Assistive Technology
Nobody is saying that aging is easy. Lots of different ‘side effects’ occur as we age. The resources reviewed here are specifically geared toward making normal living a little easier. What is AT? Assistive technology (AT): products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.
Assistive technology can be any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. Assistive technology helps people who have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. Different disabilities require different assistive technologies.
Assistive technology aims to enhance independence, access, and participation in various aspects of life, including education, work, and daily living. AT can range from low-tech solutions like communication boards to high-tech devices like computers controlled by eye movement.
A good way to think about assistive technology is by identifying function – what is it the device will help a person with a disability do, like read text, type, hear the TV, dial the phone, rise more easily from a chair – rather than by diagnosis, e.g. AT for people with Parkinson’s, age, e.g. AT for seniors, or by setting, e.g. AT for work.
Explore AT (Assistive Technology) is a clearinghouse for information and resources on many different assistive technologies. It will help you identify AT devices and services in the environments of education, employment, and community living for all ages and functional abilities.
You can go to the Explore AT national assistive technology public internet site which includes resources arranged by activity. You will also find some useful resources to help you find AT devices and services. Always remember to contact your State AT Program for free assistive technology information and assistance in your state.
Every state and US territory has their own equivalent program. Here is a website to get you started https://at3center.net/state-at-programs/