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Show The Salt Lake Tribune TECH CONNECTION SATURDAY, April 10, 1999 "Assistive Devices Help to Level Playing Field CYBERSAVVY Machinescan be key to productive life and individual self-esteem Compiled by Kim McDaniel Procrastinating? Web Can Help With Tax Filing gold stick and pencil eraser, 11-year-old Marisa Velez punchesa few buttons ona computerized box. For all thetax procrastinators out box says in a computerized voice, cus- BY VINCE HORIUCHI THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Using a pink cap rigged with a long Hello, my name is Marisa Velez,” the tomizedto soundlike agirl. “Thisdevice lets me speaklike anyone else. there,it’s not too late! If you have put off filing your return and must nowget it togetherin the next five For Marisa, who was bornwith quadriplegiacerebral palsy, the Liberator and otherdevices in her home and school are the key to a productivelife Such sistive technology usuallyis as- days, there are plenty ofplaces online that can help. Financial software and company sites are great places to check for freetips. Quicken and H&R Block of- sociated with devices that help people with disability, but it also includes such commonplaceitems as glasses, hearing aids or canes Assistive technology has allowed Marisato attend regular classes at West- fer sections to help clarify tax changes,offer ideas for lowering pay- nents and allow youto get questions wered byprofessionals. Theofficial IRS site is also a good oné to visit. Forms, rules and scheds can be downloaded There are hundredsof articles and vale Elementary School like any other student. She uses a “tgs zed wheel chair to get around thebuilding and a computertouch-screen to write papers. sectionsthatclarify rules and answer questions. Shealso can use the Liberator voice ma- Thesite also provides detailedin- chine, which has a built-in printer, to formationonelectronicfiling options. it haslists andlinks to partner com complete assignments andquizzes. It's her self-expression, her ability to express her feelings and goals. Just be- panies and software you mayuseto file electronically Still up for doing it yourself? ing understood makes herfeel valued. said Marisa’s mother, Norma Velez. You can download tax software or, n some cases, use it right from the Web, fromsoftware makerslike Ki- ‘That's the purposeof technology — to not hold people back plinger’s (Tax Cut) and Intuit (Turbo- Infrared and other advances in me- chanical andelectronic technology allow peoplewith disabilities to operate everything in the homewithout humanhelp Tax). Then, just submit them online or print out the results and headto thepost office. Finally, it is not only federal taxes Bryan Carroll lost all mobility from that are duethis week, the state the neck downafteracliff-diving acci- for information, forms and helpfor dent 20 years ago on the San Juan River wants your money too. A great place But that has not stopped himfrom work- Utah taxesis the state's ing on college degreesinelectrical engineering and computer science. And with the help of various devices CyberSawy Links he works as the rehabilitation technol. ogy specialist for the Utah Center for Quicken’s Tax Tips — www.quicken- Assistive Technology in Salt Lake City com /taxes H&R Block Tax Tips — (UC www. hrblock.com/tax Intuit’s TurboTax — www.turbotax his motorized wheelchair and virtually Heuses a “sip-and-puff” deviceto run all the equipment inhisoffice Heeither puffs or sucks onaplastic tubepositioned in front of his mouth to com Kiplinger's Tax Cut — www.taxcut- com Official IRS Site — www.irs.gov Utah's Taxcess Page — www.tax.ex- activate vacuum switches that power his wheelchair. One puff makes it go for ward, a light sip turns left, and a light state.ut.us/taxcess/main.htm puff turns right. Sucking on the tube makes it stop. TribTalk Posts of the Week The “sip-and-puff” methodis not ex actly new technology, but it is linked to a n Religion: Religions are like indry detergent manufacturers; control unit that allows him to turnlights on and off, and run hjs entertainment center, computer and other devices in his home and office via infrared. ch tries to convince you that theirs s better — and improved. The reli ions and laundry detergent manufac I'mindependent,” said Carroll, 38. “I urers market themselves to promote come andgo as I want. The objects I want to control, I can control vrand loyalty. Meanwhile, all the av erage person wants to do is to go to veaven when they die andhaveclean He uses voice-recognition software to te computer commands s the computer cursor by lothes in the meantime — moderate On the Internet: Fact is, the inter iet can be used for so much more 90d than evil. Why not turn kidson o the benefits of the ‘net rather than rackball with his chin. ed to the top of his office desk Computer access is an issue,” he said If they [the disabled] can control the computer, then you level the playing field in the job market eeded to operate a comput eligious belief, the Internet isn't full f pornographic filth! It’s the user who decides what to do with the con g the cursor, and many de been developed that allow disabilities to do that. One ared system used quadrapleg 4 motion sensor on top of the puter that focuse sticker dot on the ad. Slight head If you have a comment, post it at www. tribtalk.com Y2K Tip of the Week cursor If you have an older VCR in your use this quick trick to fool it to Y2K compliance. WhenJanuary ills around, set the year to 1972 he dates and days match up with he year 2000, andit was a leap year, The Il is