Assistive Technology Review: CalmPalm

The CalmPalm device is a self-soothing and self-regulatory tool designed to help individuals who experience anxiety and related insomnia. The CalmPalm uses micro electro stimulation pulses to trigger acupuncture points associated with calming the ‘fight or flight’ response.

Assistive Technology Review – Skull Candy Headphones

Skullcandy’s Hesh ANC Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones are advertised as providing quality audio with an exceptional noise cancelling experience at a significantly lower cost than other similar products on the market.

Tech Review: Loop Earplugs

Loop Earplugs are advertised sound-filtering earplugs which allow the user to experience sound without background noises, as well as reducing the overall decibel level.

Tech Review: reMarkable 2 vs. Bamboo Slate

Learning to write is an important literacy milestone, but in an increasingly digital world learning to write means learning to type. Writing and typing share a number of the same base skills: letter identification, spelling, grammar and syntax; but for individuals with developmental disabilities, the method is just as important as the message.

Cubetto

Product: Cubetto Producer: Primo Toys Compatibility: N/A Cost: Around $300 for Cubetto Classic Product summary: Cubetto is a wooden robot designed to teach the basics of computer programming. Cubetto is marketed as a teaching tool for classrooms and homeschooling with target audience of children aged 3 to 9. The start-up Cubetto Classic package includes Cubetto, …

Floreo VR

Product: Floreo Producer: Floreo Inc. Compatibility: iOS Cost: Starting at $50 CDN/month Product summary: Floreo is a learning app that uses virtual reality (VR) as a method to teach social and communication skills to individuals, primarily youth, on the autism spectrum. It is designed as a supplementary tool for families, therapy practices, and educators, and …

Dream Pad

Product: Dreampad Producer: DreamPad Compatibility: iOS/Android Cost: $149.00 USD Product summary: Dreampad is a high-tech pillow advertised as a sleep aid and sensory solution. Embedded within the pillow is a Bluetooth-enabled intrasound speaker that transmits vibrational sound once paired with the accompanying iOS/Android app. The pillow was designed to allow the user to hear and …

Dementia Supports

Individuals with developmental disabilities today are living longer, heathier lives due to improvements in understanding, health care, and community supports. As a result, there is now an aging population of individuals within this demographic that require coordinated care teams particularly when supporting complex medical needs. CareZare, Timeless, and Dementia Talk are 3 apps available for …

Prune App for iOS Review

Product: Prune Producer: Joel McDonald LLC Compatibility: iOS Price: $5.49 + tax Product Summary Prune was developed by Joel McDonald LLC for iOS only but offers both an iPhone and iPad version of the app. It has been advertised as a game featuring minimalistic art and calming music for a relaxing game experience. Prune has …

Decide Now! Random Wheel for iOS Review

Product: Decide Now! Random Wheel Producer: Catforce Studio Compatibility: iOS Price: $2.79 Product Summary Decide Now! is a choice-making app produced by Catforce Studios available for iOS only. The app functions as a single-screen spinning choice wheel that selects an item at random from a setlist when the user presses a central control button. Wheels …

When It Comes to Adaptive Technology, Who is Doing the Adapting?

Over the past 6 months, DDA has been conducting research on the development of a unique adaptive communication system using a wireless, one-handed keyboard known as Tap™ (Tap™ Device Review). This project was originally addressed in our article, Harnessing Creativity for Accessibility.   The initial idea of harnessing Tap™ for use as an assistive communication …