Verity Healthcare

Hi there listeners. In the present day we’re going to take heed to a few of our workers, a few of our people from our totally different groups, from INDATA, from Atlas, and from our scientific assistive expertise workers as they speak about their experiences attending the ATIA Convention right here earlier in February. We hope you take pleasure in their views. And I’m Josh Anderson, Director of Assistive Expertise right here at Easterseals Crossroads, and that is your Assistive Expertise Replace.

Hi there and welcome to your Assistive Expertise Replace. A weekly dose of knowledge that retains you updated on the newest developments within the discipline of expertise designed to help people with disabilities and particular wants. I’m your host, Josh Anderson, with the INDATA Mission at Easterseals Crossroads in stunning Indianapolis, Indiana. Welcome to Episode 717 of Assistive Expertise Replace. It’s scheduled to be launched on February twenty first, 2025.

On at this time’s present, I’ve the distinctive pleasure of welcoming among the people from our staff right here at Easterseals Crossroads, that’s INDATA, Atlas and our scientific Assistive Expertise workers, and so they’re going to come back in and speak a little bit bit about a few of their experiences on the ATIA Convention right here earlier within the month.

They’re going to speak a little bit bit about a few of their favourite classes they attended, a few of their favourite tech they noticed, and simply a few of their experiences from the convention. So we’re very excited to have them right here within the studio and some on-line as we undergo among the actually cool issues that we had been capable of see whereas there.

Listeners, did any of you attend ATIA? I do know that a few of you probably did as a result of we met you whilst you had been down there and it was wonderful to get to fulfill listeners and simply people within the discipline. All the time simply such an incredible pleasure. In case you occur to have been there, tell us what you actually favored about it. Shoot us an e mail at Tech@EastersealsCrossroads.org or name our listener line at (317) 721-7124. We’d love to listen to your ideas. Was there a session that you simply actually loved? Was there a chunk of tech you noticed within the vendor corridor that actually simply type of caught your eye? We all the time love to listen to from you, so please, please tell us. Listeners, as all the time, we thanks a lot for listening. Now let’s go forward and get on with the present.

All proper, listeners, our very first visitor on our ATIA follow-up present is Raine. Raine, are you able to introduce your self and inform our listeners what you do right here at Easterseals Crossroads?

Hello, I’m Raine Sims. I’m an Assistive Expertise specialist specializing in autism and sensory wants right here with the Atlas challenge at Easterseals.

Sure, and Raine accompanied us to ATIA this yr. Now was this your very first time at ATIA?

So what was type of your preliminary ideas or your first impressions as you noticed the whole lot?

Nicely, it was fairly overwhelming at first, truthfully, however in an effective way. There was extra data in that one constructing than I perhaps have ever been uncovered to about assistive expertise. I feel it was simply such an excellent useful resource that there was so many sensible individuals with so many experiences in a single place.

Oh, sure. And that’s all the time my, in all probability, I don’t wish to say least favourite half as a result of that makes it sound dangerous, but it surely’s how do I select? How do I select which of them to attend, which of them to go to? How can I sustain? Am I making the precise selection? What if I’m going to type of the unsuitable one? So alongside that, did you might have perhaps a favourite session that you simply attended?

Yeah, I actually loved the classes extra on the programmatic facet of issues. After all, seeing the brand new tech and the whole lot is all the time tremendous cool, however as Atlas is a reasonably new program right here at Easterseals, I feel that it’s nice to determine what are these greatest practices for working our program? How can we serve the most individuals in one of the simplest ways we will?

And that’s in all probability considered one of my favorites, is simply getting to speak to individuals and see what they do. Like, wow, I’ve by no means considered that. Or, oh, we’ve been scuffling with determining how to try this. Oh, that labored for you, or Oh gosh, don’t do that. We tried this and this didn’t work in any respect, in order that’s all the time nice. Talking of the seller corridor and all of the neat stuff, did you might have perhaps a coolest piece of tech or one that you simply actually favored or perhaps a particular person perhaps that you simply met in there?

