Introduction to Assistive Technology

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Introduction to Assistive Technology

• For Adult Service Professionals
• 892.562 Young Jeon

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Assistive Technology Overview
What is Assistive Technology?
? Any device or process that assist a person with
disabilities to do something that could otherwise
be difficult or impossible to accomplish
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Assistive Technology Overview Definition
? 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
(from IDEA 97) ? A definition of AT may be a
system of no, low and/or high-tech tools and
strategies that are suited to a person based on
their individuals needs
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Assistive Technology Overview Universal Design
Universal Design is the design of products and
environments to be usable by all people, to the
greatest extent possible, without the need for
adaptation or specialized design Ron Mace
Universal Design benefits of all ages and
abilities.
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Assistive Technology Overview Universal Design
Example Curb Cut Originally designed for
wheelchair but also ease travel for people
pushing strollers, riding skateboards, using
canes.
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Assistive Technology Universal
Design
Assistive Technology Overview AT vs. UD
Used by a wide range of individuals with diverse
needs Makes the environments accessible to
individuals with varying needs
Specifically considered for an individual Used
by an individual to improve
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Assistive Technology Overview Continuum

• High-Tech
• Sophisticated electronics or computers
• DynaMyte, Mercury
• Mid-Tech
• Relatively complicated mechanical devices
• Wheelchairs
• Low-Tech
• Less sophisticated devices
• Velcro fasteners
• Sippy cups
• No-Tech
• Solutions that make use of procedures and
  services already in the environment without using
  devices or equipment

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Assistive Technology Overview Categories

• Adaptive Computer Applications
• Aids for Communication
• Aids for Daily Living
• Environmental Control Systems
• Home / Worksite Modifications
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Seating and Positioning
• Wheelchair / Mobility Aids
• Vehicle Modifications

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AT Delivery System in DC
MRDDA Policy

• Applicability
• Provider Organizations that receive DC or Federal
  
• funds to serve MRDDA customers and who are
• responsible for the acquisition, repair or
• replacement of adaptive equipment
• Acquisition Process
• Determination of Need by clinicians assessment
• Caregiver apply for the approval and fund within
  30 days of assessment
• MRDDA determines of approval

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AT Delivery System in DC
MRDDA Policy

• Timeliness
• Acquisition shall occur within 60 days of the
  date of determinations
• If not, caregiver must provide written notice the
  clinical Services Division WEEKLY.
• Methods of Payment
• Medicaid/Medicare
• Private Health Insurance
• Personal Funds
• Government Contract/Purchase order

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Barriers and Challenges

• Awareness and Knowledge
• Fear of Complexity
• Funding Limitations
• Training
• Timeliness of AT delivery System
• Equipment Maintenance
• Technology Abandonment

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Benefits of Assistive Technology

• Communication
• Environmental control
• Mobility
• Education
• Activities of Daily Living
• Employment
• Sports and Recreation

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Assistive Technology Consideration

• What functional limitation does the individual
  with disabilities have that might be helped by
  assistive technology?
• Have professionals conducted a comprehensive
  assessment to determine what assistive technology
  might be beneficial?
• Will the technology be available for the person
  to use at all times in all environments where
  needed, and if not, what alternatives exist in
  other environments?
• Will the assistive technology be a tool and not
  inhibit typical development and skill
  acquisition?
• Does the professional support system exist for
  the successful application and use of the
  identified technology?

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The End
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Adaptive Computer Applications

• Hardware and software products that enables
  persons with
• Disabilities to access, interact with, and use
  computers at
• home, work or school.
• Input output devices
• Alternate access aids
• Modified or alternate Keyboard
• Switch Interface
• Adaptive Software

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Communication Aids

• Products and equipment designed to help persons
  with speech
• disabilities or writing difficulties to
  communicate. At its very
• simplest, augmentative communication can be a
  page with
• picture choices or alphabet letters that a person
  points to. It
• can also involve highly sophisticated speaking
  computers with
• on-screen communication boards and auditory or
  visual scanning.
• Hearing aids,
• Augmentative Alternative Communication Devices
• Voice Output Devices
• TTDs

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Aids for Daily Living

• Self-help devices that assist persons with
  disabilities in daily
• living activities such as dressing, personal
  hygiene, bathing,
• home maintenance, cooking, eating, etc.
• Clothing and Dressing Aids
• Eating and Cooking Aids
• Home Maintenance Aids
• Toileting and Bathing Aids

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Environmental Control System

• Environmental and structural adaptations that
  remove or reduce
• physical barriers for individuals with
  disabilities. Environmental
• adaptations usually involve building
  construction, engineering
• and architecture, but also include environmental
  controls and
• switches that can control an entire living
  environment.
• Environmental control switches
• Worksite adaptations

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Home/Worksite Modifications

• Structural adaptations or fabrications in the
  home, worksite or other area
• Ramp
• Lifts
• Bathroom changes
• Visual alerting system

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Prosthetics and Orthotics

• Replacement, substitution or augmenting of
  missing or
• malfunctioning body parts with artificial limbs
  or other orthotic aids
• Splints
• Braces
• Foot orthosis
• Helmets
• Restraints
• Supports

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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
• Seating adapted and modular seating, cushions
  and wedges
• contour seats, lumbar support seats, standing
  tables
• Positioning positioning belts, braces,
  wheelchair modifications and cushions, seat
  lifts, bolster chairs, corner chairs, therapeutic
  seats, postural support hardware, postural
  support systems, pressure monitors, etc.

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Wheelchair / Mobility Aids

• Products that help mobility impaired persons move
  within
• their environment and give them independence in
• personal transportation
• Manual and electric wheelchairs, mobile bases for
  
• custom chairs, walkers, three-wheel scooters, and
  other
• utility vehicles.
• Ambulatory Aids
• Scooters and Power Chairs
• Wheelchairs

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Vehicle Modifications
Adaptive driving aids, hand controls, wheelchair
and other lifts, modified vans, or other motor
vehicles
Includes car-top carriers, custom cars and

vans, adaptive driving control, ramp, lift,

hand-controls, child restraint systems
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Input Output Devices

• Touch windows
• Braille Printer
• Alternate Mouse

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Alternate Access Aids

• Head Stick, Mouth Stick
• Light Pointer
• Mouse Emulator
• Voice Input
• Eye Gaze

Controlling cursor with eye movements
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Modified or Alternate Keyboard

• Intelli-Key
• Big Keyboard
• One-hand keyboard

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Switch Interface
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Adaptive Software

• Biggy Cursor
• Onscreen Keyboard
• Zoom Text
• Microsoft Accessibility

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Voice Output Devices

• Mercury, Gemini,
• Dynamite
• Cheap Talk
• Digi-Vox
• Communication Builder

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Clothing and Dressing Aids

• Button Aid
• Sock Helper
• Shoe horn
• Dressing Stick

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Eating and Cooking Aids

• Easy grip Utensil
• Food Bumper
• Scooper Plate
• Utensil Curf

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Home Maintenance Aids
Adaptive Gardening Tools
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Toileting and Bathing Aids

• Lift Aids
• Shower chair
• Elevated seat
• Urinals

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Environmental Control Switches

• Remote Control
• Free Hand Switch
• Wireless Transmitter
• Motion Pad
• Voice Activated Switch

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Seating and Positioning
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Ambulatory Aids
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