Getting the Most from Assistive Technology: Using the ECO for Texting

Like most people, Mikelle Learned loves to stay in touch using her cell phone. What used to work was calling her friends, support team members and family using her ECO to chat or leave a voice mail. It was a good use of her  assistive technology enabling her to  fully participate  in her social network until people changed they way they communicate.

In today’s fast paced world, people don’t want to talk on the phone, they don’t have time–even to check their voice mail.

They just want the text, mam.  The benefits are obvious, they can discretely respond in the middle of meeting, carry on multiple conversations at once–even while in class.  But, hopefully, not while driving.

As part of Mikelle’s Individual Technology Plan, we knew we had to kick it up a notch and integrate Mikelle’s various technology ensuring more efficient and effective ways to communicate. She needed make sure support team would be coming at the time she expected, let them know what she would need when they arrived or simple to set up a coffee date.

Here Mikelle Learned and Brian Simms demonstrate how to text using her ECO.