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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.
We selected none of the concept designs. A second meeting with the family revealed that the design we chose (eye tracker device) would be less important because they are getting an Ipad with the capabilitys of eye tracking. We talked more and found that a spinner device with a lever to select choices would not only be a good solution for communication, but a way for Clair to practice hand mobility and coordination after getting the eyetracker.
A spinner type design that will allow Clair to be able to pull a lever to select options without having to point or move an object over them on a board.
Clair, a 3 year old girl with rett syndrome needs a way to communicate with others while being unable to speak or having fine control of her hands. Our group found that a choice board type communication device would be the best way to combine efficiency with ease of use. By using a lever that can be pulled to rotate select choices we know that Clair, with her motor skills, will be able to easily use the device to effectively communicate with her family and others. Talking to the family we found that they are actively trying to return her motor skills to the level that she had during stage 1 of Rett syndrome, and that the lever design we created would help with relearning her previous motor skills. Some constraints that the family has given and are given by Rett syndrome
Force analysis to find needed force to use mechanism. Equating the derivative of the equation with respect to the chosen dimension to zero can minimize force needed.
We used Solidworks FEA to determine the von Mises stresses our handle would experience if Claire exerted 10 pounds of force, which is a reasonable estimate of a child’s potential exertion.
The choice board should not slide when pulling on the handle, so rubber feet shoudl be added to prevent unwanted movement.
We used multiple 3d printers to print all the parts. Then, spray primer and paint on the parts to ensure the paint stays on. We used a rubber band as the spring, realizing we couldn’t find a light enough spring to make the intended design work. Once the all the part. Once we had all the parts ready to go, we used gorilla super glue to glue them together. During testing, though, we realized that the mechanism had nothing stopping it from going in reverse, so we had to add a spring to ensure the mechanism only travelled in one direction. This seemed to have more issues with creating stability than intended, but in the end we had to tap over it to ensure stability. Also if you notice in the final product
After testing after a full assembly, we realized the rubber band couldn’t actually connect between the two hooks because of the way we designed the frame. Because of this, we had to file down one of the frames so the rubber band could see both hooks. After a complete functional design, we began testing whether there could be any risks with using the device. Unfortunately, we found the only way to make the mechanism functional was to add multiple rubber bands, which caused an issue with pinching fingers. Also, after the next test, we realized that the whole mechanism became more unpredictable when we spray painted because of the sickness.
After a risk assessment and it was concluded there are no major risks of injury but some following items are suggested and/or noted to the user:
Suggested user guidelines:
For this project, our group was tasked with creating a mechanical choice board to help Clair, a 3-year-old with Rett Syndrome, communicate. We selected none of the concept designs. After the second meeting with the family, it was revealed that our best design (eye tracker device) would be less critical because they are getting an iPad with eye-tracking capabilities. We talked more and found that a spinner device with a lever to select choices would be a good communication solution and a way for Clair to practice hand mobility and coordination after getting the eye tracker. We 3d printed every part except for the spring and used primer and spray paint to coat the choice board. We made minor adjustments but realized the product wasn’t fully ready for Claire, so we decided not to deliver the product to her and give the project to a next semester group. These mechanics have been proven successful, but we just didn’t have enough time.
