Thanks to Neil Squire’s Makers Making Change (new window) program and the YXC Makerspace (new window), Natasha’s daughter was able to receive a 3D printed keyguard for her TouchChat augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device.
Natasha’s daughter has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome and Autism. Her fine motor skills are affected, and she doesn’t currently speak, so she has been using TouchChat and other AAC devices.
When Natasha was looking at commercial options for keyguards for TouchChat, she found that it could cost upwards of $200. Having previously received a switch-adapted bubble blower from the Makers Making Change Hacking for the Holidays build event at the YXC Makerspace, Natasha decided to look into other options.
With help from Makers Making Change and the YXC Makerspace, Natasha connected with a local maker. In the end, she was able to have the keyguard 3D printed for less than a dollar worth of materials.
The new keyguard has made a big difference for her daughter as she learns how to use AAC devices.
“We are currently modelling communication a lot on TouchChat and the keyguard has really helped her isolate buttons and differentiate each one from the one next to it. She has been more successful with pointing to a single button since getting the keyguard, which is really helpful as she progresses along this communication journey. As a parent, I so appreciate having a program like TouchChat and the option of a keyguard to further assist her in communicating successfully,” Natasha says.
And with access to the print files and local makers in her community, Natasha knows she can have one printed anytime when she needs another keyguard.
“Knowing that there is a 3D printer and programs like Makers Making Change (with their vast online library of adaptive technology) available right here in our community makes me feel so supported when there are not a ton of other resources available. I was able to work with the maker to design the keyguard and have it printed locally. I am so hopeful that now that my daughter has received this keyguard, other families who would benefit from one will have an easy place to turn to!”
This post originally appeared on the Makers Making Change (new window) website.