So after alot of whining and procrastinating i have eventually got round to writing this post again. Again you may ask??? Yes! Blogger the unreliable online programme decided it didn't like me and deleted two of my postings i had completed grrrrr... But to pass my course i must complete the task.. so here is the painful post about assistive technology re written for all you lovely people to read :)!
Wikipedia gives a very good definition of what Assistive Technology (AT) is. Its states that "it is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks". So pretty much to expand on that a bit more assistive technology is about any piece of technology that is used to improve the functional performance of a person who has a disability.This can be anything from eg- a wheelchair and hearing aids to software and hardware that allows people with disabilities to use and devices that allow communication (Cook & Hussey, 1995).
For course we had a guest OT speaker Dave Speden who explained how he uses assistive technology in the setting he works in and brought along assitive technology devices that we got to look at and have a play with. This was absolutely fascinating as there were sooo many different devices that could be used. One piece of technology that caught my eye was switches. I was amazed at how many different types of switches there were and how this little piece of simple technology could control sooo many things.
Switches come in all sizes and shapes. They can be round, come in many colours, made of gel, hard, in shape of toys, flash, vibrate and can be used by push or sensored. That's just a little example of the thousands of different types there are. Switches can be used for turning things off and on all the way to the use of them for speech. Switches range from $55 for a round switch activated by push through to a $1000 for things like an impulse switch which works by sensors reacting to muscle contractions.
The best way to understand switches is to have a look around on this site. It provides good examples of different types of switches available to people. The site shows what certain switches do and how people use them. It provides great videos of people actually using the switches which will give you a greater understanding into the purpose and use of them. See - http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/page/Switches
Here is another site which shows different types of switches but shows the price as its focus is more about the selling and the promoting of the switches to people so they want to buy them. See - http://www.gstsdesigns.com/AssistiveTechnologySwitches/SingleActionSwitches.htm
The best way to describe and show you guys how much switches increase the functional performance of people with disabilities is to link you to two video clips from you tube. They are both related to the individual using switches to communicate with people. These videos are amazing and i recommend you take the time to watch them as they have truly opened my eyes up to the purpose of these switches. I had no idea these things were even possible until watching these clips and it has allowed me to see just how technology is truly making a difference in peoples lives.
And is here another but this young boy uses an eye and mouth switch. FASCINATING :)
I hope this has given you guys a greater understanding into the idea of how switches work. I think its absolutely amazing how this assistive technology can provide so much to a person. By the time i graduate who knows what the next amazing device will be getting used. People are so CLEVER to design this technology that provides such remarkable changes in peoples lives.
References
Cook, A., & Hussey, S. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principles and practice. St. Louis: Mosby
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Assitive technology. Retrieved May 16, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology
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