Assistive Technology Clinic

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Services for Complex Communicators of All Ages

Our Services Include:

• Comprehensive, age-appropriate assessment of communication strengths and barriers considering:
• Sensory and motor access,
• Communication requirements of various settings and tasks,
• Changing communication needs of the user given continued physical development or disease progression,
• The features needed to make the technology match the needs of the communicator.
• Extended, hands-on device trials in natural settings to allow informed consumer participation in final recommendations.
• Knowledgeable assistance with funding for recommended communication technologies and needed accessories.
• Follow-up with inclusive training on all new technologies to ensure successful communication across settings. Ongoing training using the new technology for developing language needs is also available.

Improving Access to Mobile and Desktop

CIDE's Computer Access assessment evaluates a wide range of challenges that can make computers and mobile devices difficult to use. These challenges may include:

• Motor Impairment
• Low vision or blindness
• Learning and cognitive disabilities, or
• a combination of the above

Our team provides a solution unique to each person to empower them to use computers more successfully at home and on the job.  Solutions can include strategies, software, specialized peripheral devices, or web-based approaches.

Assessment of Postural Supports When Not in a Wheelchair

The Nighttime Positioning assessment assists in identifying specialized positioning technologies that will improve an individual's body alignment, comfort, sleep quality, and safety during sleep. This is a vital component in overall posture management and prevention of secondary complications for a person with severe physical disabilities. We can help determine the most therapeutic body position for sleep, and recommend specialized equipment that will support that position during sleep.  This results in an improvement in health and sleep for both the impaired individual and their caregiver.

Learning and Cognitive Technology Assessment and Training

The Learning and Cognitive Technologies assessment helps an individual identify accommodations and assistive technology solutions to improve their educational and/or vocational independence.

CIDE provides:

• Evaluations to address the educational technology needs of students with a wide range of learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and ADHD.
• Assessments to identify vocational accommodations for adults with learning disabilities.
• Technology evaluation to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and cognitive impairments; whether it is a result of an injury, progression of a disease, or developmental disability - we can identify accommodations and technology solutions to meet an individual's goals.
  

Wheelchair Seating and Mobility Assessment and Training

Our services include:

• Evaluating, recommending and fitting - positioning and mobility devices such as manual and power wheelchairs, power scooters, positioning chairs, adaptive strollers, and standers for children and adults with a variety of disabilities.
• For individuals unable to walk, we assess sitting posture, comfort, seated function, and ability to propel/operate a manual/powered wheelchair.
• If a person is able to walk, we assess their gait and ambulation skills, and consider the need for safe functional mobility in all environments.
• For individuals with complex postural needs, we use an adjustable seating simulator to help determine the technology features needed to support their body in a comfortable, aligned and functional position in their wheelchair. 
• For individuals with complex mobility needs who are unable to use a standard joystick, we use a power wheelchair simulator to determine a method of alternative drive control (such as use of sip n puff devices or switches embedded in a headrest) to enable the person to operate a power wheelchair.