Hi Alisa,
Sounds like a good solution.  I just really like the pt to be able to turn the laser pointers on and off themselves for two reasons.
1.  When a partner is talking the pALS looks at them they end up zapping them in the eye with a laser beam.  Even the eye safe ones feel uncomfortable to have shined in your eyes.  Also, I have worked in facilities that are nervous about lasers in their staff/pt's eyes and I am afraid if the laser was on all the time (or when not directly being used for communication )it would cause them to say no to the whole solution.
 
2.  When my pt can turn the laser on and off, their communication partners know when they have something to say and when they don't.  Otherwise I find after a while no one is paying attention to where a pALS is pointing his/her laser.  When he turns it on though it is like an announcement that he is joining the conversation.  When he turns it off it is a clear message and no one needs to ask "Are you still spelling something to us???" 

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 Wed, 3/9/11, Alisa Brownlee <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Alisa Brownlee <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Laser pointer
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 3:07 PM

I use ones for boar hunting rifles.  They are small, like a pencil.  Once you turn them on, they stay on for the day. 
Some folks take them apart and reconfigure them--Margart Cotts may have instructions.  But I am not handy like that, so I use the hunting ones.   (I pay $39.00 for each of them.  Buy them at Walmart in the sporting goods section)

A

Alisa Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association National Office
and Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Direct Phone: 215-631-1877

________________________________

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Erin Singleton
Sent: Wed 3/9/2011 5:46 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Laser pointer


Hi everyone-

Can someone suggest a place I can get a laser pointer that turns on and off without requiring hand usage. I know someone had told me about a kit a while back. Someone also mentioned hunting stores selling them??

Erin Singleton M.A., CCC-SLP
Neuroscience Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
2335 East Kashian Lane, Suite 301
Fresno, California 93701
Office: (559) 459-6056
Cell: (559) 250-1949
Fax: (559) 459-2957
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



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