Assistive technology enables people with disabilities to optimize their functioning and participation in daily life. There are many assistive devices and equipment to meet the various needs. This blog post will look at these assistive devices in the following eight categories.
Vision
Vision assistive devices are products designed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These products help visually impaired people to read, access computers, find their ways, and conduct daily living, enabling them to live more independently.
- Large-print materials
- Magnifiers
- Screen readers
- Screen reading software
- Braille technology
- Large-print and tactile keyboards
- Audiobooks
- Text-to-speech systems
Hearing
Hearing assistive technology systems provide people in the d/Deaf and hard of hearing community with solutions to auditory communication needs. They are special devices that improve hearing in various environments.
Hearing assistive products differ from hearing aids because they are not programmed for individual hearing loss levels. Hearing aids, on the other hand, can be personalized to address particular needs. These devices can be used with or without hearing aids or cochlear implants.
- Personal amplification systems
- Frequency modulation systems
- Infrared systems
- Teletype Phones
- Alarm systems
These alarm systems use signals like bright lights, vibrations, or increased volume to alert people with hearing impairments, especially in emergencies. They can connect to smoke alarms, carbon monoxide monitors, doorbells, baby monitors, or telephones.
Speech/Communication
Devices in this category help people with speech or language impairments communicate and socialize.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) supports or replaces spoken language using various communication tools, strategies, devices, or systems. It helps individuals having difficulty with verbal communication. Augmentative means to supplement or add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to replace or compensate for one’s speech. Examples include:
- Communication boards
- Speech-generating devices
- Symbol-making software
- Voice amplification systems
- Voice-output communication aids
Cognition
Assistive technology for cognition consists of tools, software, or devices designed to help people with cognitive impairments. These devices assist in different areas of daily life, such as attention, memory, self-regulation, planning, learning, and organization. They can benefit people with autism spectrum disorders, brain injuries, intellectual disabilities, learning difficulties, mental illness, and dementia. Some examples are:
- Memory aids
- Reminder systems
- Notetaking systems
- Optical character recognition
- Word prediction software
Mobility
Mobility assistive products include various devices, equipment, software, hardware, and peripherals that enable people with mobility impairments to navigate their physical environment more easily. Some examples include:
- Wheelchairs
- Walkers
- Canes
- Crutches
- Scooters
- Power chairs
- Prosthetic and orthotic devices
Daily Living
Assistive devices in this category help people to perform basic everyday tasks independently. These tasks include eating, dressing, using the toilet, taking a bath or shower, moving about, or getting in and out of bed or a chair. Some common examples are:
- Dressing aids: dressing sticks, zipper pulls, button hooks, and sock aids.
- Bathing: Shower chair, grab bars, transfer board, long-handled sponge
- Adapted kitchen tools and eating utensils
- Leg/Thigh lifter strap
- Stairlifts
- Switched-adapted appliances
- Vacuum robot
Environmental Adaptions
These adaptions increase access to homes, businesses, restaurants, churches, schools, and other buildings. They also facilitate navigating in the buildings and using the facilities. Examples in this category include:
- Door openers
- Automatic doors
- Lifts
- Ramps
- Remote control appliances
- Products using voice or other methods to activate
- Systems to meet different environmental needs
Vehicle Adaptions
Vehicle modifications and adaptive devices promote the availability of safe access to transportation and encourage independence. Some examples include:
- Hand controls
- Wheelchair and scooter lifts
- Wheelchair and scooter ramps
- wheelchair securement
- Swivel seating
- Seat and seat-belt adjustments
- Raised roof or lowered floor modifications
The wide variety of assistive devices and equipment can make choosing the right product challenging. Therefore, it is important to consult your healthcare providers who know your situation and specific needs. Your providers can help you select the products that best suit your needs.