A couple of weeks ago in Participation in Occupation, we had a visit from Dave Speden (you may have heard of him – ex male model??). Dave had quite a dramatic life change and now works at Kimi Ora School as an OT. Kimi Ora is a school for kids who have quite severe disabilities. They get not only top notch education, but access to intensive therapy daily. As the OT there, Dave works a lot with assistive technology, enabling the kids to engage in their meaningful occupations as independently as possible.
What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology refers to a “broad range of devices, services, strategies, and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities” (Cook & Hussey, 1995). It's used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Check out this site which has specific reference to assisstive technology and kids. Basically, assistive technology is any piece of technology which helps people with a disability to engage in meaningful occupation and get the most out of their lives as independently as possible. It covers things such as communications devices, switching devices, wheel chairs and mobility aids, computer programs and heaps more.
Assistive technology refers to a “broad range of devices, services, strategies, and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities” (Cook & Hussey, 1995). It's used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Check out this site which has specific reference to assisstive technology and kids. Basically, assistive technology is any piece of technology which helps people with a disability to engage in meaningful occupation and get the most out of their lives as independently as possible. It covers things such as communications devices, switching devices, wheel chairs and mobility aids, computer programs and heaps more.
Switching devices
....are extremely cool! They were probably the simplest thing we were introduced to in our sessions with Dave, but I just LOVE how much they can turn a child’s life around: fostering independence, ownership of activities and communication. Watch this video:
....are extremely cool! They were probably the simplest thing we were introduced to in our sessions with Dave, but I just LOVE how much they can turn a child’s life around: fostering independence, ownership of activities and communication. Watch this video:
!!!!!!!!!
We've been asked to give you a quick run down of the size, cost and function of switches. They come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, depending on their use and the individual. For a switch to be usable, the individual must have consistent and reliable movement in one body part. Switches can be large for individuals with poor gross motor control who can move their arm or hand, smaller and less resistant for those who can move a finger, head mounted so all the individual has to do is move their head slightly, or attached to the skin and sensitive to an eye-brow twitch. They come in various shapes, colours, textures and resistances. For kids with sensory difficulties, the switches may be texture to encourage feeling and manipulation. There are switches that talk to you when pressed, light up or play music.
This website has quite a good cross section of all the different sorts of switches available in NZ.
This website has quite a good cross section of all the different sorts of switches available in NZ.
I haven't been able to find specific prices, but Dave says switches can be really affordable, and go up in price depending on requirements. Here is a website for one of the leading switch supplier in NZ (DTSL), where you can look at the huge variety of switches provided, and request a quote.
Basically, the OTs job is to find the best switch for the individual, and tailor it to their needs. Dave focused on how important it is for us as OTs to be client-centred, and gave us the best approach for this when looking at assistive technology:
Student (physical, cognitive, emotional)
Environment (physical and social)
Tasks (they want to participate in)
Technology/Tools (must be the last decision: not the first)
I guess there is a risk of us turning into magpies, and getting so excited by a shiny new piece of technology that we forget that it doesn't matter how flash or cutting edge the technology is, if it doesn't actually do for the client what the client wants to do, it's not actually that useful.
Basically, the OTs job is to find the best switch for the individual, and tailor it to their needs. Dave focused on how important it is for us as OTs to be client-centred, and gave us the best approach for this when looking at assistive technology:
Student (physical, cognitive, emotional)
Environment (physical and social)
Tasks (they want to participate in)
Technology/Tools (must be the last decision: not the first)
I guess there is a risk of us turning into magpies, and getting so excited by a shiny new piece of technology that we forget that it doesn't matter how flash or cutting edge the technology is, if it doesn't actually do for the client what the client wants to do, it's not actually that useful.
References
A1 Wheelchair Solutions (2008). Switching. Retrieved from http://www.a1wheelchairservices.co.nz/A1_Wheelchair_Services_2007_Ltd_Switching.php
Cook, A., & Hussey, S. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principles and practice. St. Louis: Mosby.
DTSL Assistive Technology (2011). Home/capability switches. Retrieved from http://assistive.dtsl.co.nz/category/87-capability-switches.aspx
A1 Wheelchair Solutions (2008). Switching. Retrieved from http://www.a1wheelchairservices.co.nz/A1_Wheelchair_Services_2007_Ltd_Switching.php
Cook, A., & Hussey, S. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principles and practice. St. Louis: Mosby.
DTSL Assistive Technology (2011). Home/capability switches. Retrieved from http://assistive.dtsl.co.nz/category/87-capability-switches.aspx
Kimi Ora School (2009). Kimi Ora School. Retrieved from http://www.kimiora.school.nz/
McKenzie Centre (n.d.). What is assistive technology. Retrieved from http://www.mckenziecentre.nzl.org/41/pages/5-assistive-technology
'misterfehr' (2009). Assistive technology: Enabling dreams. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ5CkpgVQJ4
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