Disability | Assisted Disability

What Are The Methods In Which A Person Can Support People With Disabilities

There are many methods in which the general population can support people with disabilities. Supporting people with disabilities is not easy. The main reason is that unless one knows the proper needs of the person with some disability, the support will not be possible. The primary method that needs to be used for the support is the mental support. Many people think of financial support first. This may not be a need that every person with disability will have. The main reason for this is that the people who do have disabilities need all the support they can get so that they will be able to get over the disability mentally. Once the person is mentally able to get over the problem, then all the other relevant needs can be met.

The next most important method of supporting people with disabilities is the financial support. There are many people who have financial problems and these people are not able to earn money because of the disability. They are at a disadvantage in the society and this disadvantage makes them to suffer more with lack of proper employment. Even if they do have employment, they are not able to get a reasonably paid employment. This makes them to be at a disadvantage. This is the reason for these people needing support.

Though there are many organizations that are supporting people with disabilities, but the support that is given to these people may not be adequate. Some of the people with disabilities who have not been proactive in the seeking of help may have missed out on the help completely. The government should step in for these people and make sure that every person with disability is supported adequately. These are the best methods in which the people who are suffering with disabilities can be supported.

Filed Under: Advancements, Disabilities Tagged With: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Employment, Social Security Administration, Unemployment, United States

Assistive Software – Sue Center

There are some good disability assistive technology products out there in the market. Software and hardware aimed at improving the lives of disabled people are marketed by assistive technology vendors. Sue Center is one such initiative designed to improve the lives of disable people.

Sue Center is the brainchild of an artist called Jon Bjornstad. This person apart from being an artist also writes code. The software application that he has developed is named after a disabled woman who was paralyzed. When Bjornstad met this woman he was deeply inspired to come out with his own version of assistive technology software that will help disabled people immensely.

The software application is written in Perl, and has close to sixteen thousand lines of code. More enhancements are being added in the software application. Continuous efforts are being put to improve the usability of the software application.

Sue Center is an environment for communication. It is free software, since it is freely distributed by Bjornstad. This software application benefits those people who are not able to use the keyboard and mouse. There could be paralyzed people who are not able to move their hands or fingers. There could be people with motor neuron problems. These people can benefit immensely from such a hands-free technology.

Although the software is free, some smart devices have to be bought. Smart devices are hands-free accessories that can be worn on your body. It could be a cap that is worn on the head. By moving the head, the person can simulate the movement of a mouse cursor. A virtual keyboard will assist the user to type into instructions, text, and numbers or anything to the computer.

The Sue Center application lets users do a variety of things. It helps read books. Users can keeps journal entries, use the dictionary, send and receive email, play games, make VoIP calls, use translation capabilities of Sue Center, watch movies on a DVD, and do many more things.

Filed Under: Advancements, Technology Tagged With: Assistive technology, Computer Access, Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Health, Perl, Shopping

The Process Of Supporting People With Disabilities

There are many people who are very interested in supporting the people with disabilities, but when it comes to action, there are very few people who actually are able to support the people who live with disabilities. The main reason for this is that the people do not have the final push in the will to help. The thought process which is involved in the process of supporting people with disabilities is listed here.

The person has to first decide that he or she is going to help or support the people with disabilities. Many people do not have this thought. Either they are too busy to think of other people or they may not feel that these people need support. Whatever the reason, they do not think of supporting people with disabilities because of the lack of the mindset. So the thought should come first and that is the first step in the process of helping.
The assessment of the need of the affected person or groups is the next step in the process of supporting people with disabilities. There are different kinds of people with varying levels of disability. It is very important for the needs of these people to be assessed so that the right needs can be identified and the needed help for these people can be provided.

Once the needs are assessed, the next step in the method of supporting people with disabilities is to find someone who will be able to help the affected people. Though there are many non Governmental and nonprofit organizations that are helping those with disabilities, there is a lot of needs that are still unmet. These may include financial needs, educational needs and other needs. These needs should be met so that the people with disabilities are supported and rehabilitated completely so that they are self sufficient.

Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Employment, Health, Illinois, Non-profit organization, Support Groups

Assistive Technology in India

Disabled people tend to shut themselves out from the outside world. Plagued with inadequacies of living a life without dependences their propensity to rely on others for everything leads them into depression. This is where assistive technology for the disabled comes into the picture. There are a lot of companies that have new products that enhance how the disabled walk, talk, hear, speak and live. There’s definitely hope for the disabled with new technological advancements. It is just a matter of time before technology negates the effects of disabilities.

A technology company based in Bangalore called MindTree has is bringing assistive technology products for the disabled. The important thing is the pricing. MindTree is focusing on affordability of the products considering that third-world countries might not take to highly priced assistive technological products for the disabled.

MindTree calls this the affordable assistive technology solution. Taking into account the assistive needs of people with varied disabilities, the assistive technology will cover disabilities like cerebral palsy, and musculo-skeletal conditions. A total of twenty one assistive technologies are being worked out, out of which a dozen or more of them have passed the initial evaluations.

