Marsha Threlkeld
Washington Initiative for
Supported Employment
[email protected]
APSE presentation, Friday
morning, June 29, 2012
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Where’s the Help?
AssistiveWare
http://www.assistiveware.com/taking
-pulse-augmentative-andalternative-communication-ios
 Project showed iPad helped improve
communication, independence, and
reduction in behavior or frustration.
 Project showed the “professionals”
needed to learn to use the
equipment with participants.

Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Staff: Help or
Hindrance?
Who needs the info
and expertise?
Your IT staff do not
have the
knowledge of
individuals or the
work environment
Need direct staff,
or one “go-to” staff
in the field, and
with job seekers
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
How do we support staff to learn?







What have we learned
about how people learn?
We can’t just place iPads
in the hands of staff
Making time to learn
Incorporating it into our
own practice but moving
beyond that.
Just try it!
Have a little faith, have a
little fun, have a little
patience,.
Don’t try to be a
perfectionist. Be a
continual learner.
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Apps vs Built in Features and
Accessibility






Don’t get beyond the equipment’s built
capabilities if you don’t need to.
Look at different choices in “settings”.
Look at built in accessibility features.
Consider ease or usability vs. what is built in.
Consider using a generic app (Skype,
Checkable, Errands).
Consider using a specialized app when it will
work the best for the person and get the best
results.
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Built in
Accessibility
Features
•Zoom
•Large
text
•Speak Selection
•Custom Vibration
•Assistive Touch
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Making decisions on equipment
and apps for individuals








Use a team approach
Make sure the person is present
Ask what the challenge is or what can be gained;
what do you want the equipment or app to do?
Consider the environment the device will be used in
most frequently
Consider physical needs and preferences of the
person
Consider engagement possibilities from coworkers,
family, others
Realize you are trying it out and it may or may not
work for the person; be flexible
Consider generic apps vs. specialized apps
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Short List of Apps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Touchtrainer, compatible iPad, iPod, and iPhone, $4.99,
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-trainer-autism-special/id424128577?mt=8
Little Puzzles African Plains, Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and
iPad.Requires iOS 4.3 or later, free, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-puzzlesafrican-plains/id438085328?mt=8
Pictello, Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 4.2 or later,
$18.99, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pictello/id397858008?mt=8
FirstThen, Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or later,
$9.99, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/first-then-visual-schedule/id355527801?mt=8
Choiceworks, Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or
later, $14.99, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/choiceworks/id486210964?mt=8
Yes/No, Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or later,
$1.99, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/answers-yesno/id337470555?mt=8
TalkTablet, iPad only, $79.99, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talktabletneo/id501190106?mt=8
One Bus Away (Local app), iPhone, iPad, Ipod, Android, free,
http://onebusaway.org/
Penultimate, Languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, compatible iPad ios 3.2 or later, $.99,
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/penultimate/id354098826?mt=8
Checkable, Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or
later, $7.99, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/checkable-checklists-forWashington Initiative for Supported Employment:
business/id440974561?mt=8
www.theinitiative.ws
More Suggested Apps













TimeTimer, $3.99, iPhone, iPad, iPod
Alarmed, free, iPhone, iPad, iPod
Or use the old Picture
Mobiletag, free
Exchange System, $32.99 on
A special phone , iPhone, $.99
Amazon
FotoFarm, free
VoCal, free version to try, robust version to buy
Skype, free
Talking Tom, free
Flexible Counter
Budget 101, iPhone, iPad, iPod, $.99
Dragon Dictation, free for iPhone and iPad
Errands, iPhone, iPad, iPod, free
My Video Schedule
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Evolution to the New Natural
Video Modeling
 Video or multi-sensory cueing
 Video feedback
 Schedulers
 Alarms
 Skype and Facetime
 Informing what to do now, what to do
when you are finished, and what to
do next

Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Vancouver & Evergreen School
Districts, Vancouver, WA







RFP to school districts, two chosen
Each district identified five 2013 exiting students
Ipads, cases, wheelchair mount to teachers and
students, iTunes cards for apps
Pre and post surveys of students, families,
teachers
Weekly journaling from students
Looking for increased employment rates,
comparing students with and without iPads
Funded by Clark County Developmental
Disabilities
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Kent School District Transition
Program, Kent WA
20 iPads, one iMac, docking station
 One teacher dedicated to technology
 Use equipment to do task analysis at
community based work sites
 Track and document student progress
 Create video resumes
 Share video footage with families
 Video of Tyler

Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Cohort of Employment Specialists
10 employment organizations represented
Each identified one staff person to join
Each received iPad & iTunes card for apps
Monthly cohort meetings for 6 months
Share stories of using the devices
Funding: Pierce County Developmental
Disabilities
 Interface with VR Technology Coordinator
& VR counselors
 Facebook page: WiSe Assistive and
Information Technology Project
 Blog






Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Cohort at the Apple Store
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Products by “Enabling Devices”

http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/Adap
tedElectronics/iPad_Accessories/ipadmounting-system wheelchair mount

Cordless super switch from enabling
devices
http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/Adap
tedElectronics/iPad_Accessories/ipadcordless-super-switch
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Cases and Covers for Devices
The Otter Box
http://www.otterbox.com/ipad-2cases/ipad-2-cases,default,sc.html
 HandyShell by Speck
http://www.speckproducts.com/tabletipad-cases/handy-shell-for-ipad.html
 Or something basic yet protective
http://www.speckproducts.com/tabletipad-cases/handy-shell-for-ipad.html

Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
Sites for Ongoing Information




BridgingApps http://bridgingapps.org/
Teaching Learners
http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogs
pot.com/2009/06/ipod-touchiphone-app-roundup-for-users.html
AssistiveWare
http://www.assistiveware.com/taking-pulseaugmentative-and-alternative-communicationios
WiSe Assistive and Information Technology
Project Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/GoWiSeAT
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
The Future








http://atcoalition.org/article/future-assistivetechnology
Gesture based interfacing
Cloud computing, sharing more easily
More apps on more devices
Better environmental controls
Robotics for assistance
More generic or universal solutions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQlLTc9
M7vA/
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/#!/GoWiSeAT
WiSe AT/IT facebook
page
 “like” us


Daily postings about
apps and more
Marsha Threlkeld, WiSe, [email protected]