The LightWRITER SL40 has text messaging capabilities.  Perhaps this would be
less intimidating and the keyboard will likely be easier to use than what is
available on phones.

Peggy Dellea, MS, OT/L
Assistive Technology Center
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Boston, MA 02114

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of lisa
Sent: Thu 6/10/2010 3:47 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: texting phones from Verizon

Thank you to Betts and to Antoinette.

Both the pALS and the partner are very NEW to technology and I am afraid
walking into the Verizon store could be quite overwhelming to them both.

I had thought of the netbook option, but was afraid of overwhelming them.
especially since it doesn't seem as seamless getting the info/text BACK to
the netbook.

They really need to take baby steps and sort of need to think
compartmentalized at this point.

It will be a challenge as they have no history with texting, pagers, or a
home computer with email!  YIKES!

To top it off, they are both YOUNG! It's amazing to think they haven't had
technology in their lives.

Lisa M. Bruening, M.S., CCC-SLP

Patient Services Coordinator

The ALS Association

 Northern Ohio Chapter

phone: 216-592-2572

toll free:  888-592-2572

fax:  216-592-2575

Check out our webpage:  www.alsaohio.org

Become an ALSA Advocate!  It's easy!

Go to our website and follow the tab for Public Policy. Click on Advocacy
Action Center and sign up today!

Where Patients Matter Most

  _____

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Betts Peters
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 2:29 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: texting phones from Verizon line

Hi Lisa,

I know a PALS who uses the LG enV Touch from Verizon and likes it a lot.  I
haven't used it myself, so I don't really know how easy it would be for
someone who is new to texting.  However, according to cnet.com, it does
offer multiple options for text entry on the touch screen, including
handwriting recognition, multitap or T9 on an alphanumeric keyboard, and a
QWERTY keyboard.  There is also a slide-out QWERTY physical keyboard.

Another potentially useful feature of the enV Touch is that it has a simple
text-to-speech function.  Within the Notepad tool, there is an option to
speak what has been written.  Again, I haven't been able to try it myself,
but my client says it works well.  Another client had the LG Voyager, which
I believe is the precursor to the enV Touch, and the Notepad TTS function on
his phone produced good-quality speech.

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:  <http://www.alsa-or.org> www.alsa-or.org

ShopToDefeatALS.com <http://www.shoptodefeatals.com/>  - start your shopping
here and support the fight against ALS!

WalktoDefeatALS.org <http://www.walktodefeatals.org/>  - visit today to sign
up for the Walk!

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of lisa
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 10:41 AM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: texting phones from Verizon line

Sorry,

The patient's speech is not intelligible on the telephone any longer.

His partner and family want him to start using texting.  They are up for a
new phone and I was hoping to point them toward a few models that have a
good (i.e., larger)  keyboard or those that have been successfully used with
other pALS.

Thanks for asking for the clarification.

Lisa M. Bruening, M.S., CCC-SLP

Patient Services Coordinator

The ALS Association

 Northern Ohio Chapter

phone: 216-592-2572

toll free:  888-592-2572

fax:  216-592-2575

Check out our webpage:  www.alsaohio.org

Become an ALSA Advocate!  It's easy!

Go to our website and follow the tab for Public Policy. Click on Advocacy
Action Center and sign up today!

Where Patients Matter Most

  _____

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Antoinette Verdone
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 1:32 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: texting phones from Verizon line

Lisa,

I am not 100% clear what you are asking for?

Can the patient speak?  Why does he want to do text?

Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP

Assistive Technology Specialist

The ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter

42 Broadway, Suite 1724

New York, NY 10004

Phone: 212-720-3054

Fax: 212-619-7409

Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx

www.als-ny.org

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar"  -- Helen
Keller

  _____

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of lisa
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 1:19 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: texting phones from Verizon line

Hi!

Any suggestions on a verizon phone for a pALS with poor speech to upgrade to
a texting phone?  He has "ok" hand use right now, but it is beginning to be
impacted.

This will be a TOTAL change for the pALS as he has never texted or used
technology (computers included).

Thanks!

Lisa M. Bruening, M.S., CCC-SLP

Patient Services Coordinator

The ALS Association

Northern Ohio Chapter

phone: 216-592-2572

toll free:  888-592-2572

fax:  216-592-2575

Check out our webpage:  www.alsaohio.org

Become an ALSA Advocate!  It's easy!

Go to our website and follow the tab for Public Policy. Click on Advocacy
Action Center and sign up today!

Where Patients Matter Most

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