Assistive Technology!

Cook and Hussey (1995) state that assistive technology is “any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customised that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities” (p.5). If I were to interpret this, I would describe assistive technology to be an object or item that is used by individuals with a decrease in function. Assistive technology aids this individual by allowing them to complete a given task. Some examples of assistive technologies include the Apple iPad, powered wheelchairs, smack-the-switch and talking photo albums.

During the week that we focussed on assistive technology, we had a gentleman come to Otago Polytechnic to discuss what assistive technology is and how they use it in their setting. The guest speaker is an occupational therapist that works at a school in Wellington for students with intellectual disabilities. He brought a lot of assistive technology devices along with him for us to try out and I was amazed with what it could all do. The main piece of equipment I was introduced to and played around with, was the iPad. iPads are smaller than a lap top but bigger than an iPhone – approximately 7.3” x 9.5”. They vary in price according to how many GB it has but the range starts from around $700 up to $1228 (Appl store, 2012). The website provided will outline details of the iPad including the size, cost and functions:

http://store.apple.com/nz/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select_ipad?afid=p219%7CGONZ&cid=AOS-NZ-KWG

When I was using the iPad in class, I could see that it would increase the occupational engagement of the user in many ways. There are loads of apps that work on reading, writing, communication, matching, drawing and all sorts of other things that would be beneficial to those individuals who struggle with these. In class, we were split into groups and by using several different technologies (including the iPad) we were able to make a smoothie without any of us talking to each other. The iPad’s job in this scenario was the source of communication. Another example of an iPad being used for communication is by these people with intellectual disabilities:

After doing a little bit of research I was able to find a few more videos of iPads used in occupational therapy. This video here illustrates that iPads can aid children who have Autism and Cerebral Palsy by learning motor functions, how to write and usiing the iPad to communicate with others.

iPads aren't only used to communicate in occupational therapy.  This next video shows a little boy who has autism, using the iPad to do handwritting:

References:


Cook, A.M., & Hussey, S.M. (2000). Assistive Technologies: principles and practice. St Louis: Mosby


New iPad - Buy the New iPad with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular - White or Black - Apple Store (New Zealand). (n.d.). Official Apple Store - Buy the new iPad, Apple TV, iPhone, Mac Computers and Notebooks, iPod and More - Apple Store (U.S.). Retrieved May 17, 2012, from http://store.apple.com/nz/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select_ipad?afid=p219%7CGONZ&cid=AOS-NZ-KWG


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh20EtuitHw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaRvU0oYG3g


http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=IiscpcRQ8Bo