Yeah, there have been a pair issues I used to be actually impressed by. After I stopped by the Tobii Dynavox sales space, I used to be actually impressed by their eye gaze software program. It was wonderful to only be capable to simply stroll as much as it and it really works. I used to be actually shocked by how low the barrier of entry is to it. After which one other smaller piece of expertise, I feel extra up and coming. It’s referred to as the Tactonom. It’s a blind low imaginative and prescient gadget that gives visible graphics and it simply looks as if it’s simply such an excellent tutorial useful resource for college students to make use of.

Yeah, yeah, these are each tremendous cool. So did you might have a greatest a part of the journey?

I feel simply being round so many sensible individuals, and if somebody is excited by one thing that I’m excited by, they’d come as much as me and they’d speak to me about it and it was simply actually nice to get to speak to so many people who find themselves so skilled on this discipline.

Superior. Now I do know it was a good time, it was wonderful, however if you happen to might perhaps enhance one thing, would you might have any ideas for enchancment or perhaps one thing that would have made the expertise even higher?

That’s query. I feel given that everybody is so good at incapacity work and inclusion, and I feel that it was quite a bit on the sensory system. I feel that it could’ve been nice if there have been further areas that had been perhaps a bit extra sensory pleasant, to be a little bit bit much less overwhelming maybe. I’m not totally certain how they’d obtain that, however I feel that it could be nice to type of scale back that cognitive overwhelm feeling.

I’m with you. I don’t know how they’d try this, however you’re proper. Simply so many individuals, a lot, so many of us transferring round and simply a lot happening. It may be actually, actually powerful. Nicely, Raine, thanks a lot for approaching the present. Thanks for going to ATIA and thanks for being part of this staff.

Good. Thanks a lot for having me.

All proper, people, our subsequent visitor is Brian Norton, who in all probability wants no introduction, however Brian, go forward and inform the listeners who you’re, what you do?

Yeah, so yeah, my title’s Brian Norton. I’m VP of Grownup Companies right here at Easterseals Crossroads. In my prior life, I used to be part of our assistive expertise staff, and so tremendous glad that I continued to get to work with them and was capable of attend ATIA this yr.

Brian attending ATIA yearly was a situation of my employment.

That’s proper. That’s proper.

I used to be not allowed to take over this place except he was all the time allowed to go, however no, it’s all the time good to have him there and the whole lot. Now, Brian, this was not your first time. You’ve been to fairly just a few. This was the second yr on the new place. Inform me simply your ideas on having it on the new place. Possibly some stuff you like or the way you suppose it form of helps ATIA.

Yeah, yeah. No, I like the brand new location. Clearly it’s quite a bit larger than it was once, and that simply presents one thing for the convention to develop, which it has. I imagine it’s gotten larger every of the final two years with extra attendees, will get us the chance to fulfill with new individuals. It’s a giant facility, which makes it a little bit difficult to get from one place to the opposite. I feel I stroll six or seven miles a day, but it surely does give ATIA an area to develop and I feel after we speak about accessibility and assistive expertise and what they’re actually attempting to do and bringing all people collectively, I feel it’s an excellent area for them.

Yeah, I positively agree. There was, I wish to say 400 classes this yr, which is only a mind-boggling quantity. Did you might have type of a favourite session that you simply attended?

Yeah, ATIA is a good probability to only meet up with people and to type of be taught what people are doing. I did a number of classes for older adults taking a look at expertise for older adults. But in addition I actually liked a session that Bridging Apps, our Houston Easterseals affiliate. I feel they’re often on this podcast speaking about various things that they’re doing and apps, app critiques and people sorts of issues. However in any case, I believed it was actually enjoyable to be part of their session, studying about totally different apps for various features of an individual’s life. They’ve a very cool instrument. It’s referred to as Insignia. It’s a search instrument for apps, and I believed it was actually enjoyable to type of be taught a little bit bit extra about it and to have the ability to see a few of their app favorites you could form arrange to have the ability to hopefully hone in on those that you simply like on their website and conserving a few lists for various wants that you simply run throughout in your work.

And I actually loved theirs too. Discovered a couple of new app, that it was humorous, I knew somebody on our staff was searching for one thing like that, so simply despatched it to them proper there. I used to be like, effectively, I feel it was the primary session I attended. I used to be like, oh, I already discovered one thing. Okay, effectively, this was a hit proper off the bat. What about, did you might have a coolest piece of tech and even particular person that you simply received to fulfill type of within the vendor corridor? One thing perhaps that you simply noticed or anyone you talked to?

