Partnership to boost communication support for people with ALS
Collaborators look to raise awareness of speech tools, resources
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PRC-Saltillo and Team Gleason are partnering to help people with ALS maintain communication and connections as the disease progresses. (Photo from iStock)
- Some people with ALS experience communication challenges, making alternative methods important
- PRC-Saltillo and Team Gleason are partnering to provide speech-generating technology and communication support for ALS patients.
- The organizations plan to provide educational opportunities and raise awareness of communication technologies and resources.
PRC-Saltillo and Team Gleason are partnering to help people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) maintain communication and connections with family, friends, and their communities as the disease progresses.
Under the collaboration, PRC-Saltillo will contribute its expertise in speech-generating technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), while Team Gleason will bring its established connections with the ALS community and experience in helping people access assistive technology, equipment, and support services.
The organizations said further information about their joint activities and available resources will be shared in the coming months.
“We’re honored to partner with Team Gleason to help more individuals and families adapt to the communication challenges that can accompany ALS,” Sarah Wilds, CEO of PRC-Saltillo, said in a company press release. “By bringing together our expertise and shared commitment to service, we hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.”
‘No one living with ALS should lose the ability to be heard’
ALS is caused by the loss of motor neurons, the nerve cells that control movements, leading to progressive muscle weakness and movement problems, as well as difficulty speaking. Some people eventually lose the ability to speak clearly or communicate verbally, making alternative communication methods increasingly important.
Appropriate technology can help people with ALS express their thoughts, participate in decisions, maintain relationships, and remain involved in everyday activities. However, identifying suitable solutions and navigating available resources can be challenging for people living with the disease, their families, and healthcare professionals.
PRC-Saltillo develops technologies that support AAC, a range of tools and strategies that help people communicate when speech becomes difficult or impossible. Its products include communication boards, vocabulary systems, and electronic speech-generating devices. Depending on the device and user’s abilities, these technologies may be controlled by touch, head movements, eye tracking, or switches.
The company recommends that people with ALS explore communication options early, before speech changes significantly. This way, they have time to learn to use the tools and tailor them to their needs. Voice and message banking can also help people preserve recordings of their natural voice or frequently used messages for future use with compatible communication technology.
[The partnership] brings together decades of combined experience to help people navigate changing communication needs with confidence, so they can stay connected and live life on their own terms. No white flags.
Team Gleason is a nonprofit organization founded by former New Orleans Saints football player Steve Gleason after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. It aims to improve the lives of people with ALS by helping them access innovative technology, including communication devices, mobility equipment, and customized home automation solutions.
In terms of communication assistance, the organization helps cover communication device costs, provides loans of communication devices, and offers guidance on voice and message banking. Team Gleason also provides information about communication devices and other assistive technologies.
The Team Gleason Assistive Technology Lab allows people with ALS to test communication devices, computer-access tools, home automation, and mobility devices, helping make technological tools accessible to more ALS patients.
Through the new partnership, the organizations plan to provide educational opportunities, exchange knowledge, and raise awareness of communication technologies and resources for people with ALS and their families. The goal is to help patients stay connected, participate in daily life, and maintain their independence and quality of life.
“No one living with ALS should lose the ability to be heard,” said Blair Casey, Team Gleason’s CEO. “Our partnership with PRC-Saltillo brings together decades of combined experience to help people navigate changing communication needs with confidence, so they can stay connected and live life on their own terms. No white flags.”
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