Interview with Dawn Waller

When Wordgathering put out its first issue in 2007, it was through the efforts of the Inglis House Poetry Workshop , and much of that first issue was created in the Inglis House computer lab run by Dawn Waller. For this issue, Wordgathering editor Michael Northen returned to Inglis House to talk to Waller, now the director of the Adapted Technology Program, about the many changes that have taken place there over the past few years that allow the residents living at Inglis House to live more independently and have access to the tools and technologies not only for writing but for daily life.

MN: Dawn, thanks for inviting me here to take a look at all of the changes in technology that have taken place.

DW: You wouldn't believe how much has happened over the past few years. Let talk and take a tour at the same time, there's a lot for you to see and hear about. We'll start in the computer lab. One of the exciting things that is happening is that as of October 31st, there will be a major upgrade to the free wireless Internet for the residents, providing a strong signal throughout the entire buildinto each resident room and some of the common areas they utilize. We will have a stable and reliable Internet with enough bandwidth to serve the 160+ devices that are the personal technologies currently in resident rooms. There is also room to accommodate the continued increase of personal technology in resident rooms. We also have a staff member, Charles Sammartino, who is dedicated to helping all of the residents who are using personal-computers tablets, smartphones, Kindle's, and other enabling technologies in their rooms. Access to technology is independence for so many daily tasks. When anyone has a problem we can generally help them the same day.

MN: I remember how long the waiting list used to be for computer training and how frustrated many of the residents would be.

DW: Not any more. We've increased the staffing and have developed a process to get folks into computer workshops and/or encourage them to utilize the lab for any technology pursuits they have. We've continued to increase the alternative inputs available and improve the user experience. Many of the residents access technology with alternative inputs like their voice or switches or alternative keyboards, mouse devices, even using just your eyes you can have access to technology. Some of these technologies are also integrated on some of the wheelchairs, providing access through blue tooth. Our adapted technology team works closely with the OT/PT/TE/and TR teams to identify possibilities through technology.

MN: Where does the money come from for these?

DW: There are some grants but it is mostly all from donations. I spend a lot of my time grant writing. working with our PR/Development department in the pursuit of grant writing or donor funds. One of our newly funded projects is the implementation of more 32" monitors. Having larger monitors improves the user interaction, the average distance from eye to monitor for lab users in wheelchairs is six feet vs three feet for a non-disabled user. We also partner with some organizations. It is a win/win situation for some of the computer or tech companies because when it comes to accessibility, we are a great place to try out new technologies.

The computer lab is still a place where residents come to write. This is Shelly, she was a short story writer. It was through the encouragement of the Poetry Group facilitator and members that she began to write poetry. She will write out her ideas, short stories or poetry, in a notebook and then come up here to work on her poemstransfer them to digital a format so she can edit, print, and share her talent. Even with the large screens, she needs to use Zoomtext, a text magnification program that magnifies everything on her screen. Her computer is also set up so that the text is white on black background to make it easier for her to see. She accesses the computer with an Intellikeys keyboard, a large print keyboard with a large letter overlay making it possible for Shelly to see the keys as she types and edits her work.

MN: Great. I'm glad to hear the poetry workshop is still going.

DW: Out in the hall is our E-Library, 3 workstations that are equipped with the same adapted technologies used in the lab and dedicated to reading. We have donor funds that we use to download any book a resident expresses a desire to read.

MN: I see something else new here too.

DW: Yes, what used to be the education office when you were here now houses our Community Computing Program, a free program that is funded by a grant from PEW Charitable Trusts. This space serves as a computer Llab, a small version of the Inglis computer labs, and is also the office of our Community Computing Educator, Michael Strawbridge

MN: What goes on here?

DW: Two main things really. Two main things really. First, this space serves adults with disabilities from outside of Inglis House. They come here to find out about and trial adapted technologies that can provide access to or make it easier for them to use computers, tablets, etc. After the input devices are determined they participate in a weekly goals based workshop. Sometimes they don't need adapted technologies, they just need for the instruction to be customized to meet their needs and they learn at a pace that is best suited for them.

