The Role of Assistive Technology in Providing Services to Victims with Disabilities

1
The Role of Assistive Technology in Providing
Services to Victims with Disabilities

• D.J. Stemmler, COTA, BA
• Clinical Administrator
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers Center
  for Assistive Technology

2
Objectives

• The objectives for the presentation is to define
  Assistive Technology (AT).
• Provide those in attendance with a knowledge of
  the different areas of Assistive Technology
• Provide examples of low and high tech assistive
  technology devices commonly used by people with
  disabilities.
• To understand that role Assistive Technology can
  play in serving victims

3
Assistive Technology is

• Any item, piece of equipment, or product whether
  acquired commercially, modified or customized,
  that is used to increase, maintain or improve
  functional capabilities of people with
  disabilities.

4
Areas of Assistive Technology

• Wheelchair Seating and Mobility
• Augmentative Communication
• Environment
• Transportation
• Sensory
• Computer Access

5
Statistics

• There is an estimated 54 million Americans with a
  special needs.
• The number will increase with the graying of
  America
• 10 million Americans with disabilities are
  working age and unemployed

6
Common Disabilities to use Assistive Technology

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Cerebral Palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Aging
• Diabetes and Associated Issues

7
Assistive Technology Team Members and Possible
Providers

• Most Important CLIENT!
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Speech and Language Therapist
• Rehabilitation Engineers
• Audiologist
• Machinist
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
• Suppliers and Manufacturers
• Case Manager/Clinical Administrators

8
Mobility Aids

• Wheelchairs
• Manual
• Standard/Light Weight/Ultra Lightweight
• Motorized
• Front wheel drive
• Rear wheel drive
• Midwheel drive
• Scooters
• 3 and 4 wheel
• Combinations
• Power assist
• Walkers
• Canes

9
Seating Accessories

• Power Seat Elevator
• Power Recline
• Power Tilt
• Power Elevating Legs
• Standing Chairs

10
Control Methods

• Hands, Arms
• Joystick Standard
• Chin Control
• Head control
• Sip and puff
• Head Movement
• Tongue Touch

11
Communication Aids

• Low Tech
• Communication Boards
• Sign Language
• Writing, pointing, gesturing
• High Tech
• Augmentative Communication Devices- Speech output
• Print Output
• Text messaging/Email

12
Environmental Factors to Consider in your service
area

• Parking
• Doors to Entrances and Exits
• Accessible paths to Buildings
• Bathrooms
• Lights
• Waiting Area
• Culturally appropriate surroundings

13
Home Environmental Issues

• Phone
• Lights
• Door
• Television/DVD/Radio
• Call bell if in a hospital or assisted living
• Bed control

14
Transportation

• Accessible Public Transportation
• Accessible Para transit
• Personal Vehicle Modification
• Scooter, Chair lifts
• Portable Ramps
• Automatic Doors Ramps
• Hand controls, reduced effort steering
• Digicontrol Vans

15
Sensory AT

• Assistive Listening Devices
• TTY/TTD
• Relay
• Amplifiers
• Hearing Aids
• Signaling Device
• Voice Over
• Captioning- Open Real Time

16
Sensory AT

• Blindness or Low Vision
• Signage
• Minimal Point Font Size for Print
• Enlarged Print
• Text To Speech
• Audible Signals for thing like crosswalks,
  elevators, buses
• Canes
• Assistant Animals

17
Computer AT

• Input Devices
• Adaptive Keyboard
• Switches
• Voice Recognition
• Communication Devices
• Output
• Braille
• Large Print
• Text to Speech

18
What Does AT Mean to Victims

• A mechanism or means to
• Move
• Communicate
• Read Material
• Consent
• Get Away
• Get To
• TAKE CONTROL

19
Why Isnt AT Used?

• Devices arent available
• Victim Service Agencies arent familiar with AT
  and dont know how to use it.
• There isnt adequate representation of words or
  symbols to tell what happened
• No one acts as a facilitator between victim,
  device and legal system

20
Summary

• Typically people with disabilities and victims
  are served by separate agencies. Because people
  with disabilities are frequently also victims of
  violence there is an increasing need to address
  service provision issues. Just as there is an
  effort to reach out to diverse populations there
  needs to be a recognition that people with
  disabilities are part of that and under served
  diverse population. It also needs to be
  recognized that typical service provision isnt
  working.

21
WHY AssistiveTechnology?

• Assistive Technology can be one of the many
  bridges used to link the two communities the
  disabled and victim services communities.
  Providing victims with an environment that
  recognizes and supports the use of AT devices and
  services increases the chances the victims with
  disabilities will utilize the services. It will
  help the communicate, report crimes, seek
  services and most of take and keep control over
  their lives.

22
Conclusion

• Taking away AT devices in places like emergency
  rooms and police stations is similar to tying a
  victim to a chair or covering their mouth with
  tape so they cant speak. Wheels are their legs,
  computers their voices and to not recognize the
  important role they play is no more grievous than
  not recognizing that people with disabilities are
  also victims. This presentation will introduce
  AT as an important treatment modality.