Daily Living

Descriptive Transcript

Introduction

Ann Marie: Good afternoon everyone and thank you all for joining. I know some people will be joining us in just a few moments but we’re just going to start so that we can keep to our time. So a very warm welcome to the first webinar from the Digital Assistive Technology Training Network. I’ll start with a visual descriptor. I’m Anne-Marie McDonnell and I work for Rehab Group. I am a white female with brownish reddish. hair, I’m in my 40s, I have a round face, blue eyes and today I’m wearing an orange cardigan. Just some notes on accessibility for our session. Live captions are available for the webinar. If you would like to use them, click on the three dots, more, in your meeting controls and select turn on live captions. All the videos today have subtitles. and we will also be sharing a descriptor in the chat. We’ll keep our microphones muted, but you can use the chat function to ask questions or make comments. Julianne, Feabhra and I are presenting today and we’re delighted to be joined by Sarah and Shelley as our Irish Sign Language interpreters. This webinar is being recorded and a transcript will be available afterwards. So we’re going to get started. First of all, I’d like to tell you a little bit about our network. We believe it’s very special. The Digital and Assistive Technology Training Network is funded by the WHEEL’s Training Links Programme and that’s from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and we thank the WHEEL for their ongoing support. The aim of the training network is to provide easily accessible, quick access, micro-training in five areas. assistive technology and daily living that’s what we’re here to learn about today but in the future we will also be discussing assistive technology and education alternative and augmentative communication assistive technology for hobbies and assistive technology for work as we move to slide two this is going to show the logos for the members of the training network We want to recognise all members for their contributions. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, Enable Ireland, the Independent Living Movement Ireland, MS Ireland, Marissa Foundation, Parkinson’s Ireland, Rehab Group, St Michael’s House, Sunbeam House Services and Vision Ireland. Our next slide, slide three, just details our agenda for today. Today’s session will be looking at digital assistive technology for daily living and the benefits of it. You will learn about some low cost mainstream technologies that are available. And most importantly, you’re going to hear directly from AT users on the impact this assistive technology or digital assistive technology has had on their lives. The tools that will be covered in today’s session are a smart assistant, Alexa, Google Maps as a navigation tool. the HSE Passport, the Environmental and Smart Home Controls and a mental health app called How We Feel. And I’m now going to pass over to Julianne who will bring you through a learning journey with Feabhra on digital and assistive technology for daily living. Thank you Julianne.

What is Assistive Technology?

Julianne: Thanks Anne-Marie. Just a quick visual. description of myself. I’m a woman in my 40s. I’ve got long brown, slightly wavy hair. I’ve got hazel eyes and today I’m wearing a black top. So we’re going to start with a simple question. What is assistive technology? According to the World Health Organization, assistive technology refers to any product or system that helps people improve their functioning and independence. That might mean helping somebody move around, or communicate, or hear, or see, or manage their health. It can be something very simple, like a walking stick, or a pair of glasses, or something more advanced, like a voice-controlled smart speaker, a screen reader, or a medication dispenser. But here’s the key thing. Assistive technology is not one-size-fits-all. To be truly helpful, assistive technology needs to be person-centred. That means it should be chosen based on your own goals, your strengths and your environment. A method called feature matching can be used. This involves examining what you need the technology to do and then matching those needs to the features of different tools or devices. For example, if somebody has difficulty remembering to take medication, they might benefit from a simple reminder app on their phone or they might need a smart pill dispenser that alerts a caregiver if a dose is missed. The right solution depends on you. your preferences, your abilities and your lifestyle. So now let’s talk about digital assistive technology. This includes tools that run on phones, tablets, computers or smart devices. Things like built-in accessibility features like voice control, screen magnifiers, or text-to-speech, apps that support health, communication or daily routines, smart home devices that help with safety, comfort and independence. Digital tools can be powerful but they also need to be easy to use, reliable and supported. Choosing the right technology is just the first step. To make it work well people often need training to learn how to use it, you Support from family and friends and caregivers and professionals. Time to try things out and see what fits for them. And that’s okay. Learning and adapting is part of the process. Assistive technology is about empowering you to live more independently, to stay connected and to manage your health in ways that work for you. It’s not about the latest gadget. It’s about finding the right tool for the right person. with the right support.