Yeah. Nicely, my favourite place within the vendor corridor is definitely the snack areas. However no, I’m kidding.

The man that handed me the ice cream sandwich was my favourite.

That’s proper, that’s proper. That’s proper. No, there was quite a lot of attention-grabbing expertise issues that I had not seen earlier than. I imply, clearly there was quite a bit that I had seen earlier than, however there was one thing attention-grabbing to me. There was a keyboard, I neglect the title of the particular product, but it surely was really, you would plug any customary keyboard into it and would make that keyboard speak for you.

So whether or not you’re studying to-

Whenever you’re studying to sort otherwise you’re perhaps blind or visually impaired, you simply want a little bit little bit of auditory help once you’re utilizing the keyboard. I believed it was a reasonably cool instrument and it doesn’t require a particular keyboard. You simply plug your keyboard into it, you plug the gadget into the pc. It type of acts as a middleman gadget to your keyboard, and it simply talks each key that each key you press.

Good, good. Very, very cool. What about the perfect a part of the journey? What was the perfect a part of the journey for you, Brian?

Nicely, that’s fairly easy. For me, the perfect a part of the journey for me is simply being round, hanging round with my different workers. So we get a little bit little bit of probability to get off website, spend a little bit little bit of time attending to be taught collectively, share collectively, and simply getting some free time to spend and meet up with people exterior of the busy work tempo that we hold right here at Easter Seals Crossroads. So I like time with workers and simply attending to know them and them attending to know me and simply type of hanging out and having some enjoyable.

Yeah, couldn’t agree extra. Would you might have any ideas or perhaps something that ATIA might do the place or something like that or something that would have made the expertise even higher?

Yeah, I don’t know. Teleportation from one finish of the seller corridor, I’m sorry, from the place the seller corridor was to the very far reaches of the place among the academic classes had been. It’s an extended haul, however actually truthfully, it’s a effectively run convention. They did a very nice job this yr putting individuals at strategic locations as individuals get off the elevators and serving to them discover the place they’re eager to go. I believed it’s simply among the finest run conferences that I’ve been to and simply actually get to take pleasure in what David’s executed over there. David Dichter has executed over there with that convention is fairly wonderful.

And I simply should reiterate that, and the parents they’d serving to out from the registration sales space to the elevators on the resort with a little bit signal that simply, you want something, we received you. And I’ve observed after I first even went and registered, I type of simply walked round and I imply, I used to be simply trying as a result of taking all of it in and she or he’s like, “Oh, are you right here to register right here? Come on over right here.” And walked me proper up. Assist me with the entire darn factor. It was a minute and a half course of and it was really easy, but additionally you felt welcomed as you walked in. They do such job with that and actually type of serving to out the parents. Nicely, superior. Nicely, Brian, hopefully we’ll have you ever on right here once more subsequent yr. Possibly we’ll allow you to go one other yr and-

… have you ever down there. However thanks a lot for approaching and telling us about your

Expertise. Sounds good, thanks. Thanks, Josh.

Listeners, our subsequent visitor is Blake. Blake, go forward and introduce your self to the listeners and allow them to know what you do right here.

Hello, my title is Blake Allee. I’m the demo and mortgage lead right here at Easterseals Crossroads with the INDATA challenge. And yeah, you need me to go extra into element?

Nope, that’s completely excellent. If all of us went into element for what we do, it’d be the present would go on perpetually and ever. However Blake, this was positively not your first time at ATIA, so that you’ve positively been there earlier than. Simply I assume a few of your ideas on it being the second yr on the new place. What do you concentrate on it?

I imply, I like the brand new place. I feel it is vitally massive, so there’s quite a lot of strolling concerned, but it surely’s cool as a result of the biggest Marriott on the earth, in order that’s type of neat. However I feel the whole lot, when you get to the place you’re presupposed to be, the place all of the classes are and the seller room, I feel that it’s actually simply arrange fairly effectively and it’s massive and yeah, I’m a giant fan of it.

