Over two decades, thousands of employers have contacted me wanting information on assistive technology (AT) products and disabilities. A frequently asked question is:
What is a disability?
I refer employers to the definition of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pubs/ada.txt). “Disability” means: (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; B) a record of such an impairment; or C) being regarded as having such an impairment. I remind employers that a disability can either be temporary or permanent.
Once I have defined disability, I am asked, what is assistive technology? Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, product or system, whether acquired commercially “off the shelf,” modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. Then I say AT products should not be considered miracle products.
Another question is: Where can I find information on AT? Sources are: www.atn-ctcf.org, www.atia.org, www.resna.org/and www.tracecenter.org. Other sources are local rehabilitation hospitals and organizations representing deaf or hearing impairments, vision impairments, physical impairments, cognitive impairments, mobility impairments, and speech impairments. These organizations can locate people using AT products. Before buying a product consumers should speak to a user and learn about the product’s strengths and weaknesses. Also, read stories on users of these products. If an employer is buying an AT product, user stories can persuade the employer of its employment value.
In discussing AT, I emphasize that picking the correct product requires potential users
to know everything they can about their abilities and ways AT compensates for a disability. The most difficult question to answer is: How do I select an AT product that meets the user’s needs?
Before I can answer, I ask: What is the potential user’s disability? Does the person have more than one disability? Is it the user’s intention to have the product assist just one disability? Does the person have any idea of his AT needs and ways this product can compensate for the person’s disability? What does the person know about the product? Has the person seen the product demonstrated? Does the person know anyone using a product? Why was this product picked? Has the person spoken to a user? Is the person investigating products manufactured by other companies? Where did the person learn about the product? Some of these answers take time to discover, but answers are necessary to buy the right product.
Finally: How much do these products cost? I tell buyers to ask, does the price include training? Does price include an extended warranty? If not, how much does the warranty cost? Can the product adapt to information technology hardware? Can peripherals be added easily and purchased through the company? How often does the manufacturer produce new products? Can the user test the product for 30 days? How much will an upgrade cost? Is there funding? And, how does the buyer qualify for funding? What is the interest rate? Will the manufacturer help the buyer secure funding? Wisdom dictates buyers should shop around. I know manufacturers who have lowered their prices to match their competitors.
John Williams has been writing about assistive technology for 25 years. A sample of his book Assistive Technologies: Expanding a Universe of Opportunities for People with Disabilities can be seen at www.atn-ctcf.org.
