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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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 CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED: This communication contains information intended only for the use of the individuals to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or exempt from other disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any disclosure, printing, copying, distribution or use of the contents is prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or by returning it by reply email and then permanently deleting the communicationfrom your system. Thank you. --- On Thu, 4/22/10, Erin Singleton <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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