Can the person touch type or learn to do so?  That being the case there are a few options, and in the event of motor function decreasing, he could transition into touchscreen or scanning per below.

 

Ed Hitchcock OT/L

Technology Center

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

 

 

 

Audio Touch with touch exit, if the AAC system has it.  Sliding your finger along the screen…it will cue you what is contained in the button being touched.  The person is cued first, then if that is the button choice they want, you lift your finger off the screen and it speaks the button you just removed your finger from.

 

Scanning is typically based on visual cues, but it can be set to Audio Cue.  While Items on the screen are scanned, the audio speaks the contents of the button through a speak by the user’s ear.  When they hear the button they want is scanned, they click the switch to speak the contents outloud.

 

 

 

Hello fellow listservers,

Anyone have any advice for the situation below?

Thanks,

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I just spoke with the wife of a PALS with bulbar onset.  Communication is difficult as his speech is severely impaired and he is also blind.  Arms and hands are not affected.  Do you know of any speech generating devices that would work for a pALS who is blind?  He is a veteran and could obtain a device through the VA; however, the VA where he is being treated has not been able to suggest one.  They provided an iPad with large letters, but the letters are not large enough to be functional for him. 

 

Thank you for your advice.  I know that you often work miracles with some great product suggestions J.