Those who have physical
or cognitive issues may rely on assistive technology products. There are a
variety of products and tools that can be purchased or used free of charge.
Which products you use will depend upon the specific impairment, disability, or
difficulty, as well as how severe it is.
Assistive
Technology Online
There are a number of assistive technologies available. Some
of these technologies include devices to help input data (alternate keyboards,
touch screen, and sip-and-puff devices), a Braille embosser, a keyboard filter,
a light signaler alert system, an on-screen keyboard, enlargers or magnifiers
for the screen, and much more. In this day and age, it is possible to find a
product or program that can meet the accessibility needs of an individual.
Unfortunately, the costs of assistive technology can be
prohibitive to some. This can depend on the individual’s impairments, but those
with learning disabilities find it particularly difficult to find assistive
technology resources that are also affordable.
There are a number of assistive technology resources that
can not only be found online, but should not cost the user a thing:
·
Bookshare: Those who have print-based
disabilities can take full advantage of this library’s massive catalog of
digital book for K-12 individuals with disabilities, as well as adults
currently seeking adult education opportunities.
·
iOS dictation: Certain iPhones include features
that allow for speaking instead of typing.
·
Dragon Dictation: This tool allows an individual
to turn speech into text for emails and text messages.
·
Firefox add-ons: Various add-ons are available
for the Firefox browser that enables an individual to utilize text-to-speech,
dictionaries, and more.
· Gmail: A
Gmail account makes it possible to use speech-to-text, a calendar to keep track
of a person’s schedule, spell check, and other assistive technologies.
·
Dexteria: With Dexteria, users can improve motor
skills and more through hand exercises.
·
TapTyping: This tool uses a heat map to show
where a person’s most frequent errors are occurring while they type on their
mobile device.
·
Typ-O HD: This program works to understand how
an individual tends to misspell words, and is capable of understanding even the
most hard-to-comprehend typos.
·
inClass: The functionality of this app is
impressive. It makes for easier note taking across a wide variety of platforms.
Finding
Assistive Technology Resources
Many of the assistive technology resources that can be found
on the web are designed for two purposes: To help those who experience certain
learning disabilities (concentration, writing, reading, comprehension, math,
etc), and to help children. Nonetheless, many of the assistive technology
programs that exist can also be utilized by adults. It’s simply a matter of
knowing the nature of the disabilities, and finding out if the tool in question
can be used by adults as easily as it can be used by children. Even programs
that were created with children in mind at least allow for the possibility that
adults are going to use them as well. You can read more about government assistive technology at http://www.foodstampcellphone.com
Finding something to match an individual’s needs has never
been easier. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to look.
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