Thanks to new technology, students with health issues and disabilities are able to continue a presence on their school campuses — with the aid of robots.

Currently, three VGo robots are being utilized by LAUSD in a pilot program. (photo by Luis Rivas)

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced the program before a board meeting on Tuesday, April 14, where three students who have used the technology were present via their remote-controlled mobile units with audio and visual capabilities, known as telepresence robots.

One of the participating students, Destiny, is a junior at Fairfax High School. Destiny is a wheelchair-bound student with classes on both the first and second floor of the school. Early in this year’s spring semester, the school’s elevator broke down and she was unable to get to her classes on the second floor.

That’s when school administrators offered Destiny the opportunity to use a telepresence robot, called a VGo, for her class on the second floor. Destiny was able to attend the class while she remained on the first floor by remotely using a VGo.

“I was using it for just a few days, maybe around one week. It’s a pretty cool robot. It’s easy. It’s kind of like video gaming,” Destiny said.

The New Hampshire-based company that manufactures the robots, VGo Communications, Inc., was founded in 2007. VGos were first released in 2011. LAUSD has been using three units since fall 2014 in a pilot project.

The VGo units have been used in the healthcare industry by doctors, nurses and patients. In businesses, disabled or remote employees are using VGo units to maintain a virtual presence at work. Additionally, home-bound and hospital-bound students are using VGos to go to school, attend class and interact with fellow students on campus.

“We currently have three students using the VGo robotic telepresence technology. One of the students (Destiny) was a short-term test pilot at Fairfax High School. These units are brand new,” said Kari Tapie, specialist with occupational and physical therapy and assistive technology at LAUSD.

Elijah, a freshman at John F. Kennedy High School, was not able to physically attend school during the 6th grade due to a medical condition.

“I’ve been using the VGo since January 10. I’m going to use it for my four years of high school,” Elijah said.

Destiny, a junior at Fairfax High School, uses a wheelchair. When the elevators broke down, the VGo transported her to the second floor classroom. (photo by Luis Rivas)

Elijah is able to move the VGo 360 degrees, while also tilting the built-in camera up or down and turn on lights to signal to a teacher in the classroom. VGo users communicate with their units through a VGo app, available for Mac or PC, which is continually connected to a VGo-only network, VGoNet.

Eugene Spiritus, chief medical officer at VGo Communications, Inc., said that the company first developed the VGo units for industry usage, such as high-end auto mechanics and business. But soon they found a demand in the healthcare industry, where many of the units are currently used.

“They’re used in healthcare for doctors to go into intensive care unit and for people in nursing homes,” Spiritus said.

There are approximately 300 to 400 units currently being used in schools throughout the country, according to Spiritus.

“The VGos are great for kids who can’t go to school. Some of the kids are disabled, some of them are being treated for cancer and are out for several months, and so this allows them to be in school and to actually socialize,” Spiritus said. “Rather than being at home, they’re actually in the classroom.”

Although there was no proposal made at the board meeting to increase the number of VGos available to students, LAUSD will continue to offer the technology to students who display a need and match for the technology through the Assistive Technology Lending Library, according to Tapie.