Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLe 7.2
Stages of AT Service Delivery: John, Age 7, Novice User of AT
Stages of the AT
Service Delivery Model
John Age 7 Novice User of AT
John, Age 17 Power User of AT
Outreach
Teacher visits travelling road show of
assistive technology. Sees technology
that may be suitable for one of her
students. Collects contact information
from the local technology liaison officer
(TLO).
Ten years later, John is now in
second-level education, keeping up to
date with new technology by
searching the Web and communicating
with users on an online national user
discussion forum.
Initiative
Teacher discusses with John's parents
about having an assessment for AT.
Parents agree and fill out a
preassessment form with the support of
the local TLO.
John finds the eye-gaze technology and
shows the information to his teacher,
who in turn contacts the local SENO
(special educational needs officer).
Preassessment and
assessment
TLO visits the school to see the teacher
and observe John in the classroom and
how he participates. TLO demonstrates
and trials a selection of AT devices with
John. Being only 7 years of age, the
teacher, parents, and TLO invite an AT
assessment team to assess John in school.
John is frustrated with current slow
speed of his technology and feels an
Eye Gaze system would help him
speed up with his writing
Typology of the
solution
The AT assessment team assess John using
the MPT. A number of devices are tried,
but John, having seen a number of the
devices previously, is most interested in
the round head switch that easily attaches
to his wheelchair. He is delighted when
he can type his own name for the first
time on the computer screen.
Liaising with his teacher, the SENO,
and local TLO, John gets to trial the
portable eye-gaze system. The
discussion is about the cost of this
new equipment and the use of his
existing system as a backup and
portable device for movement
between classes in school.
Selection
Arrangement agreed upon between
John's teacher and the TLO to have a
loan of a desktop computer with the
switch and the special software to trial
for 1 month. The TLO visits once a
week to show the teacher and John
some more features of the software. At
the end of the month, the TLO and
teacher discuss with John and his
parents and all feel this is a very good
solution for John.
Trial of the eye-gaze system is
arranged with the local TLO, but John
has to wait a number of months
before getting access to the device.
Because of the expense of the device,
there are very few available on loan.
Finally, John gets a 1-month trial of
the system and finds that his typing
speed has doubled.
Authorization for
financing
The TLO liaises with the rest of the
assessment team and a
recommendation is forwarded to the
parents and the teacher for the school to
submit to the Department of Education
for funding. In the meantime, the loan
period of the equipment is extended
until the new equipment arrives. At the
review, John is assessed using the MPT
model and the results show a good
match.
The SENO, with technical support from
the TLO, makes a recommendation for
the new eye-gaze equipment to the
Department of Education. The
recommendation is turned down
because of the high cost. The trial
equipment is also returned. An
alterative solution is investigated, the
less expensive head tracking system is
considered, and the trial equipment is
organized. A recommendation is made
to the Department of Education, and
funding is agreed upon.
