TECHTALK
The Illinois Assistive Technology Project Newsletter
Jan-Feb-Mar 1999
Dedicated To A Consumer Responsive Program Of Assistive
Technology Devices And Services For Individuals With Disabilities
And Older Adults
Braille and Text Edition
WHAT'S INSIDE (articles appear in the following order
International Year of Older Persons
Open House Opens Eyes
I&A Question of The Month
Adapted Pencils to Computers
Certificate in Assistive Technology Course Offered in Chicago
Consumer Corner
Get TECHTALK Online
Public Building Access For The Chemically Disabled
Universal Design Seal of Approval
Ten Dollar Tech
Dot Issues OTR Bus Regulations
It's Worth Noting: Improving the Social Skills of Persons with
Autism and Other DD, Independent Literacy Camp for Students with
Visual Impairments, Independent Literacy for Students with Severe
Upper Motor Disabilities
IATP Staff
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INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS: A Year When AT Can Make a
Difference!
The United Nations (UN) designated 1999, International Year
of Older Persons with the theme of "Toward a Society for All
Ages." The UN encourages us to focus on the contributions and
needs of older persons. In addition, they ask us to champion the
philosophy that societies should be inclusive, should embrace all
people and should share their resources equally. This philosophy
should sound very familiar to those of us in the disability
community.
At IATP, we hope that this major focus on the older person
brings new awareness to assistive technology (AT) and the ways it
can help people with age-related impairments. The UN Principles
for the Year of Older Persons include:
Independence, being able to reside at home as long as possible.
Participation, opportunities to share knowledge and skills with
younger people.
Care, family and community care and protection according to each
society's system of cultural values.
Self-fulfillment, access to the educational, cultural, spiritual
and recreational resources of society.
Dignity, being treated fairly whatever age, gender, racial or
ethnic background or disability.
AT can often be the key to reaching the goals of independence,
participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity. If you belong
to a group of older adults, or work for and with them and would
like to improve your AT awareness, call IATP to schedule a
training or demonstration. We'd be happy to develop a new
program or help you merge AT into an existing event. Let's all
make 1999 a year of focusing on the Older Adult and the goals set
out by the UN.
OPEN HOUSE OPENS EYES
All the planning and hard work paid off and IATP's new
Demonstration Center is wildly successful. On November 18th,
IATP reaped the rewards of their labor. Staff spent the afternoon
hearing from consumers, professionals, parents and others about
the benefits of such a center. One staff member said, "it was so
exciting you would have thought it was Christmas morning!"
It's hard to say who was more impressed, visitors or staff.
Visitors said, "I didn't know this existed" or "I've looked
through catalogs but I never realized what this was." One woman
said she felt like a sponge and wanted to suck up all the
information she could get. Staff saw firsthand how helpful and
necessary the demonstration area is to the community.
IATP's demonstration center is divided into areas of interest. A
kitchen, bath and living room allow users to try out the devices
in a place that might look close to home. Beyond the rooms,
there are six more areas, each dedicated to a different area of
AT: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Sensory, Adapted Office,
Switches, Augmentative Communication & Toys.
Each staff member took one area of AT and explained it as people
toured the facility. Each person could spend as much or as
little time in each area as they liked. IATP's Executive
Director, Wilhelmina Gunther, even got into the act. She staffed
the computer technology area, after a family emergency took two
staff members away minutes before the event began. Although
she enjoyed showing devices, she apologizes for not being able to
greet and interact more with visitors. She encourages anyone
with questions or comments to write or visit again.
Computer Access
Positioning is a very important factor when working to increase
access to computer keyboards and other alternate input devices.
People seemed most interested in Ergo Rests. They are clamp-on
devices that support the forearms when keyboarding.
Switches
Switches can be a difficult area for people to get excited about.
At first glance it looks like a room full of black spaghetti.
However, as they began to realize that switches are more than
little oddly shaped gadgets they get hooked. Switches can
activate anything from toys to electronic doors. A teacher
visiting the switch area said, "This is the best thing I've ever
attended!" She sat cross-legged on the floor, a notebook in
hand, and said, "tell me everything."
Kitchen
Visitors to the kitchen were surprised by the many low-tech
devices purchased at a dollar store. Staff explained that not
all adapted devices need to come from a specialty store. If you
go out shopping, considering the person's functional needs, you
may find the right tool at K-Mart or similar store. People seemed
to be most excited about the mirror over the stove positioned so
someone in a wheelchair could see what's in the pot. An IATP
board member said she had found the perfect Christmas gift for
her husband who has a visual impairment, the Talking Microwave!
