Dynavox is a new form of Assistive Technology that students with disabilities use within their everyday life to become more effective communicators.
Assistive Technology is anything that can help someone with a disability regain normalcy. This can come from audio players, recorders, writing supports, and Dynavox is used for communicative assistance.
The types of disabilities that Dynavox can be used for are Cerebral Palsy, Autism, ALS, and many more.
The use of Dynavox is revolutionary because it is made for people that have disabilities where their muscle and limb coordination is affected. With the muscles being affected, it is normal that someone with the disabilities above will have a problem being an effective communicator and that is where Dynavox steps in.
An individual can use Dynavox by using the touchscreen which resembles that of an iPad. If an individual has an issue moving their arm or fingers to use the screen, Dynavox also has an eye scanning system called EyeMax.
Dynavox is new and revolutionary in many ways and learning to use such a complex system can be challenging. On the Dynavox website there are training options which allow a person to practice using the software to be able to use it at its full capacity.
The Dynavox also has an app which allows parents and students alike to try using the Dynavox and its software before buying it.
InterAACt is the communication system that Dynavox use and its home screen is something called “Quick Fires”. Quick Fires are set up by ages ranging from Young Children all the way up to their highest age category of Adults 50+. On each of these age settings, the home screen gets bigger and has more options for communication that correlate to their age.
For example, the Young Child age range’s home screen will have options of calling for parents where the Adult age category does not. The Teen’s software even has responses like “Oh my gosh” and “Whatever”.
The InterAACt technology even has voice options for arguments that also correlate to what people their age would say. The Child software has the option, “Be quiet”. The Teen software has the option of, “Stop being a jerk”, and the Adult software has, “Don’t interrupt me!”
Along with being able to tell people what they are thinking, people who control the Dynavox can also change its settings to be able to work in a variety of environments including the classroom and playground, medical appointments, and even ATM banking.
To add a different environment to the Dynavox software, the individual has to take a picture of the area, the laundry room for instance, using the Dynavox’s camera and then they can add which quick fires they would like to have accessible on that page.
Dynavox in the classroom is providing ways to interact with teachers, classmates, and even with the material in the class with the use of the home screen quick fires.
With Dynavox’s “Education” package, you can select what level of education you are in i.e. elementary, middle, high school, and have that home screen displayed. Although the home screen comes equipped with a suggested display someone can still add or delete the Quick Fires in order to make it their own.
In the more advanced software there are even options for calculator use, texting, and even computer use where someone can use Microsoft office to print a paper.
This device is also helping students with disabilities follow the inclusion method of teaching. Inclusion is when students that have a disability are able to be a part of the general education classroom instead of the special education classes.Below, Dr. Ana Palla-Kane from University of Maryland shares her thoughts.
The main reason that some students have an issue with inclusion is because there are not enough supports for them within the general education classroom. With the Dynavox, students are able to minimize the gap and be able to be in classes with their peers.
Dynavox is the main form of communication for many of the individuals that use the device and it being equipped with so many features is making it the leading technology in the assistive technology business.
Since the Dynavox is the main piece of technology that these individuals use, the Dynavox also comes equipped with USB ports and Wi-Fi capability which makes it easier for students who use this device to remain in touch across many other devices and networks.
With the Dynavox providing communication to so many people in so many different areas of their life that it is easy to see why it has become such a great success.
Dynavox’s technology is useful to individuals in the workplace by creating the employment home screen of Quick Fires that allow for communication.
People with disabilities can have a hard time gaining access into the job market. With the help of Dynavox, the margins are getting closer.
The topics on the homepage of the Dynavox’s Employment software allows for there to be successful communication between bosses, coworkers, and even with assistants. Dynavox’s capacity for it to also work as a computer for the user allows for the Dynavox device to be used for emails.
Just like any other home page within the Dynavox’s system, you will be able to customize every aspect of it including phrases, responses, and interactions within your work place environment.
If the environment that comes with the system is not adequate for your real world environment it is a quick fix. You can simply take a picture of the location and add your own Quick Fires in order to create your own home screen.
With how easy it is to adjust the Dynavox to make it more and more accommodating over time is arguably one of its best features.
Dynavox has been proven to help people gain and retain literacy and communicative skills.
In the Journal of the Hammill Institute on Disabilities there was a study completed to see how well the Dynavox system does actually improve communication.
The subject of the study was an 11 year old boy and he showed increases in communication and literacy across a time period of 2 school years. This was one of the founding studies which proved that with using the Dynavox it can actually help an individual increase their literacy and communication skills.
Below is a video with Dr. Ana Palla-Kane who works within the University of Maryland Kinesiology department as a professor who specializes in Disability Awareness and is also the head of the TerpAccess Disability Program here on campus. This is her response when asked how does she feel about the Dynavox and its technology.
The Dynavox was essentially created in order to help people that have disabilities where the communication process is hindered to gain their voice back, and to also become more effective communicators and it is.
Another study that was conducted by two professors at Stanford University described the Dynavox device as a form of “Optimal communicative technology for students”.
With the use of the InterAACt software, it is easy to connect with peers with a variety of digital scenes that include sporting events, the post office and more. Just like any other environment within the software, it comes with a home screen of around 25+ options for communication.
With using all of the environments it has been proven that it helps to initiate and maintain the social skills that people with certain disabilities may or may not have.
However, there have also been some people that have been critical of the communication device. Some experts say that the Dynavox InterAACt software has too many home screens and that it can be hard for someone that already has impeded muscle ability to continually ‘click’ all of the appropriate quick fires in a timely manner.
When speaking with Dr. Ana Palla-Kane she had a different response.
The Dynavox is now easier than ever to have in your home since its funding can be covered without coming out of your pocket.
It is easy to see that the Dynavox is helpful to students with disabilities in many ways. But how do students gain access to them?
The answer is that the funding for Dynavox can be paid out of pocket, but more than half of the devices that are being used today are funded by the child’s school, a government organization, health insurance, and it even comes with funded repairs.
The Dynavox has never been easier to have in your home! It is a simple process that involves filling out a form about health related topics and then submitting it.
A few days later you will have your approval letter and the Dynavox will be shipped in the following 24 hrs. It is that simple.
It is easy to see why the Dynavox is such an important aspect of Assistive Technology. It is easy to use, helps with communication, and is relatively free to most of the people that use it. What else could you ask for!
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