Communications of the ACM
Researchers sing Ipads to Treat Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries
Nova Southeastern University is providing individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries and other disabilities with iPads, thanks to grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Credit: Nova Southeastern University
At Nova Southeastern University (NSU), the tiny, flat screen, touch-control iPad is being used by the Occupational Therapy Department researchers to treat disabled patients who suffer from spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.
The department, which is a part of NSU's College of Allied Health and Nursing, is using a $13,000 grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to purchase 20 iPads to treat those individuals.
Because spinal cord injury victims have very limited mobility, using a desktop computer or laptop can be difficult for them. NSU researchers in occupational therapy believe that the iPad, with its lightweight, portability characteristics, as well as its touch screen, will help patients have greater access to the Internet, applications, social media outlets, music, games, GPS, and other functions.
Additionally, the iPad will make it much easier for them to read books and newspapers, which they would not have to pick up anymore.
So far, eight iPads have been distributed to patients with spinal cord injuries, as well as, those suffering from traumatic brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and an amputee. Another 12 iPads are will be given to this disabled population in Broward County.
"The iPad program has been very successful so far," says Adrienne Lauer, Ed.D., OTR/L, the program director and an assistant professor of occupational therapy at NSU. "It has really made a positive impact on this disabled population, allowing them to easier get access to mainstream technology they have previously struggled with."
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