Tutorial Eight: Assistive technology

Assistive technology  as defined by Public Law, the Technical Assistance to the States Act in the United States  is:

 Any item or piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customised that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of  individuals with  disabilities. (as cited by Cook & Hussey 1995, p.5)

So assistive technology is technology that is used by a user with a disability to meet their needs by increasing their ability to function and perform tasks. Addaptive technology can be further classified into many areas. These include:

• Helping assistive devices or teaching/ rehabilative technologies.
• Simple, inexpensive ‘low’ technologies such as modified utensil handle or more complex expensive ‘high’ technologies such as expensive wheel chairs.
• Hard technologies that are tangible, readily available such as computers, keyboards, chairs, software or soft technologies that are human areas of decision making, stratergies and training. Without  These soft technologies hard technologies cannot be successful.
• Appliances and tools
• Mimimal to maximal technologies that cover a contium of the level of support they provide based on the needs of the user
• General technologies that have a wide range of uses such as a computer compared to more specific technologies that have a very specific and use.
• technologies that are commercial or ‘off the shelf’ and those that are custom made or adapted (Cook & Hussey, 1995). 

We recently had a guest speaker talk to our class about assistive technology. He introduced the use of apple iPad as an example of mainstream technology becoming more universally designed and accessible for people of varying abilities. As it is mainstream and has a much larger user base than specific ‘assistive technologies’ this greatly reduces the cost of technology. The iPad starts at $799 NZD. there are many additional applications or apps that can be downloaded for free or at very little cost.  This is not an excessive price for an assistive technology considering the many features and uses it has. It is small and transportable and has following dimensions.

• Height: 241.2 mm (9.50 inches)
• Width:  185.7 mm (7.31 inches)
• Depth:  8.8 mm (0.34 inch)
• Weight: 601 g (1.33 pounds)

The iPad can increase user’s occupational performance in several ways depending on the user’s needs. For example users with visual deficits can access online material, reading material and communicate through email due to VoiceOver screen reader, full-screen zoom magnification and white on black display. for more information on iPad specification go to apples website here. Users with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injury can use applications to access physiotherapy exercises. This can be seen at http://www.physiotherapyexercises.com.

For users who are unable to use a key board there is Dragon Diction this app allows users to write email and text messages through the sound of their voice. the message can range from a quick “Hello!” to a lengthy email. Users  can even update their Facebook status and Tweet. It is up to five times faster than typing and saves time and  hassle

Apps can also be used with childern who have learning difficulties an example of this can be seen in this video

Cook, A., & Hussey, S. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principals and practice. Chicago: Mosby.