| |
|
January 2025
We publish our Constellations newsletter to share ways that Assistive Technology can be life-changing for people with disabilities and raise awareness of the services offered through the STAR Program and our partners.
|
|
From the Director
Happy New Year! We are pleased to feature some exciting news in this issue that is helping us usher in 2025.
Our STAR Program Partners are key to our ability to serve our entire state with assistive technology, and to that end, we have a new STAR Partner: St. Cloud State University Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic. In this issue, you can learn more about them.
It’s always good to talk about our lending library, AT4All.com, and it feels right to address a few questions that we on the STAR Program team commonly address.
Also featured is another of our impressive Advisory Council members, Nikki Peterson. Learn a little more about Nikki’s story in this issue.
Apps can be a way to enhance a person’s independence, and there are many of them! As a result, we broadened our scope of the Assistive Technology section of the newsletter to be a place to highlight both devices and apps that can enhance a person’s independence. In Technology and Apps, we’ll periodically highlight promising apps. In this issue, read about the free, easy-to-use Action Blocks app for Android phones. We also feature a success story about Action Blocks.
In STARS Across the State, we are unveiling a new video series we created: Adaptive Living. The series features people with disabilities, who share a little of their personal story in one video and demonstrate an AT device they use that is making a positive impact in their lives. For this article, we interviewed the creator, who shares the inside story of how these videos came to be. We hope you check out the videos, too!
Finally, check our calendar of upcoming events and webinars, and take note of helpful links. In particular, we are excited about our upcoming Apple Accessibility Webinar. We hope you enjoy this issue of Constellations and be sure to subscribe for next time!
Amy Perron, Program Director
|
|
|
|
Do you like the Constellations Newsletter? Don’t miss an issue!
|
|
|
Assistive technology (AT) is something that can help you do things that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to do on your own. It is an item or device that can help you speak, walk, talk, remember, see, hear, learn and more.
|
|
|
Did you know? There is no cost to borrow equipment from the STAR Program or our partners! You can schedule a time to pick up the equipment or we can ship the device at no cost to the borrower. The borrower is responsible for returning the item back to the program they borrowed it from at the end of the six-week period by scheduling an appointment to return the device or by paying to ship the equipment back to the program.
|
|
Lending Program Common Questions
We asked AT Specialist Jamis Wehrenberg to share answers to some of the common questions that the STAR Program team receives about the lending library process:
“Can I purchase AT devices from the STAR Program?”
No. Please reach out to us because we can ask the questions that would help direct you to possible funding sources. Otherwise, the person is on their own to purchase the device.
“Do you have durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, scooters, shower chairs, ramps, etc.) in the lending library? Do you offer loans or scholarships towards the purchase of adaptive vehicles?
No. However we are aware of other organizations throughout Minnesota that loan medical equipment and adaptive vehicles. Please call if that is something you are interested in. We suggest you contact your doctor to see if a physical therapist or occupational therapist can help with your medical equipment needs.
“Who will need to sign the loan agreement?”
A person acting on their own behalf would create an account for the lending library and sign the loan agreement. If not, their guardian needs to create an account and sign the agreement. If the person who will be using the device has a different address than the guardian, the device can be shipped to the user’s address.
“Can I extend the loan beyond 45 days?”
You may do so one time only (for a total of 90 days) and only if no one is on the waiting list for the device. To give equal opportunity to all, federal guidelines specify that the loan may only be extended one time. Note: devices in our open-ended loan program may be kept as long as needed.
“Does it cost anything to utilize our STAR Program lending library?”
There is no cost to borrow a device. You are responsible to pay for shipping the device back to the location from which you borrowed it at the end of the loan, or you may make arrangements to drop the device off to that location.
“Do you have to have proof of disability?”
No. The only requirement is that you must be a Minnesota resident. If the individual who will be using the device is from any other state, we will refer you to the appropriate AT Act Program for your state.
AT Specialist Jamis Wehrenberg encourages individuals to contact the STAR Program with further questions, emphasizing that “We are just an email or phone call away if you have general and specific questions about the inventory listed.”
