The Kindle Experience: Learning to use and enjoy the Kindle 2

Joan won the Lottery. She was the first CVAG member to receive the opportunity to test drive the Kindle 2. Joan lives with significant aphasia. Joan’s communication success is largely dependent on assistance from her communication partner.

Joan was initially only “mildly interested” in using the Kindle. She rated her interest as a 2 on a 1 to 5 point scale. She rated her confidence that using the technology would be fun as a 1 on a 1 to 5 point scale.
The Kindle Coaches were scheduled 2 times per week. Our coaching approach includes being quiet, letting the learner touch and explore the technology. We want to work together to find the simplest way to enjoy the activity. The Kindle Coaches want the Kindle 2 experience to be challenging but fun!
As a volunteer (Kindle Coach) I had the pleasure of meeting with, and getting to know Joan and her spouse. Although we interacted at the CVAG, our Kindle test drive took place at her home. At home, Joan seemed more engaging, expressive, and comfortable. Before and during the test drive we enjoyed conversations and levels of sharing that I had not previously experienced with this couple. I learned many things about Joan and her husband: they are Chicago Bear fans, the song Moon River holds special significance to them, they enjoy house boating on the Mississippi, and relating family stories. Our visits expanded our knowledge about their interests and activities. But each conversation added to the growing relationship between the Kindle team and the couple.

Our challenge was to find the best fit between Joan’s individual reading interest and the Kindle’s capacity to help her enjoy that interest. As a Kindle Coach my goal was to provide Joan with the basic skills to use the technology for the purpose of reading. In this case, we simplified the directions for the use of the Kindle so that Joan was able to successfully navigate the device without becoming overwhelmed. Once the navigation of the Kindle was understood and learned, we were able to use the information we had gathered in conversation to narrow down reading items of interest. She selected The Reader’s Digest, The Fine Art of Small Talk, and uploaded articles from Reminisce Magazine. Joan’s personal interest choice was a download of Audrey Hepburn’s Autobiography. We discovered that while using the Kindle, Joan’s oral reading skills were quite good. She also benefited from using a reading guide and coaching suggestions as to when to rest or review.
The text to speech (TTS) option within the Kindle added a new level of complexity. Unfortunately, it disrupted the actual reading process for Joan. To overcome this barrier, we supplied Joan with a guide to follow along with the text as it was being read. This process was still distracting. Joan found reading more enjoyable when she read aloud as she moved the guide down the page.

We incorporated oral reading into the couple’s homework assignments and emphasized reading aloud during our Kindle practice times. It just so happened that Joan got to show off her oral reading skills during one of our CVAG meetings. Our group was taking some time to “interview” different members. This activity allows group members to learn about others and to develop shared conversation topics. Joan was asked to be the Interviewer. She read a few interview questions. She did a beautiful job. Group members were supportive and it allowed Joan to show her communication strengths.
Joan completed the tasks associated with Level 1 on our Kindle Coaches Test Drive Navigation Guide. Joan rated her interest in continuing with the Kindle as a 4/5. She expressed enjoyment in the activity. She rated her confidence in having fun with technology as 4/5. Will Joan and her husband buy a Kindle2 ? I am not sure. But they are going to look at the new larger Kindle. They promised to let the group know about their investigations. Will Joan join a book club in the next year ? If she does I know that the Kindle Coaches will be there to enjoy the club with her.
My coaching experience with Joan helped me to get to know her and to learn about how to help others.

Gretchen Anderson,BA
Thomas L. Hintgen MA CCC/SLP
Jerry Hoepner,ABD CCC/SLP

Kindle2 Test Drive

CVAG – The Kindle Test Drive

Q: What do you have to do to test drive the Kindle?
A: Take the Kindle Pledge and Win the Lottery.

