Term Paper on "Assistive Technology What Is the Definition"

Term Paper 12 pages (4146 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Assistive Technology

What is the definition of assistive technology and rehabilitation technology? What are the commonalities and difference between these two types of technology?

For people with incapacities and who are not able to do work that are difficult or not possible to them, a technology is used to help these people. This technology is called Assistive technology. Assistive technology is inclusive of movable devices like wheelchairs, walkers and some software and hardware that help people with incapacities in using computers or other information technologies. (What is assistive technology?)

For people with physical and cognitive disabilities, assistive technology is redefining what is possible for them. This technology helps them to be more independent, self-confident, and productive at home, workplace, and community and helps them mix with the community. Starting from childhood, this technology helps children with disabilities to work by themselves. For instance, a child which cannot use her hands can operate a computer with a switch and an on-screen keyboard. Simple homemade devices and even highly sophisticated environmental control systems, all come under assistive technology. It can be modified toys, computers, motorized mobility, augmentative communication devices, special switches, and thousands of commercially available or modified tools to help a person for learning, working, and for social interaction. (Kelker, 1997))

The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 describes an assistive technology device can be any product, piece of equipment, or product system whether obtained from the shelf, adapted, or modified that is used to boost, sustain or advance functional abilities of persons with disabilities. In simple terms, assistive technology can be products that make life easier for a person with disability. (Assistive Technology: What is it?)

In 1992, Congress reauthorized the Rehab Act and passed the law into agreement with the Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA. This action redefined rehabilitation technology to contain both assistive technology and rehabilitative engineering. The Act also orders the formation of individualized written rehabilitation plans -- IWRP's for clients receiving services. The IWRP plans must involve the terms of rehabilitation technology services to help in the execution of intermediary and long-term aims. The use of technologies, engineering methods, or scientific principles to meet the requirements and tackle the difficulties faced by people with disability is rehabilitation technology. The definition includes rehabilitation engineering, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services. The Act's description of rehabilitation technology is related to use in education, treatment, service, transportation, and independent living. (The Rehabilitation Act of 1973)

2. Identify the categories of assistive technology and provide devices that might be found with each category

The entire field of assistive technology can be understood well, if we look into the types of assistive technology. There are four main types or groups of assistive technology. They are: Communication: When a person has problem with oral communication, then an augmentative communication and its related services are required. Augmentative communication can be anything like a page with picture choices, which a child can point out. Highly sophisticated speaking computers with multiple levels of words and phrases and alternative input for users with multiple disabilities are also used. (Categories of assistive technology)

Mobility: Mobility technology is a fast growing field and it has got the technology that assists a person to move about in the environment. Some of the mobility tools are stair lifts, walkers, scooters, van and bus lifts, airline access, canes etc.

Cognitive growth: When persons' progress, prospects or feelings are limited, a person's cognitive growth is reduced. Assistive technology targets at recompensing for these problems and fulfils these requirements by other personal strengths. Cognitive growth in young children is encouraged and developed by making use of adaptive or assistive toys. For school going children the assistive technology comes in the form of assistive hardware or assistive software.

Environmental Control: Environmental adaptations is one of the hottest and most rapidly growing areas of assistive technology and it permits people with particular requirements to take part in all the roles and functions of their lives. Environmental control includes ramps, adapted doorknobs, gym sets, and alternative doorbells; smoke alarm and telephone ringers, lowered counters, etc. And the list is growing day by day to meet the requirements of the people. The finest daily living assistive technology comes directly from people with disabilities or their families. (Categories of assistive technology)

3. How does this technology relate to an individual's transition success?

The number of students with learning disability, who register for graduation from postsecondary institutions, is growing in huge numbers. The influence of assistive technology on their capacity to efficiently complete postsecondary education is acknowledged. Postsecondary students with learning disabilities have problems like reading, organization, memory, listening, math and written language. But most of these people have written language problems. For these people, technologies like word processor with spell check, proofreading, abbreviation expanders and outlining software are available. Even many types of speech-control tape recorders, optical character recognition systems, listening aids, speech-synthesis/screen review systems and talking calculators are available. These devices can improve the individual's learning abilities by avoiding shortfalls.

