Assistive Technology
There are many different types of assistive technology. It can range anywhere from calculators, to wheelchairs, to entire body braces that can help someone walk for the first time. Here we'll take a deeper look into the different devices.
Low-tech devices are often things we are all familiar with, and are the easiest to obtain. They are also very low cost, and are very limited as far as their capabilities.
Mid-tech most often refer to battery-powered devices that most people are also familiar with. They can help with every day tasks, and some are for pleasure. They cost a little more that low-tech devices.
High-tech devices are themost expensive, yet also the most helpful. High-tech devices are usually electronic devices that are obtained through a specialist, they are not readily available. They are also the most complex and often confusing.
The type of device you need also depends on the type of help you desire. In a study involving participants with paraplegia and participants with quadraplegia, we find that they wish to operate at different ends of the spectrum. Those with Quadraplegia said that having hand/arm movement and upper body strength would be "very important" to increase their quality of living. However those with paraplegia said that eliminating chronic pain and regaining normal sensations were more important. Both sets of participants agreed on bowel/bladder functions being of the utmost importance. (Collinger et all, 2013)
Devices
Low-Tech
Letter Templates
Often seen in writing books for children, they are also used when making poster boards. They can also be found in shapes, teaching children how to trace and color different shapes in different sizes. Currently, templates such as these are most often used by tattoo artists.
Calculators
Calculators were developed to help with long math equations. As time went on, calculators began to get more complex and can now do things like geometry, and even draw line graphs. Big-button calculators are also helpful to those with visual impairments.
Canes and Walkers
Often associated with the elderly, canes and walkers are also used for people that may have lost a limb, or may have been born with various medical conditions.
Picture Exchange Communication Systems. (PECS)
PECS are basically pictures printed on a piece of paper and then laminated. These pictures are then categorized and can be taken anywhere. They can even be set up in order around the home and can help people with steps to simple tasks such as showering or setting the table. PECS are the easiest form of communication and the most customizable since you can print out any picture on the computer and laminate it.
Adaptive utensils
Adaptive utensils are often used for individuals that have muscle contractions and do not posess full motion of their arms or hands. these utensils can come with straps that wrap around a hand or arm so they can still feed themselves or still write a note without having someone else help them.
Mid-Tech
Books on tape
Books on tape are often seen as a lazy way to get through a boring read. Books on tape were actually developed to read to children as they followed along so they could learn to identify sight words.
Talking electronic devices
Such as books that come with an attached stylus that helps children learn to read, you touch the word and it helps sound it out.
Switches
Switches are possibly the most common among mid-tech devices. Swtiches can be hooked up to almost anything, and when someone flips the switch, it will make a radio go on or off, or it will change a tv channel, or even make a toy dance.
Timers
Timers are helpful in setting time limits on a task. This can be controversial because you don't want someone to feel rushed, but you also need to set limits sometimes for them to start doing things faster and improving so they can get more things done.
iPads/Tablets/smart phones
iPads, Tablets, and smart phones are some of the most common among high-tech devices. while we generally think of these as being ways to look up inofrmation online, they can also assist people with communication disabilities. To do this, you must download certain apps, most of which are free or have a very small fee. After you have acquired the app, you can customize them in many ways. These are also helpful because they can be used any where at any time.
Motorized Wheelchairs
Motorized Wheenchairs are the other most common device among assistive technology. They are used to help people that have trouble walking either from a birth defect, or an injury. motorized wheelchairs give back a sense of independence to the operator who cannot walk, but can still manage to get anywhere they need to go and can do it on their own.
Ekso-skeleton
The Ekso-skeleton is a body brace that operates based on the position of your body weight. Shift to one side, and it moves one leg for you, shift to the other side and it moves your other leg. This is a step further than a wheelchair. This brace lets you stand and walk on your own when you may have never thought that was possible.