Hi,

I agree with what Margaret said. Use of a laser pointer is typically fast and efficient for my clients and for their communication partners. They almost always use a core vocabulary poster on the wall opposite from where they sit. This allows them to communicate with everyone in the room at the same time. The idea of using a small book that requires page turning does seem tedious and inefficient.

Also, I find it is very important to have the laser pointer switch adapted so the clients can turn it on and off themselves. This allows them to turn it off to look in the faces of their communication partners when the partner speaks without blasting them in the eye accidentally. Margaret is going to post instructions for how we make these switch adapted laser pointer that are very adjustable for position.

Amy

Margaret Cotts <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Both and I Amy Roman use laser pointers with communication boards/core
vocabulary boards A LOT. For a lot of my clients, it is the fastest, most
efficient way to communicate. I have a number of clients who can use a head
mounted laser pointer, but cannot use a head mouse.

My issue with the Marvision system- I think it's great that someone has put
together a commercially available laser pointer. My problem is the boards.

a. First of all, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have multiple
pages.

b. I do a formal evaluation to determine which board is appropriate (in
terms of size of cells, number of targets, visual issues, needs, etc.) To
give someone an 8.5 x 11 communication for a head mounted laser pointer
seems inappropriate.

Amy and I have put together a very simple to create laser pointer- it has
external batteries and an on/off switch. It can also be very simply adapted
so that a person with a mobility disability can turn it on and off. I'm
finishing up the instructions, - I'll post a link to them when they are
done.

To see videos of people with ALS using a laser for communication:

www.youtube.com/alscommunication

&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0jlCq9QaM4

(I'm in the process of editing a video of someone using a WordPower board.)

By the way, Class II lasers are very very low risk. Even Class IIIa are low
risk (but it's preferable to using a Class II).

Margaret Cotts

The ALS Center at UCSF

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judie Benwick
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 4:10 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] marvision

Hi Alisa,

We purchased the MarVision product for a patient here in Jacksonville. She
was an elderly lady who was not interested in a high tech product. However,
she found the MarVision too tedious to use. We then loaned it to another
patient who was much younger, and who also did not want to try a high tech
product. However, she too did not have the patience to use this device.

I was present when we tried to train the first patient on its use, so I was
able to witness her frustration and fatigue in trying the device. I think a
large part of the problem is that it requires a helper. Someone has to turn
the pages of the book until he/she finds the subject page the user is
interested in accessing. Both patients in this case were in the hospice
facility and I think that hospice nursing staff was more interested than the
patients in having this device available to improve communication.

Judie

For equipment loan contact Patti Allman at 888-257-1717, ext. 108 or
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx

Judie Benwick, MSH, MPH

Care Coordinator

The ALS Association, Florida Chapter

3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619

(Toll-free) 888-257-1717, ext. 112

(Jacksonville) 904-688-0886

(Fax) 904-685-5203

Get ready to slip on your walking shoes for The ALS Association Florida
Chapter's Walk to D'Feet ALS(r). To see 2008 dates and locations, visit
/> www.alsafl.org.

_____

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Alisa Brownlee
Sent: Mon 10/1/2007 6:26 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Assistive Technology] marvision

Is anyone familiar with this product?

http://marvision.com/_wsn/page3.html

It is a laser pointer to be used with a communication board.

Many thanks for any feedback.

Alisa

Alisa Brownlee, ATP

Assistive Technology Specialist

ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Assistive Technology Consultant, ALS Association, National Office

Direct Phone: 215-631-1877

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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