What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technology (AT) includes both devices and services. A device is any item or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability. Many high-tech and low-tech devices are now available to assist people with disabilities with daily living tasks, communication, education, work, and recreation. Examples are: wheelchairs, Velcro, adapted clothing and toys, computers, seating systems, powered mobility, augmentative communication devices, special switches, assisted listening devices, visual aids, memory prosthetics, and thousands of other commercially available or adapted items. AT services support people with disabilities or their caregivers to help them select, acquire, or use AT devices. Such services also include functional evaluations, training on or demonstration of devices, and purchasing or leasing devices.

A preliminary study (National Council on Disability, 1993) surveyed 136 individuals with disabilities to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with the use of different kinds of technology-related assistance. The individuals were from four age groups and the results indicate a significant impact of AT on many aspects of the respondents lives, including: the majority of infants with disabilities benefited by having fewer health problems because of AT; nearly 75% of school age children were able to remain in a regular classroom, and 45 % were able to reduce their use of school-related services; 65% of working-age persons were able to reduce dependence on family members, 58% were able to reduce dependence on paid assistance, and 37% were able to increase earnings Among elderly persons, 80% were able to reduce dependence on others, half were able to reduce dependency on paid persons, and half were able to avoid entering a nursing home. These results indicate that the issue becomes not how can we afford effective AT, but what costs are involved if it is not provided.

Categories of Assistive Technology

 

Aids for Daily Living

Self help aids for use in activities such as eating, bathing, cooking, dressing, toileting, home maintenance, etc.

Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC)

Electronic and non-electronic devices that provide a means for expressive and receptive communication for persons with limited or no speech.

Computer Access

Input and output devices (voice, Braille), alternate access aids (headsticks, light pointers), modified or alternate keyboards, switches, special software, etc. that enable persons with disabilities to use a computer. This category includes speech recognition software.

Environmental Control Systems

Primarily electronic systems that enable someone with limited mobility to control various appliances, electronic aids, security systems, etc. in their room, home or other surroundings.

Home/Worksite Modifications

Structural adaptations, fabrications in the home, worksite or other area (ramps, lifts, bathroom changes) that remove or reduce physical barriers for an individual with a disability.

Prosthetics and Orthotics

Replacement, substitution or augmentation of missing or malfunctioning body parts with artificial limbs or other orthotic aids (splints, braces, etc.). There are also prosthetics to assist with cognitive limitations or deficits, including audio tapes or pagers (that function as prompts or reminders).

Seating and Positioning

Accommodations to a wheelchair or other seating system to provide greater body stability, trunk/head support and an upright posture, and reduction of pressure on the skin surface (cushions, contour seats, lumbar).

Service Animals

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as any guide dog (for visually impaired and blind individuals), signal dog (for hearing impaired or Deaf individuals), or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. [Information in "( )" added.]

Aids for Vision Impaired

Aids for specific populations including magnifiers, Braille or speech output devices, large print screens, closed circuit television for magnifying documents, etc.

Aids for Hearing Impaired

Aids for specific populations including assistive listening devices (infrared, FM loop systems), hearing aids, TTYs, visual and tactile alerting systems, etc.

Wheelchairs/Mobility Aids

Manual and electric wheelchairs, mobile bases for custom chairs, walkers, three-wheel scooters and other utility vehicles for increasing personal mobility.

Vehicle Modifications

Adaptive driving aids, hand controls, wheelchair and other lifts, modified vans, or other motor vehicles used for personal transportation.