Overview

Eye Tracking and ALS: What is the recipe for success? Is a retrospective analysis of approximately 400 people with ALS in the United States who have been evaluated for and provided speech generating devices (SGDs) with eye tracking. In this presentation, we will explore data and themes related to the number of hours of skilled intervention provided, the types of interventions provided, and the customizations made to the SGDs to ensure success with their SGD.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify three goals for SGD training and recommend number of training sessions to achieve user and caregiver goals.
2. Identify at least two potential customizations that a SGD user may need for their communication software.
3. Describe three benefits of the telehealth service delivery model for SGD training for people with ALS.

Strand(s)

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Target Audience

AT Specialists; Communication Specialist; Family Members; Occupational Therapists; Rehabilitation Counselor; Speech-Language Pathologists

Experience Level

Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Adult/Senior

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with recording

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2024 Conference on Saturday, January 27 from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; ASHA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours

Speaker/s:

Debra J Zeitlin, MA, SLP-CCC, ATP

Bridging Voice, Clinical Director

Biography

Debra J Zeitlin is the Clinical Director for Bridging Voice. Debra is a speech-language pathologist with a specialty in assistive technology and over 40 years of experience evaluating and providing communication solutions for people with acquired disabilities including ALS. Debra worked for 35 years at the Helen Hayes Hospital, where she most recently served as the director of the Center for Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) from 2006-2017. Debra was responsible for redesigning the CRT to include an extensive demonstration center that provides state of the art assistive technology and educational outreach to the community. Debra has worked on the issues of augmentative and alternative communication on the state and local level, including co-directing a project with the NY State Office of Health Systems Management for revision of Medicaid funding for augmentative communication devices, and developing the curriculum for the statewide dissemination/education of these guidelines. In 2007, she was instrumental in the creation of the Program for Translational Neurological Research (PTNR) at the Helen Hayes Hospital, and between 2008 and 2013, she was the Principal Investigator at the Helen Hayes Site for the NIH-sponsored project, “General Purpose Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)”. Debra has made numerous presentations and published articles on the importance, impact and potential for augmentative communication, assistive technology and BCI.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Debra receives a salary from Bridging Voice.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Annie Roche

Bridging Voice, Associate AAC Specialist, Speech Language Pathologist

Biography

Annie Roche is a speech language pathologist and Associate AAC Specialist for Bridging Voice. Annie has worked in the field of AAC for 10 years. Annie previously worked at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab providing AAC assessment and intervention in the outpatient and inpatient acute rehab levels of care for patients across the lifespan. It was at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that Annie developed her passion for working with the ALS population. Annie currently works full time providing comprehensive communication support for people living with ALS and their caregivers to ensure that they can always communicate in the modes that are most meaningful to them. Annie feels strongly about early engagement with technology for people with ALS and the role that technology can play in maintaining connection.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Annie Roche receives a salary from Bridging Voice.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No