Mackay students venture out to see what’s new at All Access Life

by Leslie Levinson 

In mid-March, one of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication classes from the Mackay Centre School had a chance to visit Brad Heaven and Danny O’Connor, co-founders, at their All Access Life office in the West Island. We were so excited to see all the adapted equipment and toys they had that we could try out.   

Brad greeted us and showed us what he can control using his eyes and smart technology.  He locked and unlocked his office door, and demonstrated how he could manoeuvre a robotic vacuum cleaner.   

Then they showed us the adapted toys we could play with. There was a motorized Hot Wheels character in a wheelchair that we could move and spin using switches.   

The best part was playing video games with our friends using the Xbox adapted controller. My students were so excited to be active participants in a video game instead of just passive observers. It was very powerful for the students to see someone like them – someone in a wheelchair and who uses alternative means to communicate and access technology – be able to play games and control things in the environment. For the parents and adults who accompanied us, it exposed them to the possibilities of what their child could do in the future.   

Here’s what the students had to say:  

Bennett: “I am so excited. I want to play video games with my brother.” 

Maurice: “I was so happy to play video games.”  

River: “I like going to see Brad.”  

Aiden: “I want more. I want to go back. I want to play with my brothers.”  

Adhen: “I liked racing Aaron wheels, the Hot Wheels guy.”  

All Access Life is a non profit, which offers a website providing information on the latest trends in adaptive products. 

Leslie Levinson is an Augmentative Communication teacher at the Mackay Centre School.