The second thing, much of the coordination and scheduling for access assessment and instruction for the use of technology for adults with disabilities takes place in this office. We provide the same assessment and instruction services to people outside of Inglis House. They may be clents in some of the Inglis housing sites, or participating in our program in external organizations like Magee Rehab or the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled.

MN: How long has the Community Computer lab been running?

DW: In the 3 year period of Phase I there were more than 235 adults with disabilities who participated in the program. We are now in Phase II of the Community Computing Program, which will also run for 3 years, April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2017. There is a real need for this service in our communities. Technology is an empowering factor and increases independence, people with disabilities who utilize adapted technologies need the assessments and instruction to utilize technology to its fullest extent. We now have a waiting list. Of course, this also is another project that is funded through grants and contributions. We've served close to 400 people with this program since we started.

MN: And this is separate from the Tech Lab you were telling me about?

DW: Yes. I'm going to show you that in a second, but on the way, take a look at the eye gaze technology.

MN: I remember that this was just beginning a few years back. We were trying to find something for people who did not have enough physical movement in their hands to use Intellikeys or the voice necessary for Dragon.

DW: Yes. The technology is much improved but it still requires assistance. Someone from the lab has to get it set up for the individual resident before they can use it.

MN: How does it work?

DW: Once the system is turned on and the user is logged in there is a calibration process so the technology can track their individual eye movement. Using the movement of their eyes they can perform computer tasks through purposeful blinking or by focusing their gaze on an object for a designated amount of time. With their eyes they can write by using Microsoft Word with an on-screen keyboard that they interact with the computer by staring and blinking or dwelling their gaze on the desired letter.

MN: And they can access anything?

DW: Yes, this one is set up for someone who is using Corel Painter X. There are still a few programs are very challenging to access with adaptive equipment, but nothing like the way that it used to be. Okay, let me show you the Tech Lab now. Jeremy Boothe does a lot of the work in here so I'll let him tell you about it.

JB: A lot of the work in here is done in connection with the ECU's (environmental control units) that residents use in their rooms or clients use in the communitity. It works through a combination of infra-red and blue tooth technology.

MN: The way the residents used to be able to turn their lights or televisions off and on from their wheelchairsor beds.

JB : Yes, but it is getting much more sophisticated. This set up here is for Stu's* room. We are doing a lot of pioneering work with him. He can direct almost anything to his Apple TV. One of his biggest interests since he has not been able to get to the lab as much lately is Facetime with his family. The technology he uses is called a TECLA shield and he is able to operate it from up to about 50 feet away. It acts as a sort of mirror to his TV screen. From it he is able to access books, send emails, go on the Internet just from his wheelchair. There are a few things he likes to do, such as view Netflix, that still create problems for this technology, but we are working on it.

MN: I'm guessing the Tech Lab also works with other people than just Stu.

DW: Yes, we actually have teamed up with occupational therapy. One of the exciting new pieces of equipment that we have is a 3D printer. It allows us to adapt some pieces of equipment ourselves to individual residents, such as wheelchair joysticks, mouth stick mounts and cup holders. We use the Maker-Bot-Replicator and can print for $5 what would cost us $60-65 to order. Custom-fitting these is where Charles' background in art comes in. Why don't I let you explain it Charles.

CS: I create the sketches for the replication in a 3D graphics program in the computer attached to the replicator.

MN: So, how do you individualize it?

CS: Often times a particular object like a joystick just does not fit a resident's hand the way it needs to for them to be able to operate it. I take pictures of the hand with a camera from all different angles and then load them into a computer. The computer software is able to combine them into a one image that allows me to work on it.

MN: How many pictures do you need to take of the hand?

CS: Between 20 and 40.

MN: Wow. Then what?

CS: Then from the image of the hand, I am able to modify the original joystick to fit it and we can print it out.

MN: Pretty incredible.

DW: Right now there are only a few things that we can do but we are working with the physical therapy department and the possibilities for the future are very exciting.

MN: I remember when I first came to Inglis House back in 1997, that the computer lab was just a small room with a few basic computers. What has happened since then is really amazing. Thanks to all of you for giving me the tour and being willing to be interviewed.

*Stuart Sanderson was one of the founders of Wordgathering.

Jeremy Boothe and Charles Sammartino work on accessibility devices for residents in the Inglis House Tech Lab.