Assistive Technology 101 – What does it mean?
Assistive Technology is one of the areas that #TechCoachHQ is going to be focusing on as one of our niche offerings. It’s something we have been doing for the past four years; first working with Critical Agendas to run workshops and day programs and, more recently through schools and educational providers.
What is Assistive Technology?
The definition of ‘Assistive Technology’ (Simplified); this can either be a device or a system that helps individuals participate fully in day-to-day activities. Often there can be three categories:
- Low Tech (which is actually no technology at all)
-
- These are simple solutions
- Little maintenance (i.e. DIY)
- No training required to support individuals (parents/caregivers/educators/individuals) don’t need to access external support
- Often no electronics (paper-based solutions) or physical products that don’t require #Tech
Mid-Tech (a little bit more involved)
-
- Some maintenance
- There might need to be some training provided (i.e. from the suppliers website, YouTube or an #AssistiveTech Provider/Supplier/Trainer/Coach
- There can be some electronics involved
- High Tech (definitely will need help on this level)
-
- High Maintenance (you might need to regularly upgrade these products due to wear and tear or just to maintain the technology such as #updates)
- You can’t use this system or device without training (otherwise you won’t get the full benefit and the individual who needs it won’t be getting the full advantages)
- Lots of electronics – there are more devices on the mark that are #hightech and do more than one job (which means cheaper overall) and more on the market (i.e. competition).
Tip: Just because you need to access some of these tools, look at #apps that are used for everyday use. Sometimes when you put the word #assistivetech in front, prices can jump a lot! This is especially the case with iOS apps.
So, we have got that sorted – we will be expanding this blog series:
- #How to use Assistive Tech (under lots of categories such as #Dyslexia, #Dyspraxia, #Dyscalculia, #Dysgraphia, #ExecutiveFunctioning, #ASD (otherwise known as Autism Spectrum Disorder) and #ADD/ADHD. Yes, these are specific conditions that affect both students (those who are studying in some capacity) but also adults as well.
- The other topic we will be presenting is how to use #assistivetech if you have an injury such as broken fingers, arm, wrist and conditions such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).
My story using #AssistiveTechnology:
I have a personal story on using #assistive technology while I was at the University of Melbourne. Not only did I work at the Disability Liaison Unit as a Research Assistant (helping students that were visually impaired around campus, helping with research, reading articles onto a dictaphone (and some very interesting topics such as criminal psychology amongst other things).
I also needed to use their services myself requiring software such as Dragon Dictation and a few other adaptive tools to help while studying. It gave me a greater appreciation for things such as Voice to Text. (Dragon Dictation has come a long way since when I was using it).
So excited about this journey as an #AssistiveTechCoach – doing what I love which is #DigitalCoaching. It matches our vision statement: To realise your potential, one #byte at a time.
From the #DigitalCoach at #TechCoachHQ. Check out our social media platforms which will be sharing some of this content and related articles around #assistivetech.
Join the conversation