Common Assistive Technology PDF

# Common Assistive Technology Dr. Badr Alduqsi ## Mobility Devices Mobility devices assist people to walk or move and may include: * Wheelchairs * Tricycles * Crutches * Walking sticks/canes * Walking frames/walkers ## Positioning Devices People with physical impairments often have difficulty...

# Common Assistive Technology Dr. Badr Alduqsi ## Mobility Devices Mobility devices assist people to walk or move and may include: * Wheelchairs * Tricycles * Crutches * Walking sticks/canes * Walking frames/walkers ## Positioning Devices People with physical impairments often have difficulty maintaining good lying, standing or sitting positions for functional activities and are at risk of developing deformities due to improper positioning. * Wedges * Chairs, e.g., corner chairs, special seats * Standing frames * Splints ## Prosthetics, Orthotics and Orthopaedic Shoes These are usually custom-made devices which replace, support or correct body parts. They are designed, manufactured and fitted in specialized workshops or centers by trained prosthetic/orthotics personnel and include: * Prostheses, e.g., artificial legs or hands * Orthoses, e.g., spinal braces, hand/leg splints or callipers * Orthopaedic shoes ## Daily Living Devices These devices enable people with disabilities to complete the activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, home maintenance). * Adapted cutlery and cups * Shower seats and stools * Toilet seats and frames * Commodes * Dressing sticks ## Vision Devices Low vision or blindness has a great impact on a person's ability to carry out important life activities. * Large print books * Magnifiers * Eyeglasses/spectacles * White canes * Braille systems for reading and writing * Audio devices, e.g., radios, talking books, mobile phones ## Hearing Devices Hearing loss affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others; it can impact speech and language and restricts educational and employment opportunities, resulting in social discrimination and isolation. * Hearing aids * Headphones for listening to television * Amplified telephones * TTY/TTD (telecommunication devices) * Visual systems to provide clues, e.g., a light when the doorbell is ringing. ## Communication Devices Augmentative and alternative communication devices can assist individuals who have difficulty understanding and producing speech. They are provided to support speech (augmentative), or to compensate for speech (alternative). * Communication boards with pictures, symbols or letters of the alphabet * Request cards * Electronic speech output devices * Computers with specialized equipment and programmes ## Cognitive Devices Cognition is the ability to understand and process Information. * Lists * Diaries * Calendars * Schedules * Electronic devices, e.g., mobile phones, pagers, personal organizers ## Which Device is Appropriate? * A comprehensive assessment might includes a medical history, a review of current function, individual goals, an evaluation of existing assistive devices and a physical examination. The approach to assessment should be multidisciplinary where possible and include a wide variety of people, such as people with disabilities, family members, therapists, technicians and teachers. * It is important to ensure that all environments are barrier-free in order for someone to achieve maximum function and independence. * Poor selection and design can lead to many problems including frustration, discomfort and the development of secondary conditions. ## Steps of the AT Assessment Process 1. Identify the Individual's Tasks to be Accomplished 2. Gather Background Information 3. Match the Individual with Equipment Features 4. Equipment Considerations 5. Establish Trial Use of Equipment 6. Reconsider Options 7. Develop Training Plans 8. Identify Funding Sources 9. Define Follow-up Activities ## 1. Identify the Individual's Tasks to be Accomplished * Activities may fall within the areas of: * Communication * Mobility * Independent living * Education * Employment * Recreation ## 2. Gather Background Information To gain an understanding of an individual, pertinent background information must be gathered from the individual, family members, and professionals. Information is needed about their functional abilities, personal characteristics, assistive technology experiences, and environments. ## 3. Match the Individual with Equipment Features At this point it is important to have someone with expertise in the area of assistive technology to explain the variety of options. To insure the most effective and satisfying equipment selection and to reduce the potential of equipment abandonment. ## 4. Equipment Considerations * Performance: effectiveness, reliability, durability, safety, comfort * Ease of use: set-up, learn to use, operation, maintain, repair. * Aesthetics: attractive, quiet, well-designed, size * Convenient: to use in environments, transport, easy to store * Cost: purchase, maintenance, repairs * Service: training, installation, follow-up, availability * Flexibility: compatible with other devices, expandable * Personal acceptance ## 5. Establish Trial Use of Equipment * It is critical for an individual to have an opportunity to try one or more pieces of equipment before purchasing. * Coordinating support services during the trail use is necessary for a successful experience. * Trial use requires personnel trained in the use of each device to assist the individual. ## 6. Reconsider Options * As a result of the trail use of equipment, necessary adjustments or modifications may have been identified. * Maybe the selected equipment didn't meet the needs as expected or the individual did not accept the device. Therefore, it may be necessary to revise step 3 "Match the Individual with Equipment Features." ## 7. Develop Training Plans * Planning for training to support the device use and implementation is an important step in the assistive technology assessment process. ## 8. Identify Funding Sources * There are a variety of funding sources available to provide for equipment trial use and to purchase devices. * Identifying who will co-ordinate funding activities and establishing time lines will be critical for successful and timely assistive technology funding. ## 9. Define Follow-up Activities * Assistive technology is an ongoing process requiring systematic examination of device use and implementation. * Examination is necessary to ensure meeting the changing needs of the individual and the evolution of technology. ## Questions? Thank you ## Reference * Khasnabis C, Heinicke Motsch K, Achu K, et al., editors. Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. Assistive devices. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310951/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310951/)