The technology will be priced from anywhere between twenty three dollar and two hundred and fifty dollars. Now the company is focusing on third-world countries. Since this company is in India, the Indian market is the one it is planning to target. India is a developing nation, with a lot of market potential in assistive technology products. Considering the fact that a price-sensitive country like India will repel expensive products, the company is now going the affordable pricing way. It is seeking to run-up a lot of revenue, which will eventually result in profits. Given that India is more than a billion people strong, the projected revenue can be staggering.

In the western world, assistive technology is a half-a-century concept. But in India, things like these are being brought to the front only now.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Assistive technology, Bangalore, Disability, Disabled, India, MindTree, Technology, United States

How to Find a Local Support Group for Parents with Children who have Disabilities

As a parent having a child that has been diagnosed or has a disability can be extremely stressful and frustrating. If you’ve never faced a situation like this it can be even worse trying to figure out what to do, how to support your child and how to keep yourself sane and healthy at the same time.

Many parents find a lot of comfort in attending support groups for parents with disabilities. These support groups offer a supportive environment that allows the parents to learn about the disability without having to face a judgmental place. These groups are also great sources of information, inspiration and support.

So how does a parent find a local support group for parents with disabled children?

Here are some of the ways you can find a local support group for parents with children who have disabilities.

Online. Many support groups have local chapters that have websites available online. Simply run a google or yahoo search for local groups and you should be able to come up with a list of groups that meet in your local area. If there is no local chapter of a support group, some groups meet online and offer the same type of support.

Ask Your Child’s Doctor. A lot of local support groups reach out to local doctor’s to help spread the word. Ask your child’s doctor if they know of any local support groups for your children’s disability and he should be able to direct you in a general direction as to where to find these types of groups.

Call the Local Hospital. Most hospitals run the support groups right out of the hospital. Calling the local hospital will allow you to get in touch with a community outreach person who should be able to direct you in the right direction. If the hospital does not have a support group they should be able to direct you to a place that does have a support group.

Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Child, Disability, Education, Family, Mental health, Parent, Support group, United States

Supporting People with Disabilities and Assistive Technologies

: Image by glsims99 via Flickr

People living with disabilities have a right to make decisions and to seek advice from their loved ones, just like ordinary people. Quality life surveys conducted have revealed that people living with disabilities often feel that they do not own their own lives because decisions that concern them are made by other people like the social workers and service providers.

Idealized funding supports people with disabilities by directly providing each disabled individual with support based on individual assessment to determine their specific needs. The disabled individual is given an opportunity to determine the services he requires and to evaluate how such services are delivered. This is not just a system of accounting but an affirmative approach that turns disabled clients into real citizens by providing them with individualized support that goes beyond equality to self dignity, citizenship and self determination.

People living with disabilities face numerous challenges using things designed to meet needs of most people. A disabled person on a wheel chair will have difficulties climbing the stairs and a blind person crossing a highway risks his own life.
Assistive technologies are modern technologies that give solutions to challenges that disable people living with disabilities. Assistive technologies create a sense of independence and confidence for the disabled, making their lives more bearable.
Laws in favor of assistive technologies have been passed since 1988 to support people living with disabilities. Telecommunications companies are required to provide systems converting between speech and text for those with hearing problems.

Assistive technology for use of computers has yielded excellent results in the recent years. With the use of computers and internet access becoming inevitable in modern life, people facing visual impairments can now access and use internet with help of screen readers, while those with conditions such as cerebral palsy can independently get around by use of mobility technology and modern medical equipment, thanks to assistive technology!

Filed Under: Disabilities, Technology Tagged With: assistivetechnology, Cerebral palsy, Disability, Disabled, Service provider, Social work, United States, Wheelchair

Tips for People Supporting Those with Disabilities

: Image via Wikipedia

Many times those who suffer from some physical or mental disability require the care of another person. This can often be a friend, family member, health care worker or trusted individual. Sometimes when caring for a person a lot of the focus gets put on the person with the disability and people begin to forget about themselves. That is why many places focus on giving caregivers and those helping with disabilities a guide and tips to helping them deal with being a caregiver or supporter.

Here are some of the general tips that are given to caregivers or those supporting the person with disabilities.

Take Time for Yourself. Many times when caring for a person, you get so wrapped up in supporting and helping them you forget about yourself. Make sure that you take the time to handle your own affairs. This could be going shopping, getting a hair cut, going to your own doctor’s appointments and a number of other things. Make sure you take care of yourself so you can be in top shape to care for others.

Attend Support Groups. A supportive loving environment is important to the person with a disability but it is also important to the caregiver. There are many support groups or caregivers and supporters that a person can attend. These meetings will give you support, helpful ways to handle stressful situations and even valuable pieces of information that can be used when caring for the person.

