For CAU Members: The GOOGLE GLASS Is Always Half-Full

Introduction to Google Glass! End Quote

(1888PressRelease) June 21, 2014 - Community Access Unlimited (CAU) has long been a leader within the state's nonprofit community in setting standards, developing new approaches and changing mindsets, among both people with developmental disabilities and at-risk youth as well as the community at large. So when one of its Members, Ashley Lasanta, who has very limited mobility in her arms and hands and uses a wheelchair, expressed a desire to be able to take photos - William Busch, director of membership development, keeping in mind the elements of the CAU Advantage, a sweeping array of strengths and services no other social service agency offers, and contacted Google to see if they would be available for Ms. Lasanta.

GOOGLE GLASS, basically a smart phone that can be worn on one's head and is hands free, is not available to the general public, at a cost of $1,500 but at this time is available by invitation only from Google. After 3 months Billy and Ashley were selected for the Explorer Program and the journey had begun.

For Ashley, who loves photos, but could never use a camera - this is a feature she very much wanted. Essentially CAU signed up for the Explorer Program, Google's limited release outreach to garner real time feedback, before a wide release to the public. CAU was chosen…..paid the $1,500 trial fee….and from then on, Billy would work on it with Ashley using the different apps like photography, cooking, video chat, where instead of needing hands to type, one just speaks into the phone and it types out the words….basically this has given Ashley an independence she never would have had - simple freedoms people without a disability often take for granted.

CAU regularly attends conferences through ANCOR - The American Network Community Options And Resources - and put in a proposal to have Ashley do a presentation on her experience with the glass. This proposal was quickly accepted, and Ashley and Billy were on their way to tell the conference participants how this unique use of GOOGLE GLASS as an assistive technology changed Ashley's life forever. This application of the technology was revolutionary as an assistive technology piece as that was never an original purpose of GOOGLE GLASS. Google was so impressed with the strides that Ashley and Billy made on their journey that members of Google joined Ashley and Billy at the conference to present to participants alongside Ashley.

As Mr. Busch recounts, "There was a huge buzz in the conference room…when a question arose whether insurance would be covering this….Google stepped up and said they never had that question posed to them but agreed that if this technology can become an essential assistive technology for individuals who are assisted in wheelchairs, just as other technologies are covered by insurance….Google could see the potential to have this covered. At that point, they (Google) and Ashley received a standing ovation."

When GOOGLE GLASS becomes public - thanks to one woman's vision, the assistive device capabilities of this newest technology (that it was never designed for) is going to positively affect many, many lives across the country.

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