By LUKE VOOGT
A new device could help the parents of Wandana Heights’ Tulli Rose Seabert hear her speak for the first time.
The four-year-old can hear and see but a yet-to-be-diagnosed neurological disorder prevents her from talking.
Geelong charity Kids Plus helped Tulli’s family acquire an Eye Gaze from the National Disability Insurance Agency.
The device converts eye movements into computer-generated speech.
Tulli’s mother Bec Seabert said the device would give her four-year-old daughter “a voice“.
“An Eye Gaze gives Tulli the opportunity to learn, improve her communication and help her express needs, which we feel will be of great benefit to her in the future.”
Kids Plus chief Shaun Cannon said assistive communication technology such as Eye Gaze could change young lives.
“Technology advancements are enormously exciting for people with disabilities, their families and their friends,” he said.
“Advancements in assistive communication devices such as eye-gaze technology present a new frontier in the way we can support people with severe and complex disabilities.”
In recent months Kids Plus purchased three eye-gaze communication devices with donations and a grant from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program.
A number of children and young adults attending Kids Plus have severe and complex neurological disabilities leaving them unable to communicate without assistive technology.
Kids Plus provides specialist therapy programs for babies, children and young people with neuro developmental disabilities.
Mr Cannon said more information about the organisation was available at kidsplus.org.au.
