Adaptive devices help people with physical limitations or disabilities to lead independent lives. They can improve mobility, daily activities, hearing, vision, and communication. Examples include canes, wheelchairs, grab bars, hearing aids, and communication cards. These devices allow people of all ages to participate in their communities and maintain independence.
Adaptive devices are equipment or technology used by people with physical limitations or disabilities to help them lead as independent lives as possible. These devices can improve a person’s mobility and level of function, as well as the ability to perform daily activities, such as dressing, washing and eating. Adaptive or assistive devices can be used to help people hear, see and communicate. Students with disabilities can use adaptive technologies to help them access information, participate in class activities, and complete assignments.
Assistive devices that improve a person’s ability to move from place to place are common types of adaptive devices. Canes, crutches and walkers help people with joint pain or balance problems walk safely and long distances, and electric scooters can be used for errands and outdoor activities. For people who are non-ambulatory, wheelchairs can be equipped with adaptive technologies, such as specialized wheels or frames, that allow users to play sports or move on uneven surfaces. Power wheelchairs can be equipped for propulsion by small head movements or controlled airflow through the mouth. Positioning aids and seating systems can be designed to maximize functionality and comfort.
Adaptive devices can make life easier for people who struggle with daily activities, like bathing, getting dressed, or preparing meals. There are tools and gadgets for putting on socks or buttoning shirts. Grab bars and shower chairs in the bathroom make bathing safer and more manageable for many people. Stroke victims with limited mobility on one side, for example, may use adaptive devices that allow them to open cans and cut food independently.
Common adaptive devices used by people with vision or hearing impairments include corrective lenses, reading machines, hearing aids, and hearing impaired/teletypewriter (TTD/TTY) devices. Communication cards and voice output devices are available for people who don’t use standard voice to communicate. With the advent of computer-assisted technology, people with communication difficulties also have many other options available to them, including accessible computer programs, touch screens, and eye-movement pointing devices.
The variety of adaptive devices now available has helped people maximize their functional ability across the spectrum of age and disability. Children with disabilities can go to school with their peers. With the help of adaptive devices, adults and seniors can enjoy active participation in their communities and continued independence at home.
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