Tag Archives: eye gaze technology

Reflecting on 2019: A Very Dynamic Year for AT@Easterseals SEPA!

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by Sandy Masayko

Some highlights of 2019 from the AT Department at Easterseals SEPA–

HONORS

Director of AT, Joy McGowan, was recognized as a Healthcare Hero by Main Line Today in May. Joy, who has worked at Easterseals for more than 30 years, has helped hundreds of people attain communication skills and devices through her work evaluating, consulting, mentoring and guiding clients, families and therapists.

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The AT Team gathered with Joy to celebrate her recognition as a Healthcare Hero.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

The AT Team presented papers and posters about 3D printing for AT and eye gaze technology for young children at these conferences:

  • Assistive Technology Industry Association, Orlando, FL, January 2019
  • Pennsylvania Department of Education, Hershey, PA, March, 2019
  • American Occupational Therapy Association, New Orleans, LA, April 2019
  • Association of the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe, Bologna, Italy, August 2019
  • AT Makers’ Fair, Monroeville, PA, September, 2019
  • American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Anaheim, CA, September, 2019

By sharing our knowledge we have been able to guide people in the USA and other countries in construction and implementation of AT to meet a wide range of needs, and we have gained information to help us with our clients.

AACPDM poster w AT Team

This poster traveled to Anaheim for the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine conference.

COLLABORATION

Working with volunteers from Comcast and Thomas Jefferson University, the AT Department and volunteers fabricated over 50 adapted toys for children at our schools.

The School District of Philadelphia’s Science Leadership Academy students have continued to work with us to fabricate toys and devices for our students.

Thank you to our supporters at Comcast, Thomas Jefferson and SLA!

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Comcast Cares Day participants adapted many toys for our students at Easterseals.

Comcast + Easterseals Partnership Celebrate Comcast Cares Day

This Easterseals student received a custom-fitted seat for a kiddie car adapted by Jefferson University students, Comcast employees & Easterseals staff.

GRANTS

Building on our success with 3D printing of Assistive Technology, we have received a new grant from Comcast to fund implementation of Virtual Reality for educational purposes in our schools. Come back for more information about this in 2020.

NEW TEAM MEMBER

The AT Team welcomed Laura Slotkoff, M.S., OTR/L, as an Assistive Technology Specialist in September. Laura joined the AT Team after working for two years in OT at Easterseals. She brings knowledge of new technologies and commitment to expanding opportunities for participation for our students and clients.

The AT Team wishes a happy 2020 to our supporters and friends!

It Doesn’t Get Better Than This

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by Jeanine Johnson

I know, I know, I keep talking about how amazing Easterseals is. But it IS truly amazing. Despite working in an administrative capacity, there are ample opportunities to interact with the children. There is a welcoming culture here at Easterseals, and I am one who has chosen to take advantage of this culture. I have made interacting with the children an integral part of my day, taking breaks from the monotony of office work and visiting classrooms.

Oh, the payout is grand!! Not only do I get to know the children, but they get to know me. As a result, I get daily visits from several children before they board the buses to go home. I’ve been told those children are not happy when I’m not here to receive them. BIG SMILE!! I even have the honor of being included as one of the “people options” on one of the student’s communication device. When I hear “Ms. Jeanine” coming from the hallway, I know Vanessa is coming to pay me a visit. How cool is that!

Even though I am not a part of the education team, I’m still a part of the children’s learning experiences. Whether I’m coaxing a friend to use her words, identifying colors, blowing bubbles, sharing or practicing manners, we are all learning. I think in life we are all both Teachers and Students. I know I have learned a lot from the kids. Most importantly remembering to find joy in the little things, and appreciating the significance of determination, trust, and unconditional love. Whenever I need a “Pick-Me-Up” or want to “Fall in Love” all over again, I visit with the kids!

Eye Gaze Technology Research

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by Sandy Masayko

The AT Department at Easterseals is involved in action research in the field of eye gaze technology for young children. In November, the Easterseals AT Department hosted Dr. Maria Borgestig from Linkoping University in Sweden and Dr. Namrata Grampurohit of Thomas Jefferson University to develop our collaboration on research into eye gaze technology for young children. Dr. Borgestig guided the Easterseals AT Team in the implementation of several standardized measurements, and we shared the results of our own Easterseals eye gaze study, which is now in its third year. Dr. Grampurohit is collaborating with us in obtaining IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval for our study through Jefferson and our collaboration with the Swedish study. Currently, three children are enrolled in the Swedish study and seven children are enrolled in the Easterseals study. This is unfunded research which we are completing to help us make the best decisions possible about our children.

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From left: Joy McGowan, Director of Augmentative Communication; Dr. Maria Borgestig of Linkoping University, Sweden; Sandy Masayko, Director of AT; Laurie G. McGowan, AT Specialist

Sharing, Networking & Learning at ATIA 2018

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by Sandy Masayko

From presenting sessions to volunteering and networking, Easterseals of SEPA was an active presence at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida at the beginning of February.

Joy McGowan, Melissa Spada and Sandy Masayko presented “Eye Gaze Technology: Supporting Preschoolers in Participation, Play and Communication” to a standing-room-only crowd of over 60 people. The audience asked many questions and shared some of their experiences with the technology as well.  Laurie McGowan joined Susan Tachau of the PA AT Foundation and Kirby Smith of SunKirb to share “Smart Home Technology” to a group that included technicians who install this kind of technology as well as therapists and consumers.  Using easily acquired commercial devices has revolutionized home adaptations and has decreased costs significantly.  The presentation was well received.

