Assistive Assistive technology in the technology in the context of workcontext of work

Stages of choosing and Stages of choosing and integrating technology into integrating technology into

the workplace the workplace (de Jonge DM, Scherer MJ, Rodge SA, 2007)(de Jonge DM, Scherer MJ, Rodge SA, 2007)

ID the right technology

Acquiring technology for work

Introducing AT into the workplace

Optimizing the use of technology in the workplace

AT users & outcomes

Issues for the AT users in the workplace

PopulationPopulation

• Age: Age: 16~6516~65• Two primary populations need ATTwo primary populations need AT 1. individuals with 1. individuals with disabilitiesdisabilities who are who are

interested in attaining employment e.g., interested in attaining employment e.g., SCI, CP, RA…SCI, CP, RA…

2. individuals 2. individuals who are at high risk for who are at high risk for injury or have been injured whileinjury or have been injured while working working and will be reemployed at the company and will be reemployed at the company they were with before the injury e.g., they were with before the injury e.g., musculoskeletal disorder (CTS, LBP…)musculoskeletal disorder (CTS, LBP…)

Vocational activities that Vocational activities that can be aided by ATcan be aided by AT

• CommunicationCommunication• ManipulationManipulation• MobilityMobility• ADL in the context of workADL in the context of work

CommunicationCommunication

• Interacting with others:Interacting with others: AAC AAC• Using phone:Using phone: PC +headphone; low- PC +headphone; low-

tech AT to facilitate grasping of the tech AT to facilitate grasping of the phonephone

• Reading:Reading: Electrically powered page Electrically powered page turner; turner; 擴視機擴視機

• Writing:Writing: Handwriting recognition Handwriting recognition program (program ( 手寫板手寫板 ), speech recognition, ), speech recognition,

modified penmodified pen

Manipulation Manipulation

• Anything to do with handling of Anything to do with handling of material e.g., filing, sorting, material e.g., filing, sorting, assembling, lifting & moving objects, assembling, lifting & moving objects, and using office machine (copier, fax)and using office machine (copier, fax)

• ““Paperless Office”:Paperless Office”: use of electronic use of electronic filesfiles

• Personal assistant, modified controls Personal assistant, modified controls on office equipmenton office equipment

Electronic Filing System Electronic Filing System

MobilityMobility

• Activities that involve personal movement to Activities that involve personal movement to & from the worksite & within the work place& from the worksite & within the work place

• Need to think: Need to think: a. what m’t are required a. what m’t are required b. when the c’t lacks these m’t, b. when the c’t lacks these m’t,

what what alternative methods are availablealternative methods are available• To & from the worksite To & from the worksite (Significant barrier!!)(Significant barrier!!) - Public transportation: w/c accessible - Public transportation: w/c accessible - Private transportation: modified vehicle - Private transportation: modified vehicle

(costly)(costly) (finding accessible & close parking space)(finding accessible & close parking space)

MobilityMobility

• Within the work placeWithin the work place

- if the person can enter & exit the - if the person can enter & exit the building safely (emergency) building safely (emergency)

- postural alignment and proper - postural alignment and proper positiong positiong

- free from pain and fatigue - free from pain and fatigue (modification)(modification)

- be able to perform pressure relief - be able to perform pressure relief activities if neededactivities if needed

ADLs in the context of workADLs in the context of work

• Activities – going to the bath room, Activities – going to the bath room, taking medication, and eating mealstaking medication, and eating meals

• Physical requirement: accessible Physical requirement: accessible restroomrestroom

• Time: additional time for toileting Time: additional time for toileting

- A flexible schedule with time off - A flexible schedule with time off during the workday during the workday

Reasonable Reasonable Accommodation Accommodation

• The barriers in the workplace may be The barriers in the workplace may be physical or maybe procedures or rules physical or maybe procedures or rules (when work is performed or when breaks (when work is performed or when breaks are taken) are taken)

• Reasonable accommodationReasonable accommodation is is “ “ any modification or adjustment to the any modification or adjustment to the

work environment that will enable a work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with qualified applicant or employee with disability to participate in the applicatioon disability to participate in the applicatioon process or to perform essential job process or to perform essential job functions.”functions.”

