Assistive technology

Assistive technology (AT) is a term for special tools and devices that help people with disabilities and older adults live better lives. Many people with disabilities find it hard to do everyday tasks like eating, moving around, or getting dressed. Assistive technology can make these tasks easier and help people become more independent. For example, wheelchairs help people who cannot walk move around, and special eating tools help people who cannot feed themselves.

These tools are important because they let people do things they couldn’t do before, giving them more freedom and control over their lives. They can also help students in school, especially those who have trouble writing or using a keyboard. These students can use voice recognition software to help them complete their schoolwork.

Recently, a study from India suggested that policies for caring for older people should include ways to make assistive technology more affordable and accessible. This would help many people live more comfortable and independent lives.

Adaptive technology

Adaptive technology and assistive technology are different. Assistive technology is used to help people with disabilities do things they find hard. Adaptive technology is a special kind of assistive technology made just for people with disabilities. It is usually electronic or helps with using information, and is mostly used by people who need it. So, adaptive technology is a smaller part of assistive technology.

Occupational therapy and assistive technology

Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people improve their daily activities and overall well-being. It focuses on tasks like caring for oneself, managing health, learning, working, playing, relaxing, and socializing.

OT practitioners (OTP) use assistive technologies (AT) to help people live more independently. For example, voice-activated smart home devices can let someone control lights, the thermostat, oven, blinds, and music without moving. OTPs assess a person's strengths and connect them with the right tools to meet their goals. They may use different models to guide their choices, such as the HAAT model, the I-HAAT model, the SETT Framework, or the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT 2). OTPs can also get special training through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) to become certified in assistive technology.

Mobility impairments

Main article: Mobility aid

Wheelchairs

Main article: Wheelchair

Wheelchairs are special chairs that help people move around. They can be pushed by hand or have motors that work with controls like joysticks or special switches. Wheelchairs help people who find it hard or impossible to walk because of illness, injury, or disability. Some newer wheelchairs can even go up stairs or off-road.

Transfer devices

Main article: Patient lift

Transfer devices help people who can't move easily by themselves. These tools help move someone from a bed to a chair, a toilet, or other places. Common devices include special benches, chairs that can change positions, and lifts that move people safely.

Walkers

Main article: Walker

Walkers are frames that help people keep their balance while walking. They are usually waist-high and can be adjusted for height. Some walkers have wheels and are called rollators.

Treadmills

Treadmills with special support help people practice walking when they have problems with their nerves or muscles. These are used by therapists to help improve walking skills.

Prosthesis

Main article: Prosthesis

A prosthesis is a device that replaces a part of the body that is missing or not working. These can be limbs or other body parts. Prostheses help people do things they couldn't do before because of an injury, disease, or something they were born with.

Exoskeletons

A powered exoskeleton is a wearable machine that helps people lift heavy objects and move more easily. It supports the back, shoulders, and legs, making tasks easier and safer.

Adaptive seating and positioning

People who have trouble with balance or moving may need special chairs or stands to sit or stand safely. These devices help keep the body comfortable and supported.

For children

Children with disabilities may lose interest in their surroundings if they can't move or play easily. Assistive technology, like special communication tools and powered mobility devices, helps them play, learn, and interact with others. These tools support their growth, language skills, and social development.

Visual impairments

Main article: Blindness § Management

Many people with serious vision loss live independently using many helpful tools and methods. Examples of technology that can help include screen readers, screen magnifiers, Braille tools, desktop video magnifiers, and voice recorders.

Screen readers

Main article: Screen reader

Screen readers are special programs that help people who can't see well by reading electronic information aloud using voice (text-to-speech) or Braille (refreshable braille displays). These programs work on computers and can be found on many devices at different prices. Some well-known screen readers are Apple VoiceOver, Google TalkBack, and Microsoft Narrator.

Braille and braille technology

Main article: Braille

Braille is a way of writing using raised dots that people can feel with their fingers. Technology that uses Braille helps people who can't see read and write.

Braille translator

Main article: Braille translator

A Braille translator is a computer program that changes printed words into Braille or Braille into printed words. It can be an app on a computer, a website, a phone, or a special Braille device.

Braille embosser

Main article: Braille embosser

A Braille embosser is like a printer for Braille. Instead of printing ink, it creates the raised dots of Braille on paper. Some embossers can print both Braille and regular text.

