Question
With technology - the apps and devices - a lot of clients may need ongoing support into the future. What are some of the methods that can be used to provide that ongoing support, to provide them with continued success beyond working in therapy?
Answer
That is a really great question because it really is one of the steps to success. We're fortunate here at SCALE. We have that ability to provide that really long ongoing support that somebody needs, and clearly they do. So if I were not in this context, I would be working very hard to find volunteers - just one or two people - that are efficient with technology, that would come alongside somebody that I had provided with a new technology, and really be willing to spend some time with them. I would utilize students, because they're so interested in learning these technologies. Occasionally, I would use family members. I've often found, and I'm sure you all as clinicians have found this as well, that the family member is often too close to the situation to be objective, and they end up doing it for the person and not empowering them. So it would take considerable training for most family members to be willing and able to allow the member to do as much of the construction and programming and transferring as possible.
Denise McCall, M.A., CCC- SLP, has over 25 years of experience as a clinician & researcher. Her work has primarily focused on investigating the effectiveness of software-based language treatment for people with aphasia. In 2008, she co-founded the Snyder Center for Aphasia Life Enhancement (SCALE) and has focused on developing SCALE’s technology program using the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia.
