This week - Assistive Technology ...
We had an amazing practical session this week. Really enjoyed it and it was a great eye opener!! Can’t wait to be qualified and be able to help people with all these amazing tools that are out there that people don’t know about !!!!
Heres some questions that followed this session...
Provide a definition of Assistive technology
Assistive technology is any
" Item, piece off equipment or product system whether acquired commercially of the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase or improve a functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities" Susan Hussy, Albert Cook. (2000). Assistive Technology: Principals and Practice. Mosby.
Describe one piece of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost and functions. How does your chosen piece of equipment increased functional capacity for the user?
One piece of equipment I found interesting was the Big Mac button. It can be used in an array of ways which I think is great.
From turning on appliances to recording sounds or phrases the possibility of clients that this could be useful for is endless and even helping to make someone that much more independent to the point in which they can feel they have contributed.
The Button itself is roughly 20cm round, bright in colour and easy to push. it has wires which allow it to be plugged in to things such as a blender to turn it on instead of using the switch. It can also be used in communication by recording information for up to 20seconds and then pressing the button to hear it.
The rough cost I have looked around at for these buttons are $55 US, this is from a company called able net. http://www.ablenetinc.com/Store/tabid/205/Default.aspx?CategoryCode=138
http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst14.htm
http://assistivetech.sf.k12.sd.us/bigmack_communication_aid.htm
These are great websites with some other ideas around assistive technology, but also the Big Mac too.
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