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Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Tutorial 8

Assistive technology is defined by wikipedia as Assistive technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. So pretty much assistive technology is equipment the enables or helps people with disabilities to participate in a lot of different ways such as communication, education, work, recreation.


Assistive technology (AT) has been an important tool since the origins of the occupational therapy profession. For years, therapists have and used different types of low-tech devices, such as reaches, button hook, pencil grips, and other pieces of adaptive equipment to promote functional independence in that clients.

We use the term assistive technology to refer to as a broad range of devices, services strategies and practices that are conserved and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities

Any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2Hz8dhQw8Q

The iPad is a flat, rectangular computer with a large, 9-7-inch touchscreen on its face. It is 0.5 inches thick and its light weight. It come in six models 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB with or without 3G connectivity, and the price starts at $799.


iPads have the ability for you to download application that you can put onto the Ipad, this is reliatve to occupational therapy through different ways the audio based software allows you to convert commands into vocal words this can help someone who is has hearing problem so even stroke patients, the touch screen allows people with limited mobility a more accessible option, it has voice over option so blind people can use it i think that the main tool that it can be used for would be intellectual disabled children there are apps that you can download that help with learning and speech and it can provide non verbal children with a way to communicate.


An example in the lecture of an ipad and the use of OT was when Dave brought out the ipad and told us about the different 'apps' that you can download to help kids with intellectual disabilities learn one that sticks in mind is that story he told us about the teacher was teaching a class of intellectually disabled children and how she couldn't get them to focus or listen to her so she used the iPad application i'm not sure what is was called but she put the ipad in front of her face and there was a monster face that she was talking through it and as she talked the ipad face lips moved and the kids listened. 




Case-Smith, J. (2005) Occupational therapy for children (5th ed.), Elsevier Mosby, St Louis, Missouri.

Cook, A., & Hussey, S. (1995). Assistive technologies: Principals and practice. Chicago: Mosby.



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