Refreshable braille display

Main article: Refreshable braille display

A refreshable Braille display is a device that shows Braille characters using small pins that move up and down. People who can't use a regular computer screen can use it to read text in Braille.

Desktop video magnifier

Main article: Video magnifier

Desktop video magnifiers are devices that use a camera and screen to make printed materials look bigger for people with low vision. They connect to a monitor and let users change settings like size, focus, and contrast.

Screen magnification software

Main article: Screen magnifier

Screen magnification software makes everything on a computer screen look bigger. It helps people with low vision see texts and pictures more clearly by enlarging parts of the screen as the cursor moves.

Large-print and tactile keyboards

Large-print keyboards have big letters on the keys. Some also have special bumps to help users find the right keys by touch.

Navigation assistance

Assistive technology for navigation has grown a lot since 2000. New tools use GPS, sensors, and cameras to help people who are blind or have low vision know where they are and how to get to places.

Wearable technology

Main article: Wearable technology

Wearable technology includes smart devices worn on the body. New inventions are testing ways for people with vision loss to get visual information through devices they wear.

Some wearable devices for vision loss include: OrCam device, eSight and Brainport.

Personal emergency response systems

Main article: Telecare

Personal emergency response systems, also called Telecare in the UK, are special tools that help people, especially older individuals, live safely at home. These systems use sensors and alarms to watch for things like falls, extreme temperatures, or safety hazards. If something unsafe happens, the system sends a message to a caregiver or help center so they can respond quickly. These alerts can be set to match each person’s specific needs, helping them stay safe and independent.

Accessibility software

Main article: Computer accessibility

Computer accessibility means making sure computers can be used by everyone, even people with different abilities or challenges. This includes following rules for web accessibility so websites are easy for all users. One way to help is by using special cards that tell a computer how to change things like speed or text size to fit what a person needs. This is helpful in places like libraries or information stands where anyone can use the computer.

Hearing impairments

People who are deaf or have difficulty hearing often find it hard to hear sounds clearly. They usually rely on ways to see or feel information instead of just hearing it. Assistive technology helps them by making sounds louder, giving vibrations, or showing visual signs. These tools help them understand what’s happening around them better.

There are different kinds of devices for people with hearing impairments. Some make sounds louder, while others help them focus on one sound and ignore background noise. These tools can be very helpful in places like schools, meetings, and big halls. There are also special phones that make voices louder and clearer, so people can have easier conversations over the phone.

Main article: Hearing aid

Main article: Assistive listening device

Main article: Telecommunications device for the deaf#Other devices for the deaf or hard of hearing

Augmentative and alternative communication

Main article: Augmentative and alternative communication

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) helps people who have trouble speaking or understanding speech and writing. AAC tools can be very simple, like pictures on a board to ask for food or drinks. They can also be very advanced, like special machines that can speak and store many words and phrases for the user to choose from.

Cognitive impairments

Main article: Cognitive orthotics

Assistive Technology for Cognition (ATC) uses technology to help with thinking skills such as paying attention, remembering things, planning, and managing feelings. There are many tools being created to help with these skills, especially for remembering and planning. Some examples include NeuroPage, which reminds users about meetings, and Wakamaru, which keeps users company, reminds them to take medicine, and can call for help if needed.

Memory aids are tools that help people remember information. For example, a Smartpen records handwritten notes and can read them back to the user. Digital voice recorders also help people remember things by recording information as it happens.

Educational software helps people with reading, learning, and organizing. This includes tools that read text aloud, enlarge text, predict words, and more.

Eating impairments

Main article: Assistive eating devices

Eating tools like spoons, forks, and plates can be changed to help people who find it hard to use regular utensils. These changes might include making the handle bigger so it’s easier to hold, or adding a guard around the edge of plates to keep food from falling off. There are also special machines that can feed a person, which are useful for those who cannot use their hands and arms well. These tools help people eat on their own.

In sports

Assistive technology in sports helps people with disabilities take part in activities they enjoy. These tools can change existing games so everyone can join in, or create brand-new sports just for athletes with disabilities.

More and more people with disabilities are getting involved in sports, which means inventors keep making new helper devices. Some tools are very simple, like special gloves, while others are very advanced, such as special wheelchairs or bikes. These tools are used everywhere—from local games to big events like the Paralympic Games. As technology improves, sports for people with disabilities have become more about competing and having fun, rather than just therapy.

