DSPs Using and Supporting Technology Use

Larry Willams uses his Ipad to talk with DSP Anthony Grindstone.

I have been supporting Larry since around 2008. At that time, he didn’t use enabling technology at all. Larry had to have somebody with him 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter what he was doing or where he was. The only way Larry could have any real privacy was to go to another room and shut his door. Even something like using the bathroom required somebody to remain in the DSP’s line of sight. Larry is non-verbal, so sometimes he has a hard time expressing his frustration to others.

Larry is the kind of person who likes to do things at his own pace. Having to rely on staff for something like opening a door and changing the channel on his TV wasn't always ideal for him. He had to rely on his staff to translate things while talking to new friends. Sometimes, you could tell it was frustrating for him when he had to rely on other people so much.

Thanks to his technology, he [Larry] now has much more freedom to do the things he wants when he wants to do them.

Thanks to his technology, he now has much more freedom to do the things he wants when he wants to do them. He now safely stays home alone if he chooses to do so. If I need to pick up his medication, I ask him if he wants to go with me. He can use his iPad to tell me “yes” or “no.” He has a button he can use to alert a phone that I take with me when I leave him alone and he needs me to come back to his house. While alone, he can do many things for himself using his iPad. He can control his TV with his iPad. He can turn on and off the “smart” lights. If someone comes to his door, he can see who is at his door because he has a Ring video doorbell. He uses the Ring camera app on his iPad. He has a smart lock on his door. If there is someone at the door who he wants to let inside his home, he can open his door with his iPad or a physical button. If he doesn’t want to let the person in, he has the right to ignore them.

Larry also has buttons in his bedroom and bathroom to alert others about his needs and preferences. The buttons have been a game-changer for him. The buttons in his room trigger a voice that says, "please be quiet," and "help needed in bedroom." So, if he is in his room and needs help, he can just press a button to alert others that he needs help. If he is trying to sleep, he can ask for quiet. He also has a button in his bathroom that says, "please help in the bathroom." This button makes a huge difference in giving him privacy. I can now help him on the toilet and leave him alone so he can have privacy. When he is done, he can hit a button to alert me that he is done. It seems like such a simple thing to be safely left alone while you use the restroom, but Larry didn’t have that before he had enabling technology. I never really thought about how important that could be before working with Larry.

Access to enabling technology and learning to use it for some of his support needs has made a huge difference in helping Larry to have the life he wants. Now he can have his house to himself if he wants! All he has to do is push a button to tell me he wants to be alone, or he wants to finish watching wrestling. All of this was unthinkable just a few years ago. Using enabling technology has given Larry the freedom to have privacy when he wants it and to communicate with people, including his DSPs. I’m happy this technology is available, as it has also made Larry a much happier man.

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