Top Ten in Assistive
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A way
cool site, must see!!
Empowerment Zone the home page of Jamal Mazrui! This site EMPOWERMENT ZONE offers
information, ideas, and software related to my interests and the theme of empowerment --
helping individuals and communities achieve self actualization and full citizenship. I
hope you'll find it interesting and useful in your own endeavors. I welcome any feedback,
as well as suggestions for empowerment resources to highlight in this site.
Parents-This Page gives parents practical suggestions as how to obtain assistive
technology devices and services through their local school system.
Advocacy-This Page gives parents ideas on advocacy for assistive technology.
What is Assistive Technology?
These definitions also appear in the Tech Act Legislation (P.L.100-407) which has been
adopted in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IDEA defines an assistive technology device as:
...any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off
the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve
functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. [20 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Section
1401 (25)].
This definition is broad and includes a range of devices from low technology to high
technology items as well as software.
Under IDEA the legal definition of assistive technology services is:
...any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection,
acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.[20 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Section 1401
(26)]
Specifically, assistive technology services include:
- the evaluation of the needs of an individual with a disability, including a functional
evaluation of the individual in the individuals customary environment;
- purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology
devices by individuals with disabilities;
- selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing,
or replacing of assistive technology services;
- coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive
technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation
plans and programs;
- training or technical assistance for an individual with disabilities, or, where
appropriate, the family of an individual with disabilities; and
- training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing
education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide
services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions
of individuals with disabilities.
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Assistive Technology: Definitions and Categories
Assistive Technology -- technology for more independent, productive and enjoyable
living -- can be simple or complex. It includes, 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. These technology solutions improve an
individual's ability to learn, compete, work and interact with family and friends. People
use assistive technology to achieve greater independence and to enhance the quality of
their lives. Services, such as evaluations, training, or trial use of new equipment are
also examples of assistive technology.
The Impact & Benefit of Assistive Technology
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.
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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).
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.
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Assistive Technology Links
Links to various Web sites on Assistive Technology
Information From Companies
Computer Accessibility Products
Wheelchair/Transportation
Products/Assistive Devices/Services
This page is still under construction!
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Other AT WWW Resources
State Assistive Tech & Other AT Resources
AT WWW Resources
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Questions, Answers, and Sharing
questions and answers Post
your questions and answers and any sharing you want by emailing them to (they will be
posted here and updated frequently):
rrachow@aea13.k12.ia.us
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