Technology for Memory and Organization

Fred Tchang, ATPDirector, Assistive Technology Services

Advancing Opportunities

• Mobile AT Service

• All disabilities

• Technology Lending Center

Why Focus on Memory and Organization?

• Clear link to difficulty at work and performing activities of daily living

• People with these difficulties will require more support from others

See it! Testimonial

Workshop Goals:

1. Identify organizational tasks affected by impaired cognition

2. Relate examples of accommodations for organization

3. Be able to access resources re: accommodations for organization

Tips! Review Handout

Feature Match

Individual• Needs• Abilities• Expectations

Technology• Interface /

Input• Processing• Output

The SETT Framework

S = SkillsE = EnvironmentT = TasksT = Tools

Adapted from Joy Zabala, www.joyzabala.com

Skills of the Individual Motor

Cognition/Memory/ Attitude

Language/Processing

Sensory

Difficulty with organization, memory ? not paying attention, not

motivated ?

• Or, symptoms of a disability that affects Executive Function

• includes LD, autism, ADHD, TBI

Skills of the Individual: Executive Function

EF: Typical Difficulties

• Developing plans and executing them – Consumer is overwhelmed, does not look

at the big picture

• Organizing self and activities– papers are scattered

• Resist distractions and control attention – Consumer gets off-track, no sense of time

Environments

Community Work

Recreation Education

Home

Tasks

Keeping Appointments

Remembering To Do Tasks

Staying Focused on Task at Hand

Following Steps in a Process

Tools

AT Consideration

• Discuss cases

• Consideration Guide

– Voc. Goal

– Strength / Difficulties

– Tasks

• Choose spokesperson

Apply it! In Groups

All Organizational Tasks

Keep in mind the big picture:

•Make a Commitment

•Develop Routines

•Get Needed Support

Tools

All Organizational Tasks

•Color Coding

•Color folders / tabs / post-its

•A place for everything

•Touch papers only once

•Shred it! (Clear Off That Desk article)

Tools for Keeping Papers

•Day Planner, Desk Calendar

•VoiceCue

•Timex Datalink

•Computer / PDA

Appointment Tools

See it! Testimonial

Tips! Gee Whiz–Time Management

Try it! Palm PDA

•To Do lists

•Day Planner, Desk Calendar To Do lists

•Digital recorder

•Computer / PDA (Outlook demo)

To Do ToolsTips! Plain and Simple To Do List

•Watchminder

• Invisible Clock

•Livescribe pen

•PEAT software on PDA (software demo)

Tools for Staying Focused

•Written or picture instructions

•StepPad or recorded instructions

•Ablelink software on PDA (Ablelink demo)

Tools for Following Steps

AT Consideration

• Group activity

– Revisit your case from earlier

– Brainstorm accommodation solutions

Questions??

Comments??

www.AssistiveTechnologyCenter.org