We encourage you to check out the STAR Program Information Assistance webpage
OR
Contact Us
|
|
|
Our Partners Help Broaden Our Reach State-wide
The federal 21st Century Assistive Technology Act, requires programs like STAR to provide the following services: assistive technology demonstrations, loans, and reutilization services. In order to support the entire state with a small team, STAR has broadened their ability to meet people where they are, closer to their communities where possible.
|
|
St. Cloud State University Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic, our newest STAR Partner
Open House recently held at the Clinic
We are thrilled to welcome St. Cloud State University Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic to our network of STAR Partners. Our new partner is located on the campus of St. Cloud State University. We talked with Mary Baumann-Spooner, Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at St. Cloud State University for this article.
Mary’s primary role is clinical instructor, supervising graduate students studying to become speech language pathologists, learning skills and gaining experience by providing assessment and therapy at the Clinic.
Prior to her current role, Mary was a speech pathologist in school districts and has a deep understanding of Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She often accessed the lending library through MNSTAR partners for solutions for students. When she joined the university, she saw an opportunity to expand who the clinic served and proposed that access to the university’s AT could further serve the community at large.
With support of the Communication Device Lab, Mary organized the lab’s AT and worked across the university to include more technologies for people with disabilities, but to catalog technology from other departments, she needed an inventory system. She found a perfect solution: the STAR lending library MN AT4All website. The clinic became a STAR Partner and over 100 devices were added to MN AT4All. The clinic now serves toddlers through senior citizens.
|
 |
Most inquiries about AT today come from MN AT4All and some referrals come from their own clinic. “We have an aphasia group, a Parkinsons group and others,” Mary stated. The clinic suggests, demonstrates, and lends out AT equipment for free, to help a client make a purchase decision. “It’s another benefit of being a STAR Partner,” said Mary.
Mary believes their Speech-language program is strong in part from the experience students gain in the clinic, where the case load is representative of what students encounter after graduation. The students say one of the factors they believe will make a difference in their future is the actual hands-on experience they had with clients during their training.
Mary summed it up: “Our students get hired. STAR is a great way for students to know what communication devices are available and where to find them. I'm pleased that I’m already collaborating with a student who graduated last year on a client that we have and who she supports in the school system.”
STAR Partners are listed on our Device Loan page. Individuals can search for a device by product type and location by accessing the MN AT4ALL online lending library. If there are questions, we encourage people to check with STAR first.
|
|
|
Note: The Minnesota STAR Program is federally funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in accordance with This law requires that the STAR Program have an Advisory Council. The purpose of the Minnesota Technology Advisory Council is to provide consumer-responsive, consumer-driven advice to STAR.
Getting to Know Council Member: Nikki Peterson
Nikki Peterson
Nikki Peterson, Quality Assurance and Improvement Planner with the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Aging and Adult Services, joined the Advisory Council in 2024. Through Nikki’s work with AASD she also partners with the Minnesota Board on Aging – both agencies work to ensure that all Minnesotans can age well and live well.
Nikki’s prior experience in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services telephone equipment distribution program and having family members who have various degrees of hearing loss using AT, make her a good fit for the Council. Nikki said, “AT solutions are effective for people as they age and their caregivers. Some may need a little more assistance with day-to-day activities, such as needing a magnifier with their phone. That can help the person’s caregivers, too.” Nikki sees the benefit of connections on the Council: being able to reach out to the STAR Program to gain insight on products, build relationships with agencies, and gain insight from community members on the Council. Nikki explains, “Before you use a technology in real life situations, you don't know how effective it is. While I could try a screen reader, I have don’t have vision issues, so there are likely things that I don't consider in using it. Someone with a ‘lived’ experience can identify things the design did not address. We need that important feedback.”
When asked about the importance of AT in the future, Nikki offered, “We are embarking on a significant demographic shift, an increase in our older adult population along with a direct care workforce shortage. AT is increasingly important at this time and can help a person remain in their homes longer and support caregivers, too.”