jury-riggedto tripod that is | ssuingall your focus and energy on the negative aspects of it? Contrary to to glide Marisa Velezis all smiles with the learning and communications skills provided by her assitive computer. At right she shows how her custom hat and attached rod allow her to perform numerous tasks, including speaking, with special keyboard Another device has a camera that tracks the user’s eyes. A slow eyeblink will click the mousebutton With a computer, there are so many ways a person can be productivein the world,” said Brian O'Sullivan, ities in Salt LakeCity. “These tools just open so many doorsfor folks. Voice machine: low people who can not speak to have onverstations. Sever al machines are like small computers with screens that allow the person to composesentences by touchingaseries of branching icons. Voice characteristics like pitch and speed can be customized so the computer voice resembles theuser’s If you took would seem said. “But for been able to one of those out to use, it frustrating,” O'Sullivan an individual who has not communicate with their voice, it would be a real benefit There are about 54 million peoplein the U.S, with some form of disability, a¢ cording to Marta Macdonald, executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Utah. Of those, at least 26 million have a severe disability that impairs mobility or requires technology to give them some degree of independence, she saic In t $3,000 NormaVelez hadto scream and shout to get her insurance company to pay for Marisa’ Liberator. Marisa was the first individual our disabilities is that the technology is ex devicefor,” Theonly obstacle for most people with sive. Insurance does not pay for most Carroll's motorized wheelchair cost $24,000. The remote unit that allows him [insurance] company provided a speech she said, “At first, they said it was not a medical necessity, But the object is to not give up. If she is ill and cannot communicate what wrong, of course that is a medical necessity New Equipment for Kids Can Turn Grind « Of Physical Therapy Almost Into Playtime | Spanish Fork firm markets fun trikes developed by a University of Utah professor BY VINCE HORIUCHI SALT ‘The state Department of Environ mental Protection has joined forces with the American Plastics Council to LAKE TRIBUNE The challenge in designing equipment for children sy is to make the devices therapeutic that way wick’s approachtwo years ago when he, a collea | several students designed a tricycle for child cerebral palsy. The CP trike is now licensed to a Spa A lightweight, asphalt-type mix can be madewith the plastic portions of omputers, along with such equipment as printers, paper trays and Fork company that sells them The trike. which is like a wheelchair, moves onleg scanners. d on the pedals and perform a walking \ potholefiller has been developed by Conigliaro Industries Inc. of Fra ningha n, which processes up to 12.5 movement like in a scissor fashion, and it propels them ) ard,” said Bloswick, director of the Ergonomics and Safety Program in the U.'s mechanical engineering tons of computer and other plastic department housings fromacross the Northeast every day Starting Sept. 1, Massachusetts resi dents will be prohibited from dump. ng computers and cathode-ray tubes in to use his computer and open doors was ing, while USU’s programsecures loans for the equipment and has lobbied for disability-relatedlegislation with the right devices and provides train. pout half of ice or have ations to their home, said program coordinator for niversity’s assistive technol "3 The Associated Press The Utah Center for Assistive Tech: nology helps match disabled persons 200,000 people have a phys them made Mart Utah St BOSTON — Tiredof keeping up on he information superhighway’ Not to worry, old computers may soon be vart of the highway as pothole fill promotetherecycling and marketing of plastics fromelectronics educa: tional programspecialist for the Com: puter Center For Citizens with Disabil Computers Into Potholes which are contained in TVs andfills, Ds Custom trikeis designed t provide therapy, but Still retain fun looks and fee of a regular tricycle. ’ Another thing wetried to design into the trike was to make it look as muchlike a trike and as little of a therapy device as possible,” he said, "We used bright colors and streamers in the handle bars Bloswick also helped develop a wheelchair that al lows theuser to easily stand up out of it. The chair uses pring-loaded seat that slowly rises Bloswick said hegot the ideas for his engineering projects by expanding the ergonomic designs of equip ment for able-bodied people Ergonomics is the samegeneral discipline for some one working in a plant as for someone in a wheelchair hesaid. “You still needto look at what the people need and design a systemto give themthose capabilitie Safety and durability are first considerations signing equipmentfor people with disabilities, Bloswick said. He also wants to them to be functional, but fash ionable Many times, however, equipment for people with dis. abilities is customized from parts here and there to make a devicefor a particular need You'vegot a specific individual with specific needs, and you have to m hat with that particular per son,” Bloswick said. “There may not be a market for that Bloswick’s trike was licensed to Viewpoint Manufac turing and comesin three models of different si They cc also can be adapted to specific needs where from $500 to $1,200. Theintent is to try to get the therapeutic benefits out of something that is playful,” said Viewpoint Presi dent Brad Moore |