General types of reasonable General types of reasonable accommodation that an accommodation that an employer may need to employer may need to

provide...(1)provide...(1)• Making existing facilities readily Making existing facilities readily

accessible (ramp, modified restroom) accessible (ramp, modified restroom) • Job restructuring (alter when or how Job restructuring (alter when or how

a function is performed by a function is performed by reallocating or redistributing reallocating or redistributing marginal job function)marginal job function)

• Modified or part-time scheduleModified or part-time schedule• Acquiring or modifying equipment Acquiring or modifying equipment

(e.g., head mouse)(e.g., head mouse)

General types of reasonable General types of reasonable accommodation that an accommodation that an employer may need to employer may need to

provide...(2)provide...(2)• Providing qualified readers or Providing qualified readers or ineterpreters (e.g., sigh language ineterpreters (e.g., sigh language interpreter for the hearing impaired interpreter for the hearing impaired person)person)

• Modified work place policies (e.g., Modified work place policies (e.g., fridge for medicine)fridge for medicine)

• Modified examination, training ... Modified examination, training ...

(extended exam time or using software (extended exam time or using software

for LD)for LD)

Mutidisplinary Mutidisplinary

• CustomerCustomer• Vocaional rehabilitation conselor Vocaional rehabilitation conselor 職業復建職業復建

諮商員 諮商員 • Vocational evaluator Vocational evaluator 職評人員 職評人員 • Therapy services (OT, PT, SLP…)Therapy services (OT, PT, SLP…)• Rehabilitation engineerRehabilitation engineer• Employer, supervisorEmployer, supervisor• Fellow employees (if the workstation is Fellow employees (if the workstation is

shared)shared)

Case studyCase study （ 引自（ 引自 McBroom McBroom Shindell,Shindell, ＆＆ Elston, 1997Elston, 1997 ））

• 　　　　個案：安迪，個案：安迪， 1919 歲，高中生，嚴重視障。他的歲，高中生，嚴重視障。他的父母希望他進大學就讀，但他自已希望能進入職父母希望他進大學就讀，但他自已希望能進入職場工作。安迪被學校的輔導老師（場工作。安迪被學校的輔導老師（ school school counselorcounselor ）轉介給職業復建諮商員）轉介給職業復建諮商員（（ vocationalvocational rehabilitation counselor rehabilitation counselor ）。）。復建諮商師受理案件後，將安迪交給職評人員復建諮商師受理案件後，將安迪交給職評人員（（ evaluatorevaluator ）做進一步評估。因為安迪表示）做進一步評估。因為安迪表示他對用手操作的工作有興趣，職評人員於是針對他對用手操作的工作有興趣，職評人員於是針對此點做進一步心理測驗。此點做進一步心理測驗。　　　　　　　　　　　　

Case studyCase study• 1.1. 心理測驗心理測驗

（（ 11 ）） Wide Range Achievement Wide Range Achievement TestTest （（ WRAT3WRAT3 ），得知閱讀和數學能力。（安），得知閱讀和數學能力。（安迪的閱讀能力為迪的閱讀能力為 8. 58. 5 年級程度，數學為年級程度，數學為 7. 57. 5 年級年級程度程度——延長測驗時間。）延長測驗時間。）　　　　（（ 22 ）） Minnesota Importance QuestionnaireMinnesota Importance Questionnaire 。。測安迪的語言能力，得知他的語言能力可在工廠的測安迪的語言能力，得知他的語言能力可在工廠的環境中勝任。環境中勝任。　　　　

Case studyCase study

• 2.2. 手的靈活度手的靈活度　　（　　（ 11 ）） Purdue pegboardPurdue pegboard　　（　　（ 22 ）） Pennsylvania Bi-manual Pennsylvania Bi-manual Work SampleWork Sample ，來了解安迪的兩手靈活度。，來了解安迪的兩手靈活度。結果發現安迪的兩手靈活度佳且在不斷練習後，結果發現安迪的兩手靈活度佳且在不斷練習後，手部靈活度增加。手部靈活度增加。

• 3.Singer 3.Singer VocationalVocational Evaluation Evaluation SystemSystem 來測量安迪工作的品質及是否能及時來測量安迪工作的品質及是否能及時完成。完成。　　　　　 　　 　

