ComTEC
What is ComTEC?
ComTEC offers services throughout Victoria to people of all ages with a disability who have communication and technology needs. The ComTEC team consists of speech pathologists, occupational therapists and I.T. support with expertise in communication and technology for people with disabilities.
Eligibility
ComTEC do not have specific eligibility criteria.
Consumers, families, carers and professionals use ComTEC for:
- simple, practical and effective solutions for people who require support to communicate (these include no/low/high level technology solutions)
- ideas and information on specialised technology
- advice about getting the most from computers and technology
ComTEC Services
- Enquiry Service
- ComTEC has highly skilled therapists who can answer your questions about finding technology to suit your needs. Whether it’s trouble shooting or looking for information about particular equipment, the ComTEC enquiry service can assist. We can link you to our Equipment Database (PODS), a comprehensive directory of specialised equipment. You can phone, T.T.Y, post, email or fax your query.
- Individual Advisory Session
- The ComTEC team has up-to-date knowledge and equipment to provide individual advice and recommendations on the best technology solutions to meet specific needs. An advisory session runs for up to two hours and any team members can attend. Information on equipment can be provided at the end of the session, however fees apply for formal reports.
- Electronic Equipment Library
- Choosing the right equipment to meet your needs often requires trialling different items to decide what is best suited to you. The ComTEC Electronic Equipment Library allows you to borrow equipment on short-term loan to trial before purchasing. Hire costs are involved (see fee schedule below). Some items require therapists to attend a training or professional development session at the commencement of the loan.
- Individual Training
- Once you have the equipment recommended at the advisory session, ComTEC can provide a training session to help you get up and going. Training sessions aim to empower your local therapist to provide ongoing support for use of the equipment.
- Professional Development Sessions
- ComTEC provides professional development in a number of ways:
- Technology Open Sessions for Therapists
- The Open Sessions are designed for therapists needing no assistance or limited assistance in trying technology with their clients, who wish to look at and try devices in an informal, open access environment. Therapists can arrange a suitable time to bring clients to ComTEC in Brooklyn and try equipment in our display area, or to have access to the equipment for self learning. Please contact ComTEC to make a booking to ensure equipment availability.
- Open Session equipment includes: alternate keyboards (eg compact keyboards); mouse options (eg trackballs); a range of switches and basic mounting arms, as well as a selection of speech generating devices.
- The ComTEC therapist who is on duty answering telephone enquiries will assist in setting you up with the equipment you have booked and can provide information print outs and copies of handout resources.
- Considerations: If a client has a specialised seating system or equipment that they need when using technology, including trays, eyeglasses, switches and mounting systems, bring these along. Separate rooms are not always available. The display area could be used by a number of people during your Open Session. Distraction and noise may be an issue for some clients.
DVDs and Online Resources
Being a Model Communicator DVD
We are proud to announce the completion of an educational DVD produced by ComTEC: 'Being a Model Communicator'.
The DVD is aimed at parents, carers and support staff of children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
"Modelling is teaching by doing. It's not about what the child is doing - it's about what you are doing. The best way to teach someone to use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is to model it to them constantly."
Being A Model Communicator provides an introduction to the process of modelling. It is intended as a tool for those supporting an AAC user. It is designed to be used in conjunction with therapists, teachers, parents and carers as part of a whole team approach.
Copies of the DVD "Being A Model Communicator" are now available. To order yours:
We would love to have your feedback about "Being a Model Communicator". After you have watched the DVD, please follow the link below to the online survey. It only has eight boxes to tick, so it should only take 1-2 minutes of your time. Thank you for participating.
Please click here to take the survey
Below is a short clip from the DVD "Being a Model Communicator"
The Mounting System Toolkit DVD
We are also proud to announce the completion of 'The Mounting System Toolkit' DVD. This educational DVD was produced by ComTEC.
The importance of mounting speech generating devices and related equipment to wheelchairs has become an increasingly recognized area of practice for clinicians. A mounting system establishes a link between a person and their assistive technology and provides a consistent, secure means of positioning a device.
The Mounting system Toolkit provides an outline of the main considerations and tools required when prescribing a mounting system; video demonstration of the construction of 2 mounts and a decision making tree poster.
