Adaptive technology is seen as any item piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Stated in American public law in the technical assistance to the states act 100-407 (as cited by cook& Hussey, 1995, p.5)
This definition is a very broad one and can be seen as any piece of equipment ranging from a ramp to a complicated piece of voice operated software as long as it improves the interaction or function of a person .
Assistive technology when used well can decrease the barriers that some one faces living with a disability by making modifications to someones environment or person.
As Ive pointed out on earlier postings The IT revolution or evolution has brought about many advances and interesting ideas to this field
Cook, A., & Hussey, S. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principals and practice. Chicago: Mosby
We were visited by Dave from Wellington who showed us an amazing array of assistive technology that they used at his practice in wellington.
- The devices I was particularly interested in were the talking photo albums they come in different sizes and costs
photo retrieved on april15 2011 from http://www.starmobility.co.nz/products/special-education/talking-photo-album/
The sizes are done by the size of the photos that will fit into the album
(if you need more information please click on following table and link)
Code | $ (inc GST) | Product Name | Photo |
$122.00 | Talking Photo Album A3 |  | |
$97.60 | Talking Photo Album A5 Black |  | |
$97.60 | Talking Photo Album A5 Red | |
Retrieved on april15 2011 from http://www.starmobility.co.nz/products/special-education/talking-photo-album/
Talking photo albums are devices as in any photo album you insert a photo drawing but with each photo you can record a message up to ten seconds as the site that sells these argues It supports speaking and listening on the new literacy framework especially focusing on photo sequences, presentations, hiding and revealing pictures and word recognition .Retrieved on april15 2011 from http://www.starmobility.co.nz/products/special-education/talking-photo-album/
Talking photo albums are devices as in any photo album you insert a photo drawing but with each photo you can record a message up to ten seconds as the site that sells these argues It supports speaking and listening on the new literacy framework especially focusing on photo sequences, presentations, hiding and revealing pictures and word recognition .Retrieved on april15 2011 from http://www.starmobility.co.nz/products/special-education/talking-photo-album/
As these are becoming more normal it is possible to buy them cheaper
at electrical stores i.e. Dick Smiths which will lead to them becoming a lot cheaper
I found these aparticulary interesting tool as they can be used in a school environment that coulsd be useful for many students in different ways it could make communication books that students bring home to their parents far more interactive.with the student showing what they got up to in the day with photos and scanned work.
For more information on uses please see www.difflearn.com/.../Talking_Photo_Album/Early-intervention-autism-teaching-tools
and asa.confex.com/asa/2010/webprogram/Session4749.html
It would also be a useful communication device when a student was trying to be more independent I could see it be used in shop with a picture of what someone needed or a student going to a school office to ask for something.
Like all simple technology there are many ways that an OT could use this piece of technology to assist someone with everyday activity.
