The article I chose that I thought could possibly be of benefit to Richard was a Product Spotlight titled, Breakthrough in adaptive reading technology opens new doors for millions with impaired vision. This article can be found by visiting http://www.closingthegap.com/lib/pdf/2005/Dec-Jan05/Spotlights/myReader.pdf. This article is an appropriate choice for Richard because during his interview with Crystal, he expressed his concern with not being able to read the newspaper and that his wife was getting tired of reading him the sections he enjoyed. The product mentioned in this article is called myReader, which is a low vision auto-reading device made by Pulse Data HumanWare. This product is could be a good choice for Richard because it describes it as a compact, transportable device which Richard mentioned that he would like something transportable. This device can make reading the paper, which Richard misses, more of a possibility than having to move his head around and becoming too fatigued to continue. Another highlight of this article is that one of the first users of the myReader also has age-related macular degeneration and stated that it made a huge impact with her ability to read. This product can make the task of reading more enjoyable and satisfying by only having to place the reading material on the table and choosing the size of the letters, speed, and the colors that you want. The myReader can help Richard enjoy one of his hobbies or activities that he has had to "give up" on because of his macular degeneration. One concern is that it may be difficult to transport because it does have a 15" screen and could possibly be quite expensive. I think it would be beneficial for Richard, Crystal, and his wife and son, thought of other options to assist Richard. There is so many products available for low vision that Crystal could help find Richard the best and most appropriate AT for him.
Once again, as I think Helen mentioned in our discussion board, Dr. T and/or J made a pretty cool presentation and had awesome graphics. I think it was a good experience to see the COPM conducted in this manner.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Making Connections - Article 1
How a company collaborates to create new assistive technology
by Adam Wing
I chose this article because throughout out this program I have heard much about collaboration. Also now most our class is split into different groups doing different research projects in which we must work together to achieve the goal of completing them and graduating. This article is about the collaboration that took place in order for the company Laureate Learning Systems to develop new software to help individuals with disablilities acquire language. It looks at how the company must work together in order to meet the needs of those who need/use assistive technology. There are many people involved in the process and collaborating with one another is essential and teamwork is one of the only ways to ensure achievement. The collaboraters in this article used different methods of research we learned during our research course and current course in management which consists of the grant writing process. This article discusses how they had to write grants and obtained funding for the project. After completing the research needed and finalizing the software, Laureate had a great new software line that student's love to use and that helps them in approving their communication skills. This is also a great article because it reitterates the information we have learned throughout different courses in our program that research is necessary when it comes to developing new tools and and essential when it comes to producing evidence-based research for these new tools. Another great point in the article is that it is important for the software to be entertaining for the users. This goes great with past discussions in 6701 about how important it is to think about the user when deciding what AT is best because if the user is not happy with the product, then most likely they are not going to use it. This article relates to one other aspect of my learning experience now which is teamwork. We have learned throughout the program that teamwork is important and most likely we (OT students) will be collaborating and working with other professionals like PTs and speech language pathologists. We must work together so we can achieve a goal that is very important to us, which is helping others.
This article can be found at www.closingthegap.com/lib/pdf/2006/Oct-Nov06/MakingConnections2.pdf
by Adam Wing
I chose this article because throughout out this program I have heard much about collaboration. Also now most our class is split into different groups doing different research projects in which we must work together to achieve the goal of completing them and graduating. This article is about the collaboration that took place in order for the company Laureate Learning Systems to develop new software to help individuals with disablilities acquire language. It looks at how the company must work together in order to meet the needs of those who need/use assistive technology. There are many people involved in the process and collaborating with one another is essential and teamwork is one of the only ways to ensure achievement. The collaboraters in this article used different methods of research we learned during our research course and current course in management which consists of the grant writing process. This article discusses how they had to write grants and obtained funding for the project. After completing the research needed and finalizing the software, Laureate had a great new software line that student's love to use and that helps them in approving their communication skills. This is also a great article because it reitterates the information we have learned throughout different courses in our program that research is necessary when it comes to developing new tools and and essential when it comes to producing evidence-based research for these new tools. Another great point in the article is that it is important for the software to be entertaining for the users. This goes great with past discussions in 6701 about how important it is to think about the user when deciding what AT is best because if the user is not happy with the product, then most likely they are not going to use it. This article relates to one other aspect of my learning experience now which is teamwork. We have learned throughout the program that teamwork is important and most likely we (OT students) will be collaborating and working with other professionals like PTs and speech language pathologists. We must work together so we can achieve a goal that is very important to us, which is helping others.
This article can be found at www.closingthegap.com/lib/pdf/2006/Oct-Nov06/MakingConnections2.pdf
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
An Introduction to me:)
Let's see...where to begin? Well, this first blog is going to be mostly to help all my classmates get to know me and to give me some practice on how to do this whole blog thing. After this week, I will be using the blog to discuss the information I learned from different articles from Closing the Gap and to also learn from the reflections of my classmates on their blogs.
Now, some information about me. I was born in Whiteville, NC but grew up in Fuquay Varina, NC. I came to ECU in the fall of 2000 and I have been an East Carolina Pirate for 8 years now!! I attended for undergrad from 2000-2004 and completed my bachelor's degree in Communication Science and Disorders. I then began the clinical PhD program for audiology in the fall of 2004 and after 2 semesters decided it was not the program for me, especially after I found occupational therapy.
I am currently a second year graduate student in the occupational therapy masters program. I am very excited to be in the last semester of classes before fieldwork II. I am also very excited because I just got engaged on January 4th!! After this semester I will finally get to move to Southport, NC full-time (currently I drive there every weekend) because of my fieldwork II placements at Coastal Rehab in Wilmington and New Hanover County School System. I was very excited and lucky with my placements. I think the information learned from 6701 and the knowledge to be gained from 6702 will be beneficial during fieldwork.
During the week I stay in Greenville but on the weekends you can most likely find me in Southport or anywhere else but Greenville. I love spending time with my family and friends, especially my four-year-old nephew Tyler. I also love my cat Clifford because he is crazy yet sweet! During the summer I love going to Wrightsville Beach and Lake Waccamaw. I don't think I could ever live somewhere too far from the water!
Now, some information about me. I was born in Whiteville, NC but grew up in Fuquay Varina, NC. I came to ECU in the fall of 2000 and I have been an East Carolina Pirate for 8 years now!! I attended for undergrad from 2000-2004 and completed my bachelor's degree in Communication Science and Disorders. I then began the clinical PhD program for audiology in the fall of 2004 and after 2 semesters decided it was not the program for me, especially after I found occupational therapy.
I am currently a second year graduate student in the occupational therapy masters program. I am very excited to be in the last semester of classes before fieldwork II. I am also very excited because I just got engaged on January 4th!! After this semester I will finally get to move to Southport, NC full-time (currently I drive there every weekend) because of my fieldwork II placements at Coastal Rehab in Wilmington and New Hanover County School System. I was very excited and lucky with my placements. I think the information learned from 6701 and the knowledge to be gained from 6702 will be beneficial during fieldwork.
During the week I stay in Greenville but on the weekends you can most likely find me in Southport or anywhere else but Greenville. I love spending time with my family and friends, especially my four-year-old nephew Tyler. I also love my cat Clifford because he is crazy yet sweet! During the summer I love going to Wrightsville Beach and Lake Waccamaw. I don't think I could ever live somewhere too far from the water!
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