Smart Assistants

So let’s first look at how smart assistants can support daily living for people with disabilities. Smart assistants can be devices like the Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple’s HomePod, but they can be built into your phone like Siri on an iPhone or Google Assistant or Gemini on an Android phone. These tools are especially useful for people with physical, cognitive or sensory challenges. But really they benefit everyone. One of the most empowering features of Speech Assistance is their ability to help manage time. With a simple voice command users can set reminders for medication, appointments or daily routines, add events to a calendar without needing to type, ask alexa What’s on my schedule today? And get a spoken summary. This can be especially helpful for individuals with memory challenges, vision impairments or limited mobility. Users can also ask, what’s the weather like today? Before heading out the door. What’s in the news? To hear the latest headlines. Is there traffic on my route? To plan travel. This kind of real-time information access supports independence and confidence in planning ahead. Speech assistance can also help with creating and reading shopping lists, setting timers while cooking, controlling smart home devices like lights, thermostats and door locks. We’ll talk more about this later. These features can be empowering and make everyday tasks more manageable. For many users, assistants are more than just convenient. They’re a bridge to greater autonomy and empowerment. They reduce barriers, support memory and organisation, and offer a sense of control over one’s environment. They help people feel more in control of their day and reduce the need for external supports. For many, speech assistants are a gateway to greater autonomy, confidence, and quality of life. Next we’re going to look at a video of Aisling showing us how she uses her Alexa during her morning routine. Aisling uses an AAC or communication device to speak. Aisling and Alexa Video [Descriptive Transcript] Aisling’s AAC device is an iPad that allows her to choose pre-programmed phrases or to type out messages in real time. In this video she shows us how she uses her communication device to interact with Amazon’s Alexa which she has running on her Echo Show device. There are two voices in this video. Asheran chooses to use a synthetic voice with a Scottish accent. The other voice is that of Alexa. [Background music] [There is a woman in a power wheelchair outside a house. She has what looks like a tablet device on her lap. It is her communication device (AAC Device). She turns, leads us into her house and begins to speak using her communication device (off camera). ] Aisling: Come with me to see how assistive technology works in my home. [Inside the house Aisling is speaking to camera by typing out messages on her AAC device.] Aisling: My name is Ashling, and I’m going to show you some of the ways I use my Alexa. I use my AAC app to talk to Alexa. I can use my Alexa to stay organized and get reminders. [The camera angle changes a few times and we see a closeup of an Echo Show device. Settles on a vew over Aisling’s shoulder. We see her typing on her AAC device with the Echo Show on the table in the bavckground.] Aisling: Alexa, what’s on my calendar for today? [Camera zooms into the Echo Show screen which shows a calendar with a Doctor appointment at 11:30 AM.] Alexa: Today, there is one event remaining. At 11:30 AM there’s doctors. Aisling: I can ask Alexa what the weather will be like. Alexa, do I need to bring an umbrella with me today? [We see a close up of the Echo Show screen which shows a weather forcast app] Alexa: It might rain today. There’s a 52% chance. Aisling: I can use Alexa to set reminders and help me remember important things. [There is a close-up of Aisling’s AAC device. It is a touchscreen, possibly an iPad, with a grid based interface. Each rectangle on the grid has a preprogramed phrase in it. By touching a phrase it is sent to the speaking area at the top. Then it’s read aloud. There are options for opening a keyboard and quick answers like yea and no also. ] Aisling: Alexa, remind me to feed the dog at 6:00 PM. [We see a close up of the Echo Show screen which shows a reminder being set.] Alexa: OK, I’ll create a reminder at 6:00 PM. Aisling: By using my Alexa with my AAC app, I can be more independent. [Video finishes with Aisling laughing and looking happy] So thank you to Aisling for helping create that video for us today.

