3. Communicating with other people
Dee
already
has
access
to
an
electronic
communica2on
device.
However,
if
she
wishes
to
par2cipate
fully
in
University
life
-‐
both
academic
and
social
-‐
she
will
need
to
be
able
to
communicate
quickly
and
clearly.
This
will
be
especially
important
when
asking
ques2ons
in
lecture
theatres,
and
when
chaAng
in
loud
places
such
as
night-‐clubs.
4. Augmentative and Alternative Communication
(AAC)
Most
electronic
communica/on
devices
that
would
currently
be
recommended
for
Dee
would
feature:
•
Predic2ve
text
•
Speech
synthesiser
•
Eye-‐tracking
for
typing
text
These
can
either
be
specialist
AAC
technology
or
integrated
into
mainstream
devices.
There
can
be
pros
and
cons
to
using
each
of
these:
•
Specialist
–
adaptable
for
the
specific
needs
of
person
but
oHen
more
expensive,
&
technology
quickly
outdated.
•
Mainstream
–
oHen
cheaper,
less
s2gma
but
not
necessarily
suited
to
the
specific
needs
of
the
individual.
5. Augmentative and Alternative Communication
(AAC)
Some
popular
specialist
manufacturers
of
communica2on
technology
include
Dynavox
and
Liberator,
which
can
tailor
specially
made
devices
to
an
individuals
specific
needs.
6. Augmentative and Alternative Communication
(AAC)
.
Communica2on
soHware
that
can
be
downloaded
in
the
form
of
an
app
(e.g.
Proloquo2go,
Predictable,
Grid
Player)
for
use
on
handheld
devices
as
well
as
for
use
on
specialist
equipment.
Some
tablets,
smartphones
and
laptops
are
oHen
now
able
to
adapt
to
add
with
AT
devices
(see
here
for
some
examples).
Apple
soHware
has
several
assis2ve
features
which
makes
in
useful
for
someone
like
Dee.
Another
example
is
Tobii
PCEye
Go,
which
is
portable,
but
integrates
the
communica2on
device
with
full
computer
facili2es.
8. Augmentative and Alternative Communication
(AAC)
Currently,
a
number
of
researchers
are
inves2ga2ng
the
possibility
of
using
brain-‐computer
interfaces
to
place
the
technology
more
directly
under
the
user's
control.
For
example,
Ambient
used
the
Audeo
system
to
make
'the
world's
first
live
voiceless
phone-‐call'
in
2008;
and
may
therefore
form
the
basis
of
wireless
transmission
within
lecture
theatres,
etc,
more
easily.
A
headband-‐based
alterna2ve
already
used
in
AAC
is
the
‘Brainfingers’
hands
free
computer
control.
However,
this
technology
is
s2ll
in
its
infancy
and
is
not
commonly
used
at
the
moment.
10. Socialising
One
of
the
posi2ves
of
using
mainstream
devices
are
that
the
user
may
feel
that
using
these
over
mainstream
devices
reduces
s2gma.
This
may
help
Dee
feel
more
integrated
when
mee2ng
new
people
at
university
and
socialising
with
them.
However,
some2mes
mainstream
devises
can
be
so
overloaded
with
AT
peripherals
that
the
s2gma2sa2on
remains!
12. Sports activities
What
“mainstream
“
sports
and
outdoor
pursuits
would
you
suggest
to
Dee?
What
assis2ve
technology
could
help
enhance
her
par2cipa2on
in
spor2ng
ac2vi2es?
Could
any
of
these
technologies
enhance
her
par2cipa2on
in
other
ac2vi2es
when
she
goes
to
University?
13. Inclusive sports
There
has
been
renewed
interest
in
sports
and
disability
aHer
the
London
2012
Olympics
and
Paralymics.
Many
organisa2ons
are
aaemp2ng
to
enhance
the
opportuni2es
for
people
with
disabili2es
to
access
sports
and
leisure
facili2es
(see
the
Inclusive
Fitness
Ini2a2ve).
However,
even
specialist
organisa2ons
such
as
CP
Sport
and
EFDS
appear
to
emphasise
either
accessing
mainstream
facili2es,
or
enabling
people
with
disabili2es
to
compete
with
one
another.
Dee
is
clear,
though,
that
she
wants
to
engage
in
compe22ve
sports
with
people
regardless
of
a
disability.
14. Levelling the playing field
Dee's
aspira2ons
can
be
realised
within
a
variety
of
spor2ng
environments
-‐
especially
ones
using
assis2ve
technology.
The
list
opposite
is
by
no
means
exhaus2ve...
•
Sailing:
•
Sailability
•
Jubilee
Sailing
Trust
•
Flying:
•
Paragliding
•
Planes
•
Downhill
mountain-‐biking
...and,
controversially
for
some,
winter
games
