Summary
Age: 14 years
Gender: Male
School Placement History: Regular
education with resource assistance
Education Classification:
Orthopedic disability (athetoid cerebral palsy)
Type of Technology: Rate
enhancement software and alternate access
Intervention Referral
Nathan is entering high school next year and
writing demands will increase, with his current typing rate (6 words per
minute) it is difficult for him to keep up in the classroom. Because
Nathan is nonverbal a system that can be used for verbal communication
is also necessary.
Previous Intervention
Nathan has used a Macintosh laptop computer
with Ke:nx On:Board and Co:Writer. The expanded keyboard is accessed
with the side on Nathan's thumb. He uses a key guard that allows
him to sweep across the keyboard. Nathan can only type about 6 words
per minute with this system. He does not rely on the Co:Writer very
often. He states that it slows him down to scan the words and sometimes
disrupts his train of thought.
Nathan is non-verbal and uses an Easy Talk
from Sym Systems to communicate. A LightWriter from Zygo was also
considered, but Nathan had a difficult time accessing the smaller keys.
He relies primarily on spelling out words with the device and often does
not even activate the keys.
Assessment Summary
Literacy Needs:
Summary of Technology Assessment: Alternate
access was the primary focus of assessment. The first access that
was tried was the use of a Head Mouse from Origin Instruments. The
system was tried for three weeks one time per day. Approximately
30 minutes to an hour was spent in each session depending upon circumstances.
After 3 weeks Nathan was able to get to a small target, but unable to hold
on the target long enough for activation. He had developed strategies
to keep his head steady; such has holding his chin in cupped hands with
elbows resting on the table. Lowering the activation time was also
tried, but with this adjustment there were a number of accidental activations.
Nathan decided that this method was not feasible and no more time should
be spent on trying to train motor patterns.
The next access method that was tried was
Morse Code input with two switches. Nathan as able to use a fist
on his right hand and rock between two switches to activate. The
codes were placed next to the screen. Nathan quickly picked up on
the most commonly used codes and could use the system well. He did
not however, feel that this was as fast as using the keyboard. No
timings were done with this input method because Nathan was still dependent
upon scanning the codes for a lot of the text. He thought that once
he learned the codes his speed could be competitive with the use of an
expanded keyboard, but it did not decrease the amount of physical excursion
and added an initial cognitive load.
Scanning input had been tried in the past
and Nathan was familiar with how scanning worked. When this was brought
up, Nathan decided that he did not want to try it again.
All of the previously mentioned access
methods were evaluated in conjunction with Words+ EZKeys software.
The software allows Nathan word prediction and abbreviation expansion capabilities.
It will also allow him to use the computer as a communication system with
same access method he uses to write.
Summary of Intervention
May 2000 - The results of the assessment warranted
the use of a Windows based laptop with EZKeys and an Intellikeys keyboard
with a keyguard. Nathan used the system for two weeks and improved
his typing rate to 8 words per minute. After two weeks some adaptations
to the keyboard were made and an adapted key guard with square instead
of round holes was ordered. Nathan stated that he though his rate
would improve as he got more abbreviations programmed and got used to the
system more.
Outcome Updates
May 2000 - A new system has been ordered for
Nathan. It includes: Freedom 2000 (WIN laptop with EZKeys and DECTalk),
Intellikeys, Key guard.
Nathan is also getting the system custom
mounted to a power wheelchair so that it will be accessible at all times
for all communication.
August 2000 -- Nathan is accessing a Freedom
2000 with Intellikeys at school for both written and verbal communication.
He has not yet obtained his power wheelchair, therefore, he does not have
the device mounted.
May 2001 -- Funding for an entire system
for Nathan has been submitted to his private insurance. Included
in this funding is a custom made lap tray that will allow Nathan access
to his device at all times. The tray will have a cut out area that
will allow the computer to sit in the tray with no risk of falling off.
This will also let Nathan rest the keyboard over the computer without activating
any keys.
Comments
Permission to share this information is
on file at Munroe-Meyer Institute of Genetics and Rehabilitation, Scottish
Rite Computer Supported Literacy Program.
Technology Links
Ke:nx OnBoard, Don
Johnston, Inc.
Head Mouse, Origin
Instruments
Co:Writer, Don
Johnston, Inc.
Freedom 2000, Words+
Intellikeys, Intellitools
Easy Talk, Sym Systems
Lightwriter, Zygo,
Inc. |
