assitive technology helps students modify their school activities, and also gives a list of different AT used in school settings.

katiewecke

I like how this article first explained what AT was, and then gave a descriptive list of the resources available to children. It was helpful how they categorized the types of AT tools available, either by the type of problems or deficits the child is having or a list of the actual tool or product. This is also a good resource for parents to help them understand what AT is and the best way they can help their child.

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