Technical Assistance System for AAC and access to Information Technology

This paper describes the technical assistance system called AUTONOMY which provides AAC, environmental control, safety and security functionality, access to tele-communication and access to internet services for severely motor and multiple disabled persons. Concept and implementation are outlined and a report about experiences from real life usage is given. In the areas of therapy, training, education and independent living the system enables persons with special needs to live a more independent and self determined live. Introduction and Aim Severely disabled individuals encounter significant barriers while communicating with their social and material environment. The aim of the AUTONOMY research project was to develop and to extensively validate a PC based system which is able to serve as a mediator for the person with disability in order to enable specific communication towards material and social surrounding [1]. Methods Using a multidisciplinary approach based on the expertise of therapists, teachers, disabled persons and IT experts, a system structure has been developed which separates user interface design from application. Additionally, in order to fit well in the daily life situation, three different user groups have been identified (disabled person, care persons, system integrator) and specific tools have been implemented for each group. From point of view of the disabled person the system allows communication in synthetic as well as recorded speech, symbol languages as BLISS or written text, environmental control for consumer electronics, electric doors, intercom, smart home bus (EIB – Konnex Association) etc. Access to telephone networks is possible via an infrared controlled phone which also allows to use a virtual answering machine. Environmental control and access to personal computers is possible via the defacto standard of SerialKeys protocol (Apple, Microsoft Inc.). The disabled users interacts with the system via multimodal bidirectional icons [4]. From point of view of a care person the system can be easily configured to meet the needs of the disabled persons. This is possible as the system hides most of the technical stuff so that the care person (family member, therapist, teacher etc.) can concentrate on configuring user interface and communication strategies. Several prototype systems have been installed at a support centre for motor and multiple impaired persons in Tyrol, in a smart room at a public school in Vienna, in several classrooms, in hospitals, rehabilitation centres and at private homes. The system has been validated in real life usage by a multidisciplinary team with very good success. Reprint from: Proceedings of 10th Biennial Conf. of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), August 10th15th, 2002, Odense, Denmark, p.79-80.