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Volume 19, No. 1 - Winter 2011 |
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Informed Consumers are Satisfied Consumers
Eileen Mapes
Information and Outreach Coordinator
DATI Central Site
We’ve all seen a commercial for a device or service that seems perfect for us or someone we know. In fact, many of us have purchased items only to find that they don’t meet our needs. This seems especially true for individuals with disabilities. Marketing directed at this population is strong, which may lead to uninformed purchases. Buyer’s remorse is real, but returning such items isn’t always easy. As individuals with disabilities and their families know, there is often a quest for a device that is “just the right fit.” Too bad we don’t always choose the best item for its intended use.
Having an opportunity to “try before you buy” may eliminate costly mistakes. DATI’s device demonstration and loan services offer just such an opportunity. The DATI Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRCs), located in each county, are stocked full of devices that meet a wide range of functional needs. You don’t even have to know exactly what you’re looking for when you visit an ATRC. Just explain to the AT Specialist what you want to be able to do and he will show you a range of products that could possibly assist you. If one or two seem particularly promising, you can borrow them—at no cost—to try them at home, at school, at work...or wherever you intend to use them.
Let me introduce you to several individuals.
Blake is a young adult with learning disabilities who struggled to read from an early age. Over the years, his family purchased different devices with the hope that each item would open up the world of books and reading to him. In the past year, they landed on a device that provided him the access he needed to be able to read for pleasure—the Amazon Kindle. He described his experience to us: “I have never been able to read a book, or anything for that matter, all the way to the end and call it fun. My family got me a Kindle. I had no idea what it was. At first, I was sure it would be like the other things they got me to help me read and it wouldn’t work. I used it and was happy when I got asked what I was reading and was able to tell what the book was about. Learning disabilities or not, it is an awesome tool to have if you’re on the go for work, and the best thing is it reads to you so you don’t have to look at the screen. I didn’t know it before, but I have so many different books I have wanted to read for so long that sometimes I have trouble picking a new one to start. I would like to thank Mom & Dad for the gift and everything they have done to help me read. You guys rock!”
Trinity is a school-age child with an auditory processing disorder as well as hearing loss. She and her mother came to the New Castle County ATRC in search of a device that would help Trinity perform to her potential in school. They borrowed an FM system—a personal auditory amplification system used in conjunction with headphones or hearing aids to increase the volume of voices. Such a system was ultimately donated to her, providing access to a device that would not otherwise have been readily available. With the help of the FM system, her mother reports that Trinity made noticeable improvements during the past school semester. Trinity’s concentration increased, which helped her overall performance in school. Specifically, her ability to follow the teacher’s instruction increased, as did her ability to stay on task. In fact, Trinity’s reading skill advanced by an entire grade level soon after she began using the FM system in the classroom. Her verbal skills and spelling improved markedly, too. Trinity often says that she can concentrate better and hear the teacher “so I can follow the directions. The FM lets me hear.” Trinity’s mother went on to say, “With decreased distractibility and improved understanding, my daughter has gained confidence in her abilities. A child without this service would have been labeled an at-risk student. I thank you for this opportunity. It has changed her self-perception to a positive one, which helped to improve Trinity’s academic achievement. Because of her experience with the FM system, Trinity now says that school is fun and that she loves the system.”
Tom, a gentleman who has been legally blind for over forty years, learned the value of assistive technologies over the past twenty years. Two devices have been essential for him in the workplace: a CCTV for reading print materials (pictured left) and Zoomtext for screen magnification as well as screen reading. Despite having these aids, Tom has found that he still does very little pleasure reading (too arduous) or listening (too expensive). He turned to DATI for guidance and received “some terrific advice” from Dan Fendler, AT Specialist in the Sussex County ATRC, who has a wealth of knowledge about all types of assistive technologies. Dan introduced Tom to the many options now available for persons with visual impairments. Tom reports that it is “nice to know that there
are experts like Dan who keep up with the changes and can help sort through the options.” Tom has since visited the New Castle County ATRC where he met Marvin Williams, AT Specialist. Based on his DATI 
experiences, Tom purchased a VictorReader Stream, made by Humanware, which is an MP3 player designed for use by individuals who are visually impaired. He also obtained two very nifty 7X magnifiers with brilliant LED illumination through the BOLD program. Tom went on to say, “Now I know that there are many devices available on-loan through DATI. The program allows me to get hands-on experience before making a purchasing decision. I look forward to working with DATI in the future as I continue to explore what assistive technologies are available to help me in my everyday life.”
These stories illustrate the importance of finding the right AT device for the individual, and how equipment demonstration and short-term loans can really “seal the deal.” To that end, our AT Specialists encourage our readers to make an appointment at their local office and try devices that will be the best AT match for their need. ■
