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Assistive technology is technology, or enhancements to technology, or methods of using technology, that make it possible for disabled persons to use technology (or to use it easily) that they were formerly unable to use (or to use with only some difficulty). Moreover, according to the advocates of assistive technology, all too often, technology is created without regard to disabled people, and thus barriers to new technology-created opportunities are thrown up.
Universal (or broadened) accessibility means excellent usability, particularly for disabled people. But, argue advocates of assistive technology, universally accessible technology yield great rewards to the normal user; good accessible design is universal design, they say. The classic example of an assistive technology that has improved everyone's life is the "curb cuts" in the sidewalk at street crossings. While these curb cuts surely enable mobility-impaired pedestrians to cross the street, they have also aided parents with carriages and strollers, shoppers with carts, travellers and workers with pull-type bags.
Consider an example of an assistive technology. The modern telephone is, except for the deaf, universally accessible. Combined with a text telephone (in the USA generally called a TTY) which converts typed characters into tones which may be sent over the telephone line, the deaf person is able to communicate immediately at a distance. Together with "relay" services (where an operator reads what the deaf person types and types what a hearing person says) the deaf person is then given access to everyone's telephone, not just those of people who possess text telephones.
Another example: calculators are cheap, but a mobility-impaired person can have difficulty using them. Speech recognition software could recognize short commands and make use of calculators a little easier. People with mental disabilities would appreciate the simplicity; others would as well.
Toys which have been adapted to be used by disabled children, may have advantages for "typical" children as well. The Lekotek movement assists parents by lending assistive technology toys and expertise to families.
Further reading
- Behrmann, M. & Schaff, J.(2001). Assisting educators with assistive technology: Enabling children to achieve independence in living and learning. Children and Families 42(3), 24-28.
- Franklin, K.S. (1991). Supported employment and assistive technology-A powerful partnership. In S.L. Griffin & W.G. Revell (Eds.), Rehabilitation counselor desktop guide to supported employment. Richmond, VA : Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Supported Employment.
- Lahm, E., & Morrissette, S. (1994, April). Zap 'em with assistive technology. Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Council for Exceptional Children, Denver, CO.
- Lee, C. (1999). Learning disabilities and assistive technologies; an emerging way to touch the future. Amherst, MA: McGowan Publications.
- Rose, D. & Meyer, A. (2000). Universal design for individual differences. Educational Leadership, 58(3), 39-43.
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