• 經過以上的評估後，職評人員了解安迪的手部靈活度佳而經過以上的評估後，職評人員了解安迪的手部靈活度佳而且安迪對此類工作的興趣很高，所以職評人員打算為安迪且安迪對此類工作的興趣很高，所以職評人員打算為安迪製作一個裝配釣魚線的工作樣本（製作一個裝配釣魚線的工作樣本（ work samplework sample ）以當）以當地的一家生產釣魚用具的工廠為例。在這個工作樣本中所地的一家生產釣魚用具的工廠為例。在這個工作樣本中所使用的工具、材料和步驟都和真實工廠中的一樣。經練習使用的工具、材料和步驟都和真實工廠中的一樣。經練習後發現安迪的工作品質佳，但 完成時間稍慢，但經一段時後發現安迪的工作品質佳，但 完成時間稍慢，但經一段時間後，他的速度增加，且安迪非常能遵從指導語的提示。間後，他的速度增加，且安迪非常能遵從指導語的提示。最重要的是安迪表示他對這樣的工作很有興趣且願意在當最重要的是安迪表示他對這樣的工作很有興趣且願意在當地的工廠工作。最後安 迪在工作教練（地的工廠工作。最後安 迪在工作教練（ job coachjob coach ）的陪）的陪同下到工廠工作三星期。他的表現使職評人員相信安迪足同下到工廠工作三星期。他的表現使職評人員相信安迪足以勝任此種工作。除此之外，專業人員也安排了家庭諮商以勝任此種工作。除此之外，專業人員也安排了家庭諮商師使安迪的父母接受事實。最後 安迪如願以償，在當地一師使安迪的父母接受事實。最後 安迪如願以償，在當地一家生產釣魚用具的工廠工作，而他的父母不但接受且給予家生產釣魚用具的工廠工作，而他的父母不但接受且給予鼓勵。 鼓勵。

Sample workplace Sample workplace accommodation for persons accommodation for persons

with visual impairmentwith visual impairment• CommunicationCommunication (writing, reading, (writing, reading,

conversation)conversation)

- increse lighting- increse lighting

- reduce glare(window cover)- reduce glare(window cover)

- contrasting colors to define background - contrasting colors to define background and foreground (edge of step & step and foreground (edge of step & step surface, Windows accessibility option)surface, Windows accessibility option)

- Use optical character recognition to scan Use optical character recognition to scan printer text and receive a synthetic speech printer text and receive a synthetic speech output (might need an isolated workplace)output (might need an isolated workplace)

contrasting colors of edge contrasting colors of edge of step & step surfaceof step & step surface

Sample workplace Sample workplace accommodation for persons accommodation for persons

with visual impairmentwith visual impairment• Communication Communication

- speech recognition system- speech recognition system

- closed cicuit telesion, magnifier- closed cicuit telesion, magnifier

- take frequent breaks to rest eyes - take frequent breaks to rest eyes when fatigue is a factorwhen fatigue is a factor

Sample workplace Sample workplace accommodation for persons accommodation for persons

with visual impairmentwith visual impairment• ManipulationManipulation (filing/sorting, assembly, (filing/sorting, assembly,

lifting, using office machine)lifting, using office machine)

- large-print lables on files and file - large-print lables on files and file foldersfolders

- enlarge print on office machine- enlarge print on office machine

- provide talking office machines - provide talking office machines (calculator)(calculator)

- provide magnification system for - provide magnification system for assemblyassembly

Sample workplace Sample workplace accommodation for persons accommodation for persons

with visual impairmentwith visual impairment• MobilityMobility (sitting, standing, walking, (sitting, standing, walking,

climbing stairs)climbing stairs)

- eliminate clutter & obstacle- eliminate clutter & obstacle

- provide rest room and room labels in - provide rest room and room labels in alternative forms (braille, large print)alternative forms (braille, large print)

- allow the use of service animals- allow the use of service animals

- intall colored edges on stairs for - intall colored edges on stairs for

improved color contrastimproved color contrast

Sample workplace Sample workplace accommodation for persons accommodation for persons

with visual impairmentwith visual impairment• MobilityMobility - provide mobility and orientation - provide mobility and orientation

trainingtraining - mobility aid (cane)- mobility aid (cane) - improving lighting in area- improving lighting in area - set up a traveling/evacuation partner- set up a traveling/evacuation partner - verbal landmark system (7-11)- verbal landmark system (7-11) - use public transportation or ride with - use public transportation or ride with co-worker to get to workco-worker to get to work

Sample workplace Sample workplace accommodation for persons accommodation for persons

with visual impairmentwith visual impairment• ADLs (toileting, eating lunch, taking ADLs (toileting, eating lunch, taking

medicine)medicine)

- install bathroom grab bars of - install bathroom grab bars of contrasting color from the wallcontrasting color from the wall

- provide refrigerator for food and/or - provide refrigerator for food and/or medicationsmedications

Activitity Activitity

• Try to think of as many workplace Try to think of as many workplace accommodations for persons with accommodations for persons with motor impairment by the categories motor impairment by the categories of communication, manipulation, of communication, manipulation, mobility, and ADLs (in 4 groups)mobility, and ADLs (in 4 groups)