Welcome

What Is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technology is any piece of equipment that allows a person of any age with a disability to participate in daily activities. The primary goal of assistive technology is the enhancement of capabilities and the removal of barriers in performance of daily living skills.

Assistive Technology products enable people with disabilities to accomplish daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or recreation activities, and in essence, help them to achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life.

Assistive Technology is available to meet the needs of individuals who need assistance with:

Mobility
Vision
Activities of daily living
Communication
Academic activities (reading, writing and math)
Leisure and Play activities

Assistive Technology supports range from low-tech solutions such as communication boards, picture schedules, slant boards, and modified pencils to high-tech solutions that include computer-based instructional strategies, speech-generating devices, and motorized wheelchairs.

Assistive Technology Categories

Communication Aids: Equipment designed to help persons with speech or writing difficulties to communicate. At its very simplest, augmentative communication can be a page with picture choices or alphabet letters that a person points to. It can also involve highly sophisticated speaking computers with on-screen communication boards and auditory or visual scanning.

Computer Access Aids: Hardware and software products that enable personal with disabilities to access, interact with, and use computers at home, work or school. Includes modified or alternate keyboards, switches activated by pressure, touch screens, special software, and voice-to-text software.

Education and Learning Aids: Includes cognitive software focusing on reasoning, decision making, problem solving, memory skills, perceptual skills, talking word processing, word prediction/completion software, cognitive retraining or rehabilitation tools, etc.

Environmental Aids: Environmental and structural adaptations that remove or reduce physical barriers for individuals with disabilities. Environmental adaptations usually involve building construction, engineering and architecture, but also include environmental controls and switches that can control and entire living environment.

Mobility and Transportation Aids: Products that help mobility-impaired persons move within their environment and give them independence in personal transportation. Includes standing/walking aids, transfer aids, stair lifts, walkers, scooters, wheelchairs and three-wheeled chairs, adapted bikes and trikes, etc.

Recreation and Leisure Aids: Products that help persons with disabilities to participate in sports, social, and cultural events. Includes modified sports equipment for skiing, biking, running, boating; adaptive controls for video games, adaptive fishing rods, etc.

Vision and Reading Aids: Products designed to assist the Blind and Visually Impaired. Includes auditory and speech output devices, electronic book readers, talking equipment (clocks/watches, calculators, etc.), large button phones, speaker phones, large print books, taped/audio books, etc.

Contact Us:
(845) 341-4390
cart@sunyorange.edu

Center for Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology
BioTech Building
Room 204
SUNY Orange
115 South Street, Middletown, NY 10958