Vital VoicesVital VoicesUsing Digital Stories to Using Digital Stories to increase participation increase participation

for people who use AACfor people who use AAC

BackgroundBackground

Patient involvement, Patient Patient involvement, Patient Participation in our serviceParticipation in our service

User involvement-AAC User User involvement-AAC User traditionally overlooked for inclusion traditionally overlooked for inclusion in User involvement projectsin User involvement projects

Following on from User Forum-AAC Following on from User Forum-AAC Users identified Joint Training as the Users identified Joint Training as the most preferred optionmost preferred option

What is Digital What is Digital Storytelling?Storytelling?

Emerging use of multimedia toolsEmerging use of multimedia tools To help individuals with long term To help individuals with long term

conditions to tell their story conditions to tell their story Short narratives, first person Short narratives, first person Images, narration and music to tell a story Images, narration and music to tell a story

about a specific topicabout a specific topic Requires no literacy skillsRequires no literacy skills Ideal for presenting their personal Ideal for presenting their personal

perspective on communication and the perspective on communication and the impact on their daily lives impact on their daily lives

What it offersWhat it offers

Ability to:Ability to: Engage with local communitiesEngage with local communities EducatorsEducators Public health bodiesPublic health bodies Service ProvidersService Providers

Involvement in training of various Involvement in training of various professionals including studentsprofessionals including students

Feeling of inclusion and empowermentFeeling of inclusion and empowerment

Vital Vital VoicesVoices Project Project

Recruitment- via letter to all AAC users Recruitment- via letter to all AAC users post 16 had their own AAC system post 16 had their own AAC system

3 Participants to date3 Participants to date Availability -4 to 5 sessions, approx. 1 Availability -4 to 5 sessions, approx. 1

½ -2 hours long- large commitment-½ -2 hours long- large commitment-blockblock

Individual sessions Individual sessions Venue flexible- at home or at centre Venue flexible- at home or at centre ““Communication Really Matters”Communication Really Matters”

How to How to dodo it? Process it? Process

Set up protocol Set up protocol Pre- session informationPre- session information Symbolised topic/theme sheet to Symbolised topic/theme sheet to

begin to think about their storybegin to think about their story Requested to begin to gather photos Requested to begin to gather photos

that they might want to usethat they might want to use Permission slip consent to use story Permission slip consent to use story

in training and presentationsin training and presentations Ensure information was accessibleEnsure information was accessible

Materials requiredMaterials required Computer- laptopComputer- laptop Good microphone and standGood microphone and stand Software- Photo Story 3 WindowsSoftware- Photo Story 3 Windows Variety of clip artVariety of clip art Internet wireless accessInternet wireless access DVD’s and photo paperDVD’s and photo paper ScannerScanner Digital cameraDigital camera Secure storage for storiesSecure storage for stories SpeakersSpeakers

Session 1Session 1

Agreed personal topicAgreed personal topic Discuss procedure and commitmentDiscuss procedure and commitment Show example of a storyShow example of a story Began compiling a story board in outline formBegan compiling a story board in outline form Consider images they might need to useConsider images they might need to use Discuss title page and agree title for storyDiscuss title page and agree title for story Consider voice overConsider voice over

Session 2Session 2

Identify sequence of storyIdentify sequence of story Insert imagesInsert images Add text to slideAdd text to slide Identify voice- person of their choosing, Identify voice- person of their choosing,

electronic voiceelectronic voice Discuss music Discuss music

Session 3Session 3

Approve story so far and any changesApprove story so far and any changes Confirm images are appropriate to story and Confirm images are appropriate to story and

slideslide Go over music and decide sequence of tracks Go over music and decide sequence of tracks

for different scenesfor different scenes Put in transitions between scenesPut in transitions between scenes Confirm voice/speechConfirm voice/speech

Session 4Session 4

Confirm musicConfirm music Record voice overRecord voice over Identify any changes Identify any changes Save as final digital storySave as final digital story Cover and DVD made and presented to Cover and DVD made and presented to

individualindividual

OutcomesOutcomes for User for User

Ability to participate in joint training with Ability to participate in joint training with AAC teamAAC team

Ability to give their personal perspective Ability to give their personal perspective in a creative and engaging mannerin a creative and engaging manner

Permanent record of their story to share Permanent record of their story to share with otherswith others

Opportunity to use their communication Opportunity to use their communication skills in conversation and other rolesskills in conversation and other roles

Empowering individual to participateEmpowering individual to participate

Outcomes for serviceOutcomes for service

Cohort of Adult AAC users able to take Cohort of Adult AAC users able to take part in joint training along side AAC part in joint training along side AAC teamteam

Promoting skills for patient Promoting skills for patient involvement which may be able to be involvement which may be able to be further developedfurther developed

Training materials in the form of a Training materials in the form of a DVD(with permission)DVD(with permission)

Gave staff team opportunity to Gave staff team opportunity to engage with adults who use AAC engage with adults who use AAC

ChallengesChallenges

Photos-required minimum 50 imagesPhotos-required minimum 50 images RecruitmentRecruitment Gathering information-historicalGathering information-historical Sequencing-What comes next?Sequencing-What comes next? Voice over consistency Voice over consistency Need commitment from carers/family Need commitment from carers/family

as support for AAC Useras support for AAC User Time in a blockTime in a block

How this can be used for other How this can be used for other purposespurposes

Promote services or projectsPromote services or projects Momento for participants attending a special Momento for participants attending a special

eventevent A visual record of a special eventA visual record of a special event For users to participate in improving services For users to participate in improving services

i.e. giving their opinion on i.e. giving their opinion on health/education/social serviceshealth/education/social services

ReferencesReferences The Participation Toolkit, Supporting Patient The Participation Toolkit, Supporting Patient

Focus and Public Involvement in NHS Focus and Public Involvement in NHS Scotland,Scottish Health CouncilScotland,Scottish Health Council

Labonte,R. and Feather J. (1996) Handbook on Labonte,R. and Feather J. (1996) Handbook on Using Stories in Health Promotion, Ottawa:Health Using Stories in Health Promotion, Ottawa:Health CanadaCanada

Better Together-The Patient Experience Better Together-The Patient Experience Programme (2008)Programme (2008)

Gaun Yersel, Self Management Strategy for Long Gaun Yersel, Self Management Strategy for Long Term Conditions in ScotlandTerm Conditions in Scotland

Lambert, J. Digital Storytelling:Capturing Lives, Lambert, J. Digital Storytelling:Capturing Lives, Creating Communities, 3Creating Communities, 3rdrd edition edition

A Participation Standard for the NHS in Scotland, A Participation Standard for the NHS in Scotland, Scottish Health Council, 2010Scottish Health Council, 2010

Deborah JansDeborah JansBarbara MathiesonBarbara Mathieson

Keycomm - Lothian Communication Keycomm - Lothian Communication Technology CentreTechnology Centre

For further informationFor further information

www.keycommaac.ik.orgwww.keycommaac.ik.org