TUTORIAL 7

Today we have been looking at Assistive Technology and how we as Occupational Therapists can use assistive technology to help our clients.....so what is assistive technology? According to Cook & Hussey, 2000 assistive devices are defined as "a broad range of devices,services,strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities".

So what are some examples of assistive devices that are out there?, well there are HEAPS and HEAPS of different types of pieces, but Ill just talk about one which we got to have a play with in out tutorial which is commonly used, its called the Big Red Switch.




<----- THE BIG RED SWITCH






This switch is about 127mm in diameter surface(but you can get ones in all different sizes,depending on the needs of the client), the switch is useful for clients who have either a visual,cognitive, or physical impairment.

The switch is hooked up to something, for example a mixer, and all the client has to do is push the switch (either with their hand or other part of their body) and the mixer will turn on, switches can also be used to activate other electrical appliances (via a controller, battery operated adapted toys and games, a PC switch interface and AAC communication devices.

You can choose between a switch with cables or wireless, however there is a price difference, the switch with a cord is only $80 where the wireless is $200, the issue with that is even though the wireless switch may be better for group work or the individual, Enable will only fund for the cheaper one if they both function the same.

The Big Red Switch increases functional capacity as the switch gives people a sense of control of the activities in their lives, for example the switch is wired up to a mixer via a neuro switch allowing the user to start and stop the mixer so they can make things like pikelets.