Lincolnshire boy receives assistive technology award

Posted April 11, 2021 11:00 pm

Submitted by Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103

Lincolnshire Laura B. Sprague kindergartner Oliver Thorn was named a 2021 Outstanding Student Technology Award recipient, presented by Infinitec, an assistive technology program.

Oliver uses a combination of low and high tech communication systems. He switches between a 60-word core board and a dynamic display vocabulary system called TouchChat used on an iPad.

TouchChat gives an individual the ability to navigate through page sets and speak messages. Words, phrases and messages are spoken with a built-in voice synthesizer or by playing recorded messages.

"Oliver has been very successful with the application and has shown an increase in verbal skills. The use of this technology enhanced Oliver's ability to interact with family and participate more in home language activities. The application has allowed him to communicate more clearly what he wanted to do," said Anastasia Alter, assistive technology facilitator with the Exceptional Learners' Collaborative.

The Infinitec North Assistive Technology Coalition will present the award to Oliver virtually on April 22.

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Oliver Thorn using a touch pad with a voice synthesizer that allows him to select words and phrases. Courtesy of Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103

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