Have you ever tried the Portable Alarm system with E-Z Call from www.MedlabsInc.com? This alarm is loud! The E-Z Call is one switch option. They also sell a bite/puff switch. These are often used in hospitals and seem very durable. If you want to use the alarm system with an existing switch, such as micro lite, or jelly bean, etc., you will need to get an adapter that goes from, I think, 1/8" to 1/4". Enabling Devices and other companies sell them; you just need to make sure you get them going in the right direction of size.

Nancy Mashberg, M.A.
FAAST Regional Coordinator

Amy Roman <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

10/15/2010 02:35 PM

Please respond to
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To	xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
cc	LoanLibraryGreaterBayAreaALSA <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject	switch-adapted call systems- Consistently Unreliable

Hi all,
What timing! I have always found Enabling Device's adapted call chimes to be unreliable but this past Monday I took 4 in a row out of the drawer in our lending library and all were broken (we did check batteries and we don't store the batteries in the chime receiver or sender). Each had been working fine when we put them in the drawer. Giving people with ALS unreliable call chimes is horrifying to me!

I can't wait to go to Amy's presentation in Orlando! Margaret, I will try your system out too. I love the idea that yours works for a block. The Enabling Device's chimes' range varies a great deal too from device to device (we always check this in our library ). Often if we just shut the door between the sender and receiver a chime stops working.

We all need to find an alternative. I use RJCooper's too but have not been using them long enough to have a strong opinion except I think they are better.

Thanks Margaret and Amy for providing us some options.

Sincerely,

Amy Roman, MS, CCC-SLP
Augmentative Communication Specialist

Forbes Norris ALS Research Center
2324 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
P (415)600-1263
F (415)673-5184

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--- On Fri, 10/15/10, Margaret Cotts <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

From: Margaret Cotts <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: switch-adapted call systems
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, October 15, 2010, 8:54 AM

I too found the switch adapted personal call buttons not reliable enough.

I once made a switch adapted call button out of a personal pager system- (I had read of someone using this on the Living with ALS listserv).

I only used it with one person (I stopped providing direct services a while ago), but it seemed to work very well for her- and it could be activated from at least a block away (which meant her children could leave the house, and she could still beep them.

Again, I don't have wide experience using this, but it worked well for her-

(This is the personal pager system I adapted:

http://www.amazon.com/Private-Page-PS2000--premis-Paging/dp/B00007FGV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287157721&sr=8-1

Margaret Cotts

--- On Fri, 10/15/10, Travis Tallman <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

From: Travis Tallman <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: switch-adapted call systems
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, October 15, 2010, 5:49 AM

I have used the Personal pager by Adaptivation with good results. Its range however is only 75 feet and indicated as not approved to be used as a nurse-call.

Travis M. Tallman CCC-SLP:ATP

Director of Augmentative and Computer Services

xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx

Lakeview/Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County

732-549-5580 x170

732-494-6235 Fax

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Betts Peters
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 6:19 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: switch-adapted call systems

Hi everybody,

Does anyone have a switch-adapted caregiver pager or call system that they really like? We have been recommending the switch-adapted pagers sold by Enabling Devices, but I have had several families tell me that these have lots of “false positives” (they go off randomly when the switch has not been activated). Not a good thing for a caregiver who is trying to get some much-needed sleep.

It looks like Enabling Devices’ Attendant Call Chime has changed since we last ordered it – does anyone have experience with the new model? Or do you have a different product that you would recommend? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Betts Peters, MA, CCC-SLP

Assistive Technology Services Coordinator

The ALS Association, Oregon & SW Washington Chapter

310 SW 4th Ave, Suite 630

Portland, OR 97204

503-238-5559

800-681-9851

Fax: 503-296-5590

Website: www.alsa-or.org

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