Helping Annie Communicate

Annie's Vision Therapist and Assisted Technology Specialist invited me to school today to show me a new assisted technology device that could help Annie communicate better and control her environment more.  It's called the Dynovox with Eye Max.  They have it on loan for Annie to try out for just a few days, so they wanted me to see how Annie uses it before we order our own for her.  It is a computer that can track her eye gaze, which seems to be her most consistent form of communication and choice making.  This device is incredible! 

The screen can display different choices and all Annie has to do is look at what she wants on the screen, and the camera on the monitor will detect what she is looking at.  She can manipulate different menus to go back, see more options, or stop an activity, etc.  This device can also be used to manipulate her environment, like turn the TV on and off, etc. 

I was amazed at how well Annie responded to this device and how quickly she was able to track with her eyes to different areas of the screen before she made her choice.  With pictures of different activities on the screen, she can choose whether she wants a book, her beads, or a certain toy.  And you can upload a picture of anything to include on the screen.  I immediately started thinking about putting up pictures of body parts so she could answer us when we ask her where she hurts. 

This is so exciting for us to hopefully be able to use this device to help communicate better with Annie and learn more about what she wants and likes.  She was full of smiles as she was showing me how it all works.  I can't imagine how excited she must be to have something that will help her own voice be heard!  We're getting her own device to try out for a longer period of time, and then we'll hopefully be able to get one for her to keep from Medicaid.  So, so exciting!