Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Your weekly dose of information that keeps you up to date on the latest developments in the field of technology designed to assist people with disabilities and special needs.
Show notes:
Tobbi Dynavox with Kelsey Reynolds – www.tobiidynavox.com
——————————
If you have an AT question, leave us a voice mail at: 317-721-7124 or email tech@eastersealscrossroads.org
Check out our web site: https://www.eastersealstech.com
Follow us on Twitter: @INDATAproject
Like us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/INDATA
——-transcript follows ——
KELSEY REYNOLDS: Hi, this is Kelsey Reynolds, and I’m the Indiana and Northwest Ohio AAC consultant of tobii DynaVox, and this is your assistance technology update.
WADE WINGLER: Hi, this is Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals crossroads in Indiana with your Assistive Technology Update, a weekly dose of information that keeps you up-to-date on the latest developments in the field of technology designed to assist people with disabilities and special needs.
Welcome to episode number 300 of assistive technology update. Wow! I can’t believe we made it all the way to 300. It’s scheduled to be released on February 24, 2017.
Today I have Kelsey Reynolds who is with tobii DynaVox to talk about what’s new with them and a little bit of commentary about behind the scenes of this show to celebrate episode 300.
We hope to hear from you on our listener line at 317-721-7124, or by sending us a note on Twitter at INDATA Project, or visit our website at www.eastersealstech.com.
***
Because we are celebrating episode 300, I thought I would answer some of the more common questions that I get about the show and give you a bit of the behind the scenes look at Assistive Technology Update. This show is produced by me, Wade Wingler, and I host it as well. I have a lot of folks who help me with the show.
One of the questions I get is how did the show start? Almost 6 years ago, we decided that we would do a 2 to 5 minute show weekly on the news that happens in the field of assistive technology every week. I get a lot of emails and list serves and newsletters and things like that. We also have vendors of assistive technology and guest here at Easter Seals crossroads to tell us about the new things happening in assistive technology. The original idea was to talk just to be put in Indiana about a few news items that happen each week in the field of assistive technology. Very quickly—and I think it’s because of the format of the show: it’s a podcast, right, it can go anywhere in the world— we outgrew that format and outgrew that time. We decided to do a few more news stories and decided to talk about apps related to assistive technology. Then we started adding interviews with thought leaders in the field of assistive technology. We thought, how cool would it be to add inventors or researchers or remarkable users of assistive technology and get an idea from people who use assistive technology or are creating the cutting edge of assistive technology, what their thoughts are and plans and those kinds of things.
I’m often asked, how do you get guests and how do you find the new stories that you end up covering on assistive technology update? I have to say that I don’t to all that on my own. That’s for sure. We have about 20 people or so here at Easter Seals crossroads who work full-time in the field of assistive technology. When you have that many people that interested in a topic, people come to me with ideas for interviews all the time. We’ll say, I met this interesting person or I heard about this technology. We send emails out and make phone calls and ask people if they would like to be a guest on the show. We also ask guests who come on the show if they would recommend other guests who might be interested in being on the show and have an interesting thing to say about assistive technology. That’s a hint as to sometimes you might find topics run in a series. We may have a topic on autism related to assistive technology and have two or three shows in a row that have to do with autism. A lot of the times that’s because one guest leads to another guest who leads to another guest and those kinds of things.
Another question I get asked is who all is behind the scenes doing it? It goes like this: first and foremost, the staff of the assistive technology Center and the INDATA Project at Easter Seals crossroads definitely are my number one ally when it comes to putting together my show. I’m constantly getting story ideas, interview ideas, technical support from the folks here who swim in the assistive technology waters all the time. Also we have partners who contribute content to the show every week. Some of the folks you might hear from are Audrey Bush, who is with ATAP, and she gives us insight into what’s happening in Washington DC as it relates to disability and assistive technology; we have folks at BridgingApps out of Easter Seals in Houston: Amy Barry you hear a lot, Kristin Reat you hear a lot, and there are others at BridgingApps who call and weekly for our app worth mentioning segment; you’ll occasionally hear from Scott Davert at AppleVis who gives some witty app reviews, Scott is somebody who has a very keen insight into what’s happening with assistive technology and apps related to folks who are blind or visually impaired; and every once in a while our buddies at tools for life at Georgia Tech will call in with some information as well, Ben Jacobs, Carolyn Phillips, and others down there. After that it’s me. I record the show each week, schedule and record interviews, and most of the time on the person who is running the board and doing the technical engineers, editing, and all that stuff. We aren’t a huge staff here, but it is a whole lot of input from lots of folks so that we can put a show together every week.