Superior, superior. What was perhaps your favourite session that you simply had been capable of attend?

My favourite session, that’s query. I all the time just like the Google classes simply because I’m an Android person and most of the people I work with are Apple customers. So simply to attempt to sustain with a little bit bit what’s happening within the Google Pixel world. So in all probability one of many Google… I went to 2 totally different Google classes, so a type of almost definitely.

Superior. Superior. Now what about there within the vendor corridor? What was perhaps the good piece of tech you would possibly’ve seen in there?

So there’s a pair various things that I actually loved, however ultimately of the day, I feel the Lotus Ring ended up being my favourite. I simply favored that it was… You don’t should have a smartphone, you don’t should have an app, you don’t should have WiFi, so it’s offline. It’s only a easy design, and I feel that that was simply in all probability my favourite piece that I noticed there.

Superior, superior. We’ve had them on the present earlier than, however yeah, I like the, oh, simply the barrier to entry so low for that. If I’m anyone that wants one thing that may try this, it’s really easy to only put it on click on and that’s it. Energy goes out, no massive deal. Every part else, nothing’s going to disconnect it. Simply hold it easy.

Yeah, precisely. I feel that that’s what actually made it stand out really in a bizarre method, is how easy it was. You don’t have to fret about anyone hacking into your system. It’s not working any Bluetooth, simply you mainly have this piece that connects over a light-weight swap and you’ve got a hoop and also you put on the ring and also you press the ring and it turns the sunshine swap on and off. It’s actually so simple as that. I do know they did converse a little bit bit about the way you’re capable of perhaps activate a TV and management followers and different home equipment, however for me, simply the sunshine half was sufficient to make me actually take pleasure in it.

Yeah, yeah. Tremendous cool. Do you might have type of a better part or favourite a part of the journey as a complete?

Favourite half. Nicely, I all the time simply type of attending to know the staff a little bit bit extra exterior of labor. That’s all the time good. The climate’s good. However I feel total, simply being round so many individuals which can be type of in the identical discipline and you’ve got individuals which can be there to be taught and folks which can be there to show and folks which can be there to indicate you their new gadgets and simply being round that surroundings, I feel type of get your wheels turning a little bit bit and also you get to make some connections and simply type of ask questions that perhaps you don’t have anybody else to ask. So yeah, simply type of a little bit little bit of all that I might say.

Undoubtedly. Would you might have any ideas perhaps for enchancment or what might make the expertise even higher?

Let’s see right here. I like a AC apps. I feel they’re nice. However generally I do really feel like there’s quite a lot of that. So perhaps a little bit bit extra stuff like a lotus ring or {hardware}, gear, stuff I like. As soon as once more, I don’t wish to say something dangerous about AC, I like them, however simply there’s quite a lot of that and also you go from sales space to sales space and also you’re seeing quite a lot of very comparable apps.

Positive, certain. So perhaps just a few variance, one thing totally different, one thing a little bit bit totally different for individuals with totally different wants.

Glorious. Nicely, Blake, we’re trying ahead to it once more subsequent yr. Thanks for going with us, and thanks for approaching this present to share your experiences.

All proper, thanks Josh.

Listeners, our subsequent visitor at this time is Lindsey Wells. Lindsey, inform our listeners simply type of who you’re and what you do right here?

Oh, good day. I work for Easterseals Crossroads and I do coaching on assistive expertise. I’m going into locations like work or colleges to assist these with distinctive skills use the expertise that we prepare and supply providers for.

So she’s on our scientific staff right here at Easterseals Crossroads, and this was Lindsey’s very first ATIA. So I assume simply preliminary ideas once you first walked in and noticed, what had been your first impressions of it?

I used to be amazed at how massive it’s and what number of classes that had been provided. And simply the various matters that they lined from issues that can be utilized in preschool all the way in which as much as seniors and the number of expertise from low tech to excessive tech. It was actually neat to see the whole lot that was provided, plus simply the quantity of people who had been there and doing that work and being concerned and really excited by these issues that assist individuals with distinctive skills. Simply foster these issues and be in our neighborhood, work in our jobs, take part in our faculty, the whole lot like that. It’s actually nice to see.

