The ALS Association 2014 Clinical Conference Phoenix, AZ

1. Low Tech AAC Project:
Advocacy, Education and Support
Presenter:
Krista Strait-Higgins, LISW, ACSW
Care Services Manager

2. Low Tech AAC Kit
Origin
• Why: pALS Communication Needs
– High Tech not always best AAC intervention
• High Tech AAC Repair need or technical difficulties
• Emergency Hospitalizations
• Power outage
• Travel
• Bathing
• Transferring

3. Low Tech AAC Kit
Origin
• How: Speech Therapist Collaboration
– Collaboration with Sara Stewart, MA, CCC-SLP,
Floyd County Hospital
• Introduction to other low tech AAC options
• Collaboration in creating “new and improved” AAC board
– Collaboration with Rockwell Collins Retired
Volunteer Program
• Making and improving laser pointer devices
• Donated time/material costs

4. Low Tech AAC Kit
Origin
• How: Speech Therapist Education
– Education on Low Tech AAC options and Iowa
Chapter Resources
• SLP Conferences
• Published article in Iowa Speech & Hearing
Association newsletter
• Encourage low tech introduction simultaneous to
high tech introduction
• Offered Education at Universities with SLP
Programs

5. Low Tech AAC Kit
Origin
• How: Identified SLP Roadblocks
– Limited time to evaluate and educate
– Limited funds and resources
• Limited access to materials for evaluation
• No funding source for provision of Low Tech AAC
options to pALS
– Awareness of low tech AAC options

6. Low Tech AAC Kit
Origin
• How: Collaborative Solution
– Create kits with multiple low tech materials
– Identify education avenues for SLPs and
families on utilizing low tech tools
• You tube videos
• Written instruction
• Educational Trainings
• Support Group Demonstration
• Instruction at Universities
• SLP introduction to pALS at ALS clinic

7. Low Tech AAC Kit
Origin
• How: Collaborative Solution
– Offer delivery of kits statewide to SLPs
working with ALS clients and/or directly to
pALS home
– Partner with Equipment Loan Program vendor
to deliver low tech AAC kits statewide
– Budget to fund kits and purchase low tech
AAC items for pALS
– Created video to educate on independently
developed E-tran/EyeLink Board

8. Communication
Guide
• Yes/No /Maybe System
• Partner assisted
Scanning and
Communication
Strategies
• ETRAN or Eyelink Board
• Head Mouse
• Laser Pointer Device
• Eye Gaze AAC
• Yes/No/Maybe
• Partner
assisted
scanning
• ETRAN or
Eyelink
• Eye Gaze AAC
• Brain Computer
Interface
No Upper
Extremity
Movement
Locked-In
Syndrome
Upper
Extremity and
Head
Movement
• Yes/No/Maybe System
• Partner assisted
scanning w/ letter or
picture board
• Writing
• Personal Computer
with voice output
• Tablet with text to
speech app

9. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Communication Boards: picture and
letter
– Free boards available from The ALS
Association
• Contact Alisa Brownlee:
abrownlee@alsa-national.org
– Purchase Economy Assessment Kit Boards:
http://lowtechsolutions.org
• assessment kits for $150

10. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Communication Boards: picture and
letter
– Vidatak EZ communication board
• http://www.vidatak.com/ (approx. $12)
– Create personalized free picture boards
• Picto-Selector: http://pictoselector.eu/index.php
• ConnectABILITY:
http://connectability.ca/visuals-engine/

11. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Communication Boards: picture and
letter
– Purchase Programs to create personalized
boards:
• Boardmaker: http://www.mayer-johnson.com
• Pogoboards: http://www.pogoboards.com/
• Alternative Pointer Options
– http://amyandpals.com/

12. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Partner Assisted Scanning
– Free boards available from The ALS
Association
• Contact Alisa Brownlee:
abrownlee@alsa-national.org
– Purchase Boards: http://lowtechsolutions.org
– Partner Assisted Scanning Video

13. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Laser Pointer Device
– Instructions for making laser pointer:
http://www.rcrv.org/community_projects.php?
projID=393
– Laser pointers can also be purchased at
Lowtechsolutions.org
– Laser Pointer Device Video

14. Low Tech AAC Kit
• E-tran or EyeLink Board
– Create own version of E-tran/EyeLink Board
• Plexiglass cut to shape by plastic specialty vendor
and utilize products from local craft store. Cost
approx. $30/board plus time.
• Sign Maker company can duplicate handmade
board. Cost approx. $40/board.
– E-tran Board Video
– EyeLink Board Video

15. Low Tech AAC Kit
• E-tran Board
– Purchase Board: http://lowtechsolutions.org
• $140 and currently out of stock
– Create Personalized Picture or Phrase Based
Board with velcro and laminated
picture/phrase quadrants
– Mega Bee: video demo

16. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Partner Assisted Strategies
– www.speakbook.org
• Books can be printed and made by families or
SLP serving family
• Volunteers put books together for kits
• Costs for materials approx. $25/book
– Video Demo

17. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Writing Board
– Boogie Board
– Dry erase board
– Paper & pen
– Magna doodle

18. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Lessons Learned
– Rolling Duffle Bag better than plastic totes
– Lighter weight plexi-glass better than bullet
proof plexi-glass for E-tran/EyeLink Boards
– Some SLPs don’t have time to introduce and
review these materials with families
– Care Services staff need to introduce/offer at
appropriate times
– Families need help reviewing materials

19. Low Tech AAC Kit
• Lessons Learned
– Continued outreach and education needed
on low tech AAC options
– Research on effectiveness of low tech AAC
needed
• Wish List for Low Tech Kit
– Add playbook wrist tool
– Add MegaBee to each kit