584085 - A Systems Engineering Approach to Designing an AT Assessment Clinic

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

12:50 PM – 1:10 PM

Location: St Johns 33

Co-Author(s)

This paper derives a healthcare mobile facility concept for patients needing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) using the systems engineering method. The vehicle should facilitate the health care service delivery for patient condition assessment and AAC device evaluation. The evaluation of the individual’s ability for the use of AAC requires assessment of the user’s cognitive and linguistic skills, literacy skills, sensory skills, perception skills and motor capabilities. Therefore, the assessment requires the knowledge and skill sets of an array of medical professionals. In addition, fitting of an AAC device ideally demands a multi-disciplinary team of speech-language pathologists (SLP), a physician, an occupational therapist, vision specialist, a learning specialist, a social worker, and caregiver from the family. Given that this group of professionals is typically only available in large well-funded medical facilities and rehabilitation centers often located in large cities, adults with severe communication disorders who lack transportation, are poor, or live outside of large cities do not have access to the professionals they need. The resulting vehicle will allow individuals to access all their Assistive Technology (AT) services, which includes AAC, at one location.