Brian is a 3-year-old boy who would be described as curious, happy, and charismatic. He has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, hip issues, visual impairments, and hydrocephalus. His parents provide a great deal of support and while they realize he has delays in his development, they are not sure to what extent they have affected Brian.
They currently use several forms of assistive technology to engage Brian in the world around him, which gives him great joy. A wheelchair and several other chairs help Brian to move about, be seated at a table, and to bathe. He has adapted toys to play and encourages other children to interact with him. He uses switches and a communication device which has been instrumental in allowing Brian to communicate his needs and engage with others in a meaningful way. His mother and father continue to find new ways for Brian to live a full life and suggest the need for others to experiment with low to high forms of AT with their own children who have disabilities. They would also encourage other parents to have high expectations for their children regardless of their unique disability or circumstances.
As Brian grows and develops, he may benefit from a higher form of AT to assist with communication and literacy. TD Snap, by Tobii Dynavox, could potentially be a good fit for him. According to the TD Snap website page it offers “a suite of eye gaze, touch and switch-enabled page sets to meet different communication needs and preferences”. TD Snap provides flexibility, accessibility, adaptability, and ease of use that could benefit Brian for many years to come. As Tobii Dynavox says, “Success looks different on everyone” and Brian is an example of how technology can greatly improve someone’s quality of life through the power of communication and greater independence.
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