[Trainer-Talk] Intro and question

[Brian Vogel]

Luis,

You asked, "This brings me to my question, what suggestions would anyone
give for working with a student that along with their blindness has limited
dexterity and neuropathy in both hands?," and have received what I feel is
the best answer already:  Get this client an assistive technology (AT)
evaluation by a team of professionals that does this all the time.  Most
states have agencies that can provide these, and this client should be
hooked up with at least one of those (as it sounds like there are multiple
handicaps involved, some possibly progressive).

The following is not meant as an insult toward you, but as a caution:  You
are not qualified to make this kind of evaluation and, as a result, should
not be attempting to do so.

I was once part of an AT evaluation team, and even on those the members
stuck to the areas of their professional disciplines.  As a speech-language
pathologist I did not make decisions about switch access, that was the
realm of occupational therapists, though we certainly collaborated as part
of the process.  Ultimately, OTs know a lot more about gross and fine motor
movement in the arms and hands and are best equipped to make decisions
about most switches, perhaps barring eye-gaze switches, which are not
accessed using the hands.

Brian Vogel