Sending a text. Most of us do it several times a day. Double-checking a meeting time, making sure the groceries got picked up. Passing along a funny meme. It’s lost all novelty and become a normal form of communication.
But for Clay Patterson, sending a text represents a major milestone that reconnected him with those he loves most in a way that he hasn’t been able to for decades since his traumatic brain injury.
When you enter Clay’s room on QLI’s Summit, you immediately notice the many photos of friends and family that grace the walls. Some of these stretch back into the 80s, others fill in the more recent years, short moments captured with QLI team members. Clay is valued, appreciated, but he’s something more than that. He’s a true friend who’s quick smile, boisterous laugh and sharp wit charm and draw people to him.
In recent years Clay’s communication was limited to a one blink for ‘yes’ or two blinks for ‘no,’ or a 
thumb’s up. The effects of his injury make the words difficult and they have robbed others of fully appreciating Clay’s intellect and shining personality.
Enter QLI Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist, Olivia Ollis. One of the many facets of Olivia’s role is discovering innovative methods and strategies for QLI clients. For some, it’s getting back to video gaming using adaptive controllers; for others, it involves re-envisioning their home environment through voice-activated equipment. Olivia trialed a variety of ideas with Clay, starting with eye gaze technology. “The process itself can be very taxing,” says Olivia. But it was clear to her, Clay just needed the key, the right fit, and everything would be in place.
Olivia connected with Autonomous Living Technologies and was introduced to a new possibility for Clay. The Cato device from Autonomous Living Technologies is a lightweight, mobile head tracker, that is positioned to the side of one’s face (like a pair of glasses) and is connected to a mobile device or tablet. The device registers head movement and hovers over an app or letter on the keyboard before inputting it. Olivia had a strong theory it would work and Clay became the first person in the state of Nebraska to be a test
pilot for the Cato.
Clay’s first crack at using this groundbreaking technology was to send a message to his mom, Lu. It was the first time Clay had ever texted her. “With Cato,” notes Olivia, “Clay can advocate for himself in ways that weren’t possible beforehand.” This technology is more than a way to socialize, it’s given Clay a voice that has so much to say.