On the question I get is where can I listen to the show. More and more that answer is becoming wherever you get your podcast. ITunes is probably the primary place that people find our show and listen to it. Also you can go to our website which is www.eastersealstech.com. There is up on that list not only this but our other podcast as well. But we are also on stitcher and tune in radio and a bunch of podcasts services that pick up the fee to put out there. Often you can hear us and we listen to podcasts. In a few places, we are also broadcasted on terrestrial radio through a local radio reading service. There are radio reading services that broadcast special frequency to special radios targeting people who have disabilities and usually folks who are listening to the obituaries and newspaper articles and magazines and those kinds of things, but we are also picked up and carried as a regular show on those terrestrial special broadcast stations as well.
While I have you here, I want to turn the tables, because I have some questions for the audience. Every once in a while we ask you for input and feedback on how we are doing and what we are doing well and what you would like to see. Here are some questions I like to hear from you and get an email from you at tech@eastersealscrossroads.org, or better yet call our listener line. That number is 317-721-7124. Let me know the answers to these questions. If you call the listener line, it is very likely we will end up putting your feedback on a future show.
Here’s question number one. What would you like to hear more of or less of? We do news and apps and legislative updates and interviews. Do you like some of that content more than others? Would you rather us do more news and less interviews, or more interviews and less news? Quick questions. What makes you tune into the show each week? What keeps you coming back? If you are someone who listens on a regular basis, why? Is it inertia or something you are looking for? The last question is, who would you like to hear interviewed on assistive technology update? Who is your dream interview? Somebody who is a thought leader in the field of assistive technology or just as a remarkable perspective on assistive technology. My dream interview is Stevie wonder, so if anybody out there has a connection to Stevie wonder, I would like to ask a very simple question: how has assistance technology changed for you and how do you use it since you’ve been aware of assistive technology. I think I’ll be a fun conversation.
Any other feedback you have, answers to those questions, please leave us a voicemail on our listener line at 317-721-7124, or shoot us an email at tech@eastersealscrossroads.org. Happy 300 episode!
***
Tobii DynaVox is a name we hear and see in the news all the time as it relates to assistive technology. The I’ve been in the field for a long time and those are just part of the organization that I have been aware of for a long time now. I was super excited when Kelsey Reynolds, who is the AAC consultant for Indian and Northwest Ohio for tobii DynaVox, showed up on our staff in service schedule, and I thought when she talked to our staff about augmentative and alternative communication, I’m going to see if she would step into the studio and talk to my listening audience a little bit about that. She said sure, happy to do it.
I’m so excited to have Kelsey here in studio today.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: Thanks for having me.
WADE WINGLER: So excited to have you here. You just spent some time talking with our staff at Easter Seals crossroads in the INDATA Project all about what’s going on with tobii DynaVox, gave us an overview of the devices and technology, and some of the new things that are happening. I thought it would be great if we could replay that conversation here on the air. I want to start with a little bit of the history and background of tobii DynaVox for folks in my audience who might not be terribly familiar with augmentative and alternative communication or tobii DynaVox. Take us to school a little bit about the company.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: I can try. Tobii DynaVox, a lot of people know them as two separate companies. However, in 2014 they merged. Tobii was known for their eye gaze technology. DynaVox was known for their language-based systems and how they programmed devices. In 2014 when they merged, we became a global market leader in developing and providing assistive and augmentative communication through touch base and award-winning eye tracking. Our eye tracking is awesome and we just released our new tracker this past six months. When tobii DynaVox merged, everyone at the company was thrilled because it was like to powerhouse is coming together and becoming this really awesome global market leader in the industry.
WADE WINGLER: Let’s talk about augmentative and alternative communication, what kind of disabilities are talking about in general, why do we need this, and then we are going to break it down into individual technology that tobii DynaVox offers.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: Alternative and augmentative communication, AAC, is super important for anyone who has problems writing or being able to give voice output. We want to give a voice to those of all backgrounds, all ages. There is no atypical person who relies on AAC. Our overall goal is to help empower and one with physical, cognitive, sensory, language and communication problems find that voice. If any of you know someone who is nonverbal or has lost their voice, you know how important that is and what that means to lose that and regain it with a speech generation device.
WADE WINGLER: Let’s talk a little bit about the individual classes of devices. In our session this morning, you talk about compass and tees and eyes. It made sense to me, but can you break it down a little bit?
KELSEY REYNOLDS: We have durable medical equipment devices and non-durable medical equipment devices. DME’s, if you’re familiar with them, are similar to wheelchairs. You can get a device every five years so it’s important to have a device that can grow with you through life. Through your communication journey, it is important. We have two different categories of devices. We have our I series and our T series. I’ll first talk about our T series. T stands for “tablet”, so really creative. These tablet based devices run off and android-based system and are capable of using touch, a head mouse, regular mouse, or switches. There are three different devices within this category. We have our seven inch screen, our 10 inch screen, and 15 inch screen, all of which are great for different scenarios. Our 15 inches great for vision impairment or touch access impairments. Our 10 inch is probably our most common, looks most like an iPad. Our seven inch is portable and easy to use. We have this software called compass which we can get into later. It’s a great system.