Nikki added, “We have the chance to reframe how we think about aging. We should celebrate that we’ve come this far. Aging is not a burden. Let’s capitalize on the experiences of older members of our society. I see it as let’s all come together in this new situation by working together (agencies, private sectors, industry, community). If done well, we will all come out much better.”
To learn more about the Minnesota Technology Advisory Council and the work they do, email STAR: star.program@state.mn.us.
|
|
Note to readers: in each issue, we feature a device from our lending library or a useful AT app. There are many devices that can be demonstrated or trialed through our loan program at no charge to you. Check out our inventory of devices at the MN AT4ALL website. We also feature promising apps that help improve the lives of people with disabilities.
|
Action Blocks: A One-tap App for Routine Actions on Android Phones
If you are looking for a simple, one-tap way to complete a routine action from your Android phone home screen, consider the Action Blocks app. A “routine action” includes making a room warmer, calling a close friend, watching a favorite show, controlling the lights in a room, and more.
The app is a free download for any phone running Android 5.0 or later. Customized Action Blocks can easily be set up with Google Assistant and can be configured to do anything the Assistant can do in just one tap.
The app is useful for people with speech and language disorders who need to quickly communicate during urgent situations. It’s also built with the growing number of people with age-related conditions and cognitive differences in mind, for people with learning differences – anyone who wants a very simple way to access routine actions on their phones. Set it up for your family, friends, or for yourself.
Action Blocks now features tens of thousands of picture communication symbols (PCS® by Tobii Dynavox), for a seamless visual experience for users of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and special education software.
The app may be useful for anyone who could benefit from an easier way to perform routine actions on their device: individuals with dementia, aphasia, a speech disorder, autism, a spinal cord injury, a traumatic brain injury, Down syndrome, Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dexterity impairments, or other conditions. People who use adaptive switches, Switch Access, or Voice Access may also benefit.
Action Blocks includes an Accessibility Service and uses that capability to enable you to connect a switch. If you don't want to connect a switch, it works fine without enabling the service.
Learn more about Action Blocks:
The Help Center: https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/9711267
General Overview: Active Blocks descriptive video
In-depth 30-minute video: Google Action Blocks
|
|
Adaptive Living Videos
|
|
|
Can a mini fridge change a person’s life? What about a game controller, or an iPad? There’s a lot of content out there featuring able-bodied people showing how assistive technology (AT) works, but we rarely hear the unique, real-life stories of the people who actually use this technology daily, let alone see them using it themselves. Recently the STAR Program created a video series, Adaptive Living that does just that. The first of these videos premiere today on the STAR Program YouTube channel.
Kirk Wydner, founder of Wydner Assistive Tech Training Services, LLC is a speech therapist and Assistive Technology specialist. He collaborated with the STAR Program to capture the stories of individuals talking about and using their AT of choice. He focused on their personal narrative and how AT changed their lives.
Wydner said, “I hope these videos create a sense of connection – a shared human experience and recognition that much of our lives are the same, regardless of ability.”
Kirk met Amy Perron, Director of the STAR Program, at a conference for AT, where they discussed STAR’s desire to reach more people about the services they provide. He said, “More people today are learning about AT through videos. I wanted to help the STAR Program connect with a wider audience by creating videos that show the profound impact the AT resources in their lending library have that are available to try, free of charge.”
Wydner wanted to get people interested in AT through these videos. With advice from a mentor, he created human interest pieces, putting the individual first. Kirk added, “We want to know each other’s stories, so I asked each person to tell us a little bit about their life. We focused on their experience ─ like getting their diagnosis or just growing up a little different from everyone else. Then we asked how assistive technology impacted their lives – did it change the way they see themselves, the world, how they engage with their family and community? For many, it was the first time they told their story to a broad audience.”
The video series includes 3 topics: adaptive gaming, environmental controls, and telehealth. Each topic includes 5 videos: an intro video about the topic, and two videos for each person – their story and a demonstration video. Look forward to these videos premiering over the next month!
Kirk said, “I wanted to capture the real lives of people who are often misunderstood. If someone you know has a disability, I hope the videos spark ideas of what’s possible for them, and that they will use the STAR Program as a resource for getting help with making that idea a reality. It was an honor to be a part of this.”
