Assistive technology has been used for thousands of years to help people with disabilities do various things. Wheelchairs were used as early as the sixth century A.D. in China. Glasses were invented around the 13th century in Italy. Some of the most high-tech assistive devices in use today include highly customized prosthetics, augmented language and communication software, and use of eye gaze for computer control.
There’s a lot more to assistive technology than familiar tools like wheelchairs, glasses and hearing aids. This article describes different types of assistive tech devices and the types of disabilities they can help with.
Who can benefit from using assistive tech devices?
People at any stage of life with developmental, acquired and temporary disabilities can benefit from assistive technology, commonly referred to as AT.. The first step is knowing what tools are available and what would meet your needs. Next is navigating how to pay for those devices — either through insurance or out of pocket. Finally is the step to learn how to use your technology so it is a benefit to your daily life. This is an important part of the rehabilitation services we offer at Ability KC.
The assistive tech devices that will be most helpful for you will depend on your disability and the life activities you need help with. There’s assistive tech for basic senses like hearing and vision and mobility aids. There are also tools for more complex activities like learning, driving and working. Some of the tools you may be less familiar with include devices that help you communicate, software that reads back to you, and devices that may allow you to resume video gaming with your friends.
9 types of disabilities that may benefit from assistive tech devices
There are assistive tech devices for individuals with virtually any type of disability. Young children with developmental delays may use things like communication boards or flash cards. People with sensory processing issues can benefit from specialized earplugs, fidget toys or texture strips. People with pain and fatigue due to a temporary or chronic illness may use a brace or an ergonomic seat cushion. People with diabetes may wear compression socks to improve circulation. And many older adults use vision, hearing and mobility aids.
These devices may be highly customized, like most prosthetics, or standard items like ramps or screen readers. Assistive tools can range from sophisticated smartphone apps that aid with memory and communication to simple items like canes or pencil grips. Anything you use to help you with basic functions and tasks can be considered assistive tech.
People with the following types of disabilities can benefit from assistive tech devices:
- Limited mobility — A pain condition, an injury, a disease, an amputation or aging can cause limited mobility
- Hearing impairment — Deafness, difficulty hearing and auditory processing issues are types of hearing impairment.
- Vision impairment — Impaired vision, blurred vision and blindness, for example
- Fine motor skill impairments — These can result from a developmental disability, a disease, nerve damage or a medical event like a stroke.
- Chronic health conditions — Stroke, diabetes, chronic pain conditions and fatigue are common types of chronic illness.
- Communication disorders — Fluency disorders and language disorders, which may be common with a developmental disability such as CP, after a stroke, or as a result of a progressive disease such as ALS
- Cognitive impairments — These include problems with memory, focus and concentration, thinking, understanding judgment, and decision-making.
- Sensory processing — Some children have trouble processing and responding to sensory information like textures, touch or sounds.
- Serious injury — Serious injuries may include amputation, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury or paralysis.
What are some other ways to benefit from assistive tech devices?
It may be more helpful to focus on types of assistive technology and the things they can help you do. There are assistive tech devices that help people at school, at home, in the workplace and in the community. There are assistive tech devices for driving, such as adaptive steering wheel controls. Some people with temporary disabilities may only use an assistive tech device for a short time. There are also cases when people will use assistive tech during rehab, like the Ekso GT or the FES bike.
Certain types of assistive technology have specialized uses, such as screen readers for the visually impaired or braille devices. Others, like smart home and voice-to-text technology, have many uses for people with and without disabilities. Most often, an assistive tech device will have multiple uses and applications.
The assistive tech devices in the following categories may have other potential uses. These are just a few examples of how they’re commonly used:
- Mobility — Wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, crutches, prosthetic devices and orthotics
- Fine motor skills — Use of adaptive switches, one-handed techniques, head trackers, and eye-gaze technology for accessing a computer or phone
- Hearing — Sound field systems, hearing aids, personal listening devices, captioning, vibrating alarm clocks and flashing light doorbells
- Sensory processing — Fidget toys, texture strips, specialized earplugs, sound field systems, noise-canceling headphones and audio recorders
- Vision — Braille, screen readers, screen enlargement applications, audiobooks, and lights on telephones and doorbells
- Chronic pain and fatigue — Braces, orthotics, and ergonomic keyboards and office chairs
- Communication — AAC (augmentative & alternative communication) is a common term for devices that have voice output to replace, or “augment,” spoken communication
- Thinking and memory — Timers, memory aids, reminder systems, note-taking systems and mobile devices with specialized apps
- Learning — Text-to-speech (TTS) software, calculators and recording devices
Ability KC integrates assistive tech tools with rehab
Relearning everyday tasks, while regaining your physical and mental health, is a priority at Ability KC when you sustain a traumatic event or disease. The scope of assistive technology can be overwhelming and confusing. Assistive technology services at AKC are provided through outpatient medical rehabilitation programs by those with expertise in both of those areas to bridge the gap, and help you make informed decisions as you consider the best technology for your needs.
We help our patients recover and rehabilitate in every area of their lives, from activities of daily living to work and social well-being. We even have a driving evaluation and training program.
Are you recovering from a serious injury or living with a disability? You can trust Ability KC because we’re a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). We also have a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
If you have any questions about finding and using assistive technology, contact our team today.