Amy- Thank you!

Can you tell me where you purchase your laser pointers? Especially the switch adapted laser pointers. Also, I have seen in videos the pointers that are on a moveable arm or mini mount on the glasses, where do you find the little mounts? I would love to extend beyond my world of Velcro!

I have one eyelink on hand but I need to order more to have available to patients. I have been searching for some Lucite plastic or something I can buy to create my own. I am not familiar with the AEeyeOU boards or the Etran. If you have more information I'd love to know about them. I will Google it!

I will look at the ALSA packet- I haven't seen that yet!

Please let me know when Margaret opens her education site- I will absolutely be checking it out.

Lastly, I didn't see the AlphaCore attachment. Can you resend it? Thank you again for your help.

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

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Amy Roman
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 9:47 AM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Low-tech and no-tech Ideas

Hi Erin,

A great place to start is by getting the packet that ALSA National provides. It has lots of communication boards.

I will attach AlphaCore to this which is the board I use for most direct selectors (laser pointer, finger, stylus). I give out a few AlphaCore boards on most of my clinic days. I shrink the board for people with less ROM and make them into wall posters for laser users.

For those who can't direct select I use the AEeyeOU board, Etran or EyeLink typically.

I also like to hand out small wallet cards from ALSA that say something like "the reason my speech is slurred or I am unable to speak is because I have ALS, etc". The card has an ABC board on the other side. It can help bulbar folks communicate on the fly and even has helped patients out of a suspected DUI when shown to the officer (also reportedly useful when trying to get a cocktail and the bartender has said you have had enough already).

I always have a few adapted laser pointers on hand. I keep a few that clip on glasses, a few attached to hand styluses and some just velcroed to barrettes. Two options are available for all my lasers. Patients can have the kind that are switch adapted or ones that just have an on off switch. I like the adapted ones that toggle on or off with a switch activation. I think it is important for pALS to be able to turn their own laser on and off. It not only alerts people in the room when they are ready to communicate but also makes it easier not to shine it in their partner's eyes when the partner is talking.

These are just a few of my favorite things...

P.S. Margaret Cotts will be opening a web based education site and store for low tech AAC for pALS in the near future. I can't wait to stop making my own Etrans and adapted laser pointers and let the expert do it!

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 Thu, 4/22/10, Erin Singleton <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Erin Singleton <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Low-tech and no-tech Ideas
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 9:11 AM

Hello everyone!

I am writing to ask for everyone's opinions on some low-tech/no-tech options for our clinic.

My question is- if you could stock up on an assortment of no-tech AAC items to have at your clinic to give out to patients or suggest to patients what could you not live without?

I'm looking for everyone's favorite low tech options to suggest to patients- laser pointers? Board maker?

Anything you use regularly that is simple and successful. I am trying to get a larger assortment of options. Thanks for your help!

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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