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Vol. 1, No. 2 Sept/Oct 1993 |
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DATI Throughout the State...
Central Site
As of September 1, the DATI begins its third year of federal funding. This will be a pivotal year for the project as we assess our progress and make decisions about directions for the future. This strategic planning process began on July 30 and 31 with a statewide staff retreat. The Statewide Advisory Board will undertake a similar activity later in the year. The DATI will also hold a number of public forums so that consumers and professionals can let us know how to best meet their technology-related needs. All of these planning activities will culminate in a grant proposal for extension funding that will be submitted in the Spring of 1994.
Central Site staff have been very busy working on the establishment of the equipment recycling program, the peer network, two resource directories, various funding and policy initiatives and, of course, THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. We hope to see you there and at other DATI activities in the coming year!
New Castle County
Delaware Elwyn
321 E. 11th St.
Wilmington, DE 19801-3499
(302)657-5647; (302)658-8860 (TDD)
As we discussed in the previous issue of The AT Messenger, we can help you find almost anything related to assistive technology. We are somewhat of a super library of assistive technology resources and information. But who can help you decide exactly which device you need?
Careful consideration of the needs and abilities of a person with a disability is essential before selecting any assistive technology, and in some cases, a whole system of devices must be integrated so that cost can be reduced and efficiency increased. For the names of individuals who can assist you with an evaluation, you can call your local university, hospital, rehabilitation facility, educational institution, vocational rehabilitation agency, and, of course, the New Castle County Assistive Technology Center. Since evaluations can be a complex process, here are some types of professionals who can help evaluate certain abilities and their role in evaluation:
Audiologists evaluate and treat individuals with hearing impairments.
Manufacturer/Distributors of assistive devices help you understand the possible applications of these devices. They often can suggest sources for funding.
Occupational therapists help understand muscle control of different body parts with and without special equipment.
Optometrists are independent primary healthcare providers who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who can evaluate the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye. They also perform eye surgery and prescribe medication.
Physical therapists help evaluate muscle strength, range of movement, flexibility, balance, and coordination abilities.
Psychologists evaluate an individual’s learning potential, as well as the need for individual and family counseling.
Rehabilitation engineers evaluate the usefulness of customized switches and devices. They also suggest modifications of equipment used by the general public so that it can be used by an individual with a disability.
Social workers evaluate an individual’s total living situation (family structure, finances, etc.) and suggest additional community resources.
Special educators evaluate classroom and academic performance.
Speech-language pathologists help understand language abilities and interaction patterns, as well as the muscle control necessary for speech. They also provide instruction in how to create the sounds necessary for speech.
Vocational counselors evaluate an individual’s potential to hold a job, as well as identify types of jobs which might be available to individuals using assistive technology.
Now that’s a giant team and one or more of these professionals can be involved depending on the situation. DATI is developing various resource directories to help locate the best people possible. So if you have a questions regarding evaluation, give us a call. See you at our exhibit a the October DATI conference! Stop by and say hello!
Kent County
Easter Seal of Del-Mar
Kent County Orthopedic School
Carver Rd.
Dover, DE 19901-2716
(302)739-6885; (302)739-6886 (TDD)
The Easter Seal TRC in Kent County has been busy providing workshops demonstrating various types of assistive technology. One of the areas of great interest has been computer access. In the last year, a product called Intellikeys has become available and is an alternative to the standard keyboard (and is a great improvement to the Unicorn Board!)
Intellikeys is an adapted keyboard (a keyboard that accommodates physical or cognitive limitations) that has many built-in features that make computers accessible to people with disabilities. The keyboard can be easily adapted to accommodate the physical, cognitive and visual needs of the user, and essentially can be used by anyone! With the introduction of the new Overlay Maker program which allows an individual to create an adapted keyboard with as few or as many keys as desired, the specific needs of the user can be addressed easily and effectively. (And we do mean easily!) Intellikeys is compatible with the Mac, IBM, and Apple (just make sure you order the right cable).
We used the Intellikeys at the TRC recently, when Sue Ellen Powell, our volunteer/consumer demonstrator had some difficulty using a mouse due to physical reasons. We set up our Mac computer with the Intellikeys and designed a sample overlay. Sue Ellen found the arrows overlay to be very easy to see and to use. She was able to access the computer to look up information for other consumers by using the Hyper-ABLEDATA database, which allows you to search for 17,000 products quickly and conveniently by company name, product name, or type of product. No training in computer or database use is required. Hyper-ABLEDATA contains pictures of over 1,000 products, and sound samples for 50 different synthesized voices. This proved most helpful in responding to people’s questions and helped us realize how valuable this piece of equipment can be! Intellikeys facilitated Sue Ellen’s eventual use of the mouse!
The next Intellikeys Workshop will be held in September. Please call the TRC for details. Ed Salisbury, Assistive Technology Specialist and Justine Gray, Occupational Therapist for the Easter Seal TRC will be presenting an Intellikeys Workshop at Closing the Gap, a conference on the use of technology in special education and rehabilitation to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 21-23, 1993.
For a preview of the presentation or more information, call the TRC. We’ll be happy to answer any questions about Intellikeys or any other type of computer access!
Sussex County
Easter Seal of Del-Mar
Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center
600 N. DuPont Highway, Suite 100
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302)856-7946 (voice or TDD)
When people first started coming to us for devices, I was worried that we didn’t have enough to take care of every need. I was also being asked on a regular basis if we purchase items for individuals in need. It was difficult having to say “no”. However, as we move into our second year, it is becoming noticeable that those with real emergencies who have come to us were not turned away, but rather networked with a source that either gave them what they needed, or rented it to them for a very low cost.
As soon as we put the word out that someone is in immediate need of a certain item, the item appears. One case would be Mrs. Isennock who did a little window shopping in our TRC. She then went and purchased a list of items to assist her husband in his daily living. One month later, another woman called, needing a daily living aid for a few months. She did not have a lot of resources to purchase an item which would not be used permanently. The item she needed was the same item Mrs. Isennock had purchased to replace a slightly used one. Mrs. Isennock was quick to donate the item to the lady and happy to be of service. The second woman was so grateful that she said she would re-donate it when she was through using it. We have one item that has been re-donated 3 times in as many months.
If you have something that may be laying around which may be of assistance to someone else, why not call The AT Messenger or your local TRC to post a recycling “want ad” in the next issue.
We’re still anxious for you to see our TRC. Don’t forget, if you can’t come to us, we will come to you. We will also expand our hours to meet your needs. Give us a call, and remember, technology is only a phone call away. By the way, when you do call, there will be a bright new voice answering the phone. The voice belongs to Connie Murray, our new TRC Administrative Assistant. She is full of energy and will take good care of you!