Google Maps

Next we’re going to look at an app you might already be familiar with, Google Maps, which can be set up and used as an assistive technology tool to support people with disabilities. Whether somebody has mobility challenges, visual impairments, cognitive disabilities or anxiety, Google Maps often features offers features that promote independence and confidence in navigating of the world. To get to his appointment, Natty uses a navigation app with accessibility features such as voice guidance, real-time transit updates and step-free route suggestions. When starting out using public transport, users can tap directions, select the bus, train icon and then choose wheelchair accessible or less walking under options. This filters out routes that aren’t accessible, showing only those with ramps, lifts and suitable vehicles. It’s a simple but powerful way to avoid barriers and plan ahead. You can also view the steps feature, which uses photo images of all the turns along your journey, as well as an image of your destination. Street view is a fantastic feature for pre-planning. Users can tap and hold on a location. Then open the image thumbnail to explore the area virtually. This is especially useful for people with anxiety, autism or mobility concerns who want to preview entrances, paths and surrounding areas before visiting a place. If you are in areas where Street View is available, you might have access to the Live View feature, which uses your phone’s camera with an augmented reality navigation overlay. so that the direction and turns are visually displayed on your screen by arrows, along with street names. It helps users visually understand where to go, especially in complex or unfamiliar environments. Voice guided navigation provides spoken turn-by-turn directions, which is especially helpful for blind or low-vision users, or anyone who prefers auditory instructions. Just make sure the phone’s volume is up and microphone access is enabled. Once navigation starts, the app will guide the user without needing to look at the screen. Real-time location sharing in Google Maps is a feature that allows users to share their live location with others for a set period or until they turn it off. It’s especially useful for safety, coordination and accessibility support. Google Maps also allows users to save and label important places. For example, someone can label their GP’s clinic, a favourite café, or a quiet park. These saved places are easy to access and navigate to, reducing the stress and improving efficiency in daily routines. As you can see, Google Maps offers a range of features that can be tailored to support accessibility. These tools help users plan better, travel more confidently and reduce reliance on others. Natty shows Google Maps [Descriptive transcript] Let’s watch Natty use some of these features to get to his destination. In this video, Natty, who uses a powered wheelchair, shows us how Google Maps supports him in planning routes and finding his destination. He shows us how Google Maps can be set to provide wheelchair accessible routes. For example, avoiding stairs and prioritising lifts. He also shows us the steps feature which breaks the journey down into parts and uses pictures from Google Street View to show landmarks along the route. We’ll play the video now. [The video starts with a man in a powered wheelchair talking to the camera.] Natty: Hi, my name is Natty. [His narration the continues as we see footage of him navigating along the footpath in his powered wheelchair. There is a smart phone mounted to the armrest. Natty: Today we’re gonna be talking about independent living. [Camera zooms into smart phone and we see Google Maps on the screen. We can see text saying, George’s St Upper. ] Natty: We are gonna be using Google Maps to travel around. So follow me. I will show you around. [We see Natty leaving a building going down a ramp. We then see his smart phone screen as he explains his settings] Natty: I’m just going to my profile. I’m tapping the letter ‘N’ then I’m going down to the settings. Then I’m just going through to navigation [Onscreen text tells us that sound and voice are on by default in Google maps and most people will not need to unmute.] Natty: and I just going to make sure to press unmute. Now, I just type in the address that I want to go to and I’m just going to choose a walking route. I going to go to the settings, just above that and I’m choosing a wheelchair accessible route. [We see Natty navigating to his chosen destination, moving along the street. Camera then shows the smart phone screen again. The Google maps Steps setting breaks the journey down into discrete steps with street view photos for each. Natty scrolls down through the steps.] Natty: When I want to see all the different pictures and all the different steps that I need to get there. [We fast-forward through the journey switching between footage of Natty and screen recordings of Google Maps, finally arriving at the destination, St Michael’s Hospital.] Natty: So, here we are. Without Google Maps, I wouldn’t be able to travel around Dun Laoghaire. So I think it’s handy to have Google Maps. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to get around. I think it’s good. And thank you to Natty for helping create that video for us. Next, I’m going to pass over to Feabhra Mullaly from St. Michael’s House. who will introduce us to the next piece of technology.

