MDA Fund to finance the EyeGaze System?
 

Has anyone used their MDA Fund to finance their EyeGaze System? Is this even possible to do?

Jeff

Jeff..
My advice would be to contact the MDA...my understanding is if the eyegaze is the "only" way that you can communicate effectively... Medicare will pay 80% of its coverage..if a speech pathologist writes the exaluation stating as such..
Thare is also a $2, 000 once in a lifetime grant for speech equipment for the MDA the last time I checked a year ago...
Gary did not have much luck with the eyegaze and continues to use his switch..although there is a PALS here in Omaha that does quite well with one...Lisa

Thanks lisa,

I havn't used the 2K one time grant yet hence, asking my question to the forum. What is the switch that Gary uses?

Jeff

Hi..Jeff Gary uses the Tash "ultra Lite" switch..he has no problems opening and closing his eyes.. although his blinks are a little delayed ...but he can blink just not quite as fast as I can.. .. the eyegaze for some unknown reason just didn't work very well for him..he was actually more efficent at the system he has now...I do know a guy who does use it very well in here in Omaha...
I guess different peoples eyes are different . It was once suggested that maybe the Baclofen Gary uses causes too much dilation of his pupils..I really don't know if that is why but I guess it could be possible.....
My understanding is the once in a life- time grant will apply to "any" speech equipment a speech pathologist recommends..Lisa

Hi Lisag,
We are looking at the various eye gaze units that are on the market for Wally, Jr.
We haven't decided on which one we will get but have tried 4 or 5 of the ones that are on the market.
Could you tell me which one Gary has and why he dosen't use it?
Thanks
Wally's dad

Hi Wally's dad..
Gary tested a product called ""The Eyegaze"..he didn't purchase it just tested it...he did not keep it because he was averaging about 8 minutes a "word" on it...
Where as the switch he has chosen to continue to use he types about 4 minutes a "sentence" with his temple area ...so he did not want to swap out for something far less efificent..
The suggestion as to of why the eyegaze didn't work well is that the Baclofen he takes may dilate the pupils too much for it to work accurately enough ? But, no one is really sure...
I think it is great your testing several of the systems...Lisa


PS... a guy here in town can type 20 words a minute with one..so it is worth trying...

Hi All!
My brother had purchased the ERICA system (the same thing they showed on ER). He didn't have much luck with it. He seemed to believe his eyes watered too much and through off the focus on the camera that was focused on his eye. He got so frustrated with it that he too returned it and went right back to using his laptop with a switch controlled by his eyebrow. That too is getting harder for him so if anyone has any suggestions on a different switch, please let me know. He can still blink. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alison

Geia hara Alison P
http://www.words-plus.com/website/pr...t/istswtch.htm
Geia hara to your brother!
Tom Weber from http://www.als-project.com/ work on switch with eye blink
I think in german version works, I will ask him about webcam eye blink switch.
Fotios