As a volunteer, Marcia Leinweber assisted presenters in setting up their sessions and attendees in finding the workshops that they wanted to attend.  Sandy and Marcia also attended a workshop to develop the AT program at Easterseals.

Melissa Spada participated in a workshop where she learned to make adapted toys from low cost materials and picture symbols.  She even won a sample toy to bring back to Easterseals!

Networking was an important part of the conference too.  Our team caught up with Mary Elizabeth McCulloch of Project Vive, who shared her latest prototype of a low-cost speech-generating device.  Mary Elizabeth will be visiting Easterseals soon to explore some new switches and to pick up some of our adapted cars that need repair and additional adaptations.  Sandy visited with Lori Binko of LessonPix to hear about her experience of introducing adapted ride-on cars into her inclusive preschool class.  Easterseals of SEPA actually purchased one of the cars for her program several years ago for engineering students at University of Florida to use as a prototype when the students coached us on adapting the ride on cars.  We donated the completed car to Lori’s program, and it was gratifying to learn how the use of the cars increased her students’ abilities to move, socialize and develop cognitive skills.

Lori Binko of Lesson Pix with an adapted car that was funded by Easterseals
Melissa Spade with an adapted toy made from common materials and communication pictures
AT@ATIA From Left: Melissa Spade, Speech Pathologist; Laurie G. McGowan, AT Specialist; Sandy Masayko, Director of AT; Joy S. McGowan, Director of Augmentative Communication; Marcia Leinweber, AT Specialist

Easter Seals Presentation at CHOP Developmental Disabilities Conference

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by Sandy Masayko

CHOP DD 5.12.17

Parent Laura Murphy and Easter Seals staff members Melissa Spada, Sandy Masayko and Joy McGowan (pictured in the photo) presented information about eye gaze technology for young children at the 41st Annual Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Developmental Disabilities Conference on May 12, 2017.

Laura gave a parent’s perspective on how using eye gaze technology promotes her daughter’s participation in an inclusive public educational program as well as in her family life.  Over the years Laura has seen her daughter Sara progress from using just a few symbols, to phrases, to a system with over 100 locations on the screen and the ability to use spelling and word prediction to write and communicate using a computer.

Melissa, Joy and Sandy have presented information on eye gaze technology previously, but the presentation is evolving as they work with more children and add children to their study. Including a parent in the presentation added a valuable long term perspective to consideration of eye gaze technology and how students can progress with this technology.

Ability Centre in Perth

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by Sandy Masayko

This is Sandy’s ninth post in a series about assistive technology in Australia

Ability Centre in North Perth is the last site on my study tour of Ability First Australia affiliates. I continue to be warmly welcomed by my Australian colleagues. Each center that I have visited has had a broad range of programs and each has had some unique programs. At Ability Center, as with Rocky Bay and Northcott, accommodation for people with disabilities is a focus. The living arrangements vary but the old fashioned nursing home for people with disabilities is thing of the past here, having been replaced by small apartments and shared housing with support.

The unique programs at Ability Centre include access to an early mobility device call a Wizzybug. This is a powerchair designed for 1-4 year old children. Not available in the US, the Wizzy comes from the U.K. Ability Centre imports the mini powerchairs for Australians and maintains a fleet that children can trial and borrow. Here is what they look like:

Ability Centre’s Manager of CP Tech, Fraser Clarke, demonstrating the frame of the Wizzybug.

Another unique program developed by Ability Centre therapists is a program to address sleep issues including temperature regulation and positioning during sleep. Using custom-designed bolsters and temperature control fabrics, the Sleep Solution teams can help their clients achieve restful sleep.

OT Maria White was very interested in Easterseals of SEPA’s work with eye gaze technology with young children. She invited a group of therapists from Ability Centre and from community agencies including the Independent Living Center in Perth and Edith Cowan University to hear my presentation of our AT Department study of eye gaze technology with young children. Some therapists participated from remote sites. The therapists asked many pertinent questions and shared their own experiences with implementing eye gaze technology.

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Maria White, in dark blue shirt on the right, organized a group to hear my presentation on eye gaze technology with young children.

I was very pleased to complete the day with therapists at Ability Centre by carrying out client observation and visits. We considered issues around teaching eye gaze technology to a child, adapting access for an adult eye gaze user, and adjusting environmental controls through a phone used by an adult with cerebral palsy and visual impairment. The clients were kind to let me participate in observing them work with their therapists, and all of us discussed alternatives that might make participating in their home and schools easier and more efficient for the clients.

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Speech Therapist Charlene Freedman coaching her young student in using eye gaze technology to select a song that she wants to hear.

Thank you to CEO Suzie Cowcher and Catherine Greenway, General Manager of Therapy and Health Services, for sharing with me their strategies for dealing with the changes in the marketplace, funding and customer relations through implementing prototypes of new systems. There is an Innovation Hub at Ability Centre that is providing leadership in change in the organization.

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Catherine Greenway and Suzie Cowcher

You can read Sandy’s first post in this series here, her second here, the third here, the fourth here, the fifth here, the sixth here, the seventh here and the eighth here.