Assistive Technology to Help People with Disabilities

People with cerebral palsy (CP), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cognitive impairments, and various birth injuries may require assistive technology to complete daily tasks. According to the Assistive Technology Industry Association, Assistive Technology (AT) is any item or software that is used to “increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities” (1). The term covers a broad range of items, from low-tech tools like weighted pens, to more high-tech equipment such as mouth-controlled wheelchairs.

You may have also heard the term “adaptive technology.” This refers to assistive technology designed specifically for people with disabilities (things people without disabilities would probably not have a reason to use) (2). For example, a braille printer would be a form of adaptive technology.

The following are some examples of assistive/adaptive technologies that people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities may use in their day-to-day lives. Please note that this list is in no way exhaustive.

Assistive technologies for eating and food prep:

Bowls and plates that suction to the table and are shaped to help people with muscular limitations eat
Cups that help to minimize spills
Curved utensils designed for people with limited dexterity
Universal cuffs to hold various types of utensils
Swedish cutting boards to help those with limited hand function hold and cut foods safely
Ergonomic bottle and jar openers to help those with limited hand function open food containers
Glass washer brushes to wash with the use of only one hand
Pan holders to assist with single-handed cooking

Assistive technologies for bedrooms:

Specialty switches, which allow people to turn devices on-and-off without using their hands
Door knob extender handles to make turning doorknobs easier
Bed rails to add support and protect from falls
Button hooks, dressing sticks, zip grips, sock aids, and shoe horns to help with dressing
Lamp switch adapters to make turning on lights with twist knobs easier

Assistive technologies for bathing and the bathroom:

Chairs for showering/bathing
Hand rails for toilet to help with the transition from sitting to standing
Potty training resources for children with special needs
Nonslip bath mats to prevent falls on wet and/or slippery surfaces
Walk-in tubs to prevent falls on entering and leaving a bathtub
Scrub brushes to help those with limited reach wash their bodies

Assistive technologies for transportation:

Gait trainers to help those with support needs learn how to walk
Standing wheelchairs to allow people who cannot stand or walk on their own to move around in an upright position
Car caddies to help those with minor disabilities enter or exit a vehicle
Accessible vans with wheelchair ramps
Adaptive steering systems to allow people to drive without the full use of their hands

Assistive technologies for communications:

Braille displays which enable the blind to communicate
Screen readers which read aloud the text on a screen to those with vision impairments
Typing aids, which are are keyboards with larger text on them
Teletype phones and telecommunication devices for the deaf allow people to communicate over the phone with typing
Dedicated speech devices that can read aloud messages written by nonverbal people

How can I decide what types of assistive technologies I need?

In order to decide which technologies will be most helpful, you may need to consult with medical experts or other professionals. These can include family doctors, rehabilitation engineers, occupational therapists, special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, and more.

Legal help for cerebral palsy resulting from birth injuries

If your baby suffered any birth injuries and has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another disability, please contact our attorneys at ABC Law Centers (Reiter & Walsh, P.C.). We have numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that attest to our success, and we will fight to obtain the compensation you and your family deserve. We will evaluate your case to determine if your newborn suffered injuries due to the negligence of the physician or medical staff, and you never pay any money until we win your case.

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