Wikipedias Definition "Assistive technology or adaptive technology (AT) is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks."
My Definition Assistve technology is technology which aids people in completing a task or function they can not do own their own due to illness or disability. Types of assistve technology are, Sock aids, communication devices, touch screens, electronic pointing devices, switches, the list goes on.
The iPad was an example of assistive technology from our tutorial. This can cost up to $1450 or as little as $499, depending on its edition and how many mega bites it has. It is 7.31" wide and 9.50" in length. It has 250+ functions which include a storage device for photos and videos, a portal for the Internet, a gaming machine, a way to read books and many more!!
When used as an assisstive technology it enables the user to have a communication device. For those who are non verbal they can use the touch screen to write the words they want to verbalise, the iPad will put a voice to there words. For those who are verbal but do not have the motor skills to write they can speak into the iPad and it will write for them. this allows them to write emails and communicate online. There are many other functions that can assist people living with a disability, especially cognitive disabilities. there art, music, educational and fun apps that will help develop cognitive skills and allow the user to participate in occupations they previously could not.
This is a link to the Apple website which has all the details and pictures of the Apple i Pad
My first placement was in a facility for people age 16 - 65 living with physical disabilities. Around half of the residents had traumatic brain injury (TBI). My online communities are all aimed at TBI sufferes.
This site is a place for sharing your email address with other TBI sufferes or families, friends or caregivers of suffers. "TBINET hosts on-line support groups (mailing lists) for Brain Injury, Stroke and other "medical" related issues." (tbinet, 2009) It is not an overly interactive site as it is aimed at people having interaction through email, this site is just a way for them to get initial contact with other people. People can contribute by leaving their email address on the site for others to connect with. As i said this website is used by TBI suffers, their friends families and caregivers or anyone who is seeking a person they can correspond with who knows what it is like to either go through a brain injury, look after someone with a TBI or simply how to react to someone who has a TBI. The information can be reciprocal if people wish to leave their email address when getting others, but if they just want to get an address without leaving one that is ok to. Here is some of the topics on this website.
What is an Email Support Group?
BI Support Groups
Other Groups/ Lists
Stroke Support Groups
CARE-TBI
Caregivers Support
DS-NUTRITION
Nutritional Therapy for Down Syndrome
SAFE-STROKE_SURVIVORS
SAFE/Stroke Awareness for Everyone/Survivors Support
TBI-SURV
TBI Survivors Support
EINSTEIN-SYNDROME
Down Syndrome Support
SAFE-DISCUSSION
Discussion and support for stroke caregivers
BI-CHILD-L
Caregivers to BI
Children-Adult and Small
LACTNET-DE
Fachdiskussion zu Laktation und Stillen
SAFE-STROKE_DEVELOPMENTS
Discussion of current news and information about stroke
CARE-HF-L
Caregivers of High Functioning
PECS-L
Picture Exchange Communication System Mailing List
SAFE-CAREGIVERS
SAFE/Stroke Awareness for Everyone/Caregivers Support
CARE-SPOUSE-L
Caregivers for Spouses
ADHDADDFAMSUPPORT
Family support for ADD and ADHD SAFE-GATHERING
SAFE/Stroke Community Discussion
COMA-L
Coma Support
HYPOSUPPORTGANG
Support - Managing blood sugar, both High and Low
SUPERAR-LC
Spanish Language TBI survivors
PWESS
Persons with Epilepsy/Seizures Spouse/caregivers/significant others support
Out On A Limb for TBI is a an online community for people whose lives have been touched by brain injury. "Many people who suffer brain injury go on to accomplish great things. Media producers understand how humans engage through stories that cause a reaction, and often neglect the good news. True, people get hurt, and it's hard; but, people get better and move through challenges to achieve amazing things"(out on a limb, 2011). This website offers stories of inspiration of everyday TBI suffers and also of notable people in society who you may never know suffered a brain injury. It is a very interactive site with many links, photos and videos to watch. There is also a discussion forum. People can contribute by creating a profile and sharing their story, photos and videos and also by commenting on the forums. People contribute to this community because they want to share their story as they believe it will be an inspiration to others. People may read this website to seek inspiration or information. The information can be one way, you may read the website and only contribute if you choose to. Here are some topics on out on a Limb
Living With Traumatic Brain Injury
Phoenix Rising - Changing Lives and Inspiring Futures
American Idol 2011 Milwaukee Audition - Chris Medina (Amazing Story & Voice)
Daily Strength is a online support group for people who have been affected by brain injury. It provides a forum for discussion as well as information about brain injury and treatment. It is a very interactive site, with people being able to chat in chartroom and discuss via forums. People can contribute by adding discussion topics in forums and adding comments to others discussion topics as well as utilising the chartrooms. Again this is a website where you can come and simply read or participate as much as you like, it does not have to be reciprocal or one-way. People may choose to use this site because they would like information or someone to talk to. They may be seeking answers or just an understanding ear. some of the recent discussion topics are; Feeling guilty, returning to work, looking for someone to talk to, returning to work and hope ( this would not copy and paste).
With every online community where there is interaction with others you must always be aware that they may not be who they say they are and their intentions may not be good. These sites however appear to be well monitored but you can never be too careful when dealing with the internet.
Online communities open you up to a much larger population of people experiencing the same thing as you than you would find in your geographical community, also some people find it easier to open up to a stranger especially when it’s not face to face and they know they will properly never meet them, it allows them to speak more freely. There’s also the benefit that in the geographical community people may be afraid of being seen going to a group meeting so just don’t go, this is not a concern on online communities.
However you cannot underestimate the power of a hug. This is something that you will not get from an online community.
With online communities it is too easy to shut out the people in your geographical community and this could result in you feeling lonely and becoming overly reliant on the internet. This will impair your recovery.