HSE Health Passport

Feabhra: Thanks so much, Julianne. Hello, everyone. And my name is Feabhra. And just to give a visual description of myself, I am a woman in my 40s. I have shoulder-length blonde hair with a fringe, and I have green eyes. And today I am wearing a red and black top. So the next digital tool is the HSE Health Passport app. It is a really helpful tool developed by the HSE and developed by a really excellent team in the Quality Improvement Office in the HSE and it can be used in appointments with a doctor, with a dentist, at the hospital or any kind of clinical appointment. So here we see a photo of Enda promoting the health pass at his dental appointment. The HSE health passports allows you to share your health needs, preferences, and how you would like to be treated with medical professions who you come in contact with or who you have an appointment with. The health passport also helps healthcare staff to make reasonable adjustments in a patient’s appointment to improve the quality of their experience in the healthcare setting. For example, making reasonable adjustments such as dimming the lights for somebody who is light sensitive, or perhaps considering that somebody may need their medication with food rather than drink. The Health Passport also lets healthcare staff know about your decisions about your health now and in the future. We have been learning about the Health Passport in St Michael’s House, and together we created a digital skills programme to support people to learn how to use. the digital health passport app. So the service users as digital skills coaches in St Michael’s House coach others in how to use the health passport app and a video has been created by service users to tell people about this which we will play now. Health Passport Video [Descriptive Transcript] [Slide showing text: Health Passport App, a smart phone with the HSE Health Passport on its screen and a smiling man getting his blood pressure checked by a doctor.] Narrator 1: The HSC health passport is a tool designed to help healthcare staff understand an individual’s needs, habits and behaviours. [Slide show of people using the Health Passport in various locations] Narrator 1: You can use your health passport in various healthcare settings, such as appointments with your doctor, dentist, eye doctor, in hospital, or if you move to a new centre or respite house. For example. Narrator 2: I t can be used as an app on a phone, tablet or laptop or as a printed paper copy. You can tell healthcare staff how you communicate and how would you like to be cared for. The health passport can tell staff about how you might act if you are afraid, worried or in pain and how they can help you. This goes in the communication section on the app. The health passport also tells staff about decisions that are important to you about your health. You can put this information into the decision-making section so that the healthcare staff will know what your preferences are about your health now or in the future. Narrator 3 : Lots of people use the HSE Health Password App in St. Michael’s Health, especially the paper version. However, some people found it hard to use the Health Password App because they didn’t have the skills. [On screen text: Co-created with Service Users, family, staff and with external agencies, Education Training Board and An Cosán] Narrator 3 : So we created a digital skills program to help people to learn how to use the Health Password App. We are paid as coaches to help people to learn how to use the Health Passport app. Narrator 1: You can share your Health Passport with healthcare staff by bringing it along to your appointment or emailing it via the app. There is a helpful email button on the app to help you to do this. For more information go to the HSE website or to the app store. Feabhra: And so I’d just like to say a big thank you to all of the service users, family and staff in St Michael’s House for all their hard work on this health passport video. And now I’m going to hand you back over to Julianne. Thank you.

Smart Home Technology to support Independence

Juliann: Thanks, Feabhra. Now, we’re going to explore how smart home technologies can support people with disabilities in their daily lives. We’ve already covered speech assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, but smart homes go far beyond voice commands. They create environments that are safer, more responsive and easier to control. especially for individuals with mobility, sensory or cognitive challenges. So smart lighting systems allow users to control lights with a tap on their phone or automatically based on movement. For somebody with limited mobility, this means that there’s no need to reach for light switches. Smart thermostats also let users adjust heating and cooling remotely. or via automation helpful for people with chronic pain or temperature sensitivities smart locks can be unlocked with a phone or a voice command removing the need for keys video doorbells let users see who’s at the door and communicate with visitors which is especially useful for people with hearing impairments or those who feel vulnerable answering the door Smart cameras and sensors can alert caregivers if a door opens unexpectedly or if movement is detected in certain areas. This is particularly valuable for individuals with dementia or epilepsy, where monitoring can help prevent accidents or wandering. Smart plugs and appliances allow users to control devices like kettles, vans or washing machines remotely. This can be life-changing for somebody with fatigue or limited dexterity or cognitive impairments who benefit from simplified routines. Ultimately, smart home technologies empower people to live more independently and safely. They can support routines and create a more responsive environment tailored to individual needs. And as these technologies become more affordable and customizable, They’re opening up new possibilities for inclusive living.

Keith’s Smart Home Video [Descriptive Transcript] Let’s see Keith show some of the smart home technologies he has in his home. Keith, due to cerebral palsy, has non-standard speech and uses a powered wheelchair for mobility. He has been living independently for the last 19 years and has embraced mainstream smart home technology. He shows us his smart lights. robot vacuum and curtain closers and demonstrates how they can be connected and activated together in what are called scenes routines. We’ll play the video now. [Background music plays. A man in a wheelchair outside a house starts talking to the camera.] Keith: Come with me and I will show you my night-time routine. [The camera follows Keith as he enters his house. Stops when he gets to the kitchen dining. Shot of Keith speaking to the camera.] Keith: My name is Keith, and I am in my own place for the last 19 years. [Slow motion shot of Keith interacting with a smart phone.] Keith: I am going to show you some of my smart home technology. (Series of quick scene changes as Keith talks: Robot vacuum gliding across the floor. Keith in front of a window with the curtains closing behind him. Keith interacting with a smart phone. ] Keith: I use this app to turn on my lights. [Close up of smart phone screen with lighting app open. Three lights onscreen. Bedroom Light Bedroom Lamp and Hall Light. All appear off. Scene switches to a shot of light bulb turning on.] Keith: Now I’m going to show you my robot Hoover. [Keith from another angle interacting with the smartphone again, there is a robot vacuum in the background. Scene changes to a close-up of Keith using the robot vacuum app on his smart phone, which he rests on his leg to facilitate access. Screenshot of the Robot Vacuum app with a cleaning process being initiated. Switch to shot of robot vacuum leaving it’s dock to begin cleaning.] Keith: Technology has improved my life greatly. [Keith makes his way to the bedroom. Opens the Alexa app on his phone. Selects the “Goodnight” routine. Curtains close. Lights smitch off.] Juliann: And thank you to Keith for helping create that video.

