Assistive technology is used as an addition in a disabled person’s life in order to promote
inclusion and participation. With these technologies, those with disabilities are able to be
independent, which allows them to lead healthier lives full of comfort and security.
It is first important to talk about the types of assistive devices there are. Wheelchairs,
hearing aids, alternative keyboards, and closed captioning are all assistive technology that have
been developed. There are so many more, along with many that are still in development as well, which are significant to the disabled community.
Assistive Devices in School
A place where assistive technology has been transformative for those with disabilities is
in the educational setting. Eli was a boy who qualified for special education and the use of
assistive technology in 1997. Eli had a learning disability where he could not differentiate some
letters and their sound, resulting in him struggling to be able to read and write. To develop the
decoding skills he needed to read, interactive phonetics programs along with other software
were added to his curriculum throughout his third grade year. In this program, he was taught
certain letters at a time, and they were all introduced with their respective sound and shape. The
letters were introduced with an animal or object that starts with the letter as well, and after he
learned them all the program would form words together. The software had a
computer-generated voice that said the words out loud to help him too. Throughout the year, his
skills improved majorly and he could then participate in class tests and assignments. There was
another added benefit to Eli using a computer early on: he was already familiar with
the functions of a computer, and with this knowledge he could assist his classmates.
Taba is another student who used assistive technology in school. He struggled with a
learning disability that caused him to have problems putting his thoughts onto paper. He was
given a speech-to-text software program that let him put his thoughts onto a computer screen by speaking to it. This helped him participate in writing activities without becoming frustrated from not being able to write his thoughts down.
Another type of technology that can help students is a modified keyboard. Camille is a
student who used a modified keyboard due to a lack in motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
The keyboard lets the user input a set of instructions for each overlay, and each overlay is
similar to a touch screen where the user can tap it instead of clicking keyboard keys. Camille
was then able to become much more productive whilst in class and whilst doing assignments.
Assistive devices in Transportation
To continue, assistive technology is widely used for easier transportation as well.
Wheelchairs, canes, and prosthetics all aid disabled people in regards to moving around. With
these technologies, it is simpler for disabled people to go to places on their own, which can give
them a sense of drive and confidence. It is also more efficient, and even safer. Those who need a cane, for example, may need it too because they are at a risk of falling. A wheelchair is mainly
used for a disabled person who struggles with using their legs. Overall, assistive technology is
key to helping people with disabilities to be more independent and safe.
Assistive Devices Changing Lives
Prosthetics, specifically, have helped many be able to participate in activities that they
could not once participate in, such as sports. Jeremy Campbell was born with a rare birth
deficiency called fibular hemimelia, which caused one of his legs to not fully develop. He got a
prosthetic and with motivation and practice he was able to become an athlete. Track and field
was what he participated in, and one of his greatest achievements was being able to participate
in the 2008 games in Beijing, China on Team USA. He set a world record and won two medals.
Without prosthetic technology, it would have been difficult to be able to have such a prominent
and inspiring career.
My Personal Thoughts
In my daily life, I see assistive technology used very frequently. I took two years of
American Sign Language, and my teacher used a hearing aid because she was hard of hearing.
I am very grateful to have had her as a teacher because she taught me so much about being
hard of hearing, along with what the hearing aid does for her. There is also a student that uses a
wheelchair due to a disability, and he often receives praise from teachers about how well he
does in school, and he uses the wheelchair with help from a caretaker. Because of his form of
assistive technology he is able to do assignments and go to class just like everyone else. I find
him very inspirational like many others at my school.
I believe that assistive technology is increasingly important and necessary. WHO
estimates that 2.5 billion people need some sort of assistive devices, and the number will grow
to 3.5 billion by 2050. This makes it a priority to develop these technologies and make them
more accessible. It is known that these technologies are not available in many countries and if
they are, it is not affordable. Generally, ways to make assistive technology attainable should be
found and worked on, because everyone should be able to have access to a healthy life and be
included in society with the highest standard of living.
Sources:
● https://www.who.int/health-topics/assistive-technology#tab=tab_3
● https://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-success-stories
● http://dreamteamprosthetics.com/inspirational-stories/jeremy-campbell/#:~:text=Jeremy
%20Campbell%20was%20born%20in,be%20fit%20with%20a%20prosthesis.
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