Today we meet our second finalist, Whitney Granger! This is Part 2 of our 2019 DSP Tech Awards series, in which we recognize outstanding DSPs who incorporate technology as a natural support.

(Missed Part 1? Read it here.)

In her job as a Direct Support Professional, Whitney Granger is not easily discouraged. She works at Imagine! Colorado in a program that highlights technology for increasing independence. When other staff members got frustrated with technology and were ready to scrap the program, Whitney was determined. She convinced the other staff to stick with the goal of enabling the residents to enjoy more independence and gain new skills. 

Chris Baumgart, the Assistive Technology Specialist at Imagine!, nominated Whitney for this year’s award: 

“Whitney championed that we had the right goals in place, we just needed to fine tune the tools to get there. She has been a tireless advocate for skill acquisition to increase independence. Without knowing the specifics of how sensor technology can integrate with smart speakers, she reached out and asked if there was a way her client, Doug, could receive reminders to put his CPAP back on if he left his room in the middle of the night. This solution of verbal prompts helped Doug to keep the machine (his usage had fallen below the minimum allowable threshold for Medicaid to continue funding the device).”

Way to go, Whitney, for working to improve quality of life and independence using technology! We love seeing how DSPs can use innovative products and services to facilitate skill acquisition. Sometimes the best solutions are also the simplest!

The SimplyHome DSP Tech Awards recognize outstanding DSPs who incorporate technology as a natural support. Is your organization ready for technology? SimplyHome can help.