In education

In the United States, two important laws help make sure students with disabilities can use assistive technology in school. These are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA helps create accessible learning materials for students with disabilities.

Assistive technology can be simple tools or high-tech devices. Simple tools might include special grips for writing or colored overlays for reading. Mid-tech tools include spelling dictionaries and small word processors. High-tech tools involve tablets and computers with special software. This software can help with writing, reading, and even math by providing spoken feedback and easy-to-use equation tools. These tools help all students access lessons in new ways.

Computer accessibility

Main article: Computer accessibility

Assistive technology helps people with disabilities use computers more easily. It can change how keyboards work, like using the Dvorak layout, which arranges keys in a more comfortable way. Special tools let people with disabilities use touch screens on devices such as the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. For example, the Pererro adapter works with iOS devices and uses the built-in Apple VoiceOver feature. This helps people who cannot use touch screens normally.

There are many types of switches that people can use based on their needs. These switches can be placed on the hands, head, or feet, and some even use eye movements or head turns to control the device. This makes it easier for everyone to use computers and other devices.

Home automation

Home automation can help elderly and disabled people live independently in their own homes. This special type of home automation, called assistive domotics, uses the same technology as regular home automation but is designed to help people who need extra support. For example, it can send reminders through motion sensors and audio messages. A reminder in the kitchen might tell someone to turn off the oven, and one by the front door could remind them to lock it. This way, people can stay safe and comfortable in their own homes.

Main article: assistive domotics

Assistive technology and innovation

Innovation is constantly improving assistive technology through better existing devices or new products.

The WIPO 2021 report groups assistive products into conventional and emerging technologies. Conventional technology improves well-known devices, while emerging technology uses advanced tools like artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, and new sensors. These newer devices are often smarter, more connected, and sometimes include body-integrated parts.

For example, conventional self-care tools might include adaptive clothing or eating aids, while emerging tools might have health monitoring, smart diapers, or feeding robots. Although the line between the two can blur, emerging technologies tend to be more advanced and interactive.

In the past, the top places for filing patents in assistive technology were the U.S and Japan, but now China and the Republic of Korea are leading. Patents show where people are investing in new inventions. Some of the closest-to-market emerging technologies include better hearing aids, smart home devices, and advanced wheelchairs.

Impacts

Assistive technology helps people with disabilities take part more fully in life at home, school, and in their community. It opens up more chances for learning, making friends, and finding jobs. This technology helps people be more independent and in control of their lives.

Studies show that when children with disabilities use assistive technology, they improve in many areas such as thinking, social skills, talking, reading, moving, and getting ready for school. It also makes life easier for the people who take care of them, saving time and making their jobs less tiring. Some computer programs can even help choose the right assistive device for someone who needs it.

Stigma and barriers

Research shows that people who use assistive technology may feel embarrassed or worried about what others think, especially in school. Some devices can be hard to use or don’t work well, and this can make it harder for people to use them. Devices that look modern and less medical are often easier for people to accept.

Stigma and barriers can also come from cultural beliefs and stereotypes about people with disabilities. Some cultures have ideas about why someone might have a disability, which can make it harder for them to use assistive technology. Age can also play a role, with older adults sometimes facing stereotypes that stop them from using helpful devices. Differences between men and women can also affect how well assistive technology works for them, with women sometimes facing extra challenges.

History

In 1988, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and NIDRR gave Gaulladet University money to create a special robotic hand to help people who are both deaf and blind. The university made and tested this robotic hand, though it was never sold. Still, the idea is important for new research.

Since then, many more research projects have been funded. NIDRR has been helping make robots that can help people with disabilities do everyday tasks. They are also working on robots to help with therapy, hoping this will help people stay independent longer. If these robots work well, they might help older people live at home longer, saving money for society. With fewer caregivers available, these robots could be very helpful.

World Health Organization Initiatives

The World Health Organization created a tool called rATA to help measure how well people around the world can get assistive technology. This helps governments make good decisions.

In 2014, the World Health Organization started GATE to help improve access to assistive technology everywhere. The WHO-GATE 5P framework focuses on five areas: People, Policy, Products, Provision, and Personnel. "People" looks at those who need assistive technology, "Policy" covers the rules and laws, "Product" is about the technology itself, "Provision" ensures it is available, and "Personnel" includes the people who help provide and support it.