My name is Chelsey Swanson and I am an occupational therapist at Seattle Children's Hospital. I currently work on the acute consult therapy team and had the privilege to work with Faavaeellu Aumua “Maui” during his inpatient stay. During our therapy sessions Maui worked on engagement in meaningful activities and also began to identify leisure opportunities within his new functional limitations.

One of the more meaningful sessions Maui and I had is one where we partnered with Tyler Schrenk and his acquaintance Matthew from Microsoft. The Tyler Schrenk Foundation donated an adapted Xbox controller and Echo Dot with Wemo access to Maui and we were able to spend time setting up the devices during a therapy session. What stood out to me most was how ideal the controller was for Maui’s therapy. Through this device Maui was able to work on trunk control, active upper extremity use including grasp, release, as well as overall arm movement, all while engaging in a preferred and meaningful activity.

Adapted devices that allow for universal access are not only extremely helpful in allowing patients to access ADLs and their environments, they also provide an opportunity for individuals to engage in activities like their peers despite physical circumstances. We use devices like this frequently in therapy whether it is the Wii to work on active movement or the Kinect for full body conditioning. With new technology developments these devices are allowing therapists to individualize therapy in a meaningful way that is occupation based and functional.

I believe fully in the work that the Tyler Schrenk Foundation is doing and know that any grants received will only allow for more individuals to access occupations like their peers using technology that improves access.

Sincerely,
Chelsey Swanson

Tyler,

I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for all that The Tyler Schrenk foundation has done for me over the last nine months. The information and technology that your foundation has recommended and given me has expanded and greatly improved the quality of my life.

My interaction with you began by you giving me information about the Xbox, and help setting the Xbox up and explaining how to use the Xbox to control my TV via voice commands. This has given me the ability to use my TV free from the dependence on others.

My physical therapist first made me aware of the Tecla device to help quadriplegics to interact with the iPhone. I had no means of procuring the device. When your foundation offered the Tecla device to me, it was as if I had been given a gift from my fairy godmother because I had no means to obtain one on my own. Before the Tecla, I used the phone for making and answering calls using voice commands but could not hang the calls up. The Tecla device has greatly enhanced the use of my phone from just using it for phone calls. Now with the Tecla device I can surf the web and use many functions and apps on the phone. Because of the new found independence with the phone, my life has been greatly enhanced. Your foundation has greatly expanded my capabilities and interaction with others independent of outside help.

Your foundation not only gave me the Tecla device, it also furnished all of the auxiliary devices that were required to integrate the Tecla with my chair and chin control. Your tireless effort and devotion to seeing through all aspects of obtaining, installing and integrating the Tecla device is unsurpassed and delightfully refreshing making the overall experience straightforward and easy. I cannot imagine the effort and coordination that was necessary in order to make the integration a success,

I offer you my eternal gratitude and thanks for the changes in my life.

It is my opinion and experience with your foundation that the services that you provided have far surpassed all of my expectations. Thank you for the technology, services, and support your foundation has provided me. Your foundation is a blessing for people in my situation and it is my hope that your foundation can continue far into the future and expand its services.

Sincerely,
Ray Newby

Hello Tyler,

I'd like to sincerely thank the TSF for its generous donation that allowed me to purchase various pieces of adaptive technology for my new home. As a C2 quadriplegic, my independence is often dictated by the technology available. Unfortunately, this technology can be quite expensive and be out of reach for people like myself with limited incomes. The TSF's donation has made it possible for me to live alone in my own home with the confidence and independence to be a happy, successful paralyzed man.

Specifically, I was able to purchase all of the adaptive light switches in my home as well as voice controlled shades for my bedroom. The light switches may seem like a simple thing but when you don't have use of your arms and you come into a dark house you need control of those lights. Also, a big part of being a homeowner is being able to manage your home. Without the use of these switches I would not have that control. The shades are also incredibly useful. I love natural light and prefer to have my windows unobstructed whenever possible. However, transferring naked to and from a shower chair daily calls for a little bit of privacy. That is exactly what these shades provide. It's one less thing that has to be done for me, and makes me feel so much more independent, the king of my castle if you will.

I feel very fortunate that the TSF helped me to acquire these assistive technology devices. I hope to pay it forward in any way I can. I hope to share my newfound knowledge of adaptive technology with others who have mobility impairments and also work with these companies that make the technology to better improve their products. My life has certainly been changed by these devices and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the TSF.

Thank you tons!
Ian Mackay

Dear Tyler,

With the Thanksgiving season ending and the holiday season beginning I was contemplating things I was grateful for and one of them was Tyler Schrenk and his nonprofit TSF Organization. He graciously and patiently spent many conversations with me over the phone brainstorming the most efficient and cost effective way of integrating the technology I had so I could voice activate my televisions.

Being a quadriplegic with barely any hand function, I got stuck watching whatever channel was left on and could not change it or the volume! Tyler advised which equipment I needed then came over to my house twice to install and demonstrate how to use it. Since then, I've had opportunity and freedom to turn my TV off and on, change the channels, and adjust the volume by only using my voice! It's an incredible sense of independence and freedom knowing that is one less thing I need to ask someone to do for me!

Denise Smith-Irwin
Woodinville, Washington

My Name is Carsten Zahout-Heil.

I am working as a professor at the university of applied science in Darmstadt/Germany.

Within the department for electrical engineering and information technology my field of research are solutions to provide accessibility based on smart home technologies. The focus is on using cheap and available technologies to enable and enhance accessibility.

One year ago I got in contact with Tyler. During several telephone calls we shared some ideas and created projects out of it.

Most of them are in the field of human interaction with smart technologies. We created concepts for switches, established data bases for assistive technologies and created an alarming systems based on standard smart home components. We also focused on technologies that provide safe guidance through buildings or areas. Currently we are working on a app that provides mouse control by facial expressions. As soon as my website is ready you will get detailed informations of current and future projects.

Tylers input and feedback is the base to develop reasonable products that hit the mark and do not provide „nice“ ideas by some engineers. His energy, patience and passion was and still is a great source of inspiration for my work on accessibility!

Warm Regards,

Carsten