Our I series is known for eye gaze. Basically we have two different sizes for this under durable medical equipment. That is your I-12 and I-15, both are great for different reasons and it just depends on how things work for individuals once they try them out. Size is the biggest difference and it’s just once they try it out how it works. Your eye gaze technology, you can use your eyes to communicate with our software, and you also have access to the Internet. You are able to open things like email or Facebook with those types of things from the communication software all with your eyes or other ways to access such as touch switches, etc.
WADE WINGLER: We talked a little bit about compass software. Is that software that goes across all the device platforms? Tell me about that.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: Compass goes with our T series and I series. They can be accessible through eye gaze. We also have communicator on our I series devices. Compass had nine different diagnoses in mind when it came about. The research behind it was to create a unique and customized approach for individuals with different disabilities. There is one page created called stroke and brain injury, and that’s for TBI, strokes, etc., with detailed photos to help them be able to communicate and have easier access to that. We have another page called core first with core vocabulary, which is a widespread language system that we want to teach, is known and we have core first at the front of the device making sure that there is motor planning involved in that and going up many great sizes depending on what level of communication each individual is at. Great, different pages to work with every individual.
WADE WINGLER: I noticed during the demo this morning, and mostly our staff were misbehaving with devices and chattering, that there is also quick phrases or quick access stuff as well for those more commonly use conversational things.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: I think that is something to take note of. With our devices, we want people to learn how to sentence a build. We want people to learn what each word means. That’s the core strategy. That being said, we also know that there is a lack of social interaction in a lot of devices and can negation software. Quick fires and quick phrases and quick topics are all put into the device to help increase that social participation. There are words like awesome and cool and okay the people can use once. It’s a one-hit bun and they don’t have to take time to spell it out and create a sentence to say it. They can really socialize and participate in everyday conversation.
WADE WINGLER: I know I was looking for the sorry button because I had constructed a sentence that says something like I want more pie, and I was in the staff meeting and I felt bad for blurting that out. I needed the sorry button. I found it.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: I’m glad you found it.
WADE WINGLER: Talk to me a little bit about pricing and funding of the devices. I know we had different categories. Some are DME, some are tablet based. I know there is a price associated with it, but it’s not like you go down to the corner store and buy one of these devices from tobii DynaVox. Talk to me about that. Speak to the whole process in general, first the pricing. These devices—with our I series devices, they range from $15,000-$17,000 when you add mounts and everything altogether for them. With our T series, they range from about $4000-$7000. That’s for the durable medical equipment. When you are going through getting a durable medical equipment, you go through insurance typically for that. Typically how the process works with getting a device, a speech therapist, if you’re going through insurance, would have to write a report for a device like this. From there we would ensure to insurance. Depending on each insurance, what’s covered and what state you live in, etc., Medicaid typically will cover a device if they believe it’s medically necessary for this individual. Medicare typically covers – it depends—around 80 percent, and private insurance it just depends. If you have a combination of those, great. If not, that’s okay. You other ways to find those devices as well as devices that are not durable medical agreement that are a little bit cheaper, same software, just more cost-effective for people who want to directly pay for a device.
WADE WINGLER: It makes sense. I’m teaching a class at Purdue University this summer in special education, and it’s so funny that the week when you and I end up in the studio together is the week we are talk about AAC as part of this class. There are some folks in the class who are familiar and have a lot of experience with AC, and there are some folks were educators who it is new for them. There was this debate which I think is a classic debate about why we need devices that cost over $10,000 or more when all you really need it to get a tablet device or iPad to go to the app store and download something that is free or costs a tiny bit. I started to get into that a little bit, but I thought I would ask Kelsey to see what her thoughts are on that site might have a better response for them.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: I’m glad you brought that up. That’s definitely something discussed often. With iPads and apps, that did create a whole another world for AAC. It’s not that I’m ever against apps and those types of things and using them, but there is a difference. I would say with our communication software, having the device, durable medical equipment dedicated for communication, if we are looking at the kid population, that is so important. IPads are really used a lot of the times to play with videos, games, other things. When they are playing with these games or on YouTube or playing with some other app, where is there was going to be? If they are playing with that, they are going to have no motivation to participate in conversation, answer those questions, if there are not already doing that on their own. I was saying this before that my dream world, everyone would have an iPad and a communication device. There would be up to have the iPad for games and other thing can have a communication device directly for communication, whether that be a language software such as ours but also having other forms of, negation. It’s completely fine to do both. The other part about it is I support all of these devices, the durable medical equipment. I’m able to go out and provide training. With the apps, we don’t support them because I physically and not allowed to touch people’s iPads. However, with that, communication and teaching someone a communication device, it is teachable but it is definitely something that having an expert in someone who can help you through the process is so important, whether you get a communication device from us or somewhere else. It’s so important to have an expert to help you and also help the speech therapist be that support system for them to help out that individual learn how to use a communication device and be there for them. Those are the two biggest things.
