Carrie Clawson, OTR/LAT Specialist

Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services

Karen Flippo Program Director

The Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts-Boston

Bob Krollman, CRC, NCCSenior AT Specialist

Virginia Assistive Technology System

Symposium on Service and Inclusion Symposium on Service and Inclusion Improving Member Experiences Through Intentional Strategies

December 2011December 2011Crystal City, VirginiaCrystal City, Virginia

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICESASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES

is any item, piece of equipment, or product is any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired off the shelf, system whether acquired off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Public Law 108-364 Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as amended 2004

Principle 1: Equitable UsePrinciple 1: Equitable UseThe design is useful and marketable

to people with diverse abilities.

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills or

concentration.

The design communicates information effectively to the user, regardless of the environment or the user’s

abilities

The design minimizes hazards and negative consequences of accidental actions.

The design minimizes hazards and negative consequences of accidental actions.

“CAUTION: It is not recommended that children or pets regularly drink water from the toilet, even though the bowl water is not harmful to children or pets.”

Label on toilet bowl cleaner bottle

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a

minimum of fatigue.

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a

minimum of fatigue.

Appropriate size and space is provided for use, regardless of user’s body size or posture.

"A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in employment equal to those of employees without disabilities." USDOJ (Department of Justice)

Disability funds are for the placement, reasonable accommodation, and auxiliary services for members and potential members with disabilities serving in National Service.

According to the United States Department of Justice, a reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a service position or to the service environment that will enable a qualified applicant or National Service member with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential functions of the position.

http://www.mass-service.org/site/assets/docs/Reasonable%20Accommodation%20Request%20Form%202011.pdf

Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in service equal to those of AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps participants, or Learn and Serve participants.

All qualified individuals with disabilities applying to or serving in a National Service program are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and can request an accommodation at any time during the application process or service.

An individual is considered to have a "disability" if s/he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

A qualified individual with a disability is a person who meets legitimate skill, experience, education, or other requirements of a service position that s/he holds or seeks, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Facts and Figures Inclusion Commissions receive funds to provide

accommodations JAN’s research documents that the average cost of

accommodations is less than $500

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.

JAN’s trusted consultants offer one-on-one guidance on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. Assistance is available both over the phone and online.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

are defined as any service that directly are defined as any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of assistive selection, acquisition, or use of assistive technology devices that result in greater technology devices that result in greater independence, safety of comfort of an independence, safety of comfort of an individualindividual.

Assistive Technology is a tool used to meet a goal

An important distinction…

Needs assessment Psychosocial factors Sensorimotor skills

Vision Motor skills: strength, range of

motion, fine motor Sensation: light touch,

deep pressure, proprioception Cognitive abilities Caregiver support Environment of usage Vendor support Training/Technical Assistance

Version 11 in 2010 Premium edition often used by people with fine

motor impairments; Home edition for those with some ability to type/use mouse

Complicated; requires the ability to learn commands

Can be frustrating More robust voice profiles mean less training “out

of the box”

Headset

Voice Recognition Software

Trackball

Text to speech Facilitates reading fluency, but not comprehension Useful for people with print or visual disabilities Supports study skills Natural Reader and Read Please have less features,

can be downloaded free www.naturalreaders.com www.readplease.com

has severe dyslexia, works as Admin. Assistant Difficulty reading and composing emails, letters Unable to read mail Uses iPhone as assistive device

Allows math computations to be entered via the computer

Can replace need for handwriting math equations

Screen magnification software Can customize level of magnification needed Also can read text on the screen

Reads information on the screen Replaces viewing of the monitor Used by people without vision

Significant impairments in movement of all extremities, voice output

Power wheelchair user Used larger keyboard with keyguard and word

prediction software in high school

Voice recorder Pulse Smartpen Smartphone/PDA iPod Touch, iPad

Records audio while writing; uses written page as an index of audio content

Helpful for students who have difficulty taking notes AND listening

Also accommodates poor handwriting Can upload files to computer Applicable as a memory aid

iPod Touch iPad

Small, size of iPhone Newest version has a

camera (iPod touch 4) Some apps only work

when in WiFi area

No monthly fees associated with use

Cost: $199

Larger, “slate” size New version has a camera

(iPad 2) 3G version has internet

access similar to cell service 3G version requires service

contract ($40 monthly)

Cost; $499 for WiFi, $799 for 3G

Calendar: schedule and reminders Notes: record for log in, passwords, lists Video: skill training, practice Facetime: remote face to face contact for

supervisors, job coach Reminders: task list organizer/”to-do” list

Usher at theater Came to us for “difficulty with communication” Anxious when approached by theater patrons for

directions Also needed reminders from mom for getting ready

for work

Mint (personal finance)

iStudiez iStudiez

Jane McGonigal, game designer and author of Reality Is Broken -”WIRED” magazine: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/st_thompson_living_games/

“Games are the future of positive psychology”

Accessibility Options Sticky Keys Filter Keys On Screen Keyboard Speech Recognition

Large Keyboards Track ball mouse Typing Aid Word Prediction software

(Word Q) Speech Recognition

Software (Dragon Naturally Speaking)

Windows Accessibility Magnifier Narrator

High Contrast Keyboard Magnifiers

Screen Magnification (ZoomText)

Screen Reader (JAWS) Speech Recognition

(Dragon Naturally Speaking)

CCTV

*VDBVI, Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired a good resource

Telephone amplification

Closed Captioning

Accessibility/UniversalAccess options for visualalerts and captions

* VDDHH, Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing a good resource

Assessment Training Technical Support Follow-up (and accountability) Family/caregiver support Vendor support Client is able to conceive successful use of AT

Poor fit (Smartpen for kinesthetic learner) Inexperience with AT/don’t know how to use it Family/caregiver not buying into use/sabotages AT Limited motivation to use AT (Not comfortable with

tech, doesn’t like AT) Limited motivation to achieve goal WITHOUT AT

Your Smartphone as external hard drive for your brain

Google Calendar Google Voice Accessibility Features for Windows, Mac Bluetooth…not just a headset anymore Dropbox, Evernote Websites for organization (www.skoach.com)

Allan applied to City Year for a childcare position. Feedback from the coordinator was not positive. He didn’t believe that Allan’s application essay qualified him for the position. Allan has an intellectual disability and has difficulty putting his thoughts on paper.

What ideas do you have for reasonably accommodating Allan?

http://askjan.org/soar/mr/4_writing.html

Depending on IQ and other cognitive abilities, people with intellectual or cognitive impairments may not be able to write, spell, sign documents, or otherwise communicate through written word.

Options to accommodate include:

Provide templates or forms to prompt information requested

Allow verbal response instead of written response

Allow typed response instead of written response

Use voice input on computer

Use spell-check on computer

Use a scribe to write the employee’s response

Provide ample space on forms requiring written response

Every person with a disability has unique abilities

Reasonable accommodation is individualized according to the service description and the individual’s needs

Match the reasonable accommodation (that may include assistive technology to the) position/person, not the disability label

Our objective is to increase the numbers of individuals with disabilities in service and their satisfaction with the experience.

List of State Tech Act Programshttp://cresnaprojects.org/nattap/scripts/nattapontacts.pl

Job Accommodations Network http://askjan.org/

ADA Resource Centershttp://adata.org/Static/Home.aspx http://www.ada.gov/

Bob Krollman Virginia Assistive Technology System Robert.krollman@drs.virginia.gov