Baking with Grid 3

As many of you will know, technology has helped shape Tom's education. It has given him the ability to talk to us but also given him the option of controlling the environment around him.

One of the most amazing things about using the Smartbox software, Grid 3 is that it Tom is able to use it to control things around him, for example his bubble tube, the stereo and in this case his Kitchen Aid.

This week we did some baking and Tom was able to use his eye gaze to control the kitchen aid, giving him so much more control over the activity and we were able to have a lot of fun.

Tom uses the Bakedin baking kits, we use these as they weigh most of the ingredients out for you. It also gives you a step by step method on how to complete the baking. This step by step method is really important as it means I can easily make Tom a new grid* on his eye gaze with the relevant method on it. I then get Tom to read the method out loud and I follow his instructions. Hence why Tom wears the 'Head chef' hat! This is not only great fun but it is also a really motivating way to encourage eye gazing, putting all of the control in the hands (or eyes) of Tom.

Tom then has a special grid set that is linked to a plug provided by Smartbox and this links with his kitchen aid. As Tom presses 'ON' with his eyes, the kitchen aid turns on. As he presses 'OFF' the kitchen turns off and stops mixing. This gives Tom so much control over the activity. It also allows him to be very cheeky when the mixer is up and I'm adding more ingredients Tom loves to turn it on so we all get covered in cake mix! He finds this very funny.

Tom made the most delicious brownies this week using his eye gaze. He has so many options with the Grid 3 software and the possibilities really are endless. We can't wait to try out some more recipes and see what else we can get Tom controlling with his eyes.

If you are unsure of eye gazing technology be sure to check out Smartbox's website linked below. They have the most amazing hardware and software that really does change lives in so many ways.

https://thinksmartbox.com

* A 'Grid is either a selection of words for Tom to choose what he would like to say. or in this case it was a method in which whatever Tom looks at it will read the words for him. See the link above to learn more about grids.