Nathanael FloresAssistive Technology

EDUC 518February 20, 2006

In this presentation we will explore how assistive devices can impact the lives of individuals with disabilities.Assitive technology: Devices and services that improve the functional capability of students with disabilities; to enhance and increase learning, independence, mobility, communication, environmental control and choice.

Source: http://adulted.about.com/cs/adaptivetech/a/aa_technologies.htm

Prevalence and incidence statistics for Paralysis: Prevalence of Paralysis: 9 per 1000 - NHIS95 (paralysis of extremities complete/partial)

Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 111 or 0.90% or 2.4 million people in USA

Source:http://www.christopherreeve.org/hopenetwork/hopenetwork.cfm?ID=527&c=102

Statistics on Paralysis:

•2 million Americans are living with paralysis of the extremities

•4 million Americans are living with the effects of stroke and about 600,000 people have strokes every year

•500,000 children and adults in the United States manifest one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy •Spina bifida, the most frequently occurring permanently disabling birth defect, affects approximately one out of every 1,000 newborns in the United States

Human and Economic Costs of Paralysis

•Healthy People 2010 reports that the number of people with disabilities is increasing among all age groups

•More individuals with disabilities report 1) no leisure-time physical activity 2) less social participation 3) being overweight 4) more adverse effects from stress 5) lower employment rates 6) more environmental barriers 7) less access to preventive services and 8) more activity limitation than people living without disabilities

•Additional strategies must be undertaken to promote health and prevent secondary conditions among individuals with paralysis

Assistive technology, including the powerful personal computer, can help improve one’s physical and mental functioning, strengthen a weakness, and improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a missing muscle system.

Ke:nx is a device that allows the use of alternate input devices with Macintosh & PC computers. Ke:nx has its own customizing software program called Ke:nx Create, its own software for digitized speech and sounds called Ke:nx Sounds, over 500 icons, and an overlay maker.

Discover:Switch puts full keyboard and mouse functions on the computer screen; the keys on the screen scan and students press Discover:Switch to select the key they want.

Don Johnston Developmental Engineering, Inc.http://donjohnston.com800-999-4660 (U.S. & Canada)708-526-4177 (fax)

There are several levels of driving control technology to compensate for the loss of strength and/or range of motion. Some of these include:

•Reduced effort steering systems to compensate for reduced strength

•Servo brake and accelerator control to compensate for reduced range of motion and strength.

•Joystick driving systems, allowing one hand operation of brake, accelerator and steering.

Cain’s Mobility Systems Inc.

5767 Plantation Road - Theodore, AL 36582 

Phone 251-653-4541 or 1-888-877-4530 

http://www.cainsmobility.com/

Source: http://www.driver-ed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=106

There are approximately 10 million blind and visually impaired people in the United States.

Approximately 93,600 visually impaired or blind students, 10,800 of whom are deaf-blind, are served in the special education programs in the United States.

Approximately 109,000 visually impaired people in the United States use long canes to get around.

Just over 7,000 Americans use dog guides. Annually, approximately 1,500 individuals graduate from a dog-guide user program.

Approximately 5,500 legally blind children use braille as their primary reading medium.

At least 1.5 million blind and visually impaired Americans use computers.

Approximately 46% of visually impaired adult Americans are employed.

Approximately 45% of individuals with severe visual impairment or blindness have a high school diploma, compared to 80% among fully sighted individuals. Among high school graduates, those with severe visual impairment or blindness are about as likely to have taken some college courses as those who were sighted, but they are less likely to have graduated. Source:http://

www.afb.org/

JAWS for Windows (JFW) is a program that reads information from a computer display and speaks it to you through a speech synthesizer. JFW supports Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP Home and Professional.JAWS is a powerful software program designed to work with a speech synthesizer to improve the productivity level of visually impaired employees, students and the casual user. By streamlining keyboard functions, automating commands, and eliminating repetition.

Freedom Scientific http://www.freedomscientific.com/727-803-8000 • 800-444-444311800 31st Court North St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1805

QuickLook is an 11-ounce hand-held, full color, electronic, print magnifier with an integrated 4” LCD flat screen display. You can View photos magnified, enlarge the print on a prescription bottle, or read anything. It's small enough to fit in the inside pocket of a jacket or a ladies' purse.

• Slim line, compact and lightweight • Weighs only 10 ounces and is a mere 1" thin • 4" Color LCD display screen • No monitor needed - its built-in! • Totally wireless - truly 100% portable • Full COLOR display image for color text and picture viewing

EnableMart Sales Office4210 E. 4th Plain Blvd.Vancouver, WA. 98661 – USA

http://www.enablemart.com/

Poor readers make up 20% of the population and dyslexics are a subset of poor readers and make up to between 5% to 7% of the population.

Government statistics show 25 million Americans are functionally illiterate. The primary cause is dyslexia or one of its many variations, such as dyscalculia or dysgraphia. Dyslexia occurs about 3.5 times more often in males than females. The source of their difficulties is probably inherited, meaning their reading difficulties are much more difficult to eliminate with regular educational interventions.

Source: http://www.jmk.su.se

Designed for people with Reading or Learning difficulties who have issues decoding individual words when reading printed text - allows for increased comprehension and vocabulary.

Captures text within seconds--Reading fluency is maintained - no interruptions to reading flow Single word or full line scanning--Flexibility of how words are scanned Speaks the word out loud--Hearing spoken words allows better understanding of what is being read Displays the definition.

WizCom makes a personal, portable scanning pen, Reading Pen II, that help people read and use text. Our pens let students, professionals, and laypersons save time and money on important reading related tasks. Using Reading Pen II people can define, translate, and hear printed text – anytime, anywhere, and in many languages.

USA WizCom Technologies Inc.

257 Great Road, Acton, MA 01720, USATel: +1-978-635-5357, Toll Free: +1-888-777-0552, Fax: +1-978-929-9228Email: usa.info@wizcomtech.com

http://www.wizcomtech.com

Kurzweil 3000 for Windows was first introduced in 1996. It has since become the leading reading, writing and learning solution for individuals of all ages with learning difficulties like dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and other literacy difficulties.

Kurzweil 3000 provides students the tools they need to improve their reading speed and comprehension, plus a suite of features that make it possible for them to learn and study independently. For students who have difficulty physically accessing curriculum materials, Kurzweil 3000 provides a digital means of engaging with text and can support students who use alternative methods for accessing the computer.

•One-button scanning

•Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

•Edit Underlying Text

•Zone Editing

•Kurzweil Virtual Printer

Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc.100 Crosby DriveBedford, MA 01730-14021-800-894-5374info@kurzweiledu.comhttp://www.kurzweiledu.com/

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation www.christopherreeve.org-the foundation also vigorously works to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities through its grants program, paralysis resource center and advocacy efforts.

Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center http://www.paralysis.org/Tools/ToolsMain.cfm?ContentStyle=2&ContentType=L&num=1000- this website lists resources for individuals suffering from paralysisOnline Resource for Americans with disabilitieshttp://www.disabilityinfo.govserves as the official government website on disability-related resources and programs for the public. The site is managed across all federal agencies under the New Freedom Initiative.

American Foundation for the Blindhttp://www.afb.org/

International Dyslexia Associationhttp://www.interdys.org/