Adapted Office
Offices can be adapted in many ways and IATP's is no exception.
People were shocked that a small semicircular cutout in the
privacy panel made it easier for someone with footrests on
his/her wheelchair to get under the desk. The Silent Call alert
system showed people how a deaf person could be paged. The
adapted paper punch, tape dispenser, staple puller and file
cabinets on wheels showed people again, that creative buying at a
regular store can make a huge difference in accessibility.
Living Room
In the living room, visitors were impressed with the remote
switch, attached to a key ring that can turn on the inside lights
before entering the house. They also "oooh'd" over the
thermostat with extra large numbers and a dial that clicks for
every two degrees for blind users. People tried out the large
print-large button remote control to run a closed captioned
video. The quad cane, widely ignored ("Oh, it's just a cane.")
was of real interest when staff showed how this particular cane
was also an aid to use when getting to a standing position. We
reminded them that many of the devices came from local health
supply and electronic stores in the area.
Bath Room
Taking a bath is not always easy if you have a disability, so
it's no wonder that the tub area piqued many people's interest.
One visitor learned that some walls don't have the reinforcement
necessary to install grab bars and was impressed to learn that
there were shower and bath chairs with grab bars attached.
Everyone loved the toilet tissue holder (no moving parts, slide
the roll on and off easily). No one, however, was willing to
climb onto the talking scale and let the rest of us know their
exact weight. More than any other area, the bathroom raised
issues about codes related to adapting homes. IATP provided
copies of the accessibility code to take home.
Sensory
People were amazed to see so many devices for people who are
deaf, visually impaired or blind. In the sensory area they were
astonished by a note teller that 'reads' the denomination of
paper money for blind users and speaks it back in a synthesized
voice. People were excited and even astonished that things like
a large print TTY screen, a portable CCTV (closed circuit
television) and TTY training machines even existed.
One mother feverishly took notes in the sensory area to share at
her daughter's upcoming IEP meeting.
Augmentative Communication (AAC)
Most open house visitors knew very little about AAC devices. They
thought the center gave them good information about a wide range
of devices. Staff explained that devices come in high and low
tech models and that each person should be evaluated to figure
out which device best suits his/her need. The low-priced devices
seemed to draw the most attention as people began to realize how
valuable they could be for people in many situations.
ADLs
Low tech devices called aids for daily living are simple, usually
inexpensive devices that will make a task easier and create more
access for the user. IATP's ADL area has many devices and it was
wonderful to see someone get excited about something as simple as
an adapted eating utensil or writing device or card holders. It
was here that people often realized that there are ways to adapt
devices at little or no cost.
Resource Library
The Resource Library, filled to the rafters with catalogs, was
nearly an empty shell by the end of the open house. People
carried them away with all their new knowledge and will begin to
build their own resource libraries.
Epilogue
The excitement didn't end on November 18! We've received several
calls from people who couldn't attend the open house or who heard
about our center from those who did. We have had as many as five
groups tour in one day. We hope the excitement never ends and
that many more people will have the advantage of the demo center
and the unique opportunity to learn more about assistive
technology.
I&A QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Question: I'm an audiologist. I've been working with someone who
recently lost her hearing. How can I get her a free TTY?
Answer: The Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation
(ITAC) provides TTY machines on long term loan for personal use
to Illinois residents who are deaf, hearing or speech-impaired
regardless of age or income. Regional centers throughout
Illinois distribute the TTYs and provide training and repair
services. There are centers in Alton, Carbondale, Jacksonville,
Kankakee, Mt. Vernon, Peoria, Quincy, Rockford, Springfield,
Urbana, seven in the Chicago area and in Davenport, IA.
ITAC also supports the Illinois Relay Service. Trained
communication assistants (CAs) relay conversations between TTY
users and traditional telephone users. The program also provides
Voice Carry Over (VCO) and Hearing Carry Over (HCO). VCO lets
TTY users with good speech skills use their voice instead of
typing. HCO lets users who can hear, listen to the communicant's
voice and have the CA voice their message after typing it into
the TTY.
There are no fees for any ITAC services. Contact ITAC at
800-841-6167 v/tty for more information.
ITAC is a not-for-profit organization representing over 60
telephone carriers in Illinois. It started with the 85th General
Assembly's passage of the Universal Telephone Service Protection
law.
ADAPTED PENCILS TO COMPUTERS:Strategies for Improving Writing
Adapted Pencils to Computers is an assessment tool that helps
teachers, parents and others tackle the complex process of
finding and solving problems that limit a student's ability to
write.
The 36-page booklet helps assess a student by looking at: fine
motor skills (for handwriting and/or typing); visual integration
skills; cognitive organization and attention skills; Expressive
language development; and, writing mechanics such as spelling and
punctuation skills.
