Tutorial Eight: Assistive Technology

Hello everyone!!


This time I'm writing to you all about Assistive Technologies.
First off, what IS assistive technology, you may ask? Well, good question!! I found the answer for you (Thank goodness for google, right!!) 
"Assistive Technology for kids with learning disorders is defined as any device, piece of equipment or system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for an individual's specific learning deficits" (Great Schools. Involved Parents. Successful Kids, 2010, para 4). So, according to this it can be anything, right!?! YES! So basically assistive devices can be anything from a computer key board to a light switch! It sounds much more complicated that what it really is. Basically it is anything made simpler to help a child achieve his/her goals and compensates for those problem areas.


Right, so we had Trev come speak to us from STAR mobility and Disability Center. He showed us a heap of toys and fun. Here's a link if you want to go have a look at the things they sell:


http://www.starmobility.co.nz/ 


The one item that stood out to me most was the iTalk2. I had seen it before, but somehow I was only just able to fully appreciate what it is used for and all the benefits it holds for both the client and the therapist.


Here's a picture so you can see what I'm talking about:

So, I thought this was quite a neat toy! :) Turns out, it is so much more than a toy!
Have a look:

This dual-message communicator allows students the freedom of their own choice regardless of whether they are verbal or non-verbal communicators. They can choose between two options, whether it is food or activity types. With 2 minutes of recording time, the possibilities are endless. It also has dual appliance jacks so that you can easily pair communication with a fun activity. The device sits on an angle to allow for easier access for the individuals with limited hand function or hand eye co-ordination. “Using the iTalk2 Communicator will provide opportunities for students to experience the advantage of two-message communication. They now can be engaged in learning communication skills by commenting, making choices and telling jokes. Students will gain the experience of using new language in a variety of environments” (Enablemart, n.d. para 2). It is essential to recognise the importance of providing communication opportunities to everyone so that all students may have the chance to learn the power of communication.

Its quite neat isn't it?! So I saw it used on placement where the child was asked what she wanted to eat. It was amazing because it showed that she understood the question. And she understood the relevance of her answer!!

Alright so this isn't the best video, but surprisingly enough, there aren't many on YouTube!! So this one shows how the voice has been recorded, and when he presses the button, he get the response he asked for by pressing the button. She the first few times he pressed the yellow button, it meant "bubbles". Then when he started pressing the red one, he got give the ball. See how it works? Yes, it's quite neat :)


Anyway, so there are two concepts that I think fits in really well with this tool. And they are occupational deprivation and occupational transition.
Firstly, Occupational Deprivation - So I feel that sometimes (and I've seen this in placement) that when there is a non-verbal child, he/she gets treated completely different to all the other children, they also don't get heard (obviously) but what I'm trying to get at is that we often overlook those who are non-verbal. We like it that way, less complaining!! But is that right? We're taking away from their quality of life then, aren't we? So they are being deprived of the childhood they deserve. Okay, so they're seen as 'disabled' or 'not normal' - whatever that means but they need to be given the opportunity to live and learn the way that all the rest of us do!! So this tool gives us as OT's the ability to present them with this opportunity to speak!! To raise their voice! To give their opinion and be heard! Isn't that amazing!?? That's awesome, I reckon.


The second one is Occupational transition.
Now, I've mentioned that this is a good tool to use to allow them to be heard. But what of their needs, their wishes and goals? Have you ever considered how frustrating it would be to have no cognitive disabilities but you cannot verbalize anything!?!? Have you!? I cant imagine what I would do! So here's to community reintegration! This is one step closer to their participation in society! If only we'd let them tell us what they want to do, we can allow them to participate in those activities. Things that might never have been an option. But now it can be! This is exciting stuff!!


But I better leave you there, otherwise I'll rant on forever and break my key board.


Right, hope you find this all very exciting! It was exciting learning about it all. Can't wait to get working!!


Have a good one!
Sally~

 References

Enablemart. Your #1 Source for Assistive Technology. (n.d.). iTalk2 communicator. Retrieved fom http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Ablenet-Inc/iTalk2-Communicator 

Liberator (n.d.). italk2 communicator. Retrieved from http://www.liberator.co.uk/italk2.html

Great Schools. Involved Parents. Successful Kids. (2010). Assistive technology for kids with ld: And overview. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning-disabilities-an-overview.gs

Tutorial Six: The Internet and Online Communities

Hello again!!


Alright, so the instructions were to find three online communities in relation to our fieldwork experience. 
Mine was around older folks and equipment. So here is the mission: to find three online communities that relate to that... mhhhh


Well, here goes:  


Arthritis New Zealand

This is a website for those people who want to find out more about arthritis and see what kind of supports there are available to them. So it explains what arthritis is and goes into the different types of arthritis. It also has a section that talks about children with arthritis.

http://www.arthritis.org.nz/what-is-arthritis/about-arthritis/
If you follow the link above, it will take you to where you find out about arthritis, what it is and what the different types are. 
It is a very interactive and easy to use site. All the information is clearly set out, and easy to understand.



Follow this link: http://www.arthritis.org.nz/news/
Here they provide us with a whole lot of information around events that are due to take place all over the country. What's good is that this service is not based in one city in NZ only, it is all across the country which makes for easy access to this service.


If you choose to, you can donate to this service. Once you become a donor you start receiving their newsletters with updates on all that is happening. 
I suppose the reason people contribute to communities such as these, and not just in a financial way, but also in a social way, is because they want to be part of a group that is known to help out where it is needed. They might also contribute to this service quite simply because they need help, and this might be the best place for them to be receiving help.


