Help me a poem

[alexseanchai]

ETA: I have lots now, thanks!

I'm writing a litany that is also an ode of sorts to assistive technology. It's not meant to exhaustively list all types of assistive tech, but it is meant to broad-strokes overview such tech for as many categories of disability as I can fit in while keeping the litany reasonably brief. Two types of tech per category of disability.

Here's what I've got so far:

canes and wheelchairs
screenreaders and browser zoom
ergonomic keyboards and dictation software
transcripts and subtitles
word processors and audio recorders
to-do-list apps and timer apps
email and texting
antidepressant meds and anti-anxiety meds

I believe I want two to four more pairs. But I'm blanking.

I mean, I could fill in several more categories of medication with little difficulty (asthma meds, allergy meds; insulin, blood pressure meds; seizure control meds, meds for chronic pain), but that seems to veer into healthcare territory in a way that the non-medication items don't. I don't want to exclude meds altogether, obviously, but I don't want pharmaceutical technology to dominate the litany, either.

Anyway. What other sorts of assistive technology could I put in this litany? :-D?

Comments

[we_are_spc]

Does the audio description stuff fall under the subtitles, because now that they have that in theatres, tnat's a thing to. Don't forget hearing aids and related apps. Some of the fitness equipment (Fitbit flex 2 for instance) could also fall underthat, I would think.

-Us~

[alexseanchai]

Good thoughts, thanks!

[melannen]

Prosthetics? Text-to-speech? Braille? Teletype? Portable oxygen? Pacemakers?

I feel like things like inhalers, insulin pumps, and epipens fall under the "tech" category more than the "meds" category, even if they are delivery mechanisms for meds they function as tech that helps people get around limitations.

[alexseanchai]

...I knew there were some really obvious things I was missing. Prosthetics! Text to speech! Thanks!

[we_are_spc]

TTS and screen readers are pretty much the same thing. That said. If you wanna go tech. Text-to-speech on things like iPhones and androids is a way to go, too. Voiceover is a lifesaver for me and is one of the main reasons we have the iPhone and are so onboard with apple products.

-Fallon~

[alexseanchai]

My impression is Stephen Hawking uses text to speech but doesn't need a screenreader?

[we_are_spc]

Does he? I wasn't sure what they called his machine he uses to communicate with the outside world. I know some people use type to-talk (They type things in and it speaks it out for them) if that TTS then I stand corrected.

LB But the reason I said they were the same thing is because a lot of people consider JAWS/Window Eyes/NVDA Text to speech readers, but if TTS is more than that, well then. :)

-Fallon~

[alexseanchai]

I'll Google this later and then we'll both know :)

[alexseanchai]

I found the source of the confusion! Broad category: text to speech. Narrow category within broad category: screenreader. Different narrow category within same broad category: voice synthesizer. I did not realize Hawking's thing had a name, tbh.

[melannen]

Ah, yeah, I was thinking of that kind of thing, although I was thinking more of what I've seen autistic and intellectually disabled people use, that are less full-on speech synthesizers like Hawking uses and more "if you press the button that says hello, a voice says hello. If you press the button that says stop, a voice says stop." We called them either text-to-speech or just communication assistance devices (for the less text, more picture ones) when I was helping in a special ed classroom but that was several years ago and I'm sure the tech has moved on.

[alexseanchai]

*nod*

I think "voice synthesizer" is not an inaccurate description of that thing. Though in the context you describe, I think the term is actually AAC, augmentative and alternative communication--though again, that is rather a broad category and the particular thing you describe is a narrow category therein.

[we_are_spc]

Oh well then. Neither did I. That's actually good to know. :)

-Fallon~

[niqaeli]

re: insulin and tech, also, blood glucose readers. They are very much not meds... instead, they let diabetics quickly determine what and how much meds need to be applied!

[alexseanchai]

True!

[lilysea]

- Subtitles on Netflix, itunes, DVDs

- Kindles and ipads etc that let people read in large print

- Assisted communication devices, including those where you push a button and it speaks for you.

[we_are_spc]

-audio description on the same things.

Also, I didn't know they had those types of things portably now. the "press-button-and-it-speaks" thing. Or do they?

-Fallon~

[alexseanchai]

Thanks!

In no particular order with something of a bias towards physical impairments

[niqaeli]

Automated doors, both the motion sensor and the push-a-button types. Ramps, elevators. Rolling bags (in contrast to shoulder bags and backpacks). Corrective lenses (glasses, contacts) -- the fact that they are in widespread use such that most people don't think of them this way does not change their utility and importance as assistive devices (me, without my glasses: incredibly impaired.) Arguably, most forms of modern powered appliance, though that may be too hard to boil down into something pithy. Personal sized fans/other temperature regulators. Generically, implants of all manner. Artificial joint replacements. Body braces. Indoor exercise equipment.

Don't know if you'd actually want to count them as tech, but also assistant animals of which there are many kinds and do require a fair amount of skilled technical work to prepare to be assistants. (Guide dogs, fetch/etc. physical assistant dogs, chemically sensitive dogs such as can sense impending hypo or hyper glycemic, and that's just off the top of my head.)

Re: In no particular order with something of a bias towards physical impairments

[alexseanchai]

Dogs aren't tech, though one could argue their training is.

This is lots material. Thank you muchly!

Re: In no particular order with something of a bias towards physical impairments

[we_are_spc]

It should be. It takes at least 2 years to train a guide dog-and not many make it. The equipment used is tech (Harness, leash, etc) and for those who've never owned a dog before, it can be overwhelming the amount of information required to take care ofa dog-I had one. Thankfully I'd had dogs before so I knew behavors, but) And the research one has the option of doing for schools and the like can be extensive.

It's definitely something I would do again. And will when we have the money to do so.

-Fallon~

[hellkitty]

Hearing aides? I mean, they're not sexy and newfangled like the stuff on your list, but my dad could not function without them. The real world doesn't have subtitles!

[alexseanchai]

True facts :)

Thanks!