Yeah, it all the time is. Did you might have perhaps a favourite session that you simply had been capable of attend?

I had a pair favourite classes. I actually loved studying what Apple has executed with iPhones and iPads and what they’ve already included and up to date of their accessibility options. I feel that these are issues which can be in most individuals’s palms instantly. And studying that they’re one thing that’s already there offered for them is extraordinarily helpful. I additionally discovered the identical factor with the Microsoft Copilot session. Doing the identical type of factor in work, utilizing computer systems already accessible on quite a lot of these Home windows computer systems already and one thing that may simply be utilized by anybody, not simply individuals with totally different skills, however everybody can use quite a lot of this stuff to work higher, to work extra streamlined and make these instruments and capabilities that we’d like simple to entry.

Yeah, and I like that. I all the time really feel like there’s rather more acceptance by most people, particularly if effectively, it’s a instrument you already use, simply going to make use of it in a little bit totally different method.

By no means actually considered that. Or perhaps they do take into consideration that to allow them to look and be like, “Oh, you realize what? That one particular person I do work with has been type of struggling. Right here’s one thing that may be capable to help them.” It’s in-built. Possibly they don’t even know that it’s there.

Yeah, I all the time love that too. The seller corridor, in fact is only a large leap in place. Was there a very cool piece of tech, perhaps a favourite one that actually caught your eye that you simply actually thought was neat or perhaps just a few?

Yeah, the IRI, their CCTVs had been very cool, very sharp pictures. The cameras had been wonderful. They moved 365 levels. You may add a further monitor as a way to see in distance whilst you’re additionally seeing on one other monitor shut up no matter you’re attempting to view, like paperwork clever, which I believed was a reasonably cool factor. Additionally, they’d actually neat Braille shows that had quite a lot of options that had been already constructed into the product, in order that simply makes it a lot simpler to make use of much less software program to purchase. And I imagine that they’re a small enterprise as effectively. In order that’s simply type of cool to know that it’s simply additionally giving again to a small enterprise.

Most positively. Most positively. What was your favourite a part of the entire journey In case you needed to choose?

Nicely, hanging out with my coworkers was actually enjoyable. We’re an excellent group of individuals and it was great to have the ability to spend that point collectively. And for me, I used to be an educator for 16 years working with individuals with distinctive skills, after which now I’m doing that with older people who find themselves in workplaces and in seniors and vets and all that type of stuff. And so simply to see the complete circle of realizing that the individuals who had been my college students at one time limit are being serviced in all these neat methods, and that’s additionally taking place and working into their life exterior of training and doing no matter they wish to do. And with the ability to see the quantity of expertise, low tech, excessive tech, that’s accessible now simply actually provides me an excellent peace of thoughts realizing that they’re helped and getting a lot new issues to advance them of their means to be part of what everybody else is doing each single day.

Yeah, most positively. I do know I all the time love getting to fulfill all of the individuals there and be like, oh, thank God you’re utilizing your intelligence for this or your life expertise for this to maintain it going. Nicely, I assume simply to type of end up, do you might have any ideas for enchancment or perhaps one thing that would have made the expertise even higher?

Positive. The factor I might enhance is that I might’ve liked the chance to type of work a little bit extra hands-on with that Apple product with an iPhone. I do have my very own iPhone in fact, however it could’ve been good to have virtually even a further hour to have that product in my hand to be walked by means of a little bit extra touching my very own gadget or a tool to apply on. Simply to see it to it being executed is totally different than to truly have the walkthrough for it. And so I might simply love perhaps a pair classes the place you’re with gadgets, and sharing that type of information that different individuals have on use that assistive expertise on these gadgets and the way they use it themselves. So with the ability to say, okay, right here’s an individual that’s utilizing this of their job. How do they use it? These issues assist me make higher choices on after I’m doing evaluations, what merchandise is likely to be helpful for that particular person.

Undoubtedly, positively. Nicely, thanks once more a lot for going. Thanks a lot for approaching the present and telling us all about your expertise.

Yeah, it’s great. Can’t wait to go once more.

Listeners. Our subsequent visitor is Marini Marini. Welcome to the present.

