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Assistive Technology Marla Roll, MS, OTR. Denver Options Care Coordinator Retreat July 18 th , 2011. Objectives for today:. Review of themes that arose in the AT consultation process Review of assistive technologies Review of mainstream technologies
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Assistive TechnologyMarla Roll, MS, OTR Denver Options Care Coordinator Retreat July 18th, 2011
Objectives for today: • Review of themes that arose in the AT consultation process • Review of assistive technologies • Review of mainstream technologies • Process and discussion for supporting your needs
Themes: • Requests for new devices when existing devices are sufficient OR • They have technology than can accomplish the same task e.g. book readers
Themes (con’t) • Computers or laptops are bought without a trial of usability OR • Computers may not be usable or usage maximized without additional AT.
Themes (con’t) • Differentiating between Assistive Technology and technology. • 1. Assistive technology – devices, software and hardware that meet a specialized need. • 2. Mainstream technology – off the shelf • 3. Tablets & smart phones and their various apps fall in the middle.
Themes (con’t) • Compensatory/ Adaptation VS • Restorative – cognitive retraining • Example – apps that give a cue to remember vs. apps that work on improving memory • Restorative should have a professional recommendation • Marla is biased
Themes (con’t) • Much of the requested assistive technology is cheaper than an AT evaluation. • Pro: evaluation will determine the best match and introduce client to options they are not aware of • Con: evaluation is more costly than the requested technology
Memory/ Time management (prompting, cueing, coaching) • Mainstream: • Smart phone apps • Recorders built into smart phones • Tablet apps • Watches with timers/ alarms • Digital recorders • GPS • Assistive Technology: • Word completion and prediction – software that aids memory during a written communication task. • List extraction • Color coding software • List of freebie software • Specialized hand held software – Demo of Endeavor/ Ablelink • http://www.ablelinktech.com/index.php?id=38
Language – writing • Assistive Technology • Word prediction e.g. Co-Writer, Read & Write, Word Q (account for phonetic spelling mistakes) • Proofreading – text to speech (Wynn, Read & Write) • Spelling checking programs e.g. Ginger • Concept Mapping - e.g. Inspiration • Portable note-takers e.g. Alphasmart
Language – writing • Mainstream Technology: • Livescribe - Smart & Echo pens • Tablet computers with pen computing
Language - reading • Assistive technology • Daisy book players • Software book players • OCR with Text to speech software (Read:outloud, Read and Write Gold, Wynn, Kurzweil, Ease Reader) • Intel Reader • Scanning and reading pens
Language – reading (con’t) • Electronic study tools ( highlight, bookmarks, annotations, definitions, language supports, masking) • Change display options ( built – in and specialized) • Web readers – (Wynn, Read & Write) • Demo of Read & Write, Wynn, Inspiration • http://www.freedomscientific.com/lsg/products/wynn_features.asp • http://www.texthelp.com/page.asp?pg_id=10059 • http://www.inspiration.com/Inspiration
Language - reading • Mainstream technology • E – book readers – ( Sony, Nook, Kindle) – beware that most do not consider disability • Blio software – http://www.blio.com/ • Smartphone app - takes a picture, OCR’s, then reads
Computer Access - • Voice recognition e.g. Dragon NS, Window’s 7.0 built –in • http://www.nuance.com/ucmprod/groups/dragon/@web-enus/documents/collateral/nc_016429.pdf • Screen magnification ( Zoomtext), Windows built-in • http://www.aisquared.com/
Computer Access ( con’t) • Alternative keyboards ( on-screen, one-handed, enlarged, mini, etc.) • Alternative Mice - pointing devices ( trackballs, contoured mouse)
Computer Access ( con’t) • Microsoft Built – ins – • http://atrc.colostate.edu/1quickstart-guides.aspx#builtins • http://www.microsoft.com/enable/ • http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/accessibility
Mainstream Devices: (these are not AT) • Computers • Mp3 Players • E-Book Readers • Hand Helds – smart phones • I-Pods and I-Pads – • Android Tablets • Windows Tablets • Digital Recorders
Mainstream Device Considerations: • Can they see the content? • Can the screen be de-cluttered? • Can they manipulate the controls? • Can they handle the memory demands? • Can they handle the cognitive demands?
So they have a computer – now what? • Consider freebies – built-ins and http://www.oatsoft.org/ • Consider AT that might be relevant • Have them do the tasks they are requesting the device for… • Can they write? • Can they search the web? • Can they email?
Smartphones and tablets: • What makes these usable are the apps! • Consider most relevant apps • Assist with display setting and tools to simplify
Resources for Apps • AT Partners handout • OT practice handout • Web sites for apps: • iTunes App Store • Android Market • WebOS App Catalog • Blackberry App World • AppBrain • My App Box • AppCraver • AppSafari • Apps are always changing, check what is available on an on-going basis
Reminder - Consider responsibility of the environment: • Public schools • Higher Education • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation • Workplace • Help your clients to advocate in the above environments – clarify need as it relates to impairments
HAAT - diagram • The simpler the tech is to use, the less likely it is to be abandoned. Activity Assistive Technology Human Context/ Environment
Consider AT for your lab: • Providing clients with hands-on trials of AT & mainstream devices • Practice using the devices with real world applications • Build capacity of care coordinators to address technology considerations.
Technology Options for Denver Options Lab • Microsoft Built-ins: • Magnifier, text to speech, keyboard and mouse settings, on-screen keyboard • Voice Recognition software • Dragon NS Premium • Literacy support • Wynn • Read & Write Gold • Adaptive keyboards and mice • Spell checkers • Ginger • I-pad or I-touch – with apps loaded • Live Scribe – Echo pen • Scanning & Reading Pen
Consider an outcome measure in your process: • Follow – up: • Functional Outcomes are the only real measure of the success of AT devices and services!!! • Are they reading, working, writing, etc., ?
How can I better assist? • What is working with the process? • What needs to be modified?
Marla’s Contact Info: • Marla.Roll@colostate.edu • 970-217-1880