The last thing I’ll say is that durable medical equipment, you can throw them, do a lot of things to them, and they’re not going to break. There is a reason why entrance will fund that and not an iPad. I would recommend this to any single person – please do not do this. I’ve heard of reps in the company standing on the devices to show how durable they are. I do not do that. Please don’t do that. It just shows that they can handle a lot. They take a beating when kiddos are having tantrums. They are going to want to throw stuff, and if that’s what they are working on at that time, that can happen. All three important things whether you are an adult or kid, it’s great to have a communication device versus an iPad.
WADE WINGLER: I think that makes sense. I’m going to take that back to my class and say listen to this interview because it answers your questions. We talked primarily about interpersonal communication, but a lot of devices at tobii DynaVox do more than that. There are some bells and whistles. Talk to me about those noncommunication features that are available.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: On the devices, the noncommunicative features that are there, if we are looking at our I series, like I said, communication isn’t just face-to-face verbal communication anymore. In the technology world we live in, everyone is on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat. That is so part of our culture now. So many people need to use that to be connected with family members and be able to speak to other people. When you don’t have a voice and don’t have the ability to use your hands to pick up a cell phone and text someone, it’s really hard to keep in touch with people. I think the great thing our company does, especially with our I series devices, is there is the capability to email right from the communication software. There is a Facebook app built into the software that you can get on Facebook easily, check your posts, look at feeds, etc., and you can also text people if your phone is compatible with the device as well along with having the capability to turn off your TV and other things. Independence is really the key factor for these devices. When you lose your independence – I haven’t had that happen to me except when I was younger, and it is still hard for me. Now that I’ve gotten older, I can’t imagine going back and living with my parents and taking away that independence. That something that so many of these patients I work with are going through. Having the capability to just turn off the TV, the smile I see on people’s faces when they can just do that is awesome. Really interesting features. You can also get on the Internet. I’ve had people write Word documents. I know someone who wrote a book through our devices. It’s just not limited to communication. I recently had someone I took a device to him, he tried every thing out, and he was like that you have no idea. I haven’t been able to run my business. All of my business is over email and text. He was like, this is what’s going to bring me back and allow me to provide for my family. It was awesome to see. Now he is running his business from home using his eyes. That’s just an awesome thing.
WADE WINGLER: That’s great. We are getting close on time for the end of the interview. Before we go, I want to ask you what are some things on the horizon with tobii DynaVox. As you look out for the teasers of what’s coming, what’s coming?
KELSEY REYNOLDS: Our technology is always changing. I’m sure we are always coming out with something soon. They don’t tell us very much. I believe there is going to be something coming out sometime soon just because it’s been a couple months since. My guess is that we’ll probably have more integrated software, easier to use, and devices that are probably changing. That’s probably the only thing I can give you. They don’t give me much to tell. When I do find out something, I will let you guys know immediately and we can have another one of these podcasts. The one that would be great. For folks who want to learn more about tobii DynaVox, want to reach out, get connected, what kind of contact information would you recommend?
KELSEY REYNOLDS: To get to our website, it is www.tobiidynavox.com. If you’re more interested in looking at resources and learning about the tobii DynaVox community, you can sign on to mytobiidynavox.com and create an account. If you have any questions from here on out and want to reach me, you can reach me at kelsey.reynolds@tobiidynavox.com, or you can give me a phone call or text at 317-619-3469. Last thing, if you want to connect on Facebook, there is a huge Facebook community for tobii DynaVox. It’s www.facebook.com/tobiidynavox/
WADE WINGLER: Kelsey Reynolds is AAC consultant for Indiana and Northwest Ohio, is with tobii DynaVox, and has been our guest today. Thanks so much for stopping by.
KELSEY REYNOLDS: Thanks for having me.
WADE WINGLER: Do you have a question about assistive technology? Do you have a suggestion for someone we should interview on Assistive Technology Update? Call our listener line at 317-721-7124, shoot us a note on Twitter @INDATAProject, or check us out on Facebook. Looking for a transcript or show notes from today’s show? Head on over to www.EasterSealstech.com. Assistive Technology Update is a proud member of the Accessibility Channel. Find more shows like this plus much more over at AccessibilityChannel.com. That was your Assistance Technology Update. I’m Wade Wingler with the INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads in Indiana.
***Transcript provided by TJ Cortopassi. For transcription requests and inquiries, contact tjcortopassi@gmail.com***