Assessment checklists identify the underlying problem(s) through
observing behavior in various writing situations. After
observing the student, the booklet suggests modifications to the
student's environment, instructional techniques and tasks. It
also provides information on specialized materials and assistive
technology accommodations.
This information helps non-technology specialists understand
technology that supports writing for students with special needs.
Get copies of the assessment by contacting the Center for
Technology in Education, 2500 East Northern Parkway, Baltimore,
MD 21214, or by visiting its home page at:
http://www.jhu.edu/~cte/.
CERTIFICATE IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY COURSE OFFERED IN CHICAGO
California State University, Northridge (CSUN), Center on
Disabilities announced its Assistive Technology Applications
Certificate Program (ATACP'99), a one-week session in Chicago,
July 26-30, 1999. Before the live instruction in July,
participants will receive 52 hours of interactive on-line
instruction. In addition, participants will complete an 8-hour
written certificate project within 90 days of completing the live
instruction.
The training experience includes electronic and live information-
sharing through readings, lectures, demonstrations, discussions,
observations and presentations of AT applications.
The program includes the following courses: Introduction to
Assistive Technologies; Leadership Challenges; Funding and Policy
Issues; Assistive Technology Applications; Guiding the Process;
Focus on Specialized Areas. and; Certification Process.
The program is open to people with disabilities, family members,
special educators, AT and computer specialists, rehabilitation
personnel, employers, occupational and physical therapists,
speech/language pathologists, ADA administrators, and human
resource specialists.
For more information contact ATACP at its website:
http://www.csun.edu/cod/ or by calling 818-677-2578 v/tty.
CONSUMER CORNER
(This is a portion of a letter that was written to Wilhelmina
Gunther, Executive Director of IATP.)
This is written in response to my attending your grand opening.
I once read that "assistive technology empowers Illinoisans with
disabilities, increasing their independence and productivity."
Nowhere was the possibility of that more evident than at your
event. You and your staff must be proud of the information and
education that you offer people concerning assistive products.
The only thing equal to the products that were displayed, was the
level of knowledge and enthusiasm that the staff displayed during
my visit. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for
the invitation that I received, and to say that whenever I return
to Springfield, your office is going to be on my "must visit"
list, and I will continue to sing IATP's praises. If you know of
anything that I can do to assist you in the future, please don't
hesitate to contact me.
Respectfully,
Edward J. Banister, President Elect, Coalition of Citizens with
Disabilities in Illinois, Bolingbrook, IL
GET TECHTALK ONLINE
Did you know that you can get the current copy of TECHTALK
online? It's easy, quick AND it saves us postage! If you would
prefer to receive your copy of this newsletter online, please
call to cancel your paper version and simply go to,
http://www.iltech.org to read the current issue.
In addition to the newsletter, IATP publishes all it's materials
online... TECHNOTES on topics related to assistive technology,
Policy Points, "How to" papers and more. You can print them and
make multiple copies for your materials file or workshops. It's
an easy way to get our publications.
PUBLIC BUILDING ACCESS FOR THE CHEMICALLY DISABLED
Did you know that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has
found indoor air up to a hundred times more polluted than outdoor
air?
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a condition now recognized
by fifty-eight federal, state and local governing bodies. (On the
federal level, House and Urban Development and the Social
Security Administration accept MCS as a disabling condition
requiring aid and benefits; Maryland and New Jersey have
commissioned studies of MCS; recently the city of Santa Cruz, CA
adopted a resolution that includes protections for people with
MCS.) Their concern includes accommodations acknowledged as
necessary for the chemically injured. The National Academy of
Sciences estimates that approximately 15 percent of Americans
experience sensitivity to chemicals found in common household
products. The World Health Organization estimates about a third
of the world's buildings make their inhabitants ill. In this
country, sick building syndrome is affecting thousands of
workers. The following is a brief simplified checklist of what
can be done to prevent illnesses caused by indoor air pollution.
Ban smoking. Tobacco smoke is toxic.
Choose the meeting place carefully: windows that open, uncarpeted
or newly cleaned carpets, no recent painting or remodeling,
hardwood or metal furniture with minimal upholstery.
Postpone pesticide spraying indoor and out. Advise visitors
about spraying schedules.
Remove all air 'fresheners.' Most are quite toxic.
Keep bathrooms unscented. Replace scented soaps, lotions and
tissues with unscented ones.
Use simple, plant-based cleaning products, such as vinegar,
baking soda and vegetable oils. Store toxic materials and
commercial disinfectants in enclosed areas.
