United States | Assisted Disability

Transportaion Accomodations for the Disabled

An overlooked segment of daily life for people with disabilities is transportation. Persons with ability conditions use cars, vans and other vehicles in daily life. Products made for people with disabilities to drive or ride in vehicles makes trips easier and safer. The items below are engineered to assist people who have a disability to drive or as a passenger.

Windshield Glare Screen

Windshield glare screens are made for people with sight impairments, however remain able to drive. The screens are adaptable for use in cars, trucks and other passenger vehicles. Using a windshield glare apparatus is beneficial when driving in rainy and foggy weather. Those in sunny climates profit from the anti-glare visor that reduces shine and preventing eye strain.

Wheelchair and Scooter Restraint Systems

A restrain system is a safety device used to secure a wheelchair or scooter while in a moving automobile. The different types of restraints provide support to passengers and drivers with mobility disabilities. Many systems include hardware for mounting to the floor, on walls and seats.

Pedal Extender

Pedal extenders assist drivers that can not reach accelerator or brake pedals due to a height disadvantage or other condition. This accommodation helps disabled persons to keep their independence by driving themselves. Extenders can reduce length from two to twelve inches.

Steering System

A steering control system gives individuals with arm and extremity weaknesses the opportunity to drive. The steering apparatus lessens the amount of effort needed to maneuver a car or van. Most control systems can be easily installed in American made vehicles.

Ending Notes

The gadgets above are just a few of the products available for disabled persons in the area of transportation. People with mobility or sight disabilities can enjoy riding or driving with dignity. Every day activities, like shopping, are easily achieved with transportation accommodations.

Filed Under: Disabilities, Office Tagged With: Disability, Disabled, United States

Use The Internet For Everything

If you were born after 1980 you have no idea what you would do without a computer. If you were born before 1980 you have no idea what to do with a computer, or at least you did not until you decided to grit your teeth and jump into the cyber age. The fact is, once you jump, it is a fun ride. You don’t have to drag yourself to the library for hours on end of searching through a card catalogue and looking at book after book until you find the one that has the one sentence or fact that you need for your report. You no longer have to clip coupons from the Sunday paper, waiting for a coupon for your favorite item to appear. You don’t have to buy a map, no matter where you are going. You don’t have to stand in line to purchase your favorite theatre or concert tickets. If you choose, you don’t even have to go to the grocery store. Christmas shopping can be done from the comfort of your warm desk chair.

This is the age of the computer. That little box that sits on your desk. Ask the kids, they will show you how to work it. You can find out literally anything with a few typed in letters and a click of a mouse. Who was the ninth president of the United States? When did the Mona Lisa get painted, and where is it, and by the way, what is it worth today? Where can I find the best wine, the best deal on a car, the best dog food? You name it, you can find it on the Internet.

It is more than worth a lesson or two to learn how to navigate the Internet. It is not difficult and you can even find out how to do it on the Internet. Use a search engine, most programs have one included, and just ask the question. The Internet will give you the answer.

Filed Under: Advancements, Technology Tagged With: Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, United States

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 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

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

Let The Disabled Person Choose Assistive Technologies For Best Results

What factors should you consider when getting Assistive technology for a person who has led a life of good health before becoming disabled? Adopting the same approach used for a person who has been disabled from birth is not going to work. For starters, a person who has lived a healthy life will be used to being independent.

On the other hand, a person who has always remained disabled will be resigned to the fact that he or she will always need care. In such a scenario, even the smallest level of independence will please the latter. However, a person who has enjoyed good health in the past will not be satisfied very easily.

The first complication arises when family members decide to go in for Assistive technology without consulting the disabled individual. This is obviously going to create problems. If you want the individual to enjoy more independence, the first step is to create a change in your attitude and approach.

The person should be given the freedom to make the choices. Of course, those things that the person cannot handle on his or her own will be the responsibility of family members. The disabled individual will use Assistive technologies. Hence, this choice should rest with the disabled.

In the past, people had no option but to proceed on their own because getting the disabled individual to check out different technologies and equipment was very difficult. However, the web has simplified matters today. All one has to do is log on to the internet and one can check out a large number of technologies and equipments without even stepping out of the house.

This will herald the beginning of the rebirth of the individual. As he or she becomes more independent, the negative impact of the disability will automatically come down. It is just a question of time before technology replaces the lost faculties of the disabled individuals.

Filed Under: Disabilities, Technology Tagged With: Assistive technology, Disability, Disabled, Health, Individual, Resource Directories, Technology, United States