EYEMAX is coming

[Wendy Homlish]

Just to let you all know one of my students is now in the process of acquiring the Eyemax - we have gone through some trials with both the Eyemax and the myTObii, she is able to access both fairly equally. I am very excited but also a bit concerned about classroom team implementation - i will keep you all posted!!

[Rose-Marie Gallagher]

Thanks for sharing this great news, Wendy! I hope the approval and funding processes go smoothly. Please do let us know how it goes. I am very excited for your student to have some independence in her communication--that is so wonderful!

In about an hour my daughter is going to test out the PRC EcoPoint and I'm very hopeful. She loves full-hit Unity but her accuracy with the head mouse is only moderate on good days. Today is NOT being a very good neurology day, so if we see success with the Tobii eye gaze access built in to the EcoPoint on this "off" day, that would REALLY be exciting.

The very best to your student, and also to the school team in implementing the Eyemax throughout her day. What are the concerns you have for team?

Rose-Marie

[Wendy Homlish]

We have set up an implementation plan, but....it's a new teacher with very little experience, and some other issues - the 1-1 aide is not well trained either, and there are ongoing issues there. Trying to work that out with the supervisor but don't know how it will go. It's really a question of administrative/supervisory support. The other "issue" is mobility - she is ambulatory, and we are trying to get the classroom set up for best access, but she needs to communicate in a variety of environments, and that could be cumbersome in some cases. I know we will need to augment with some other low/light tech, and that's fine. It's really the team that has me worried - I will be spending A LOT of time in that building! LOL I am so excited for the student while, at the same, fearful that the support issues will lead to failure for her - and I KNOW she is fully capable.

[Judy Nelson]

Dear Rose-Marie,

There was a poster session at this past year's ISAAC conference in Montreal that attempted to do a comparison between PRC WordPower 45, PRC Unity 45, and DynaVox Gateway 60. I don't think that the fuller DynaVox Picture WordPower nor the DynaVox InterAACT content were part of the study.

One of the conclusions was as follows:
"The vocabulary sets using the fewest average keystrokes per word, based on frequency lists, were Picture WordPower and Gateway 60 followed by Unity 45 Full. " You may thus find that your daughter needs less hits and movement if she switches away from Unity.

I have moved away from Unity in my classroom and now use Gateway almost exclusively for those that can use a Core Word program, and use the InterAACT/Visual Scenes for those that need earlier literacy development and/or motor planning.

Best Wishes, Judy

[Rose-Marie Gallagher]

Thanks, Judy. I'm so glad you are finding success. Perhaps we should give a higher-end Dynavox with Eyemax a try? My daughter got so discouraged trying Gateway 20 on a MightyMo after several months that she refused to use the device entirely. I tried replicating it for her to use in Speaking Dynamically Pro so she could activate with a head mouse and her reaction was very similar.

We learned so much about her learning style from observing her closely during different device trials. What we learned from her trial of the MightyMo is that her motor memory is a strength. Having to scan each new screen on Gateway/SDPro mock-up was frustrating and slow for her. She'll stick with Unity full-hit for nearly an hour at a time...something we haven't been able to get with other language storage systems.

I love that there are many choices out there and agree that we have to check them all out. Thanks so much for your input.
Rose-Marie

[DynaVox & Mayer-Johnson]

Hi, Wendy.

How exciting! Remember...we offer various types of training for new device users including online training, on location training, and on demand training. Just check out the training section on the DynaVox site for more information.. \

Congratulations!

[Mark Surabian]

As a former vendor for Eyegaze (eyegaze.com) and a provider for free local AT support to children with Retts in the Bronx, I encourage you to continue to try all devices and being a good critic. The four primary ones by age are: Eyegaze Edge, ERICA, Tobii, Eyemax, Ecopoint. Each one has unique bells and whistles, but the most important is accuracy across all environmental situations (lighting, positioning of individual, head/eye movement issues). In my free "clinic", the of the 10 girls with Retts I've seen this past year, only one was a possible candidate for eye-tracking; the rest were all so radically different--we found ways to keep one hand stimulated for some children while they made direct selections with the other; we had some children hit switches with auditory prompting; and more ideas that are obvious to you all. Although I agree that kids with Retts have the cognitive abilities you all assert, there aren't enough people being creative with finding the individuals strengths of those children and building access upon them--this takes a team, not merely a device, so make sure you have a good group of people around you.

[Wendy Homlish]

Just an update on my young lady with the EyeMax - it arrived in late May - setup and training staff, end of school - have not had a LOT of use in the classroom (school was over the second week of June) but....calibration was WAY easier for staff than i had anticipated and the student was immediately engaged - we are working on setups for communication as well as academic activities. I will be working with the student in her home on a weekly basis (first time I have done summer therapy in about 30 years!) but feel it will be a great opportunity to get the family and student well prepared for the following school year - plus give me some time with the device. So....one of the problems we are having is mounting - this student is ambulatory and likes to stand as well as sit - we have the LCD TV type mount for a table but I was wondering if anyone has tried mounting this on a pneumatic table-type thing (maybe like hospital staff uses for laptops)? I am mostly concerned about safety. Any suggestions?

[Wendy Homlish]

Just an update on the EyeMax - have been working with my young lady this summer for ESY and she is doing FANTASTIC! Trying to get motivational type activities going while "sneaking in" academics and communication skills! Working at home with her - most days she is extremely motivated - especially when she gets to choose her music! She is still exploring, and so am I. Will keep posting....