Are you able to introduce your self to our listeners and perhaps form allow them to know what it’s you do right here at Easter Seals Crossroads?

Yeah, so my title is Marini Johnson and I’m an AT coach.

Superior. Superior. So Marini, this was your very first time at ATIA. Whenever you type of walked in there and simply noticed it, what was your first impressions of ATIA?

It was great. Everyone was heat and welcoming, and I used to be a bit overwhelmed with the scale. There have been rooms in every single place, individuals in every single place, however everybody was very useful and directed you precisely the place you wanted to go, particularly if you happen to appeared such as you had been misplaced.

It’s so humorous, I used to be speaking to anyone else as we had been doing these and I used to be like, yeah, I used to be simply strolling round trying round to see all of it. They’re like, “Oh, have you ever checked in but? Oh, come over right here.” And a minute and a half later I had my badge and I used to be executed and on my method I used to be like, oh, really easy. So good. Superior, superior. Did you might have perhaps a favourite session that you simply had been capable of attend?

I did. There have been quite a lot of them that had been actually good, however I actually loved the AI and writing for college students.

Good. Why’d you take pleasure in that?

I work with quite a lot of school college students and I loved the way in which they defined issues. It was very simple to know and observe, and so they gave nice examples of use AI to learn college students which can be writing.

Superior. Was there a cool piece of tech or perhaps particular person you had been capable of meet within the vendor corridor additionally?

Once more, there have been quite a lot of wonderful issues that had been there, however I actually loved the be there robotic.

That was fairly enjoyable. And there was somebody on it and it was transferring round, and so I actually favored that one.

Good. Yeah, I wish to begin utilizing telepresence robots as we go to totally different flooring, however I’ve not discovered make them push the button for the elevator but. As quickly as we get there, we’re positively there. So these had been all type of nice elements. In case you actually needed to sum it up, what was the perfect a part of the journey in your opinion?

Oh, the perfect half. That’s actually onerous. I feel simply assembly all the people who had been there and getting a full image of how many individuals throughout our nation are simply there serving to and offering providers, and I actually loved that. Thanks.

Glorious. Glorious. In case you might make any ideas for enchancment or one thing that would make the expertise higher, what would these be?

Sure. I assume the one factor that I might enhance, which to have a much bigger room for Apple for his or her demos, that was a little bit bit tough. It was a little bit chaotic, and perhaps a little bit extra construction with it so that you simply weren’t attempting to run to at least one gadget after which run to a different gadget as a result of everybody’s speaking on the similar time.

That that’s positively been type of one thing quite a lot of people in right here stated. So hopefully they’ll get a little bit bit larger room for these type of issues. Possibly just a few extra gadgets to have the ability to assist with people. Nicely, superior. Marini, thanks for taking day out of your day. Thanks for going, and thanks for telling us all about your expertise.

Yeah, thanks. Thanks.

Nicely, listeners, that’s on a regular basis that we now have for at this time, so thanks a lot to all of our company at this time as they talked about their ATIA experiences right here in 2025, and be part of us subsequent week as we speak to the remainder of the staff that was capable of go down there with us and get their ideas and opinions on the whole lot that occurred down there. So thanks a lot for listening. Can’t wait to see you again right here subsequent week.

Do you might have a query about assistive expertise? Do you might have a suggestion for somebody we should always interview on assistive expertise replace? In that case, name our listener line at (317) 721-7124. Ship us an e mail at Tech at Eastersealscrossroads.org, or shoot us a word on Twitter at INDATA Mission. Our captions and transcripts for the present are sponsored by the Indiana Phone Relay Entry Company or InTRAC. Yow will discover out extra about InTRAC at relayindiana.com. A particular because of Nicole Prieto for scheduling our wonderful company and making a large number of my schedule. In the present day’s present was produced, edited, hosted, and fraught over by yours really. The opinions expressed by our company are their very own and should or could not mirror these of the INDATA Mission, Easterseals Crossroads, our supporting companions or this host. This was your assistive expertise replace. I’m Josh Anderson with the INDATA Mission at Easterseals Crossroads in stunning Indianapolis, Indiana. We look ahead to seeing you subsequent time. Bye-bye.