Menu
Create a custom choice board for a three-year-old girl with Rett Syndrome
We are creating a method of communication for Clair, a three-year-old child with Rett Syndrome. She uses eye gazing to communicate and has difficulty using her fine motor skills to point or grab items. Our solution to this will include a customizable choice board. This choice board should be portable and able to fit within the tray of a stroller. We will go about solving this with either a customizable eye tracking device or a magnetic slider choice board book with interchangeable choices.
Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe impairments such as impaired hand motor function, speech, and mobility capabilities. Those affected by Rett syndrome can understand language, but they have extreme difficulties communicating back. Affects and signs of Rett Syndrome can occur as early as 6 months old and the effects of Rett can fluctuate until around 10 years old. A communication board is a device that displays photos, symbols, or illustrations to help people with limited language skills express themselves. Choice boards can range from physical copies to electronic versions. There are several online apps and eye tracking devices that can help with the physically impaired communicate. These options may not be adequate enough if the user has difficulties pointing or starring at specific choices. Cost can also be a concern for some eye tracking devices.
A free eye tracking app that can be installed on iPhone or Chrome. Eye Gaze Communication is an easy-to-use app that can be customized with any photo the user chooses. EyeGaze | Ebcore
A magnetic choice board book that can have customizable options. The choices can be color coded and large to make it easier to select. The first set of choices can include broad categories, and each page can become more specific, or the options within the selected page can be changed quickly and easily. The magnet can be attached to the spine of the book by a string, or there could be a magnet attached to each page that can easily be guided to each option via railing.
A choice board that can be controlled by hovering the foot over a specific option. This board can include sensors to sense where the foot is. It could also emit a sound that is connected to the choice to reinforce what was decided and if it were on purpose.
