Assistive Technology Lesson 2:

Physical disabilities

encompass a broad range of of disabilities that affect a person’s limbs, muscles, nerves or motor skills. They may be congenital or acquired from disease or injury, or it may be brought on by a condition such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy Someone with a physical disability may require one or more artificial limbs to get around

Paralysis

common physical disability

Trackballs

requires less motor control, has separate buttons for each mouse action, including scrolling and right- click and left- click

Joysticks

________ allow the user to control a computer, the difference is that you can just hold down a ____to make it move, which can be helpful in certain situations such as drawing and playing games

Switches

They let users control the computer with a series of movements from a foot or the head or with an eye blink or a breath, many trackballs and joysticks can be “___ adapted,” meaning you can plug in a switch that will let you perform an additional function, such as a mouse right- click.

Eye Gaze Systems

• is a camera that’s mounted on or below a computer monitor and focused on the user’s eye.

• The camera determines where the user is looking, and the cursor is placed at the gaze point.

• Mouse clicks are performed with a slow eye blink, an eye dwell, or a switch

Head Tracking Systems

• Less expensive than an eye gaze system, but just as good, is a head- tracking device that translates the natural movements of a user’s head into directly proportional movements of the computer mouse pointer

• A small camera mounted on the computer wirelessly tracks a small dot that you place on your forehead, glasses, or the rim of a hat

Foot Control Systems

• Specially designed to be activated by the user’s feet

• These switches eliminate all hand mouse use and often can be programmed to perform multiple tasks with one click

Mouth Control Systems

• People with severe motor impairments also may choose to operate their computer using their mouth

• Several companies make ____ joysticks that you move with your mouth, cheek, chin, or tongue to shift the cursor wherever you want

Pen Tablets

• One of the most common causes of pain today is working for long periods at a computer

• ___ let you work with your computer in a more relaxed position and reduce the amount of stress on your hands, wrists, and arms

Touch Screens

• ______ are a clear sheet of plastic with tiny sensors that detect pressure from either a fingertip or a pointing device.

• On a computer screen they are a good alternative for someone with limited motor ability

Touch Pads

• ______ allow the user to move the cursor simply by dragging a fingertip across a surface.

• Good fine- motor control of a finger is all that is needed

MouseKeys

• Software that transforms a computer’s numeric keypad into a directional mouse

• When the software is activated, each number on the numeric keypad represents a direction in which the mouse or cursor can be moved

Expanded Keyboards

________ keyboards are typically flat and smooth and have larger keys (e.g., one- inch square)

Miniature Keyboards

______ keyboards are smaller than traditional QWERTY keyboards and are typically covered with a plastic membrane

Ergonomic Keyboards

______ keyboards are designed to reduce fatigue and wrist discomfort

One-Handed Keyboards

_____ keyboards and software assist individuals with no or limited use of one hand in entering data into a computer by allowing more convenient one- handed entry and control

Onscreen Keyboard

An _____keyboard offers an alternative to pushing keys on a real keyboard. It floats like a popup on your screen that you can operate with your mouse or alternative input device.

Sticky Keys

___ allows users to replicate the effect of pressing down two or more keys at once without actually doing

Word prediction

• technology attempts to guess what the user is typing

• A list of words is presented to the user; selecting a number associated with the desired word causes the program to finish typing the word for the user and predict the next possible word to use

Speech-Recognition Software

• programs type on the computer screen the words you speak into a microphone

• To use voice- recognition software you first must train the computer to recognize your voice by reading a preset list of words.

• The computer makes a print of your voice for each word.

• This allows it to recognize your voice and accent. Each time you use it, your voice profile is resaved with any changes you made

Headsets

• These aren’t the most advanced devices available

• It can be difficult for users with upper-extremity issues to place a _____ on their head

Telephones

• Many people with upper- extremity disabilities can’t perform this simple function

• There are several options available to them for ___communication, from large- button phones to completely wireless and voice- activated dialing

Cellphones

• A Bluetooth- enabled cell phone, which lets you make calls without having physically to hold the phone.

• The phone itself should have voice- activated on–off switching and dialing capabilities so that you can make and take calls without having to press any buttons

Manual Wheelchairs

• _____ are the lightest of the bunch

• If you can use your arms, a _____ helps you maintain your mobility independence and keeps you fit, though there’s a risk of shoulder injury

Scooters

• a ___is a wheeled cart or personal mobility vehicle with an electric motor and three or four wheels

• ideal for people who have difficulty walking for various reasons, such as fatigue or muscle weakness.

• excellent for out- of- home use.

Powered Wheelchairs

• more appropriate for people with significant mobility impairments.

• They are usually controlled with a programmable joystick, head control switch, or sip- and- puff switch.

• You don’t need to use your arms or legs to operate a powered chair

Specialized Wheelchairs

• for athletes have special angles and designs for increasing agility and flexibility

Prosthetics

An artificial device that replaces a body par

Environmental Controls

Electronic devices that let you operate home appliances and consumer electronics in one room or around the house without using your hands.

Driving

The best option for a wheelchair- using driver is an adapted minivan that is large enough to let the wheelchair slide in and out with the help of powered ramps

Exercise

• Consider wheelchair- friendly exercise videos such as Chair Aerobics for Everyone or Chair Tai Chi.

• Nintendo Wii or Nintendo Switch

Reading

Audiobooks, which are are digital versions of books that can be downloaded to a computer, mp3 player, or iPhone instead of held in your hands.