TRAID Project; Alexa Care Hub

Independent Perspective #1628

Guest:  Kimberly Naus

Topic:  TRAID Project; Alexa Care Hub: free function of Alexa Smart Speaker App permitting ready access to elderly or disabled relatives

Duration:  05:30

Published:  January 12, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today is Kimberly Naus, Director of the Center for Assistive Technology at the University at Buffalo and I'm your host Ernie Churchwell. Welcome back to our program, Kim.

Guest:  Thank you for having me, Ernie.

Host:  As always, we have to thank for your appearance, the TRAID project. If you could briefly tell our listeners, what that does for people with disabilities.

Guest:  Yes, the TRAID project, the acronym stands for Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities. It's a federally funded program that's administered by the New York State Quality of Care for individuals with disabilities. And also, for individuals that want to be educated, regarding a device. So that person could be a caretaker, could be a therapist, could be an educator, or it could just be somebody that has an interest in AT on how it can help somebody’s lifestyle. And when we talk about AT, Assistive Technology, is a device, any type of device or product that assists, or maintains a person's functional ability and also can improve their functional ability. And it can be as complex as voice activated computer systems. And then as simple as a modified toothbrush handle.

Host:  Well, it sounds like that can make all the difference for somebody, especially with a substantial disability in having a successful independent quality of life. On this program, you're going to talk more about the Alexa Care Hub. Who is it for and what will it do for them?

Guest:  The Alexa Care Hub is something new that has recently come out to the market. You would want to purchase the most recent Alexa, which is the size of a round ball. And what this hub can do for you is two people, if you're living in a distance, say my grandma's in Florida, and I'm here in New York. Well, I can't be there to care for her. So, what I can do is I can go on to this Alexa hub, create an account, send an invitation to my grandma. And then she can accept that. So, the initial setup may be a little difficult for the person you're caring for but there's a will there's a way. And then once you make that connection, and it can only be a one on one relationship.

Guest:  Then you can easily reach out to the person throughout the day, and say hey grandma, how you doing, and she will respond from Florida. If I need to remind her to take her medication, I can say hey Grandma, you got to take your meds, or if I know there's certain music she likes to listen to, or if I'm just worried about her. Then I want to maybe purchase the Alexa Show to where I can physically see her then. So the Alexa Show, I can say hey Grandma, I'm checking in on you and can you come to the screen, and grandma can come to the screen and then you know that she's doing well and you can work and move on with your day. And then grandma's getting that stimulation and it also could be well, very well used for people that are in facilities and we all know with COVID, that if you're locked down that that could be, you know, a great tool for that situation.

Host:  Now that brings a whole new level of importance for this kind of technology and essentially you just need to start with the Alexa Smart Speaker and get a hub and go to town, sounds like.

Guest:  Yeah, very simple, very inexpensive and it can ease your mind and eliminate that stress.

Host:  Kim, I'm sure people will have questions, but we're running out of time. How can they call you to get more information?

Guest:  They can reach me at 836-1350. Again, that's 836-1350, and I'm with the Center for Assistive Technology.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Kim.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today was Kimberly Naus, Director of the Center for Assistive Technology at the University at Buffalo, and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.