AAC Device Loan Success!

Last August an AT Regional Center in Massachusetts (operated by Easter Seals) hosted an open house. The event was designed so visitors could see a range of assistive technology and learn about different solutions for different challenges. One attendee was Julia, a woman who uses a power wheelchair, and travels to and from her own apartment on public transportation. Center Coordinator Kristi Peak-Oliviera had invited Julia to come by. Easter Seals, along with counselors at the Mass. Rehabilitation Commission, had been working with her on education and employment goals. Julia (who holds a BA and would like to earn her Master's in history) had recently become aware that her speech is less intelligible than is used to be--a new challenge to overcome.

"She came in excited about the iPad," Kristi reports. "She has always used speech to communicate, but had heard the iPad offers options for text-to-speech, and she was hoping it would work for her."

At the open house, Kristi set her up with the large touch screen and Julia worked to make a clean selection with her finger. She found, however, that with her limited range of motion and dexterity the iPad didn't work for her at all. She was visibly let down.

Seeing her disappointment, Kristi interjected, "But Julia, there are so many options for you!" Julia, she realized, was unaware of the full range of what was out there for AAC. Together they made an appointment for Julia to return for a private demonstration.

The outcome of that demo (as well as an AAC evaluation by Easter Seals) was a four week loan of a communication device that is radically different from the iPad. Instead of an icon-based touch screen, the Lightwriter SL40 Connect has a small keyboard and displays type on two screens. One faces the typist to aid with input, and one faces out for easy reading by others.

Julia is comfortable with a QWERTY keyboard (the same layout as her laptop computer)*, and found the Lightwriter's smaller keyboard worked well for her range of motion (plus built-in word prediction enhanced her speed). Other features Julia liked were the option to communicate using type with or without voice output, as well as the ability to record and store phrases she uses often to play at the touch of a button.

During the four week device loan period, Julia got a sense of how powerful the Lightwriter could be for her. For the first time in a long while she was able to make phone calls (which meant connecting with friends and scheduling her own doctor's appointments). Best of all, she was better able to manage her personal care attendants.

Today, Julia is waiting for her own Lightwriter SL40 which will be funded through MRC's Vocational Rehabilitation department. Kristi has been researching the best mount for Julia's wheelchair so the Lightwriter can swing out of the way during transfers. Julia is looking forward to mounting the Lightwriter, Kristi says, for communicating when she uses public transportation. She is also looking forward to transferring her cell phone's SIM card, and using the device for calls and sending text messages. "Working with Julia has been such a pleasure," she muses. "She can tell quickly what works for her and what doesn't. She just needed the opportunity to learn about and try what is available. Which is what the AT Regional Center is all about."

*Note: the keyboard of the Lightwriter SL40 can adjust between a QWERTY and ABC layout.

 

A version of this story first appeared in the MassMATCH FY2011 Annual Report.