'CAN DO’ MENTALITY. Since 2007 the FabLab has been trying to find smart solutions to the personal challenges of the people who live, work and go to school within our organization. The residents and students are people with a developmental age between 10 months and 8 years and their level of care depends on their additional dis- abilities (physical disability, autism spectrum disorder and other medical challenges), but generally speaking all 500 residents need 24-hour care. Because the digital society is all around us, the FabLab detected the need for smart solutions for the per- sonal challenges our clients face on a day-to-day basis. The Fab- Lab has three main functions: ADVICE AND CONSULTATION The largest amount of our work consists of consulting and advising residents, their parents, teachers and healthcare pro- fessionals. They can request a consultation in which we explore a person’s challenges and try to find a fitting solution. SHARING EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCES Having multiple disabilities and a visual impairment, a person automatically belongs to a niche target group. Solutions often need to be tailormade to suit their needs to enhance quality of life. Over the years, the FabLab has gained expertise that is quite specific and unique. The FabLab aims to share information and tries to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of en- abling clients to experience technology. INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT. Technology and its possibilities are ever changing. Keeping up with the latest technological opportunities as they arise is very important. In some cases, creating our own bespoke solu- tions is the only option. We often collaborate with universities and other healthcare professionals for developing innovative products that suit the specific needs of the target group. FROM PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO SOLUTION The examples of personal challenges range from being able to send emails, listening to music, mobility challenges to feeling safe at night (proximity). These daily tasks are generally occur- rences that this target group needs help with from a caregiver or teacher. They are the day-to-day things that a person without a disability can execute without any thought. Solutions developed in the assistive technology field are wonderful but can often not be used by those with a visual impairment. Many products use sight to compensate a disability, for instance AAC devices that use touch screens and pictograms to enhance communication or a visual timer that supports time management. When a per- son has multiple disabilities in addition to sight loss, overcom- ing the challenge of enabling access and independence requires specific adaptations and strategies. The method on how to find certain strategies and (tailor-made) solutions are all combined in
an organization-wide e-Inclusion-for-all-strategy that has been implemented for our clients with complex needs. Our strategy is question and problem solved-based and as- sumes that there is always a solution available. It focuses on delving into a person’s personal challenges and really tries to figure out which part of a person’s quality of life and/or self-suf- ficiency can be enhanced. We often ask the ‘question behind the question’ and try to define the goal of use of technology. Tech- nology is used as a means, not an end. The personal challenges encompass the components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). These classifications are used to determine the severity of someone’s disability. It often looks at someone’s incapability in areas such as mobility and motor development, communication, social activities and leisure, learning and applying skills and self-care. At the FabLab, we strive to approach these classifications and limitations from a unique perspective: how can technology be used to amplify quality of life, transforming "it's not possible" into a resounding "yes, you can!" Our mission revolves around converting as many limitations as possible into newfound abilities. Several of the ICF classifications contain reoccurring themes that are often part of individual challenges that require a solu- tion. Within these classifications mentioned earlier, there are a couple of reoccurring themes that are common for individual challenges. Access to information . Because of their visual impairment, almost all clients need help accessing information. From newsletters to reading emails or postcards from relatives to a personal care plan or invitation for a doctor’s checkup: almost all written text needs to read by a teacher or caregiver. There are several solutions to provide ac- cessible access to information such as text-to-speech solutions such as the ClearReader or the digital label reader PennyTalks. Mobility and orientation . All people with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment have mobility issues. Some people are able to learn certain routes in a familiar area, however, many need help from a sight- ed person getting from A to B. We try to find solutions for smaller mobility challenges such as finding your way from the bathroom back to your bedroom by for instance installing a Google Home speaker in each room and following the sound that’s playing on a specific speaker. Leisure activities. Gaming, using an iPad of listening to music: each are exam- ples of daily entertainment that requires adaptations. Nowadays many products offer touch screens only, something a visually impaired person cannot use. We try to find solutions and prod- ucts that suits a person’s abilities. Time management Learning to tell time and being able to manage time, is a challenge on its own. But when you have not been able to see a clock and are unable to grasp the passing of time, overseeing
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