Fears

Medicaide/Medicare will approve iPads

If iPads were to be approved by Medicare/Medicaide they would be less accessible to those that actually need them, assuming people would take advantage of the new availability (which is inevitable).

 

The introduction of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) will discourage individuals from working on their speech.

People feel that with all of the new technology that is available, people will become lazy in terms of trying to further their own ability to communicate and just rely on the technology they have at hand.

 

A young child may not be ready for AAC.

Young children often don't understand that everything is not as durable as it appears to be, and they also may stunt their development if they are started using AAC too early in their life.

 

Someone with severe cognitive defecits may not be able to use AAC

An individual with developmental delays may not fully understand the technology they are given and could become easily frustrated with it, thus never learning how to use it.

 

 

In Progress....

Currently there are scientists working on a few different projects as far as assistive technology goes. One of these projects is called the Ekso exoskeleton. "Ekso is a wearable bionic suit which enables individuals with any amount of lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk over ground with a natural, full weight bearing, reciprocal gait. Walking is achieved by the user’s weight shifts to activate sensors in the device which initiate steps. Battery-powered motors drive the legs, replacing deficient neuromuscular function" (Ekso Bionics, 2013).

Ekso is a gait training exoskeleton for supervised use by individuals with paralysis due to neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury or disease, or traumatic brain injury. The Ekso exoskeleton is a medical device that provides rehabilitation, gait training, and upright, weight bearing exercise under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

 

Projects like the exoskeleton are what we should be looking forward to with assistive technology. With technology advancing maybe some day people with disabilities will be able to live happier and more independent lives.