Michigan's Assistive Technology Program
Assistive
Technology Connections
Volume 8, Issue 5, May 2007
In This Issue:
- Calendar
- AT for Cognitive Disabilities
- Used Assistive Technology Web Site
- Resources Available for Community Groups
- Subscription Information
Calendar:
- April 2-30, 2007: Join the Family Center on Technology & Disability for an online discussion of Augmentative & Alternative Communication for Vocabulary Development.
- June 15-19, 2007 Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ RESNA 2007 Annual Conference.
- August 7th, 8th, and 9th Assistive
Technology of Alaska (ATLA) will host the Midnight Sun Assistive
Technology Conference in Anchorage. Prior to the conference, on August
5 - 6, the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Center on
Disabilities will make available their Assistive Technology Applications
Certificate Program (ATACP). Call for papers deadline extended - April
27th.
- October 18-20, 2007 Closing the Gap 25th Annual Conference & Preconference Workshops - October 16-17, 2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Assistive Technology and Cognitive Disabilities
One of the exciting areas of development in assistive technology are devices which help with cognitive functioning such as memory, problem-solving, attention, perception, reading, linguistic, and verbal comprehension, math comprehension and visual comprehension. These devices have a great potential for universal appeal- not only as an accommodation for people with disabilities but as tools for everyone. Examples include a personal digital assistant (PDA) with software to show a job broken down by task in sequence with reminders and even graphics for non-readers. Having information available in a universal digital format opens up a world of opportunity for people with a variety of cognitive functioning disabilities. Screen reading software is great for non readers and can help those who can read listen to text while occupied with other tasks. (It is also a great way to find those errors spell check doesn't pick up.) A TTY designed for someone who is deaf can help someone who has trouble concentrating on a phone conversation by providing real time a written transcript. The use of cascading water faucets can cut down on echoes and help with auditory perception problems. Changing a TV from color to black a white can help people who remember events on TV as real events they had directly experienced. If you can imagine it, someone can design it if it doesn't already exist! To explore the area of AT for Cognitive Disabilities Web Resources.
Used Assistive Technology: AT Xchange
http://www.atxchange.org is a
new Michigan-based website where people
can buy, sell or give away assistive technology (AT). Do you have a used
AT item in storage that could really help someone who has a disability?
It could be anything from a wheelchair, stair lift, Braille reader, or
reacher! If so, just post a classified ad AT Xchange.org. Include a
digital photo. ATxchange is open to vendors who have used equipment for
sale also. And don't worry about cost, ATXchange is a free service!
Maybe you or someone you know is looking for AT? If you can't find what
you are looking for, you can post it as an item wanted and receive an
email message telling you if and when someone posts the item you are
looking for. You may find the AT you are seeking for a bargain price
-
even for free!
Resources Available for Community Groups
Michigan's Assistive Technology Program has copies of the DVD "Freedom
Machines" available to community groups to show to the public in
order to
increase awareness of assistive technology. This documentary is a
public television program and national outreach campaign, looks at our
beliefs about disability through the lens of assistive technology. The
program
explores how human experience and technological innovations are outpacing
social policies-and the perceptions that have guided them. The DVD includes:
captioning, descriptive video, Spanish, lesson plans and community group
presentation advice, other resources.
More information about "Freedom Machines" is available at http://www.freedommachines.com/. For information about how to obtain a copy Freedom Machines DVD for your community group, please contact Kathryn Wyeth at kdwyeth@prosynergy.org or (517)333-2477 ext 335.
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