Giving Kids the Gift of Communication Innovative Technology Opens New World of Communication for Kids
T
he ability to communicate is something many of us take for granted, but for children with brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and degenerative disorders, bridging that gap is a challenging task. For children with limited body movement or an impaired ability to verbally communicate, everyday tasks like turning on the TV or communicating pain and symptoms to family and health care providers is difficult. Augmentative alternative communication and assistive technology (AAC/AT) is now opening doors, allowing kids to communicate when verbal cues can’t be relied on.
Thanks to donors of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Making Spirits Bright holiday giving campaign, this technology is now available at the Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program (ABCDP) in Saskatoon. ABCDP is home to one of only two specialized speech language teams in Saskatchewan, serving children from as far away as Fond du Lac and Yorkton. Funds raised from the Making Spirits Bright campaign helped purchase eye gaze devices that read eye movements like a mouse, allowing children to interact with a computer screen using only their eyes. The funds also purchased head mouse technology, which is similar but uses a reflective sticker placed on the child’s forehead. Children are able to trial the new equipment before their families, schools or supporting charities invest in the