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group (CVAG) wanted to determine if the Kindle2 would help with reading and ease of access to written material. However, the cost of the Kindle2 was a barrier to learning about the device. The CVAG decided to pool their money to buy a Kindle2 so that group members could test drive this new technology. The fund raising activity was exciting and surprising. Funds were raised for the Kindle, books and audio book purchases. Selection of the “test drivers” was made using a Lottery after the basic ground rules for Kindle use were presented. The Lottery was drawn every 3 weeks. The Kindle Pledge was a lighthearted reminder to use the device carefully and to work with the Kindle Coaches. CVAG staff served as Kindle Coaches.

CVAG staff and group members have the privilege of knowing one another for months; if not years. The relationship, fostered by group involvement, made learning about this technology a comfortable activity. Each successive Lottery winning “test driver” received the Kindle for two weeks. The Kindle Coaches met with the test driver twice per week. During the initial visit, the coaches helped the test driver build a basic action plan and provided Kindle navigation information. Technical operation of the Kindle was not emphasized. Rather, the coaches and the “test driver” worked together to find the best match between their reading interest and the Kindle’s capacity to help enjoy those interests. The Kindle Coaches left a homework assignment each time they visited.

The Kindle Coaches were not experts in the operation of the Kindle. They followed a basic navigation guide listed below:

Skill Level I. Navigation – USE of the Kindle !!!
On
OFF
Page forward
Page back
Loudness
Text to speech – PAUSING.

Skill Level II. Choice – Making personal choices
Home and Menu
Modifying Text Size
Turning Text to Speech On – Off
Browsing the Kindle Store. Learning about Categories
Ordering / Purchasing a book or magazine
Selecting between News, Magazines, books

Skill Level III. Exploring – What are some possibilities ?
Web
Email
Narrative Assignments. Selected/ individualized stories from a distance.
Although this guide is written sequentially, the coaches encouraged the “test driver” to operate the device immediately. Coaches provided suggestions and answered questions as the “test driver” explored the device. During each visit reading was emphasized. Each test driver experienced reading with the Kindle using screen-text and text-to-speech. Coaches and test drivers worked in partnership to define the best way to use the Kindle. Coaches tailored their instruction and homework assignments accordingly. Following discussions of preferred reading material, each test driver made a visit to the Amazon store and purchased their own book or periodical.

The Kindle allowed users to hear audio books or to read along with text to speech. The Kindle coaches created personalized stories and sent them to the Kindle via the internet. Four individuals have thus far taken the test drive. Evaluation of the Kindle by these users and their coaches will be included in a future article.

During the two week test drive, the person with aphasia, family members and Coaches shared in conversation, made new discoveries and solved unique problems together. The activity of the test drive itself was enjoyable and relationships were deepened. The story that follows provides some more detail about one person’s test drive with the Kindle.

Thomas L. Hintgen MA CCC/SLP
Gretchen Anderson BA

Action Plans and Gifts

Bob B. has lived with aphasia for more than 6 years. He is an active member of the CVAG. He has recently been following an action plan for educating people in the Chippewa Valley about aphasia. Bob brought a surprising contribution to our Kindle Collection. Here is Bob’s story:

Q- “What inspired you to develop an action plan for educating people about aphasia?”

Bob- “

The DVD, Inside Aphasia inspired me to talk to the community about aphasia. The DVD helped me to explain aphasia. They say a picture is worth a thousand words; well the DVD is worth a million.

Before I had aphasia I had no idea what aphasia was or any idea of how it would affect my family. The DVD, Inside Aphasia brought it together for me. I took each one of my girls (I have 5) and watched with them. I saw an intense interest in my daughter’s eyes which helped me to develop a plan. I shared with them that I was committed to sharing information about aphasia with the community service groups within the Chippewa Valley.

My plan involves sharing my story with the service groups and then sharing the DVD, Inside Aphasia with the entire group. Before the DVD I give out the NAA aphasia quiz. People are always interested in looking at the quiz. I leave time for questions and answers following the DVD. My goal is to talk to as many service groups as possible in the Chippewa Valley.

I’ve talked to five service organizations in the Chippewa Valley from the Lion’s Club to the Parish Council of Catholic Women. I’ve talked to over 200 people in the community so far. The intenseness that I experienced with my daughters was also shared by all who view the video, Inside Aphasia . I’ve noticed the same intensity when I show the DVD to service groups.