Watch for an announcement on our website and social media channels from the STAR Program.
About the STAR Program
There is no cost to borrow a device from the STAR Program or our partners. You can schedule a time to pick up the device or we can ship it at no cost to the borrower. The borrower is responsible for returning the item back to the place from which they borrowed it by scheduling an appointment to return the device or by paying to ship the device back.
Check out our online lending library at MN AT4ALL where you can see many of the devices hosted by STAR and our partners. You can check out a loan online and a staff member will reach out regarding next steps.
For more information, contact STAR . We look forward to hearing from you!
|
|
Starting the Day Out Right with a Customized Action Block
A person got in touch with the STAR Program looking for help with something that is very important to her: using her cell phone to call her church’s daily prayer line. She recently had a stroke and had acquired some physical and cognitive processing issues. It was now a struggle to complete the steps to access the prayer line, including locating the prayer line in her contacts, locating the call button to place the call and putting the call on speakerphone. This sequencing requires a precise order of actions, but the individual struggled to complete them because of her vision limitations and the fine motor skills needed to perform the tasks in a timely sequence. She shared that she accidentally erased apps and called other people by mistake, making the process very frustrating and anxiety-inducing. She wished there was just a simple button that was large enough to see and would do all of this for her with one push.
We introduced her to Google Action Blocks and set up an Action Block to perform these actions with one button press. Then we placed the Action Block on her home screen and helped her remove unwanted clutter to make the Action Block more visible. Then we made the button extra large and added a high-contrast picture of a cross to the button to identify its purpose. The moment it was ready to use, she was able easily locate the button and push it to call the prayer line and put the call on speakerphone.
She was so excited about its simplicity and appreciated the introduction to Google Action Blocks, which led her to start brainstorming different ways that Google Action Blocks could assist in other daily living tasks. She shared that the prayer line helps to start her day out on the right foot and is so thankful she reached out to the STAR Program for help.
|
|
|
|
There are a number of events and learning opportunities that may be of interest about assistive technology. More information about upcoming events is available from the links. All events are in Central Time unless otherwise indicated.
If you want to hear more about future events, subscribe to our Upcoming Events list!
|
|
|
Jan. 30 – Feb. 1
Orlando, FL
|
|
Conference: ATIA Conference is where to learn about the latest trends in AT. The STAR Program will also be attending the national event.
See the website for information or to register for this annual conference.
|
|
|
Feb. 12
11:00am – 12:30pm
FREE
|
|
Webinar: Empowering Accessibility: Personalizing Apple Devices for Diverse Needs
Join the MN STAR Program as we welcome Apple for this FREE 90-minute session to learn about the accessibility features you can put to work on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac every day, right out of the box. We’ll explore Apple’s built-in features for Vision, Hearing, Mobility, Cognitive, and Speech. Together we’ll learn how these features can be personalized and customized for the diverse needs of all users. ASL interpreting will be provided.
Registration is required.
|
|
|
PACER’s Parent Leadership Training Series. In this series, parents will learn to tell their personal story and use it to influence meaningful change for students with disabilities in their schools, communities, and across the state.
Parents can attend as many sessions as desired. Access the Training Series to register and learn more about the session topics.
All sessions online: 4:00-6:00pm
Dates: Feb. 18, Feb. 20, Feb. 25, Feb. 27, March 3. Capstone on PACER’S Day at the Capitol: March date/time to be announced.
|
|
|
Feb. 20
10:00am –
11:30 am
|
|
Webinar: MN-NEAT webinar on Assistive Technology for Elopement and Wandering. STAR will be one of the panelists presenting.
Time: 10:00 – 11:30
See the website for more information.
|
|
|
Various dates. Refer to website.
|
|
Resource: Minnesota Department of Education has ongoing FREE information sessions about assistive technology (AT) products, services, resources and processes to support the selection, acquisition and use of AT for individuals.
|
|
We have many device and educational videos. STAR posts videos often, so consider subscribing to our channel! There are also two playlists on the channel:
|
|
|
|
|