Arthritis affects many different people with different leisure activities. I guess that part of the goal of this website/online community is to aid those who are experiencing occupational deprivation due to their illness. Having this support group around could really encourage one to participate as close to previous level of function.


This site will also then be able to take you further to other sites that could also be of benefit to you.

Enliven 


Enliven's focus on providing a "high quality residential and home based services with a focus on supporting older people to do more of what they want to do, rather than focusing care around what they can't do" (Enliven, n.d., para. 1).
 
Enliven (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from https://enliven.org.nz/about-us


People are able to ask questions, look at frequently asked questions, they get to donate, or ask for help. This is a very interactive website and very easy to use and follow. 


Enliven are seeking to provide exceptional service to those in a home or residential area. Clients can be comforted by the idea that they have someone who will look after them and help them to reach their desired level of function by supporting and encouraging them all the way through.


This site is good for those experiencing occupational deprivation as they go out with clients and enable them to participate in those activities that they were not able to participate in previously for whatever reason, whether it is that they didn't have support... Another concept is occupational transition. People might get referred here after a stay in the hospital and need help transitioning back into the community and normal routine.
Ethical considerations would include culture. Some cultures expect to be looked after at an old age. Other expect to bounce back and work towards getting fit again. It all depends on culture.


Enable

"Enable New Zealand contributes to the reduction of barriers for independent living and participation for disabled people through the provision of specialised equipment, housing modifications and vehicle purchase and modifications" (Enable New Zealand, n.d. para. 1).


Enable New Zealand. (n.d.). Equipment and modifications services. Retrieved from http://www.enable.co.nz/services/equipment-and-modifications-services


As stated in the quote above, Enable work to provide suitable equipment to improve independence.
This website is very easy to use and is very interactive. One is able to ask questions, give feedback as well as get information around the equipment that they supply.
People come to this website to find help. They know they need something, but not sure what it is they need. Then Enable is able to support and encourage them through the choosing process. 


 Two of the main concepts covered by Enable would be Occupational transition as their aim is to support a client as they reintegrate into a barrier free society. It also touches on occupational deprivation. Clients are unable to complete tasks they used to enjoy due to barriers. That's when Enable comes in and fixes it!!
 Some cultures refuse outside help. That needs to be respected, if that is their wish.


Cheers!
Sally~

Tutorial Five: Video Production Sessions

Right, hello everyone! Here we go again.


So in this post we're going to look at some videos that relate back to my previous fieldwork experiences.
In my first year of Occupational Therapy training, I was placed in an Older Persons and Rehabilitation Center where we came across many hip joint replacements, knee replacements, car accidents which cause other broken bones, and a whole heap of other things. But what I found most interesting was learning about all the different equipment that OT's can issue out to clients to make things easier for them. So here are a few videos to show you the kind of things I've seen and worked with.

So there you have the first one.  Isn't that interesting!?! I just thought it was really neat the different things that people come up with these days! So this would be very useful for someone who has recently had a total hip joint replacement. There are some precautions to take after the surgery, and the biggest one is to not bend at your waist (so in sitting, to try touch your toes) that makes that angle smaller than 90 degrees. You must allow time for the new hip joint to settle in, otherwise you might pop it right out again!! As the man in the video said, most shoe horns also require a twist at the waist. This is also one of the precautions. Do not twist at the waist. If there is something on the bench right behind you, take those few extra steps to not twist your body around. Think about it, that too can pop your new hip right out!! :(

So, here's the next one:

 

Right, so this one shows the slide or as some might call it, the banana board transfer. As you could see, this just gives that extra support underneath the individual, so that she does not fall, or carry her full weight on her arms as she transfers from her chair to the bed. It is quite a process, especially with limited hand function, but she has learned a technique that works for her and enables her to transfer independently. I have tried using this board before, obviously its different for me, as I was able to use my legs to stabilize when I felt I was losing my balance. It emphasized the importance of having that base underneath you when transferring. Especially as she has no movement/strength or function in her lower limbs.

Next one:

 

So, this is quite a long clip, but I found it very interesting. This, like he said, is in prevention of pressure sores. Skin breaks down after prolonged periods of sitting/lying still in one position. This cushion relieves that pressure and increases comfort. You can also get large mattresses like these. They're quite cool too :)

So this is quite a neat one as well. It is called the raised toilet seat (RTS). It comes in different heights. This one is 4". So its pretty self explanatory. You attach it to a toilet to raise the seat for those who might have just had a hip replacement and cannot sit down onto surfaces that make their hips go lower than their knees!

Right, this is our last one:

So in this video, we can see a Quadriplegic using a universal cuff. These are so handy for people with decreased hand function. As you can see, this man is able to independently put this cuff onto his hand, and feed himself. I saw something similar to this at placement, where the one patient had rheumatoid arthritis and also had decreased hand function, so we gave her another grip that we slipped over her knife and fork every time she ate, it was a much bigger handle with a funny shape, this allowed her to feed herself independently, which was what she wanted to achieve :)

Right, well that is all from me for now. I just really enjoy learning about all of the different equipment that can help these days. Technology has really come a long way, and its benefitted us in huge ways over the last few years!!

Have a good one!!
Sally~

References: 

YouTube (2012). Cosby 4" raised toilet seat set up demo. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mugAAORNZY0

YouTube (2011). Footfunnel shoe horn - a shoe aid (like the sock aid). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFRyZaun0Rg


YouTube (2011). Quadriplegic slide board transfer. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftMW5lU5Rwg


YouTube (2011). Quadriplegic using a u-cuff. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2sUNe_THuE


YouTube (2011). Roho profile series cushion set up and adjustment. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRjnvm1SVyM