Environmental control solutions
Annabel Gregory, Computer Access Specialist,
Libby Price, Augmentative Communication Specialist,
Regency Park Rehabilitation Engineering.
The area of environmental control for people with a disability has been growing rapidly over the past few years - both systems designed specifically for people with a disability and products from the rapidly expanding home control and automation market.
This workshop will provide the opportunity for participants to see, try and learn about a range of environmental control solutions through the use of demonstration, hands on experience and case studies. The session will include discussion about the process of selecting an environmental control system, especially the complexities of taking a range of individual pieces of technology and putting them together to create a system that meets the users needs and wants. Systems and solutions demonstrated and discussed will have applications for people from pre-schoolers through to seniors with a wide range of disabilities and requirements.
The range of solutions demonstrated will include simple through to complex systems for controlling devices such as TV, video and DVD, telephones, doors, lights and appliances or page turners. Access methods demonstrated will include voice control, big buttons, switches and scanning. There will also be information on integrating environmental control with communication devices (with or without infrared output) or wheelchair control systems.