As per Garner and Campbell, avoiding shortfalls is one of the two main ideas of assistive devices and is referred to as the compensatory approach. A person is assisted in performing a job using assistive technology. For instance, when a student obtains and pays attention to a taped version of the book that is to be read for English class in order to properly reply comprehension questions about the material, his or her purpose is to avoid a reading disability, and not to learn to read. In this case, using assistive technology to learn to read represents the second main use of assistive technology and is know as the remedial approach. Improving the areas of deficiency is the main purpose of this approach. The compensatory strategy in which the student uses a recorded book could possibly have curative results if, while listening to the tape, the student follows along in the print version of the book, trying to find out new words. (Day; Edwards, 1996)

4. Describe the roles, constraints and perspectives of the stakeholders during a transition meeting regarding the identification and implementation of assistive technology

By forming general program policies and procedures that have assistive technology, assistive technology for childhood educational program can be put into practice. These programs recognize the time when the questions should be asked and when to give support to the present educational teams to efficiently select assistive technology and apply it to use. This system has an advantage as it guarantees that assistive technology will be taught in all phases of a child's educational program. Such a system is called Education Tech Points. The implementation focuses its duty on every day process. The main feature is to identify who is responsible for checking each aspect of the implementation of assistive technology plan. An essential suggestion for school districts is the need for time to be put aside for the staff to work as a team. When staff is cheered to work as a team and time is allocated for team members to correspond, the probability that assistive technology will be an efficient tool is enhanced. (A framework for assistive technology planning)

5. Describe some of the issue of how assistive technology might be addressed in an individual's work, community, and post secondary environments

The Virginia Assistive Technology System is dedicated to enlarge the resources to deal with the assistive technology requirements of Virginians. A workgroup was formed in June 2002, which is proposed to arrange for a training program to address the issues. The first joint attempt was to affect a training program on low-tech assistive technology for older Virginians in November 2002. The training program was entitled Gadgets, Gizmos and Other Cool Stuff and almost 80 people attended one of three trainings that were held in Pulaski, Williamsburg and Fredericksburg. Transformations are taking place in the office regarding older workers that will lead to even more intense changes in the next 5-10 years. A six-month report on study pointed out a high degree of contentment with the training. At present, there are over 16 million Americans over 55 who are working or vigorously searching for jobs. By 2015, the number of employees over 55 will reach a record 31.9 million, compared to 18.4 million in 2000. It is not unusual to know of workers in their upper 60s and 70s in most sections of the workplace. Financial need, long life expectation, and a longing to remain working are reasons that the workforce of individuals aged 55 and older continues to grow. (Assistive Technology and Aging)

Many people retire from one job, start to draw a pension, and then understand that work is still an essential or monetarily important part of their lives. When the honorary and volunteer work in many areas like healthcare and education is taken into account, the assistance given by the elderly people becomes more obvious. Affordable lodging and the usage of assistive technology can help workers in working more efficiently… READ MORE

How to Reference "Assistive Technology What Is the Definition" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Assistive Technology Is a Generic Term Term Paper

Assistive Technology is a generic term that refers to any equipment or article or object that is generally used to either increase or maintain or improve in some way the… read more

Term Paper 6 pages (2522 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Assistive Technology the Federal Government A-Level Outline Answer

Assistive Technology

The federal government has defined assistive technology (AT) devices as "any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized,… read more

A-Level Outline Answer 4 pages (1416 words) Sources: 4 Topic: Education / Teaching / Learning

---

Technology for Individuals With Disabilities Term Paper

Disability & Technology

Disability

People with disabilities form a significant portion of the population and their education and other needs also make important considerations of policy makers and government officials.… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (2563 words) Sources: 7 Style: APA Topic: Disease / Virus / Disorder / Injury

---

Theories Essay

theories is probably the main and most important thing when it comes to the creation of a business research project that is to be successful. This is due to the… read more

Essay 4 pages (1323 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Literature / Poetry

---

Differentiating Instruction Professional Development Thesis

Professional Development

The objective of this work is to describe the importance of the superintendent understanding the 'big picture' of how professional development can improve the school organization. This work… read more

Thesis 6 pages (1731 words) Sources: 7 Style: APA Topic: Education / Teaching / Learning

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>