Improving the quality of life with educational and recreational opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

The MetroHealth Adaptive Life Technologies (ALT) Lab

United Spinal Association of Northeast Ohio > BLOG > Connections Newsletter Article > The MetroHealth Adaptive Life Technologies (ALT) Lab

The MetroHealth Adaptive Life Technologies (ALT) Lab promotes clinically-guided, peer-informed, and community-collaborative assistive technology provision to individuals living with SCI throughout Northeast Ohio.

  • exposes patients to a wide variety of technologies to meet clinical goals beyond those targeted in traditional rehabilitation including home automation, environmental control, computer access, and adaptive gaming — among others.
  • a new clinical service offered in the MetroHealth physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) department
  • is comprised of Blake Perkins, a credentialed physical therapist and assistive technology professional, and Stephen Polakowski, an information technology expert and business owner. Both Blake and Steve are individuals living with SCI, supplementing their professional expertise with invaluable lived experience.

As a part of the MetroHealth PM&R department, the ALT lab works closely with physicians, other therapy team members, researchers, and licensed social workers to identify and address barriers to obtaining technologies.

The ALT lab additionally has partnered with the Cleveland State University SCI Volunteer Corps to assist in the installation and configuration of select technologies for individuals in need.

To schedule an appointment with the ALT Lab contact Blake Perkins at 216-957-3691 or bperkins@metrohealth.org

And, check out this introduction to the lab from Blake himself! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-F0xUOKJZY

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