Visually Impaired Students in Biology Labs

There is currently research being done to help create assistive technology to be used for visually impaired students in biology labs. The research is being done by University of Pune and is in the works to help create maximum independence for students. The goal is that this will help increase the students' love of science and overall confidence. I remember the best part of science class being when the instructor would announce "lab time." It was so much easier to learn the concepts of science when I was able to apply them in the lab. I am thrilled that the University of Pune is doing research in assistive technology in order to help bring the job of "lab time" to the visually impaired.

For a link to the full article, please visit:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/research-backs-assistive-technology-to-help-visually-impaired-in-bio-labs/1054284/0

To visit EmpowerTech's website, please visit:

http://empowertech.org/

Playing Sports with a Disability

Sometimes, people with disabilities want to play sports but don't believe they can because of their disability. Good news! There are many assistive sports technologies, sports organizations, and resources that can help.

Assistive sports technologies, such as the BeepKickball, which helps blind sports enthusiasts play kickball, or the OTS Interspiro Divator MKII, which helps the blind to scuba dive, are becoming more and more advanced, and financial aid is sometimes available to help with costs. Instead, suppose you wanted to join a sports organization; there are many to join like Disabled Sports USA. Take advantage of resources like your city’s recreation department, your own school, health clubs, YWCA, the local Girls Scout council, and nearby colleges. They may have pools, sports teams, exercise rooms, or more ways for you to be invovled. Your local Chamber of Commerce could also help to find programs in your area. The possibilities are endless, but the initial step must be taken to contact these resources.

For more information on assistive sports technologies, please visit:

http://assistivetechnology.about.com/od/ATCAT1/tp/Assisstive-Sports-Technology-For-Persons-Who-Are-Blind.htm?nl=1

For more information on how to become involved in sports, please visit:

http://www.girlshealth.gov/disability/disbody/sports.html

Augmentative Communicator

There have been vast improvements in augmentative communication devices. For post-operative patients, speech impaired individuals, or anyone requiring a voice generation device, these new devices are revolutionary. One of the newest improvements comes from Chester Creek Technologies. They have developed the TextSpeak TS Series Talking Keyboard. Individuals with special needs will like this keyboard because it is the easiest augmentative communication keyboard device that is available today. The device can speak in both English and Spanish and has an unlimited vocabulary for both languages. It also can act as with a speaker telephone for calls going outbound.

For more information on the new TextSpeak, please visit:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebtalking_keyboard/computer_keyboard/prweb10268299

For an assistive technology assessment, please visit:
http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=86
 

Technology and Autism

The increase of today's technology has improved AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, tremendously. Assistive technology devices are now less expensive, more portable, and more efficient than ever.

Here is a great article on how technology (iPads specifically) can help children with autism:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/14/tech/gaming-gadgets/ipad-autism/index.html?hpt=hp_t2&fb_source=message

"Martha Herbert, a pediatric neurologist and neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston, said the iPad allows individuals to bypass many difficulties they have in communicating."

Assistive Technology Assessment

At EmpowerTech, our goal is to help people with disabilities through the use of technology. According to Alliance for Technology Access, fewer than 25 percent of people with disabilities who could be helped by assistive technology are using it. To find out what type of assistive technology you or your loved one might need, visit our website for information on an Assistive Technology Assessment:

http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=86
(or fill out our contact form)

http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=114

How Technology Can Help People with Disabilities

At EmpowerTech, our mission is to educate, train, support, and empower people with physical and developmental disabilities through assistive technology (AT). Our TRADE Program's main goal is to instruct people with disabilities how to use technology and empower them to help find employment. We have found a great article that demonstrates just how beneficial technology can be for people with disabilities.

SPEEDING UP WORK FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

"With technology, people with disabilities, many who are unemployed or under-employed, can now take a job and be highly productive. After all, this group is an incredible adopter of technology because they depend on it for their livelihood...

All of this is positive for the future of work because people with disabilities add tremendous value to the workplace. People with disabilities are creative problem-solvers and technology adopters with fresh perspectives that organizations need.

Hiring people with disabilities enhances employee retention and engagement, as there are many job candidates with or without disabilities who want to work in holistically-diverse and socially conscious environments. We've found they have low rates of absenteeism and turnover, which reduces a company's recruitment and retention costs.

Hiring the disabled helps companies develop new products and services, expanding their customer base, which is increasingly filled with older people starting to encounter disability. All of this bodes well for the modern-day workplace.

I've said it before: If you want someone who thinks outside the box, hire someone who lives outside the box. So let "work speed up" begin for people with disabilities. With new technologies on the horizon, we can tap this underused talent pool and move our notion of how and where we work solidly into the 21st century."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19588052

Here is a link to our TRADE Program for more information:

http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=105