Done.
Thanks

Alisa Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services

Follow me on Twitter @alsassistivetec
or visit my blog on assistive technology for people with ALS: http://alsassistivetechnology.blogspot.com

Direct phone number 215-631-1877

________________________________

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Beth Barrett
Sent: Fri 1/6/2012 5:05 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Debbie King
Subject: RE: info request

Please remove Beth Barrett:  xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx and add xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx  to this list

Mary C. Riggs, MS,. CRC, LPC

Director of Care Services and Chapter Programs

The ALS Association, St. Louis Regional Chapter

Where Patients Matter Most

Fax:  314-432-2991

Phone: 888-873-8539

The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

 Description: Description: cid:image001xxxxxx@01CAE20D.0A562370<https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchange/abrownlee/Drafts/RE:%20info%20request.EML/image001xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alisa Brownlee
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 3:35 PM
To: National ALS Association AT Listserv
Subject: FW: info request
Importance: High

Hello fellow AT professionals,

Below is an email I received this afternoon.  Anyone have any out of the box ideas for this family?

Thanks,

Alisa

Alisa Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services

Follow me on Twitter @alsassistivetec
or visit my blog on assistive technology for people with ALS: http://alsassistivetechnology.blogspot.com <http://alsassistivetechnology.blogspot.com/>

Direct phone number 215-631-1877

________________________________

From: Vlahos Ioannis [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Fri 1/6/2012 4:23 PM
To: Alisa Brownlee
Subject: info request

Dear Ms Brownlee,

I have found your e mail while searching for information about augmentative communication and I am addressing you ,hoping to get some advice and information.

We live in Greece, island of Crete, my wife 58 yrs old., was diagnosed 5 years ago with ALS (bulblar form). Two years ago she underwent tracheostomy, and she cannot speak since then. For more than a year She was able to write on a board as her hands were not affected. However , In the past 8 months her condition worsened and she cannot write anymore-or she does , but we cannot read her writing.

I have made for her a large board with printed capital letters of the alphabet , so that by pointing at the letters we can know what she wants to say.

Unfortunately her vision is not so good (diplopia) so when she points to a letter her hand keeps shaking and she ends up pointing  to a different (neighbohring ) letter than the one she intends to show.

This makes communication very difficult and requires a lot of time and patience and most of the times we cannot make up what she wants to tell us.

Would you have something to suggest and advice us for helping and making communication possible?

I know there are  computers . but she cannot use one , because of the eye and the hand problem.

Whatever the apparatus proposed, it has to have large letters (not a regular keyboard) and be easy to look at or touch.

I would appreciate any information you can give us.

we could not afford a very expensive apparatus, so a rahter simple solution would be the most advicable.

Thanking you in advance

sincerely,

Yannis Vlahos

Eva's husband and caregiver.