Recently, people living with ALS, and the entire assistive technology community, celebrated as President Obama signed Steve Gleason’s signature legislation into law. This bill makes speech generating devices more accessible for patients with ALS and other neurological disorders by making the purchases eligible for reimbursement through Medicare and Medicaid.
“Steve and Team Gleason deserve all the praise in the world for not only shedding light on this issue, but helping get our bill across the goal line,” said Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “Making this equipment more accessible and affordable will allow more ALS patients to literally have a voice to communicate with their family and friends.”
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash, led the sponsorship of the House bill, but she said that Steve and Gail Gleason, his mother, deserve the credit.
“Gail and Steve feared thousands of people would lose their ability to communicate with the world around them – to share their stories; order coffee; tell jokes; ask for help; or say ‘I love you,” McMorris Rodgers said. “Before eye tracking technology became available, once people lost their ability to type, they could no longer communicate, but that all changed with this revolutionary innovation. Today, patients can continue communicating by typing with their eyes.”
Eye tracking devices, such as our Eyegaze Edge, allow patients to communicate with their eyes. By looking at control keys or cells displayed on a screen, a user can generate speech either by typing a message or selecting pre-programmed phrases. Eyegaze Edge Systems are being used to write books, attend school and enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities all over the world. Our systems are also Medicare-compliant.
The entire team at LC Technologies congratulates Steve Gleason on his enthusiastic work to help his fellow ALS patients enjoy a better quality of life.
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