Assist Leaders

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT ARE PROVIDING INDEPENDENCE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

- Matthew Flynn

For many, the latest tech devices are little more than nice gadgets to have to show off to friends, play the latest video games, or simply add a bit of convenience to everyday life. However, for the 61 million adults in the United States living with a disability, assistive technology means much more — it represents the opportunity for increased communication, mobility, independence, and inclusion.

As assistive technology gains new capabilities, it is becoming even more valuable in providing for a more inclusive and diverse workplace. The devices are usually not cheap, but employers and those with disabilities can often secure funding for necessary equipment. The Assistive Technology Industry Association is a resource for makers, users, and distributors of assistive technology that also provides a list of organizations that help those in need to acquire funding for devices.

EYE-TRACKING AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES

The inability to effectively communicate wants and needs can be a major frustration for people with autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and Rett syndrome. For years, Dynavox has been making assistive technology devices that allow users to select pictures or a series of pictures which are then converted to speech by the machine. Recently, Dynavox has made its devices more accessible by incorporating eye-tracking technology that allows users without control of their hands to select pictures on the speech-generating device by looking at them.