Assistive Tech 5173 - Day 8 - Summer Session

Today was an awesome day in class. We got to visit 7 different stations and use all sorts of cool AT that I had only heard about up until now. I've been wanting to try eyegaze ever since Barb showed us Aiden's video at the start of our previous AT course, back in April. It didn't disappoint...eyegaze is amazing!

Station 1 - Powerlink & Switches

At this station, we got to experience using different types of switches in conjunction with a powerlink. We brainstormed 10 different activities that could be done using these types of switches:

1) Turn lights on/off

2) Turn on the TV

3) Respond to questions

4) Communicate greetings

5) Drive using a joystick

6) Play video games

7) Use computer using sip/puff

8) Drive a wheelchair using a joystick

9)  Play games with peers

10 Communicate wants/needs

Station 2
Onscreen Keyboard PC
Two of the methods of using the onscreen keyboard are having to click the actual letters or just having the option to hover over the letters. Another option is the scanner keyboard, where a program highlights an on-screen keyboard & allows you to go through row-by-row to select your letters. It would be a very slow, tiring process using this to type out a message. However, it would work if that is your only option.

Station 3
Ipad & Switch Access via bluetooth
This station had us playing curling via with switch access & the iPad. We also had to find 10 other switch acessible iPad apps. The curling game was a ton of fun, but my thows need some practice!

1) Adapted PlayBook EIEIO
2) Adapted Playbook - Hurry Hurry!
3) Big Bang Patterns
4) Big Trucks
5) Bumper Cars
6) Koppy Katz
7) Little Lost Penguins
8) Matching Cards - Snap
9) Memory Pairs
10) Mini Mystery Readers

Station 4
Eyegaze - eyegaze is an amazing program that allows you to access the computer only using your eyes, via retina scan. This is a game changer for anyone who is not able to control their limbs. It could be used with someone who is paralyzed or not able to direct select. It takes an otherwise secluded person and allows them to do just about anything using the internet. It can allow a person to communicate & stay social with friends and family. It can allow a person to develop intellectually and professionally.

Station 5
Alternate Keyboard
The alternate keyboard would be helpful for people with visual impairments, due to the contrast on the keyboard. The large keys would also make it helpful for people with direct select difficulties.

Station 6

Android - work through accessibility options on the android device

The android device had many accessibility features (but not as many as an iPad!). However, for the price, it is a great device for someone with a disability.

Some of the accessibility features we found were:

Talkback (provides spoken feedback to help blind& low vision users), Switch Access (lets you scan and select items using one or more switches), Captions, Magnification Gestures (you can zoom in and out), Large Text (increasing text size) & High Contrast Text, Accessibility Shortcut (you can press & hold down the home button and it will bring you to the accessibility options at any time), Text-to-speech output, Color inversion (helpful for people with dyslexia)

The GooglePlay store had some apps that might enhance performance of a person using an Android:

1. Assistive Touch for Android - puts a home button anywhere on the screen
2. Google BrailleBack - give a combined braille/speech experience
3. @Voice app - Read Aloud App

Station 7

For this station, we needed to find 3 youtube videos on students with severe physical disabilities using power links, switches or other alternative devices

1) Meet Ellen - we chose this video because Ellen successfully uses the switch access programs to communicate in her everyday life.

 

2) Meet Jared - Jared uses sip/puff technology to access his computer, where he builds websites & communicates with the world. 

3) Meet Sam - Sam uses his iPad to connect with the world & to take notes. It's eliminated his need for an aide. 

 

AT Video 
Before all of these stations got started, we watched a video on 4 students who used assistive technology in their everyday lives. Below are a couple quick notes on the video:

Joy - 14 - uses switch access to communicate. She could be using Eyegaze or AAC currently.

Justin - Grade 10 - electives offer opportunities to participate

Todd - has CP; interacts in a purposeful way w/ people in the school

Michael - down syndrome - uses switch technology to interact with others

I appreciated seeing all of the team members come together to meet the needs of these students. Through teamwork and collaboration, the challenge of integration can be met.

That being said, I thought that some of the statements the video made about disability were a little concerning. As we've said numerous times throughout this course, and specifically in the disability studies course I took earlier this year, presuming competency should be at the forefront of our focus. When one of the aides in the video said, "Todd isn't actually learning Math, but he is helping others learn.", that immediately jumped into my head. If we're aware that a student isn't learning Math, but is able to use various technology, could we not be making his time a bit more purposeful? I think the language we use can determine as to whether we're approaching disability with the correct mindset or not. I may be off base, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Cheers!