Tutorial Eight - Assistive technology

Occupational therapy is probly the most difficult Health Profession to explain.  I am in my second year and I don't think I've done it justice yet.  People still look confused when I explain it to them and I think its because of everything OT's can do.  Assistive Technology is just another aspect of OT to help enable people to function.

Assistive Technology as defined by Cook & Hussey (2000, p.5) as "An item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commerciall off the shelf, modified, or customized that if it is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities."

Reference
Cook, A. & Hussey, M. (2000). Assistive technologies: Principles & Practice. St Louis: Mosby

I was unfortunately overseas when assistive technology was introduced during tutorial.  So after discussing with Hiliary about meeting a Mother whose son had Autism and was using the IPAD to communicate and play educational games we both agreed that this would be an excellent assistive technology to research and write a report about.

The IPAd is 241.2mm in Height, 185.7mm in Width and 9.4mm in depth and weights 625g.  It costs around $499.

The IPad has applications for communication and learning tools for autistic and nonverbal children and children with poor physical mobility.

This presentation is delivered by Lauren Meatty who is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who has 25 years experience and discusses iPad applications for Autistic and Nonverbal Children

The ethusiasm of the parents explains it all

I believe this relates to occupational justice.  "Justice is generally acceted to be an ideal vision of society expressed through ethical, moral and civic principles" (Stadnyk, Townsend, & Wilkcock, 2010, p. 331).  It would be ideal because of the identified benefits of children with Autism having access to one but the reality is there is a cost, there is a demand and it is difficult to meet that demand.

Reference



Stadnyk, R., Townsend, E. & Wilkcock, A. (2010). Occupational justice. In C. Christiansen & E. Townsend. Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living (2nd ed.)(pp. 329-358). New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc