List of Assistive Technology

The Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1998 defines assistive technology and provides technical assistance and funding to states to develop assistive technology initiatives. Assistive Technology is used to remove barriers to independence for people with disabilities and can include items such as hearing aids or voice-activated wheelchairs. Assistive technology helps people with disabilities in areas including education, employment, independent living, socialization and the use of technologies such as computers and telephones.

Augmentative Communication

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) is used for communication by people with speech-impediments. Aided ACC uses assistive technology products such as speech generating devices (SGD) which produce synthesized speech. Also referred to as voice output communication aid (VOCA), the SGD uses symbols, including words and letters, to generate messages and can be programmed in different languages.

Speech Synthesizers

• Speech synthesizers work with computer software and screen readers. Speech synthesizers, or text-to-speech systems, are programmed with the grammatical rules and phonemes of a language and the screen reader software is added to a computer's memory. The screen reader is controlled by user-generated or automatic commands to read text and to perform other functions, including searching for text, describing the cursor location and reading downloadable books. Screen readers may include screen magnifiers to enlarge text.

Computer Screen Magnification

• Magnification products help with reading computer screens. The accessibility wizard in computer operating systems adjusts screen resolution, graphics and sounds to assist low-vision users; however, screen magnification software programs provide more options and are capable of very high magnification of selected areas or of all items on the screen.

Tele-typewriters for Telephone Use

• The tele-typewriter, or TTY, is used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing to speak on the telephone. The TTY is a small keyboard with a text window that is connected to a telephone line to send and receive text as synthesized voice. Relay centers use operators with TTYs to facilitate communication between people with TTYs and those without. The TTY is often referred to as a TTD, or telecommunication device for the deaf.

Education Products

• Children and adults participate in classrooms by using assistive technology such as automatic page turners, talking globes, talking calculators and calendars, talking typing instruction and talking word processors.

Home Products

• Personal care products and small appliances use switches or special mounting to allow for one-handed use. Flickering lights alert the deaf to ringing doorbells. Closed-captioning allows the blind to enjoy television and video. Voice-activation systems allow the disabled to perform many household tasks.

Mobility Products

• Beeping or talking traffic lights and talking hand-held GPS systems help the blind to safely remain mobile. Wheelchairs are made to accommodate people with different needs and different levels of ability, from carts and scooters to wheelchairs that are operated with the arm or a finger or that allow the user to stand up or recline.

Braille Products

• Braille users have many products beyond the Braille watch to choose from: keyboards with Bluetooth; note takers; embossers for printing; and translators, scanners, and refreshable displays.