What others are saying!

The Research Speaks!

We had a chance to review two research articles about the importance of assistive technology and the positive impact it can make in individuals with disabilities.  Here are our findings.

Article 1:

Summary:  Assistive technology is extremely useful as devices and services to help children communicate, be social, be mobile and participate in everyday activities.  The earlier a child can learn skills necessary to use higher level assistive technologies, the better.  What better time to start than as an infant/toddler. 
But according to a study by Dugan, Campbell and Wilcox in 2006, there is an underutilization of assistive technology in early life.  In this study, they assessed decision making practices of professionals working with children (infants and toddlers) with disabilities.  According to the literature they reviewed, the following four statements respresent factors that most frequently are describe in the literature as contributing to the underutilization of AT with infants and toddlers:

1.  Young children need to have certain skills (use of their hands or ability to recognize symbols) before they can use AT.
2.  AT requires extra effort from a child adn it is much easier to just do things for the child instead. (extra effort)
3.  Using aT means giving up on teh natural way and may prevent teh child from learning certain things. (giving up the natural way)
4.  AT costs a lot of money adn it is a good idea to wait until the child is older to decide what will work. (cost)

The authors hypotehticalized that there would be a link between peoples attitudes toward four belief statements about AT use and their decisions to use AT within six hypotehtical intervention decision making scenerios.  An example of such scenerio would be 'A child can hold but not manipulate toys."  They are given four possible intervension strategies to choose from.  They found that even though the people in the study who disagreed with the statement, later when they were asked specific scenerios and given choices for how they would handle the situation, technology intervensions were not selected until the child was older than 24 months.  Even then, high tech options were rarely chosen between the ages of 25 and 36 months with exception of bathing.  They tended to choose skill building interventions across most of the scenerios.  Even for those children who were 25-36 months old, they still chose skill building interventions even when the child was unable to perform the skill (significant delays).
This article indicates to me that individualized training and professional devlopment is needed in these areas for people working with young children with disabilities.  If strategies of low and high tech assistive technologies were developed as an infant/toddler, they would be set up for success as they approach schooling.


Article 2:

Summary:

Assistive technology is extremely useful for those with MS. It can help them be more independent and less reliant on their friends and family. MS is an autoimmune disorder that affects movement, sensation and bodily function; 80% of patients within 10-15 years of the onset of the disease have difficulty with gait,fatigue and loss of balance. Typically people who suffer from MS  use some type of Mobility Assistive Technology (MAT) and it has drastically helped them to continue their daily activities and to be less reliant on those around them.
Examples of MAT devices for persons with MS are: canes, walkers, orthodics, wheel chairs etc.
This article broken down many of the MAT assistive technologies for persons with MS and showed the benefits of increasing independence for people with MS and their families.
However the article noted that one of the biggest problems for a AT specialist is finding the MAT that best suits the person with MS.
The possibility of losing mobility due to MS is very stressful for those diagnosed with MS and it was noted in the article that being able to access a MAT device is very important psychologically for them and their family.
The article stated one of the most important things when working to find an assistive technology for MS patients is to find things that help them to maintain their independance, and assistive technology is  helping to do this in a big way with such high tech devices as the segway, scooters etc.

Medium Level Assistive Technologies

What is Medium Level At anyway?

Medium level assistive technologies are moderately priced and easy to operate electronic devices.

Examples of medium level assistive technology for those with physical disibilities include:

• Tape or digital recorders
• Electronic dictionaries or organizers
• Audio books
• Adapted keyboards
• Audible word scanning devices
• Single switches

• Alternative keyboards—featuring larger- or smaller-than-standard keys or keyboards, alternative key configurations, and keyboards for use with one hand.
• Electronic pointing devices—used to control the cursor on the screen without use of hands. Devices used include ultrasound, infrared beams, eye movements, nerve signals, or brain waves.
• Sip-and-puff systems—activated by inhaling or exhaling.
• Wands and sticks—worn on the head, held in the mouth or strapped to the chin and used to press keys on the keyboard 
• Joysticks—manipulated by hand, feet, chin, etc. and used to control the cursor on screen.
• Trackballs—movable balls on top of a base that can be used to move the cursor on screen.
• Touch screens—allow direct selection or activation of the computer by touching the screen, making it easier to select an option directly rather than through a mouse movement or keyboard.
• The 2-Switch- is a miniature USB-based switch controller for two selected mouse actions, two selected keyboard inputs, or one mouse action and one keyboard input.

• 

  Jouse2- An alternative mouse option for individuals unable to use the standard mouse. It is an advanced joystick operated USB mouse controlled with your mouth.  

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Physical Disibilities Defined

Disabilities Defined

The term "disability" broadly describes an impairment in a person's ability to function, caused by changes in various subsystems of the body, or to mental health. The degree of disability may range from mild to moderate, severe, or profound. A person may also have multiple disabilities.

Conditions causing disability are classified by the medical community as:

• inherited (genetically transmitted);
• congenital, meaning caused by a mother's infection during pregnancy, or by injury during or soon after birth;
• acquired, such as conditions caused by illness or injury; or
• of unknown origin.

