Educational Content

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and quadriplegia have some very similar characteristics.  They are also unique in their own ways.  Accessibility Services, Inc. (ASI) has been developing and providing assistive technology for individual with quadriplegias and individuals with ALS for more than three decades. Let’s take a look at some of their differences and similarities:

ALS is Progressive

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive disease that gets worse over time. Initially, a person with the disease may not need a custom environmental control unit or ALS communication device. However, as the disease progresses, ECU devices and voice assistive technology become necessary to improve independence.

Individual with Quadriplegias have lost the ability to use all four limbs and their torso. In some cases, speech may be affected as well. Assistive technology for individual with quadriplegias is designed to accommodate individuals from the onset of their spinal cord injury. The autonoME is an integrated environmental control unit / speech generating device for individuals with any level of spinal cord injury.

Neither Has a Cure

While there are promising treatments for both ALS and quadriplegia, there is still no cure for either.  The autonoME is designed to help individuals maintain some independence while drastically improving independence.

Prognosis Often Differs

In many cases, a individual with quadriplegia can live for years or decades after their spinal cord injury.

The average lifespan of a person diagnosed with ALS is five years, although there have been instances of individuals such as Stephen Hawking who have lived 20+ years with the disease.

If you or a loved one is a individual with quadriplegia or has been diagnosed with ALS, we can help.  Our integrated environmental control / communication devices for individual with quadriplegias and individuals with debilitating diseases can transform the independence for you and your loved ones. Contact us to learn more today!

Part One

Accessibility Services, Inc. has been on the forefront of developing innovative solutions and assistive technology for individual with quadriplegias for nearly three decades.  A lot has changed since we opened our doors in 1991 and we have since expanded our focus to also serve individuals with debilitating diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  Our proprietary autonoME custom environmental control unit (ECU) has integrated augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) features and a Windows 10 computing system.  This forward thinking device includes everything needed to help an individual maintain independence and effectively communicate.  Let’s take a closer look:

Environmental Control

ECU devices have transformed the lives of individual with quadriplegias and individuals with debilitating diseases such as ALS.  A custom environmental control unit allows an individual to perform everyday task such as turning on lights, adjusting the bed, controlling the television, turning on the fan, opening doors, answering the phone, operating a computer and more without the assistance of a caregiver.

Caregiver Peace of Mind

ECU devices and communication devices for individual with quadriplegias and individuals with debilitating diseases not only allows the individual to have some independence, but they also provide much needed respite for caregivers. Now, caregivers can go to the store or visit a neighbor without worrying about leaving their loved one helpless at home.

Part two of our series will discuss more ways that individual with quadriplegia assistive technology can benefit individuals with debilitating diseases including ALS.  If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ALS, we can help.  Give us a call today.

If you have been diagnosed with a progressive disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), voice banking is something that should be considered as early as possible. Accessibility Services, Inc. (ASI) is proud to partner with Acapela Group.  They are the developers of a software called, “my-own-voice”, which seamlessly integrates with the autonoME to make it a powerful and effective ALS communication device.  Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why voice banking is important to anyone with ALS or another progressive disease that affects speech:

Speak with Your Own Voice

At some point, a person with ALS will lose their ability to speak.  Once this happens, voice assistive technology can be used to help them communicate.  The autonoME is an environmental control unit/speech generating device with full augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) capabilities. Acapela Group’s “my own voice” software allows individuals to preserve their own synthetic speech by creating a digital copy of their voice.  Later, when speech is impaired, individuals with ALS and other progressive diseases can still communicate and project the sound of their own voice through the autonoME.

Capture Unique Sayings and Expressions

The beauty of voice banking is that it can be used to create stock messages and expressions.  This helps ensure the person maintains his/her own identity.  For example, perhaps a mother has a nickname for her son that she says with a certain expression or tone of voice. Her unique tone and delivery can be preserved through voice banking.  Voice assistive technology will allow her to continue to communicate with him and others using her normal expressions when she loses her speech.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ALS, please give us a call to learn more about how ALS communication assistive technology and environmental control units for disabled individuals can improve your overall outlook and independence.  We’re here to help!