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About Assistive Technology
From the Washington Assistive Technology Alliance (WATA)
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology (AT) includes both devices and services. A device is any item or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability. Many high-tech and low-tech devices are now available to assist people with disabilities with daily living tasks, communication, education, work, and recreation. Examples are: wheelchairs, Velcro, adapted clothing and toys, computers, seating systems, powered mobility, augmentative communication devices, special switches, assisted listening devices, visual aids, memory prosthetics, and thousands of other commercially available or adapted items. AT services support people with disabilities or their caregivers to help them select, acquire, or use AT devices. Such services also include functional evaluations, training on or demonstration of devices, and purchasing or leasing devices.
Categories of Assistive Technology
Aids for Daily Living:
Self help aids for use in activities such as eating, bathing, cooking, dressing, toileting, home maintenance, etc.
Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC):
Electronic and non-electronic devices that provide a means for expressive and receptive communication for persons with limited or no speech.
Computer Access:
Input and output devices (voice, Braille), alternate access aids (headsticks, light pointers), modified or alternate keyboards, switches, special software, etc. that enable persons with disabilities to use a computer. This category includes speech recognition software.
Environmental Control Systems:
Primarily electronic systems that enable someone with limited mobility to control various appliances, electronic aids, security systems, etc. in their room, home or other surroundings.
Home/Worksite Modifications:
Structural adaptations, fabrications in the home, worksite or other area (ramps, lifts, bathroom changes) that remove or reduce physical barriers for an individual with a disability.
Prosthetics and Orthotics:
Replacement, substitution or augmentation of missing or malfunctioning body parts with artificial limbs or other orthotic aids (splints, braces, etc.). There are also prosthetics to assist with cognitive limitations or deficits, including audio tapes or pagers (that function as prompts or reminders).
Seating and Positioning:
Accommodations to a wheelchair or other seating system to provide greater body stability, trunk/head support and an upright posture, and reduction of pressure on the skin surface (cushions, contour seats, lumbar).
Service Animals:
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as any guide dog (for visually impaired and blind individuals), signal dog (for hearing impaired or Deaf individuals), or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. [Information in "( )" added.]
- Legal definitions of service animals and the rights of guide dog users under Washington State Law.
- Frequently asked questions about service animals in places of business.
Aids for Vision Impaired:
Aids for specific populations including magnifiers, Braille or speech output devices, large print screens, closed circuit television for magnifying documents, etc.
Aids for Hearing Impaired:
Aids for specific populations including assistive listening devices (infrared, FM loop systems), hearing aids, TTYs, visual and tactile alerting systems, etc.
Wheelchairs/Mobility Aids:
Manual and electric wheelchairs, mobile bases for custom chairs, walkers, three-wheel scooters and other utility vehicles for increasing personal mobility.
Vehicle Modifications:
Adaptive driving aids, hand controls, wheelchair and other lifts, modified vans, or other motor vehicles used for personal transportation.
Assistive Technology Resources
WATA's Assistive Technology Fact Sheets & DirectoriesAbledata's Assistive Technology Fact Sheets
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This page last updated: Sunday, November 25, 2007