Tech House Showcases Devices For Independent Living
BOARDMAN, Ohio - From devices that close doors behind them to radios that connect blind people to local news, technological advances have made life easier, especially for people with disabilities.
A technology house created by the Mahoning County Council on Developmental Disabilities shows how technology can help those who want to live more independently.
MCBDD explores technology services and supports leaders who aim to improve the lives of seniors, children, veterans and people with disabilities. They then incorporate the best elements they find into the tech house.
“We founded Tech House because we understand that people want to become more independent and security conscious. So we focused them on seeing what was out there,” said Ashley Carucci, one of MCBDD’s four service and support staff. with the house. . . “You don’t know what you don’t know. Then how can you know that it can be of use to you until you see it or hear about it?”
George Gabriel, service and support administrative manager for MCBDD, said the home now has more than 200 items, starting with about 25 in his office.
“A few years ago, Ohio was becoming one of the most high-tech states in the country,” Gabriel said. “The idea was to simply start adapting to the use of technology to increase independence and therefore reduce dependence on labor.”
The more research they did and the more funding came in, the more items Gabrielle and the maintenance and support staff were able to add and display in the house.
Most of the house is controlled by Alexa, which can turn on the microwave and turn the lights on and off at certain times without pressing a button. And even open and close roller shutters.
An automatic spout and a fill level indicator on the glass show anyone with visual impairment when the glass is full.
One of Karocchi's favorite pieces of technology is the PenFriend, a device that allows anyone to program stickers and magnets to convey directions or other information of their choosing. For example, you can program a magnet on the top of a food container to tell you the temperature and cooking time of the food inside when you touch the PenFriend. Wardrobe trailers with hangers can be programmed so that a color blind person knows the shade of clothing.
With PenFriend you can leave messages for someone who can't read or for a co-worker who needs to listen to step-by-step instructions. It can be used and reprogrammed infinitely.
Jeannine Baker, another service and support worker, has placed blankets, weighted vests and other sensory items around the room to provide comfort to people suffering from anxiety.
For those who cannot use a key, the door can be coded. A bedside mat can alert the caregiver when someone wakes up. A toilet-mounted monitor can count how many times someone goes to the toilet at night. The device can read currencies, which helps a person identify their wallets. In your home you can find a variety of medical devices, from the simplest to the most technological.
With the push of a button, you can call someone remotely to request urgent or non-emergency assistance.
“We try to imagine someone coming home alone at night. What is good for him? - said Gabriele.
The project is funded by two grants from the Ohio Department of Development, one for $20,000 and one for nearly $17,000, as well as funding from the Educational Services Center and product donations from organizations and companies that see their products want. shown at home. Some products can be purchased through financing sources and everything can be ordered in-house.
Many districts, agencies, physical therapists and people who support people with disabilities have had the opportunity to visit the home. Mahoning County commissioners will visit the home later this month.
Anyone can schedule a tour of the home by contacting Gabriel at 330-718-4815 or ggabriel@mahoningcountyoh.gov. Further information about Dar Technology can be found here.
Pictured above are George Gabriel (right), manager of service management and support for the Mahoning County Board of Service and Support, and Jeanine Baker, director of service and support, giving tours of the Tech House in Boardman.
Copyright 2023 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