Physical Disabilities

Students with a physical disability have an acquired or congenital physical and/or motor impairment such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, developmental coordination disorder, amputations, genetic disorders, etc. The disability may interfere with the development or function of the bones, muscles, joints and central nervous system. Physical characteristics may include:

• paralysis
• altered muscle tone
• an unsteady gait
• loss of, or inability to use, one or more limbs
• difficulty with gross-motor skills such as walking or running
• difficulty with fine-motor skills such as buttoning clothing or printing/writing

The impairment may range from mild to severe, may have minimal impact on the student or interfere substantially with functional ability. The effects of the disability may be minimized through appropriate environmental adaptations and/or the use of assistive devices.

Cerebral Palsy

What is the definition of cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy. It also can occur before, during or shortly following birth.
"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "Palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. If someone has cerebral palsy it means that because of an injury to their brain (cerebral) they are not able to use some of the muscles in their body in the normal way (palsy). Children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat or play in the same ways as most other children.

Cerebral palsy is neither progressive nor communicable. It is also not "curable" in the accepted sense, although education, therapy and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives. It is important to know that cerebral palsy is not a disease or illness.

Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, people with cerebral palsy may experience one or more of the following:

• Muscle tightness or spasm
• Involuntary movement
• Disturbance in gait and mobility
• Abnormal sensation and perception
• Impairment of sight, hearing or speech
• Seizures

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. It is caused by destruction of the myelin insulation covering nerve fibers (neurons) in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). This insulation (myelin), helps electrical signals pass quickly and smoothly between the brain and the rest of the body. When the myelin is destroyed, nerve messages are sent more slowly and less efficiently. Patches of scar tissue, called plaques, form over the affected areas, further disrupting nerve communication. The symptoms of MS occur when the brain and spinal cord nerves no longer communicate properly with other parts of the body. MS causes a wide variety of symptoms and can affect vision, balance, strength, sensation, coordination, and bodily functions.

High tech assistive technologies

What is high tech AT anyways?

High tech assistive technologies involves technologies that require a little bit more training and maybe a bit more cost.  Here are a few high tech assistive technologies we found as we were searching for assistive technologies to use with people with physical disabilities.

1.  The DynaVox Maestro -  Here is a youtube video about a girl (Elle) with cerbral palsy who uses the computer technology to aid in her daily communication.  According to the manufacturers website the Dynavox Maestro "gives individuals with speech and language disabilities the confidence to make their voices heard in every situation by putting the focus on communication, not the method by which that communication is achieved. Sleek, stylish design combines with powerful communication tools and cutting-edge technology to empower successful and efficient day-to-day communication."  (http://ca.dynavoxtech.com/products/maestro/)

So cool!

2.  Mac - Mac is dedicated to ensuring all persons have access to their products. Aside from the universal design of Mac products (described below) such as slow keys, sticky keys, mouse keys, multi-touch trackpad, keyboard shorcuts, and inkwell - there are many apps that students with physical disabilities can use to access.

I would like to focus on a product called SwitchXS

According to the apple website "Switch XS provides virtually complete access to Mac OS X and all standard Mac applications for people who can only use one or more switches.  By using scanning, the software offers full mouse and keyboard emulation.  With each click on teh switch the user selects an action".  This opens so many doors for so many people!  Check out the video below!

A great site for more information about assistive technology products that Mac has come up with to ensure inclusion among users with disabilities is atmac.org.

There is even a series of personal stories about accessibility and assistive technology and how it has changed people's lives!  Check it out under 'resources'.

Another great Mac website is their Assistiveware website which provides tons of information about products available.  www.assistiveware.com

Low tech Assistive Technologies

Low level Assistive Technology

What is low level AT anyways?
Low tech assistive technologies would include those technologies that are inexpensive and easy to use.  They wouldn't require much training.  Such technologies may simply be a slant board, or a pencil grip.
Some simple examples of low tech devices that someone with a physical disability would use includes such things as:
-a ramp - this would help someone in a wheelchair or using a walker get from a lower level to higher level (or vice versa).  Helps them to avoid stairs and stay safe!
-a walker - a walker helps someone with a physical disability be mobile and is a simple device that allows its user to be given some balance as they move.  This is also great for helping to get some exercise or physical therapy.
-a wheelchair accessible sign - a simple sign can also be low tech device as it allows someone with a physical disability in a wheelchair know that the area is able to be used safely and with ease.

Here are some other really neat things I found online.

1.  This is an adapted game for physical education.  A way for students with physical disabilities to get involved with the class.  Here is a cone that they would hold to catch instead of using their hands.  The cone could vary in size depending on their reaction time and physical abilities.

2.  Adapted painting - here is a really neat, easy to make adaptation of paint brushes.  These are simply popcicle makers with a lemon/lime on top for easy grip.  They put a piece of cloth around the bottom to allow painting to happen.  Really great idea and much easier to hold for people with disabilities.

3.  Adapted telephone - for someone with a physical disability (even mild), touching buttons may be a challenge.  Having larger buttons for accurate pressing is a great option.

4.  Adapted Walker - here is a walker for mobility.  They added a basket to it so that someone can carry their purse, or school supplies, or other belongings. 

Low tech assistive technologies are simple, easy to use and require little training but they can make a huge difference to ensuring inclusion for individuals with physical disabilities.  Please post or share your own experiences with low level assistive technologies!