Know When To Ask for Help. A caregiver can often get the idea that they need to do everything themselves. They often do not ask for help when they feel overwhelmed and that can lead to frustration, fatigue and health issues. Always know when to ask for help and even if it is just a few minutes a day it can lead to a very wonderful caregiver relationship with the person you are supporting.

Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Caregiver, Caregiver Support, Disability, Family caregivers, Health, Health care, Home care, Support group

More Independence for the Disabled

When we hear that someone is disabled, right away we think that they cannot function at the level most people can. This may have been true in the past, however with the introduction of new technology and the availability of the information super highway of the Internet, this is no longer the case. Some Americans with disabilities cannot drive to a job, others might not have full function of their limbs or be in wheelchairs, and still others might have hearing or vision impairments. There are about as many different disabilities, physical and otherwise, as there are people.

Enter at-center.com, the information assistance technology for the disabled community. Created for supporting people with disabilities, at-center.com is a website that can be used by people with disabilities, or others, to help those with disabilities live a more “normal” lifestyle. The capabilities of this website start simple, suggesting ways to help make life easier, with help with daily activities, to a full resource center for those who would like to maintain as much of their independence as possible.

At-center.com has an easy-to-use search engine, as well as blogs to share ideas with others who might just be needing that type of help. Those with disabilities have made amazing strides in figuring out ways to do things that we take for granted. This site allows you to seek out the help of others, as well as offer one’s own advice or tip through a support forum. This is also a place to just be able to chat with those who might just be experiencing the same trials and tribulations. We all know how important it is to know that we are not alone.

With its ease of use and wealth of information, at-center.com can become a useful tool, as well as a stepping stone to making living with a disability easier and more productive.

Filed Under: Advancements, Disabilities Tagged With: British Columbia, Disability, Disabled, Employment, Independent living, Jane Holland, Rich Coleman, Vancouver Island

Support Networks are Invaluable for the Disabled

Having a disability now isn’t the same as it has been throughout history. Clever and ingenious people have always come up with ways to help them cope with their physical detriments, but in the current era, coping is less of a struggle. Science has been, and continues to, research answers for how to fix virtually every human malady. It seems likely that in time, we’ll be able to grow new body parts as needed, and in the meantime, robotics have allowed people with no arms to again pick up objects by commanding mechanical limbs with their brain’s electrical impulses. Progress like this is heartening, and goes a long way beyond merely carving a wooden stick to replace a leg amputated at the knee, as was done up until modern prosthetics arrived on the scene.

All the current and future advances in assisting people with disabilities don’t address a common remaining issue, however. That is the more psychological component of dealing with a disability. While some people are born with some basic difference to the average, fully able body, they learn from a young age to handle their difference so that it doesn’t become a large limitation. Others are struck with loss of a former trait or ability later in life, and require adjustment. In either case however, those with a disability do best if they receive support from loved ones, friends, and family.

Even the most well-adjusted person will struggle to an extent with the loss of function that any disability creates. A network of supportive individuals will help deal with the emotions, or even physical limitations, which arise. There’s nothing quite so calming and soothing as an understanding voice and a listening ear when one is frustrated with their having to find a new way to do an old trick! Friends can be invaluable, as they help ensure that the disabled person gets out and about and learns to deal with their limitation.

Filed Under: Advancements, Disabilities, Technology Tagged With: Accessibility, Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Employment, Hotel, United States, United States Department of Justice

Assistive technology available to disabled persons

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Assistive technology includes a wide range of products that aid a disabled person. Also known as adaptive technology, the phrase includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative equipment and devices. The phrase assistive technology also broadly encompasses the process to selecting those devices.
Assistive technology allows a disabled person to perform tasks that they previously could not, or helps them complete the task easier and quicker.
Many technological advancements can’t be used by some people. Assistive technology devices help people with a range of disabilities handle a variety of issues.
For example, a blind person can’t use a typical computer and word processing software. An assistive technology product allows a seeing impaired person to use word processing software by using voice commands.
The invention of the telephone changed the way people communicate, but the traditional telephone as is leaves out hearing impaired persons unless assistive technology is used to allow deaf people to read what the person on the other end is saying using a device.
Persons suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or someone just dealing with sore wrists benefit from using a keyboard designed ergonomically that lessens the strain placed on wrists while typing.
Persons with learning difficulties also can benefit from assistive technology. Diagnostic software diagnosis some learning disabilities.
Some disabilities are temporary and assistive devices are needed only for a short time period. A broken leg might require the use of crutches or even a wheelchair to get around.
At the same time, others might use those devices permanently, a person without use of their legs might have a wheelchair designed to make them mobile.
Assistive technology used by a family member often requires the rest of the family to adapt and learn to how the device works so they can help the disabled person.
A wide variety of assistive technology exists today allowing many people to function in society better and faster.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Assistive technology, Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Hearing impairment, Learning disability, Resource Directories, Technology