I’ve learned some important things along the way. I’ve learned that I still have CRD…Commitment, Responsibility for a task and Discipline to follow through on a project even if I CRS (Can’t Remember Stuff). I’ve learned that I can still get up in front of people despite the fact that I’m nervous. I’ve had to overcome stage fright more than a few times. I’ve learned that getting in contact with program coordinators is my biggest challenge. It takes time to set dates and arrange equipment.

I’ve learned other things about myself. I’ve learned that I am helping people to understand aphasia. At the same time I’m helping myself to get out of my comfort zone. I listen more than I talk. I am an optimist. I look for the good in everything. I look to make a difference. This helps me to keep going.

There was a positive result of my presentation with the PCCW. I presented my aphasia talk to the Parish Council of Catholic Women of Elk Mound, Wisconsin. There was a long discussion following the DVD. I answered many questions about aphasia. One woman asked about me participating in aphasia group. This seemed to be asked at many presentations. The president asked if there was anything her group could do to help. I talked with her about the Kindle 2 and that our aphasia group was raising funds for the Kindle 2. The next month I received a check to purchase a Kindle 2 for the group. I believe I made a difference with this group. The group was empathetic with me and my impairment. The group was willing to give a donation.”

The Kindle Collection

Q- “What would you like to be doing that you’re not doing?”

A- “I’m not sure, what are my options ?”

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group (CVAG) staff dedicates part of each group session to talking about “What is possible”. We call this portion of our group session: Checking-in. Our Checking-in activity may review recent research or we may discuss adaptations that group members want to share with one another. We have talked about physical activity, nutrition, ideas about life long therapy, and technology. Checking-in is a time to consider possibilities.

During February of this year, staff described the Kindle 2 during our checking in time. The idea that a device as thin as a pencil could hold thousands of books, and could acquire these books wirelessly was interesting, but difficult to grasp. The idea that the device could read text was intriguing. However, group members had an immediate negative reaction when told the price. The cost “barrier” stopped our discussion of the possible benefits for people with aphasia.

The CVAG staff was puzzled that group members chose to discard investigation of this technology solely based on price. Our group did not even want to risk a “test drive” of this device because of cost. CVAG staff made a brief motivational video for the next Checking-in. The video acknowledged how little we knew about the Kindle 2 and how the funding barrier would keep us from ever knowing. The staff challenged the group to break down the barrier. Staff encouraged all group members to consider contributing to a Kindle fund. (We used a Mason Jar to represent the place for loose change to collect) If the group pooled their resources and bought one Kindle 2; we could all try it out and decide if the device was useful for people with aphasia. We suggested group members could seek contributions from friends and family. Inherent in the Kindle Collection Plan was a key tenet of the CVAG: making personal activity Choices. There was not a forced participation or a forced disclosure of who was or was not collecting funds. Rather, there was a Choice to consider the Kindle Collection.

Group members, staff, and volunteers contributed funds and solicited funds. Student volunteers placed Kindle Jars strategically in their environments. Speech pathology staff encouraged other hospital employees to contribute. Group members sought and brought donations from community sources. What had been a frustrating resignation of impossibility, became a momentum building work in progress.

After the first week of Kindle Collections, it became clear to all involved that this was about much more than just gathering funds. As the group worked together toward a common goal; unique ideas for gathering Kindle funds were emerged. Kindle Jars showed up in the rounds conference room at the hospital. One volunteer’s father agreed to place a Kindle Jar on his office desk at school. Others placed Kindle Jars at family gatherings. One group member with aphasia took the initiative to solicit funds through a local church group. With each contribution that was gathered, there were stories of discussions about aphasia, about Kindle, about aphasia groups. Our group raised $385.00 in 3 months. In addition we received a one time gift of another $380.00. That story will be shared in our next article.

The Kindle Collection raised awareness of aphasia in our community, at the hospital and across our region. In addition to raising funds and raising awareness, the group had the satisfying benefit of executing a plan in pursuit of a goal.