Endless Possibilities for All
March 2014 - Volume 29, Issue 4
Communication is a basic human right (UNCRPD 2006) and must be seen as essential for everyone, including people who have had a stroke, brain injury or another aquired condition impacting on communication.
Leaving hospital following a significant neurological incident without a means of everyday communication is not an acceptable outcome. However, inquiries to the Independent Living Centre NSW Info-line over the past three years have indicated that this is a common occurrence. Why is this seen as acceptable?
So what can be done to assist? This paper will provide an overview of some practical strategies that CAN be implemented and includes links to online resources where more detailed information can be further explored.
The authors, two women who live with Cerebral Palsy. share the pivotal experience of living without speech.
Fiona is a human rights lawyer, who finds getting her opinions heard at work very frustrating and challenging. Georgia is a student at Sydney University, studying Gender Studies and Psychology. She often feels left out of group discussions, and finds it difficult making small talk with her peers.
Through their different experiences, and being at different stages of lives, they share a poignant understanding of what being non-verbal entails.
Computers and mobile devices are frequently considered to be essential tools for productivity, education, communication, environmental control and entertainment both for able-bodied people and people with disabilities. When specific technology is used to promote greater independence or to enable people to perform tasks, it is referred to as Assistive Technology (AT).
People with severe disabilities or conditions resulting in moment and strength limitations are often unable to use their hands and arms to use a mouse, keyboard or touchscreen.
However other input options are available. For example, where a person has retained the ability to move their head they may be able to use a head operated mouse. Using a head-controlled mouse involves conscious movement and steering of the head to point to and manoeuvre an object (Bates & Istance 2003).To activate a ‘mouse click’, systems can be configured to ‘dwell’ i.e. click when the pointer is hovered over the target for a predetermined interval or a switch press may also be used.
A voice amplifier is an aid which assists a person to increase the volume of their voice. It is a portable and light-weight device which is worn on the body with a strap, and consists of two parts, an amplifier and a microphone. It is battery operated, either with standard batteries, (e.g. AA batteries)or rechargeable with a specific power lead for recharging the device.
Different groups of people benefit from using a voice amplifier. From professionals like teachers to those in the community with low voice volume who experience difficulties being understood by their communication partners. Some of these people have progressive neurological conditions, such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. In these conditions, communication is impaired in different ways, but at certain stages, low volume can occur and some patients require voice amplification to be better understood (Holmes, R. J., J. M. Oates, et al., 2000). Some voice or at least a whisper is required for voice amplification to be effective.
To assist in decision-making about the most appropriate microphone option/s, some questions to ask include:
- How comfortable is the microphone after being worn for a period of time?
- How easy is it to position the microphone? Will it stay in place for effective amplification?
- How big or heavy are the microphone components? (may affect comfort, positioning and/or aesthetics)
It was hardly 10 years ago when mobile phones had black text on a screen much smaller than the physical keypad and the only functions were text and calls. Now with smartphones, you can surf the internet, shop online, make friends without meeting them in person, and do so much more...
In this “explosive” technological development,
how do you keep up with all that is out there?
What is social media?
Why is digital literacy important?
This article explains.
Assistive Technology Australia
(Independent Living Centre NSW)
Shop 4019 Westpoint Blacktown
17 Patrick Street
Blacktown
NSW 2148
Australia
Shop 4019
Level 4 (Rooftop)
Westpoint Shopping Centre Blacktown
Enter car park via express ramp at the Alpha St roundabout (Map)
1300 452 679
02 9912 5800 (Reception)
02 8814 9656 (Fax)
Email: welcome@at-aust.org
Feedback:feedback@at-aust.org
Facebook: ILCNSW
ABN 44103 681 572
Copyright © 2009-2020 Independent Living Centre NSW trading as Assistive Technology Australia. Logo and name are trademarks of the Independent Living Centre NSW.