Oklahoma ABLE Tech

November is Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Month! One of our goals is to raise awareness about the tools that help individuals lead more independent lives. AT plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers and providing opportunities for everyone. For Roselyn, AT became the key to finding her voice. Roselyn is an active girl with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. Roselyn, her grandmother, and SoonerStart partnered to help Roselyn meet developmental milestones. Roselyn demonstrates limited use of her natural speech. So, the team set a goal to implement augmentative alternative communication (AAC). After learning about Oklahoma ABLE Tech, Roselyn’s grandmother and her SoonerStart team reviewed the short-term loan device inventory to compare the features and benefits of some low-tech and mid-tech devices and decided to try a BIGMack. Roselyn’s grandma invested time in learning and operating the BIGMack to successfully use the device. She did an excellent job programming single words to activate during a motivating activity for Roselyn. Roselyn had quick success with the BIGMack! Roselyn used the device successfully to request snacks and her favorite activity: outdoor swinging! If you or someone you know could benefit from assistive technology, check out our extensive inventory on our Device Loan webpage at https://bit.ly/3G2g3bu.

Check out Oklahoma ABLE Tech's October 2024 Newsletter! Explore assistive technology (AT) highlights for palliative care, learn more about the ADA Title II updates from the digital accessibility team, sign up for AT workshop 3, and more! Read the entire newsletter on our website at https://bit.ly/3Y4Vwv4.

Meet Mikayla Busby, our newest Administrative Support Specialist. Mikayla joined the team in July 2024. She splits her time between supporting the Oklahoma ABLE Tech Device Demonstration and Loan Programs and supporting Oklahoma State University Community Wellness Programs and Accessibility Programs purchases, administrative tasks, and maintaining inventory. Mikayla enjoys helping others learn and succeed. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Given her educational background, she is excited to work for the Department of Wellness Sponsored Programs and Oklahoma ABLE Tech to learn more about assistive technology and accessibility and to educate others about our programs! Thanks for everything you do to support us, Mikayla! We're glad you're on our team!

Mark your calendars, Part 3 of our Fall 2024 Workshop series is coming up! Join us on November 14 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. via Zoom to learn more about assistive technology (AT) in education. We will discuss how to write AT into the IEP, summarize the AT implementation process, and compare and contrast AT across disabilities. Register for this FREE workshop at https://bit.ly/3pLlK51.

In honor of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month and Halloween on Thursday, we’re excited to share a low-tech assistive technology (AT) solution for those who may have difficulty using their natural speech while trick-or-treating! We used the Symbol Overlay Maker app on an iPad to create this lanyard with a mini-communication board featuring eight choices: - Hello - Trick or treat - Thank you - Goodbye - Costume - Chocolate - Yes - No You can customize communication boards to fit your trick-or-treater’s needs, making Halloween more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. We hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Things have been extra busy around here and we have several new faces on the team! We'd like to introduce you to our Administrative Operations Specialist, Orfa Foster! Orfa joined the OSU Department of Wellness Sponsored Programs team in June 2024. She assists with HR, payroll, purchases, and travel reimbursement for DOWSP. She is excited to work with a great team of people who serve with purpose. Orfa is originally from Texas. She moved to Oklahoma City in 2010. She enjoys music, traveling, and serving the community in various ministries with her husband, James. We're so glad to have you on the team, Orfa!

In honor of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month, we’re excited to highlight two incredible tools that empower communication for individuals with difficulties using their natural speech. Meet Carle the Smart Robot! Carle is voice-controlled and compatible with speech-generating devices! Carle’s 14 voice commands can be used to support, teach, and practice using a speech-generating device. The NovaChat 10 is a lightweight, portable AAC device that can be easily customized. With thousands of symbols and the ability to add personal photos, users can tailor their communication experience to their needs. These tools are just a few of the devices in our inventory! To read more about how to access AT for free through our device loan program, visit https://bit.ly/3G2g3bu.

Alternative text, or alt text, is a written description of an image or graphic that screen readers read aloud for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. It is important to use alt text because it helps make online content more accessible. It provides context for images, charts, infographics, and other visuals. Tips for writing good alt text: - Be concise but descriptive. - Focus on the key details, like what’s important in the image. - Avoid starting with "Image of..." or "Picture of...". - Be clear and specific—think about what the image conveys and its relevance to your content. - If an image is only decorative or unrelated to your written content, consider not including the image! Join us in working to spread knowledge about digital accessibility and making the web a more inclusive place!

Kalvin is a 3-year-old boy who successfully trialed a weighted compression vest through the Oklahoma ABLE Tech Device Loan Program. Kalvin previously had behavioral challenges and experienced meltdowns when overstimulated. His mom, Kendra, said “The weighted compression vest helps him to be calm. He loves it!” The Weighted Compression Vest is a stretchy, comfy neoprene vest that provides sensory input for the wearer. The compression provided is especially soothing for those who become overstimulated. The vest features mesh sides for breathability and comfort. Since the device trial, Kalvin has acquired his own weighted compression vest. He uses his vest for comfort and focus as needed. He is excited to continue using the vest as he gets older and starts school! To learn more about how to trial any of the devices in our short-term loan inventory, check out https://bit.ly/3G2g3bu.

Digital accessibility means making content that people access on digital platforms (like websites, apps, social media, etc.) readable by everyone. By building accessibility into our workflows from the very start, we can create a more inclusive world! Read our blog article “What is Digital Accessibility, anyway?” at https://bit.ly/3sokCZE for a quick introduction!