[Athen] Assistive technology/possible accommodation for Tourette Syndrome

[Doug Hayman]

I had a student with the same challenges a few years ago.  She couldn't
control these involuntary movements that led to caving in the keyboard on a
laptop twice as well as the impact damaging the dynamic hard drive in the
system.  I provided her with one of those inexpensive, flexible rubber
external keyboards that if hit would likely not have such a horrible
consequence either for the gear or her hands.  Also got a solid state drive
for the laptop.

I'd also been in contact with a vendor we didn't end up using, one that
made extra durable metal keyboards like what you'd see on a kiosk that
might be likely to be vandalized.  Decided that her hitting an extra sturdy
metal keyboard would only leave her more prone to injury so didn't go that
route.

So I'd lean towards getting inexpensive external gear that can both take
impact and hold up while also not being too hard on the user with
Tourette's.

On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 6:49 AM, Nazely Kurkjian <kurkjian at binghamton.edu>
wrote:


> Good morning,

>

> A student worker in the library self-identified to their supervisor as

> having Tourette Syndrome. This came up because there was a patron complaint

> about a student who was slamming a keyboard mouse to the desk every few

> minutes. The supervisor, before she knew about this student's disability,

> emailed her student staff asking if anyone knew about whether or not any

> keyboard mice were having issues. This student then told her it was him and

> explained why. He says he slams the mouse against the desk, not because

> it's not working, but he says he has no way of stopping it. It wasn't like

> this all semester, but it's more uncontrollable now. He's broken a mouse

> already, and she's concerned he'll break more/distract patrons in a library

> setting, but adds he's an amazing worker and she wants to find a possible

> solution to the slamming mice situation. She will ask if he's interested in

> doing other work in the library stacks, and not at the circulation desk,

> for now. He seems embarrassed by it and doesn't want the other student

> workers to know. I don't know if he's registered with our office..and I

> don't know if he has this slamming situation with other items he's holding

> in his hand. I wonder if using a laptop would be an appropriate solution. I

> really don't think I have enough details, but am curious at what possible

> solutions exist. I did see this head tracker software

> <https://www.enablemart.com/vivo-mouse>...

>

> Thank you in advance for you wisdom ~

>

> --

>

> *Nazely Kurkjian*

> *"Shame on us...  If we let the wonders of educational technology and

> broadband internet lead to more inequality as opposed to less"*

>

> Adaptive Technology Specialist

> Binghamton University

> Email: kurkjian at binghamton.edu

>

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>



-- 
Doug Hayman <dhayman at u.washington.edu>
Senior Computer Specialist
DO-IT Program (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, Technology)
UW Technology Services
Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 221-4165
http://www.washington.edu/doit
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