Facilitation Technique Category: Assistive Technology

Activity Title: Braille device: independence, effective communication, and

interaction with the environment.
Source: Teaching students with visual impairments . (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/braille-technology.html
Equipment: Braille device
Activity description: Assistive technology (AT) has advances that facilitate the
enjoyment of recreational activities for people with disabilities. No individual needs
to miss out indoor/outdoor settings with all the adapted products for sale. Braille
device will improve independence, communication with others in a faster and
effective way, and provide an easy interaction with the environment. The purpose of
this activity is to facilitate individuals with assistive technology to enjoy activities
such as reading, writing, etc. First, instructor will provide demonstration of task and
proper use equipment before participants. Second, participants will engage in the
use of the notepad that allows them to generate and save summaries, and read
books and documents. Third, participants will read the same book from the device x
30 min. Fourth, participants will elaborate a typed discussion board based on the
main topic of the story, using the braille device. Fifth, instructor will review the steps
and the proper use of braille device by providing a feedback.
Leadership considerations: CTRS will be the instructor in this activity and he/she
needs to be proficient in braille to work with them. Also, staff /volunteers,
recreational therapist students can support/guide participants during the activities.
The staff to participants ratio should be 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 depending on the
participants physical/cognitive skills. Instructions/education regarding proper use of
the braille device, correct sequence of tasks, fine motor coordination/control, etc.
The session will last for an hour and a half including the instructions, reading and
discussing part.
Adaptations: Participants with are Deaf-Blind: According to National Center on
Deaf-Blindness, deaf-blindness is a low prevalence diagnosis and within this very
small pediatrics group there is great changeability. Several individuals who are deafblind have some useful vision and/or hearing. The majority of this population who
are deaf-blind are characterized by additional physical, medical and/or mental
impairments. Good adaptations for these children could be the use of gestures,
facial expression, symbols, touch, message boards, and/or other communication
technologies. Also, the instructed could provide verbal cues/tactile cues in order to
guide the participant throughout the steps. Others adaptations include the display
views that can be adjusted in size/shape, color/font, brilliance and contrast for low
participants with low vision.

Adaptations: Participants with Rheumatoid Arthritis: According to American

College of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of
autoimmune disease within arthritis disease. It is triggered by a damaged immune
system that disturbs the wrist and small joints including fingers, knuckles, etc.
Some adaptations for this population could be performing some ROM exercises
before the use of this device to promote warm up, flexibility. Also, setting up a
specific pace for typing skills due to fingers deformities and pain will promote the
completion of task. Adjust the high and space for proper device placement to
facilitate reading and typing, etc.

Adaptations References
ABLEDATA. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.abledata.com/sites/default/files/How
%20AT%20Can%20Help%20You%20at%20Play_PDF.pdf
ABLEDATA . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.abledata.com/sites/default/files/AT
%20For%20Individuals%20Who%20Are%20Deaf-Blind_PDF.pdf
American College of Rheumatology . (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/DiseasesConditions/Rheumatoid-Arthritis
Disability Gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.disability.gov/resource/assistivetechnology-recreational-activities/
National Center on Deaf-Blindness. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://nationaldb.org/library/list/3
Teaching students with visual impairments . (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/braille-technology.html