Air rooms thoroughly. Where possible, open windows and increase
ventilation.
Discourage all scented products. Ask visitors (male and female)
not to use perfume or wear recently dry-cleaned clothes.
For more information contact the National Center for
Environmental Health Strategies, 609-429-5358, or the National
Coalition for the Chemically Injured, 520-536-4625.
(Excerpted from Access to Public Buildings for the Chemically
Disabled, by Lynn Lawson, 1998.)
UNIVERSAL DESIGN SEAL OF APPROVAL
Products can now be evaluated for universal design
characteristics. ProMatura Group, LLC conducts the tests and if
the product passes it gets to display a Universal Design
Certified Seal of Approval.
Dr. Margaret Wylde, President and CEO of ProMatura Group, LLC
explains, "Testing conducted for the seal is steeped in the
principles of universal design, and is intended to measure a
product's ease-of-use by a broad universe of potential end-users.
Universally designed products are those that are useful and
usable by young, able-bodied people as well as older design
sensitive consumers."
ProMatura Group is an Oxford, Mississippi-based company that
provides testing and development services, marketing research and
consulting services to companies, large and small in the US and
Canada. Testing for the Universal Design Certified Seal Program
is conducted in their laboratories. A minimum of 50 design-
sensitive consumers and ProMatura's human factors researchers
evaluate the product.
To pass, products must win the agreement of at least 90 percent
of consumers on the test-panel that the product is easy to use
and the manufacturer's claims are accurate. When a product
passes, the company is granted a license to use the Universal
Design Certified Seal of Approval on product packaging,
advertising, promotions and collateral materials to alert
customers that the product is more usable by everyone.
KraftMaid Cabinetry, Incorporated builds cabinets for residential
kitchens. Its Passport Series completed the testing and became
certified to use the new Seal of Approval. Marcia Harris,
director of special programs says, "The Passport series is
designed for ease-of-use for the whole family over the course of
a lifetime. We believe in universally designed products.
Products that can truly enable the user will be the market
success stories of the future . . . Earning the . . . Seal of
Approval obviously strengthens our position in the market.
Testing the Passport Series with real end-users allows us to
begin planning future versions that will even more effectively
meet consumer needs . . ."
For more information about the Universal Design Certified Seal of
Approval, contact Doug Harper at 601-234-0158 or email
[log in to unmask]
TEN DOLLAR TECH
Ten Dollar Tech is a regular column featuring low-cost technology
or adaptations.
Mary Friedl of Evanston provides this month's innovation.
Closing a door behind you can be very difficult if you use a
wheelchair. The lift in front of Mary's home had a door that had
to be closed before the lift would activate. Mary recently
switched from a scooter to a wheelchair. When she used a scooter,
she simply turned the seat, grabbed a tie attached to the door
handle, and pulled the door closed. Now that she uses a
wheelchair she had to figure out a new way to get the door
closed. . . especially after she checked the cost of electric
door openers/closers. She put her mind to work and thought of
the following solution.
Supplies: 3 large eye hooks; 8 feet of light rope; 1 plastic
bangle bracelet Tools needed: 1 Electric drill;
Cost: approximately $5
Directions: Drill holes to install the eye hooks in three
separate locations: a. top corner of the door, b. inside top
corner of door frame, and c. center of door frame. (See graphic.)
Tie one end of the rope to the hook on the door. Thread it
through the hook on the top door frame. Now thread through the
eye hook on the center of the frame. Attach a bracelet or other
handle (whatever suits your hand grasping skills best) to the end
of rope. As you go through the doorway, pull
the handle to close the door behind you.
Variation: If you are unable to pull a door closed you can
attach an "S" hook to the rope by closing one end of the "S" to
secure it to the rope. Using the other end of the "S" as a hook,
attach it to your wheelchair. The chair can pull the door closed
as you move forward. To continue, back up a bit and unlatch the
hook. (The length of rope may need to be adjusted.)
If you have an idea you'd like to share with others, feel free to
send it to IATP. Send a description of the products/adaptation,
materials list and approximate cost along with a picture or
graphic. We'll make sure you get all the credit!
DOT ISSUES OTR BUS REGULATIONS
In September, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued final
regulations on accessibility on over-the-road buses, not city
buses. They include both "fixed route" and charter buses.
The rules require that all new buses (purchased or leased) be
accessible. This means letting people in wheelchairs ride in
their own wheelchairs, rather then being carried to a seat. It
also means that potential riders will not be restricted to
certain routes because of a supposed "safety risk." However, it
doesn't mean that things are going to change right away.