The DVD is designed as a complementary resource to our Mounting Workshops and together with the workshops aims to increase therapists' knowledge and confidence in the assessment and prescription of mounting systems.
Copies of the DVD are now available. To order yours:
Below is a short clip from the DVD "The Mounting System Toolkit"
Comtec Mounting Systems Toolkit Images:
Click here to download or view images to accompany the device mounting systems decision tree. The file is best printed using A3 paper.
PrAACtically Speaking Video/DVD
This is a teaching video for people living and working with individuals who have difficulties communicating. The video and accompanying support materials offer a series of practical strategies to help others better understand and communicate with adults with intellectual disabilities. It also offers ideas to help people with communication problems to "speak" for themselves.
The form can be downloaded in a choice of PDF format for printing or an accessible RTF format.
PrAActically Speaking Video/DVD Order Form [RTF xx KB]
PrAActically Speaking Video/DVD Order Form [PDF 86 KB]
Boardmaker overlays are available for downloading here.
The files will open in Boardmaker version 5 or 6. They were designed by ComTEC to assist people to enjoy social communication (asking questions, making comments, sharing news) using speech generating devices. They were originally developed for use by people with aphasia, but may be suitable for many other people with complex communication needs.
You will need to unzip the file with a program such as Winzip which can be found here: Winzip
DOWNLOAD "Social Closeness" OVERLAYS HERE
ComTEC Mounting Workshop
DOWNLOAD "Pre-Reading for the ComTEC Mounting Workshop" HERE
ComTEC Email Network newsletter
In the Summer 2009 edition
Product Evaluations
The ALT-Chat - Dynamic screen speech generating device.
The Balloon Switch. The Dynavox M3 and M3 Max.
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Upcoming Events
The Great Vic Trek.
Inclusive Learning 2010 Technologies Conference. SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2010 National Conference. ARATA National conference Hobart, Tasmania. Big Mouth Camp. |
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ComTEC News The Mounting System Toolkit.
New ComTEC education and training options in 2010 Delicious - a web-based social bookmarking tool that allows you to store,
categorise, share and find website bookmarks. |
Click here for a PDF of the current ComTEC Email Network newsletter (Summer/December 2009).
2009 Archived Listings
Click on the link below to access PDF's of past issues of the ComTEC Email Network newsletter.
| Autumn/March | Winter/June | Spring/October |
Education Program
ComTEC offers services throughout Victoria to people of all ages with a disability that seek technology support. We are offering a range of education sessions that target clients with a range of developmental disabilities, including physical disability, language and learning difficulties, intellectual disability and complex communication needs.
The ComTEC Education Program is available for download in a choice of PDF format for printing or an accessible RTF format.
- Download ComTEC Education Program
Please contact ComTEC for further information on our workshops or to reserve your place.
Referral and application
- Individual Advisory Sessions
- For referrals for this service please fill out the Client Information Form and return it by post to ComTEC. The form can be download in a choice of PDF format for printing or an accessible RTF format.
Fees
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| TAC / WorkSafe Victoria appointments must have the prior approval of their case manager. | |||
| Overnight fees (applicable for services provided in locations 2 hours or more from Brooklyn) $140.00 per therapist per night. | |||
| Freight Expenses (equipment for workshops) as charged by the freight company. | |||
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| Training/Advisory Sessions on behalf of clients |
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| Open Sessions for Therapists |
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| Professional Development Sessions (max 2 people) |
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| General Overview Sessions |
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| General Overview Sessions (off site) |
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Getting To Us
Brooklyn Base
A wheelchair accessible low floor bus (no. 414 to Laverton South) runs from Paisley Street Terminus near the Footscray Railway Station. Please allow at least ten minutes to get from the train station to the bus stop. The bus stop is located directly in front of the Yooralla Brooklyn building which houses the I.L.C. Buses depart at approximately 40 minute intervals. A timetable is available from the Met Information Centre by telephoning 131 638 or the Internet www.victrip.com.au
Map showing the location of ComTEC [JPG 42 KB] - Please use browser back button to return to this page.
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