Assistive Technology Initiative in Niagara

WHAT CAN THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE DO FOR YOU?

This initiative allows students who use assistive technology the opportunity for training on their own device and allows parents to learn about the software that their children are using to allow parents to assist their children at home. Either in small group or on a one-to-one basis (depending on the students needs).

The initiative encourages teachers (both classroom and resource) to learn more about the software their students are using.  This allows teachers to familiarize themselves with the software that the students may be using as part of their accommodations in the classroom. Workshops are available to all teacher and will focus on many of the software programs and apps being used in the classroom today to assist students with disabilities.

The initiative encourages parents to learn more about the software their children are using.  This allows parents to familiarize themselves with the software that the children may be using as part of their accommodations in the classroom so they are able to more effectively assist their children with work that is send home. Workshops are available to all parents and will focus on many of the software programs and apps being used  to assist students with disabilities.

This initiative also allows community members to come and learn about assistive technology in their perspective agencies. Workshops are available to all community agencies who may have clients who can benefit for assistive technology. For agencies, I am willing and able to come to your agency for training.

 WHAT CAN THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY  COORDINATOR DO FOR YOU?

As the AT coordinator I can provide product reviews on assistive technology. I refer you to look at earlier blogs where I talked about Dragon Naturally Speaking and different types of mouse devices that I fund useful as a individual with a physical disability and a speech impediment.

I can also provide product feedback on assistive technology. If you have a product that you think may be beneficial for individuals with disabilities and would like some feedback please feel free to contact me and see how I can help you. Contact Krystine .

As an individual with a disability believe I have expertise and practical experience in using technology. I would like to share my knowledge with not only those who use assistive technology but those who support individuals who use Assistive Technology.

Please feel free to forward this blog and any of my other blogs to those who would benefit from my experience.

Awesome blog by @KrystineDonato http://t.co/sB51Aum8hB @R2Empowerment #Niagara #AT #CHCs
— Julia Dean (@JuliaDtheHP) November 25, 2014

Using an AAC device for communication

What is AAC? AAC is a set of tools and strategies that an individual uses to solve everyday communicative challenges. Communication can take many forms such as: speech, a shared glance, text, gestures, facial expressions, touch, sign language, symbols, pictures, speech-generating devices, etc. Everyone uses multiple forms of communication, based upon the context and our communication partner. Effective communication occurs when the intent and meaning of one individual is understood by another person. The form is less important than the successful understanding of the message.

As part of my Cerebral Palsy I was unable to speak until I was 4 years old. Until that time I used a picture board. Mine was different but this gives you the basic idea of a picture board. I think mine probably had things like mom, dad, sister, brother, toilet, hungry, thirsty and other words that a young child would need to communicate.


Once I learned to speak through the help of a speech pathologist I no longer needed my picture board. It wasn't until I moved away from home and no longer had my parents to speak for me if people didn't understand that I started asking what devices were available to help me. For me I use my AAC device in situations where my speech may not be understood (such as going to a new doctor or a social services agency) or in situations where I know I may not be heard because of noise levels as in situations where I need to speak louder my speech becomes more distorted.

My first device was a Dynavox. This is a great AAC device but I found for a person such as myself who has an unsteady gait, the portability of the device was not what I was looking for as I found it quite heavy. It did however have all of the options I wanted such as the alphabet board for spontaneous conversation and also allowed me to program messages for use in places I may need to use the device.



 My second device it was a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with AAC software that had the same capabilities that the dynavox had but was alot more portable. I could place this, like a phone, in my bag or purse and take it out when needed.


 




 A few years after I got my PDA I purchased a Samsung tablet. Originally I purchased the tablet just like a lot others to replace my laptop to have something more portable to have when I went away on trips. I decided it was time to combine the two devices and started searching for AAC software to use on the tablet. I asked for some ideas from my AAC clinic and they recommended I use a software program called "Predictable', it had all of the features that I needed and has been my chosen AAC software for about the last year and a half.




 As I know a number of educators read my blog I thought I would relate this back to how having a speech impediments and/or having an AAC device can be effectively use in the classroom. For those students who have a difficult time getting their words out or who's speech may be unclear the best thing an educator can do is to give the student time to formulate their answers. If you know ahead of time what questions you will be asking, perhaps give the question to the student who may have difficulty speaking or using an AAC device time to form their answers.

Please feel free to ask me questions about any of my blogs.


For more information of people with communication disabilities please visit the 'Communication Disabilities Access Canada'.
http://www.cdacanada.com/