The current rules stand until October 2000 for large companies
and October 2001 for small companies. Until that time riders
must give companies 48 hours notice so that they can provide
boarding assistance to people with disabilities.
Beginning in October 2000 for large carriers, or 2001 for small
carriers, all new buses purchased or leased must be accessible.
Half of the fleets must be accessible by October 2006 and the
entire fleet accessible by October 2012.
In this interim period where some accessible buses are available,
but not all, a rider can request an accessible bus with 48 hours
notice. If that bus is not provided DOT can fine the company,
payable to the individual with a disability.
Small carriers may provide an equivalent service instead of
buying or leasing accessible buses. This service must allow
passengers to travel in their own wheelchairs and the service
must be equivalent to non-disabled passengers in terms of time,
destination, cost, etc.
At rest stops, the bus companies must provide passengers time and
assistance they need to leave, to use the facilities and re-enter
the bus whether or not the bus is accessible. If the bus company
owns, leases, controls, or contracts with a rest stop facility it
must ensure that the rest stop meets ADA accessibility
requirements.
The bus companies are also required to train employees to use and
maintain its lifts. They must receive training on boarding
assistance, securing mobility aids and interacting with
passengers with disabilities.
Immediately following the publication of the rules, the American
Bus Association filed a lawsuit against the Department of
Transportation claiming that the regulations would be a burden on
bus companies causing ticket prices to rise and the elimination
of small, rural stops.
It is possible that some of these rules and deadlines could be
changed as a result of the lawsuit, but that has not happened
yet. We will notify you of any updates in the future.
IT'S WORTH NOTING
Improving the Social Skills of Persons with Autism and Other DD
People with severe and/or multiple disabilities sometimes have
difficulty learning and applying social skills in a variety of
situations. This workshop helps staff and families in
identifying what skills the person needs in developing those
strategies. Date: February 22, 1999, Peoria Illinois. CEU's are
available. Presenter: Barbara Doyle, MS, Clinical Consultant.
For more information contact, UIC Outreach Training, Dept. of
Disability and Human Development, Chicago IL, 312-413-1535 v or
312-413-0453 tty
Independent Literacy Camp for Students with Visual Impairments
This camp is open to ages 14-19 and is specifically designed for
youth with visual impairments. The Camp will be June 27th to
July 2nd, 1999. During the camp students will get training on a
wide range of assistive technology including, Jaws, Kurzweil
1000, scanning devices, DecTalk and other reading/writing
technologies. Scholarships are available. Application deadline:
April 15, 1999. Contact Patrick Cottini, University of Illinois,
Division of Rehab. Education Services, 217-244-7769 v/
217-333-4604 tty.
Independent Literacy for Students with Severe Upper Motor
Disabilities This camp is open to ages 14-19 and is specifically
designed for youth with severely limited use of their upper
extremities. The Camp will be June 20 - 25, 1999. During the
camp students will get training on a wide range of assistive
technology including, voice input, alternative keyboards,
trackballs and other alternative pointing technologies.
Scholarships are available. Application deadline: April 15,
1999. Contact Patrick Cottini, University of Illinois, Division
of Rehab. Education Services, 217-244-7769 v/ 217-333-4604 tty.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
This newsletter is a publication of the Illinois Assistive
Technology Project. It is published bimonthly and contains
information about the field of assistive technology. IATP offers
this newsletter to the citizens of Illinois and welcomes any
suggestions readers may have regarding improving the newsletter
or recommendations for articles. Individuals interested in
submitting articles may do so any time. Please send submissions
to: Cilla Sluga, Editor TECHTALK , Illinois Assistive Technology
Project 1 West Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 100, Springfield,
Illinois 62701. 217-522-7985 voice 217-522-9966tty or
800-524-1030v/tty.
The Project is funded through the Department of Human Services,
Office of Rehabilitation Services (DHS/ORS) under a grant from
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR), US Department of Education. This publication does not
necessarily reflect the position or policy of NIDRR/ED or DHS/ORS
and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.
IATP STAFF
Wilhelmina Gunther, Executive Director
Sue Castles, Policy Analyst
Sherry Edwards, Director of I & A
Jeri Frederick, Senior Policy Analyst
Donna Hutcheson, Education & Funding Advocate
Loretta Johnson, Finance/Personnel Manager
Diana Lowe, Project Support Staff
Shelly Lowe, Project Coordinator/Evaluator
Donna Mitchell, Technology Trainer
Marbella Marsh, Statewide Outreach Coordinator
Cilla Sluga, Director of Training, Editor/TECHTALK
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
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IATP. We'll be happy to send it to anyone interested in
receiving it. Simply call IATP at 800-852-5110 and ask to be put
on the list.
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