How we feel – Mental Health Support

Juliann: Moving on to mental health apps. They are increasingly recognized as a form of digital assistive technology, especially for individuals experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional regulation challenges. These apps can provide on-demand support, offered guided exercises like breathing routines, journaling or mindfulness. and help users track emotional patterns and identify triggers. While they don’t take the place of trained professionals, they can be used in addition to personalised supports. One example is the How We Feel app. This free app was developed in collaboration with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. and it’s designed to help users build emotional literacy and regulate their feelings. The core feature is a daily emotion check-in. Users log how they feel using a visual mood meter and descriptive tags. Over time, the app helps identify patterns like how sleep, exercise or social interactions offer emotional states or affect emotional states. What makes how we feel especially useful for anxiety is this range of guided strategies. These include short exercises under headings like change your thinking for reframing anxious thoughts. Move your body to release tension through movement. Be mindful with breathing and grounding techniques. Reach out, encouraging connection and trust. There is a body sensation mapping tool which helps users connect physical symptoms like a tight chest or racing heart with emotional states. This is a great way to build self-awareness and reduce anxiety through understanding. Mental health apps like How We Feel offer meaningful support for anyone navigating emotional challenges including anxiety. These tools help people better understand their feelings, recognize patterns, and access strategies that promote well-being, all in a way that’s private, flexible, and tailored to individual needs. As part of the wider landscape of assistive technology, mental health apps are helping to make emotional support more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to each person’s needs. Now we will watch a video of Patrick demonstrating how to use the How We Feel app.

How I feel App Video [Descriptive Transcript] [Man with smartphone in his hand sitting in front of a large screen. He signs as he introduces himself. The camera pans around and we see the smartphone scren is being mirrored on the big screen showing the How we feel app Google play store page] Patrick: Hello, I’m Patrick and this is an app that I use. It’s called How You Feel and it helps me support and it helps me to find a way how to… Express myself self and feelings and also it’s a smartphone app so you can download it on the Play Store. [switch to screen recording showing the How we feel app interface] Patrick: What will happen is it will open up and then it will come up How we feel a journey for your wellbeing Then it will come up find words to identify your emotions. [screen is filled with different colour circles all containing words to express feelings. Red in top, and Blue bottom left are broadly negative, Yellow in top and Green bottom right are broadly positive] Patrick: So you have the orange, the yellow Blue and the green bubbles, they all are different emotions. As they continue, then a video will come up which will try to strengthen you in the moment. Before jumping in, let’s explore why you’re here. So, you have how you feel more positive around others. I want to improve how I handle stress, anxiety. How we feel will help you so it’ll tell you how you feel. Click next and then let’s do a check-in. So it would always get you to check in on how you feel so you just press one of the colours, click where you feel and all that happens is it describes what might cause your feelings. So you use your voice, you can text. or you can take a picture. Describe how you feel and then check in and then you can how often do you want to check in so one per day, two per day, three per day or four per day. I prefer one per day so you can check every day but it’s your decision what you pick and then what you could do you pick The times and the day are you can pick surprise me and it will surprise you today. I recommend this to you and my friends and then I’ll set it up and how you feel. So I recommend this to my family and my friends and they’re using it at the moment. I feel that it’s very helpful and when I got recommended to by my counciler they really helped me a lot. So I hope the video inspires you to download and try it out yourself. Thank you for listening. Juliann: Thank you to Patrick for helping create that app and now I’m going to pass back to Anne-Marie.

Webinar Close

Ann Marie: Thanks, Julianne. And just a big thank you to everyone. I know we’ve thanked as we go through, but we want to give a big shout out to Ashley, Nati, Keith, Patrick and everybody in St. Michael’s House who contributed. And I just want to say that the webinar and additional resources will be available on the AT&ME website next month. For those who had some challenges with hearing sound in the first video, We hope you can catch up and catch everything there again and apologies for that. But before we close, there’s a very short evaluation and it just has five questions. You can see on screen that you can scan a QR scan code and there’s also a link in the chat. I promise it takes less than one minute to do and it’s really, really helpful for us. It will help us improve and it’ll help us learn together as a community.