Mobility Aids For Disabled

There are a variety of mobility aids available for disabled people. We have listed some of these here.

Transfer Boards

Tansfer boards are mobility aids designed for disabled people who have limited strength and have trouble moving from one seated place to another. Transfer boards help transfer individuals, from say a wheelchair to a sofa and come in different shapes and sizes depending on the type of seat.

Seat Assists

Seat assists are designed are turntable type of devices designed to help people who have trouble getting out a seated position. User sit on the device which swivels and enables the suer to easily get out of their seated position. Some seat assists are designed like recliner chairs and help users get out of their seats the same way. Seat assists

Patient Transfer Aids

Patient transfer aids are yet another type of mobility equipment. They are poles that can be attached to the floor to help patients move out of their seated position. Users hold on to the pole and lift themselves out of their seated position independently. For those who have no or limited use of their legs, patient transfer aids also come with leg straps that can help with moving out of wheelchairs easier. Some patient transfer mobility aids also come with non slip mats, completel reducing the risk of any falls.

Bed Assists

For disabled people who are largely confined to their beds, bed assists are ideal because these disability aids help users get out of bed. Some common bed assist mobility aids are are mattress elevators that help raise the users head and also have adjustable backrests etc for maximum comfort. Other common bed assists include footboards and rope ladder hoists.

Bathlift

For users struggling to have a bath, a bathlift mobility aid can help. These mobility equipments help users get in and out of the bath. These devices are like lifts that are controlled by a handset and are lowered and raised to help the users get in and out of the bath. Bathing is a personal experience and by using a bathlift, users can gain a large amount of independence and not require help while bathing.

These are a few of the disability aids available, and there are many more available out there.

Assistive Technology For Children With Austism

Autism is a brain disorder which affects 1 out of every 150 people in the United States and is usually diagnosed at a very early stage of a child. An assistive technology is any kind of product or device that is used by children with autism to assist them in their communication, education, sports and other basic daily activities. These activities would be impossible to perform if it were not for some kind of assisted technology, which helps to enhance or simply maintain a regular lifestyle. Children with Autism are able to lead better lives with the help of such assistive technology devices which are available in various forms. It is important to understand the needs of your child in order to implement the correct assistive technology device in their learning process.

Assistive technology for children can be used in many different ways:

• Touch screen computer assistive technology
• Trackballs in the place of a mouse
• Talking computers
• Electronic voice oriented assistive technology devices
• Visual representation systems
• Specialized keyboards

Visually Assisted Technology

While Autism can never be cured once it is diagnosed in a child, it is however possible to make your child’s life easier and more independent with an assistive technology device. Most children with autism find it easier to learn and communicate with visually aided assistive technology. In fact, they enjoy such computer assistive technology and are able to express themselves better by becoming proficient assistive technology users. Touch screen computers, customized keyboards and ergonomic trackballs allow your child to interact freely with assistive technology products. Some software programs that work as good assistive technology products are:

• Boardmaker,  uses line drawings and symbols in black/white and color
• Picture This, contains several commonly used real photos
• True Object Based Icons (TOBIs), cut outs of actual shapes or outlines with printed word labels
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), stack of individual picture cards with labels

Assistive technology is ever changing and newer and simpler assistive technology devices are coming out more and more often with the help of researchers who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of children with autism.  Such autism assistive technology will continue to provide support and confidence to children with the use of the numerous assistive technology products and promote a better life for them. While it is our moral duty to take care of children with autism, assistive technology, in its various ways, helps us provide unimaginable opportunities for them and helps them communicate with their loved ones.

References:

1. What is Assistive Technology – University of Washington
2. Assistive technology information – Abledata
3. Assistive Technology for Children with Autism – Special Ed US