Adaptive Switch Labs has a nice ALS package available, where you only put the drive control (joystick) through insurance once, then you can trade out for other things as needed ( head array, etc) as the disease progresses. Nice option.

 

Mini joystick doesn’t often work for clients with ALS due to the pattern of hand weakness. We often use a foot joystick for the people with weak arms, and then head array later. We have one person using fiber optics, and one with sip and puff (with his vent!). Single switch scanning is often the last option, and at least gives them control over the power features. If they can use a joystick, we try to stay with that for as long as possible, since its so intuitive. We usually use the ALS package previously mentioned if they have a weak hand on the joystick.