The reason why I don’t believe a tool currently exists for centralized communication across support workers is because the technology needs to be all-encompassing (space to create, store, develop, and collaborate on digital artifacts) and capable of complex communication systems that prioritize usability. Many tech apps are too limited in scope; for the tool, we needed something that allowed for the combination of several complex elements. We landed on Odoo, after an exhaustive search, because it granted us the flexibility to incorporate several key systems of communication and collaboration. Also, it came with a foundational structure in which we could make customizable modifications to fit our needs, which despite how challenging it was, proved to be a fruitful endeavor. 

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I feel very comfortable with CRMs, and have used several previously, but never Odoo. Our project was my first time creating something from scratch using a CRM and I found the backend of the build very difficult to navigate. If we had more time to further develop our tool, we would have created a more complex data collection system using a pipeline management feature that would easily track a child's development.

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Sophy and I share the same vision for what the tool could potentially become, and we discussed in depth the need for improving our tool's usability. Currently, the tool has a few well-developed pieces, but one function we had perfected was the “Project” app. We integrated the app well with our other features, made it very interactive, and accomplished including graphs that visualize key data points. 

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Data mining was at the forefront of our mind and we wanted to ensure we could include measurable outcomes for our users. Data analysis (DA) presents a really unique opportunity for children who are non-vocal to be seen and heard. A collection of observations allows caregivers to assess patterns, identify areas of support, and pinpoint issues. We wanted our tool to be able to offer foundational DA and the opportunity to integrate other platforms if necessary. We included an export feature that can download the data in an excel document, which presents the opportunity to upload the data into an advanced DA platform if need be. I strongly believe data mining is an undercapitalized tool for children with disabilities and that tools like these could allow us to tap into undiscovered macro-trends. I imagined that if even half of Canada used our tool, we would gain so much more insight into disability studies as a whole, and could leverage that information to create even better, more advanced technologies.

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MySupport was well consulted by the course readings and we really leaned into the concept of a “Living Wall” (Bjiarveit et al, 2019). Primarily, because the concept was well sustained by a practical study that had documented a successful outcome, and we wanted to try and replicate that concept as much as possible in a digital form. The qualitative data collected in the “Living Wall” of MySupport would complement our quantitative data sources and provide a fuller, more cohesive picture of a child's development. 

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Sophy and I connected well, on a personal and professional level, and I think we found great success in our project. Our interests aligned and we determined that there was a real need for a tool that allows for a centralized method of communication for the folks supporting children with special needs. I am excited and eager to share this tool with others, as I think we delivered (despite its limitations), both theoretically and functionally, a phenomenal tool.

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