Beth, 

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.  I remember once we were
in attendance at the Pittsburgh Employment Conference for augmentative and
alternative communicators, where we met up with a gal from Orange County
California, and due to her severe spasticity, she was only able to activate
her communication device by use of a switch for single switch scanning that
was mounted by her knee, I remember how tiresome it was for her but she sure
enjoyed her system.  My father was also in attendance, and he suggested to
this gal and her attendant that they should probably look into the Baclofen
pump to get more out of not only her communication device but other
technology that she also had.  We stayed in contact with this gal and her
mother for a while, but I feel it got too overwhelming, and when the device
finally died they simply gave up which is too bad.  Cases like this also
hurt images of AAC companies, but we can only do so much to insure success
storys, and other people and elements have to come into play.  

Thanks, 
Anthony 
Visit my website at www.anthonyarnold.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Elizabeth Thiers
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 7:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Baclofen helping AAC use was FW: label/hand surgery/pump

 
Improving muscle use definitely helps with communication device use.  Also,
good seating, and appropriate placement of the device that utilizes the
persons natural movements.

Beth t the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Anthony Arnold
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 4:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: label/hand surgery/pump

I may be way off base here, but over the years I have met some clientele who
have been so physically involved that either accessing a communication
device or just simply typing and operating a computer is a challenge and
very tiresome, would Baclofen help in this regard?  If no one knows, I can
always ask one of our speech-language pathologists at work to see if they
have any research on this.  One thing I have learned from the engineers I
have access to, sure we can develop great technology, but other things like
PT & OT are needed to get better results instead of just having a good
device available.  

Thanks,
Anthony
Visit my website at www.anthonyarnold.net

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