Technology Enables Girl With Rare Disease to Communicate

NORFOLK, Mass., November 14, 2018 (Newswire.com) - ​Students at Bi-County Collaborative (BICO) program at the King Phillip Middle School in Norfolk, Massachusetts who have disabilities that make traditional modes of communication impossible will now be able to communicate effectively thanks to an assistive technology system called the Tobii PCEye Plus. This innovative system uses eye movement to enable communication. The school is receiving this technology thanks to the generous donation from the MTeam, a Best Buddies International team in the Boston area.

The Tobii PCEye Plus is the world’s first device that combines advanced eye tracking, switch and infrared control with speech recognition. Eye movements are often the only movements that individuals with severe and profound disabilities can control voluntarily. This piece of assistive technology provides nonverbal students, an otherwise silent population, with a voice and the ability to communicate.

Everybody deserves to be heard and this revolutionary technology will provide a silent population the ability to communicate. The MTeam and BICO are truly changing lives. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by such love and support.

Gregory Lewis

For students like Meredith Lewis, a 10-year-old at the BICO Middle School program in Norfolk who was born with FOXG1 Syndrome, a rare neuro-developmental disorder that impacts brain development and function, this new system will enable her to communicate basic needs with her teachers and her parents for the first time.

Meredith’s father, Gregory Lewis, who is thrilled to have this new technology made available to his daughter, says it will truly change Meredith’s life, and others with similar conditions, for the better. “Everybody deserves to be heard and this revolutionary technology will provide a silent population the ability to communicate. The MTeam and BICO are truly changing lives. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by such love and support."

The Tobii PCEye Plus will be unveiled on Tuesday, November 27 at the Bi-County Collaborative Middle School program in Norfolk when students and staff will demonstrate the new system.

A PCEye Plus was piloted in the Bi-County Collaborative Elementary School program with very successful results. Now, having this technology available to students at the BICO School at King Phillip provides a pivotal step forward in creating a formal assistive technology division for their severe and profound student population.

Dr. Arlene Grubert, the Executive Director of BICO, emphasized the importance of technology like the Tobii PCEye Plus for her students: “At the Bi-County Collaborative, our work is focused on maximizing each student’s academic, social and life skills success. The gift of eye gaze technology in our Life Roles Education Program opens up new opportunities for student engagement and communication.”

The MTeam’s donation of $5,000 will pay for three years of technical support, the cost of three software programs, the eye gaze system, a cart for portability, movable mounting arm, laptop and a large screen monitor for the Bi-County Collaborative Middle School.

“Every person on the planet deserves education, community and love,” stated John Christian, MTeam Captain. “Through this assisted technology, Meredith and other nonverbal students at her school will find a voice, expression and an opportunity to learn and grow. Meredith and her parents are an inspiration to us all.”

About 15% of the global population, or over a billion people, currently live with a disability. Technology can break down barriers for this community and accessibility and inclusion are becoming less of an afterthought, but it comes at a price that is often out of reach of parents and school districts. As such, it is critical that organizations and people such as the MTeam and John Christian step in to provide necessary funding.

About the Event: The official unveiling of the Tobii PCEye Plus System is scheduled for November 27, 2018. Press are invited to attend.

What: Tobii Ribbon Cutting

Date: Tues, November 27

Time: 9:30 A.M.

Location: 

Bi-County Collaborative Program, King Phillip Middle School

18 King St

Norfolk, MA 02056

About FOXG1: There is no cure for FOXG1 Syndrome, but with medication, physical and speech therapy and nutritional support to help manage symptoms and prevent complications, a stable quality of life can usually be achieved. There are approximately 350 known cases worldwide. As there are so few adults diagnosed, life expectancy is unknown.

Tobii PCEye Plus: This piece of assistive technology provides nonverbal students with a voice. Eye movements are often the only movements that individuals with severe and profound disabilities can control voluntarily. This technology has provided an otherwise silent population the ability to communicate. For that reason, assistive technology (AT) based on a computer controlled by their eyes (gaze-based AT) may be the only option for these students. It replaces a traditional computer keyboard and mouse.

Bi-County Collaborative: The Bi-County Collaborative (BICO) is a multi-purpose educational collaborative formed under the provisions of Mass. Gen. Laws c. 40, section 4E. BICO is a public entity, governed by a Board of Directors, with each school committee appointing a representative to the Board. The Operating Committee, which acts in an advisory capacity, consists of each member district’s designated Special Education Administrator. BICO’s mission is to provide high-quality educational programming, making it possible for all students to become responsible and contributing members of society. BICO consists of 19 member school districts in Bristol, Norfolk, and Worcester counties. BICO provides specialized, personalized educational programs for students ages 3-22 addressing the unique learning, emotional and social development, therapeutic, physical and medical needs of students with Autism, Communication, Emotional, Health, Intellectual, Neurological, Physical Impairments, and Specific Learning Disabilities.

About the MTeam and Best Buddies International: The MTeam has grown from six runners and riders raising $12,000 in 2016 to 50 MTeamers raising $150,000 in 2018. Their goal for 2019 is 100 members raising $250,000. The fundraising year culminates in May or June with participation in the Best Buddies Challenge, Hyannis Port, MA. All funds raised during the year go to Best Buddies International, an organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through leadership development opportunities, integrated employment and facilitation of friendships.

PRESS INQUIRIES:

Shawna Parker

MTeam PR

617-986-3480

sparker@capa.org

Source: MTeam (Best Buddies International)