Luke recently agreed to be filmed to show him using eye gaze technology with his AAC to give commands to the Neater Eater. This new skill gives him greater independence and control over meal times. He is proud to show off his new skill and inspire other students to try the new access method.
“I feel happy using my eye gaze Neater Eater. It gives me great independence as I can feed myself which makes me feel proud as this is a new skill I can use on my AAC.”
Luke
This achievement is an example of how the multi-disciplinary team around Luke have supported him to develop life skills he can use beyond Treloar’s. Louise Spicer, Occupational Therapy Technician worked together with speech and language therapists to help Luke develop the skills to use this new access method.
“Luke is highly motivated to develop greater independence with eating, and after trialling a range of different access methods was keen to explore the Robotic Neater Eater. He was actively involved throughout the process of identifying the most effective setup to meet his needs. By using his AAC to control the Robotic Neater Eater, Luke is now able to feed himself more independently, while also achieving improved management of his muscle tone during mealtimes. This has resulted in a more successful and dignified eating experience.
Louise Spicer, Occupational Therapy Technician
Working with Neater Solutions, Treloar's Occupational Therapy Team uses specialist technology to help students maximise their independence. From supporting feeding skills, to enhancing upper limb function, these innovative solutions empower students to engage more confidently in daily life.
"Luke loves using his communication device as much as possible during the day. It is the key to his independence and ability to express himself. Luke worked with Speech and Language Therapy to add new voice commands onto his communication device. This means he can use eye gaze to operate the Robotic Neater Eater. SLT also advised on safety of using this equipment for Luke’s swallow.”
Emily Bird, Speech and Language Therapist
Going forward, Luke will continue to be supported by his occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and the residential house team to continue to integrate using the Robotic Neater Eater into his daily routine.