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 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 ◦

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   

Language - reading Mainstream technology ◦ E – book readers – ( Sony, Nook, Kindle) – beware that most do not consider disability ◦ Blio software – ◦ Smartphone app - takes a picture, OCR’s, then reads

Computer Access - Voice recognition e.g. Dragon NS, Window’s 7.0 built –in enus/documents/collateral/nc_ pdf enus/documents/collateral/nc_ pdf Screen magnification ( Zoomtext), Windows built-in

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 – guides.aspx#builtins guides.aspx#builtins US/windows7/products/features/accessibility 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 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 ?

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. Assistive Technology Activity 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: