Tag Archives: Assistive Technology

Four Tips for Boosting Productivity

Four Tips for Boosting Productivity

Productivity tips for caregivers
For caregivers, parents or people with disabilities, it often feels like there are not enough hours in a day. With a pile of tasks to complete that more closely resembles a novel than a checklist, it’s easy to let stress nestle into our lives. Once that happens, productivity levels are sure to plummet. For those struggling with these issues, here are some tips to take into consideration to better manage your days.

One More Hour
While we are all aware of the benefits of a full night’s sleep, many of us have all but given up on the idea of ever getting to enjoy eight unplugged hours. However, increasing your sleep time by just one hour could significantly affect your upcoming day. Going from 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep each night could help you retain memories more efficiently, experience lower stress levels and feel happier overall. These factors can weigh heavily on your productivity by allowing you to tackle your to-do lists with a fresh perspective.

Effective Planning
When getting ready for the day ahead, many of us compile to-do lists outlining whatever tasks we need to complete by bedtime. While this technique may work for some, for many people, items just end up piling on top of each other, never quite reaching ‘crossed off’ status, ultimately becoming an intimidatingly long document. In order to better schedule your day, categorize your activities by urgency, whether they are long term goals or things that can be done in a single sitting, and break down larger, more intimidating items into manageable chunks. Additionally, try estimating how long each item will take and figuring those blocks into your schedule, giving yourself some leeway to ensure you don’t overbook yourself.

Assistive Technologies
Devices such as smartphones and tablets have revolutionized the process of planning and keeping track of progress. With apps like Awesome Note, it’s easy to create simple, categorized task lists, while services like Google Calendar have made scheduling appointments and reminders a breeze. Moreover, there are features within these applications that allow voice-to-text translation and hands free operation, which can prove extremely useful for those with disabilities.

De-Stress
When feeling overwhelmed seems to be the norm, it’s time to take a moment to regroup. Trying to power through activities while struggling with an overworked mind and body can actually make you take longer to complete tasks than if you were to take a short break to relax, then come back to your item with a refreshed outlook.

Since we can’t add more hours to our days, it’s crucial to make the best use out of the time we do have. Using these productivity boosting tips might help you tackle those pesky chores in quicker, more effective ways, leaving more of your day to be spent doing really important things, like spending time with loved ones.

Assistive Technology Act

As technology has come to play an increasingly important role in the lives of all persons in the United States, in the conduct of business, in the functioning of government, in the fostering of communication, in the conduct of commerce, and in the provision of education, its impact upon the lives of the more than 50,000,000 individuals with disabilities in the United States has been comparable to its impact upon the remainder of the citizens of the United States. Any development in mainstream technology would have profound implications for individuals with disabilities in the United States.

(Findings and Purposes, Assistive Technology Act of 1998, Finding 3)

The Assistive Technology Act was first passed by Congress and signed by the President as the Technology-Related Assistance Act of 1988. It’s often called the Tech Act for short and has been reauthorized in 1994, 1998, and 2004. The most current version of the Act is authorized through 2010.

Purpose of the Tech Act
The Tech Act is intended to promote people’s awareness of, and access to, assistive technology (AT) devices and services. The Act seeks to provide AT to persons with disabilities, so they can more fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities on a level playing field with other members of their communities. The Act covers people with disabilities of all ages, all disabilities, in all environments (early intervention, K-12, post-secondary, vocational rehabilitation, community living, aging services, etc.).


A Look at Key Definitions
The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 defines an assistive technology device in the following way:

…any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. (29 U.S.C. Sec 2202(2))

AT devices can be “low tech,” “medium tech,” or “high tech”–as the examples below show.

  • power and manual wheelchairs, scooters, canes, walkers, and standing devices
  • augmentative communication devices (speech generating devices), voice amplifiers,and speech recognition devices
  • durable medical equipment and medical supplies, such as patient lifts and incontinence supplies
  • orthotics and prosthetics, such as hearing aids and electric larynxes
  • accessibility adaptations to the home, workplace, schools, group homes, nursing facilities, ICF/MRs, and other places (e.g., ramps, stair glides, lifts, grab bars, flashing smoke detectors, lever doorknobs, and environmental controls)
  • special equipment to help people work, study, and engage in recreation, such as enlarged computer keyboards, reachers, amplified telephones, magnifiers, voice recognition software, and adaptive sports equipment
  • accessibility modifications in the community, such as audio systems on public transportation, talking ATMs, and voting machines for the blind (Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, 2008)

An assistive technology service is defined as:

…any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Examples of AT services–taken from the law itself–include:

An evaluation of the AT needs of an individual, including a functional evaluation of how AT would help the individual

Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing an AT device

Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, replacing, or donating an AT device

Coordinating and using therapies, such as occupational therapy or physical therapy, with AT devices under an educational plan or rehabilitative plan

Training or technical assistance for an individual with a disability, or his or her family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives

Training or technical assistance for educational or rehabilitation professionals, manufacturers of AT devices, employers, providers of training and employment services, and others who help individuals with disabilities

A service that expands access to technology, including email and Internet, to persons with disabilities.

State AT Projects
Under the law, each U.S. state and territory receives a grant to fund an Assistive Technology Act Project (ATAP). These projects provide services to persons with disabilities for their entire life span, as well as to their families or guardians, service providers, and agencies and other entities that are involved in providing services such as education and employment to persons with disabilities.

How do you find your state’s AT project? Visit the RESNA Catalyst Project, and select your state from the list, that’s how.
http://www.resnaprojects.org/allcontacts/statewidecontacts.htm

To Read the Statute of the Act
The statute of the Tech Act is the bill that was passed by Congress into law and signed by the President. As mentioned above, the most recent reauthorization took place in 2004 as Public Law 108-364. Officially, this last reauthorization of the Act is called The Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004. You can find a copy of the statute online:

Summaries of the Law

Council for Exceptional Children. (2005). Public policy update: CEC’s summary and update of PL 108-364, the Assistive Technology Reauthorization Act of 2004. Available online, at:
http://www.cec.sped.org/~/media/Files/Policy/Archives/Assistive%20Technology/Summary%20of%20Assistive%20Technology%20Law.pdf

Global Legal Information Network. (n.d.). Summary record: Assistive Technology Act of 2004. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from: http://www.glin.gov/view.action?glinID=182969

Relton, J. (2005, January). Policy issues: The Assistive Technology Act of 2004. http://www.afb.org/AFBPress/pub.asp?DocID=aw060109

U.S. Department of Education. (2006). Assistive Technology Act: Annual report to Congress: Fiscal years 2004 and 2005. Available online at: http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/rsa/atsg/2004/index.html

Information about Assistive Technology
Listed in alphabetical order…

AbleData | Provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment | http://www.abledata.com/

AccessIT: The National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education | http://www.washington.edu/accessit/

Alliance for Technology Access | http://www.ataccess.org/

Assistive Technology Industry Association | http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) | Provides information on AT applications that help students with disabilities learn in elementary classrooms | http://atto.buffalo.edu/

Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) | http://www.fctd.info

NICHCY’s Pinterest board on AT | http://pinterest.com/elaineindc/assistive-technology/

National Public Website on Assistive Technology | http://www.assistivetech.net/

Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program | Provides protection and advocacy services to help individuals with disabilities of all ages acquire, utilize, and maintain AT services or devices | To identify your state’s program, visit: http://www.adap.net/palist/pas.html

RehabTool | http://www.rehabtool.com/at.html

References
Assistive technology for persons with disabilities: An overview. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from: http://drnpa.org/File/publications/assistive-technology-for-persons-with-disabilities—an-overview.pdf

New Hampshire Assistive Technology, Financial Aid & Disability Programs

New Hampshire takes their state motto “Live Free or Die” seriously as they design programs to help persons with disabilities live an independent life.

ATinNH
Assistive Technology in New Hampshire is a program that works to increase access to assistive technology solutions through equipment re-use, explorations, loans and low cost funding alternatives.

ATinNH Funding
A partnership between the Assistive Technology Program in New Hampshire and TD Banknorth provides loans up to $10,000 for assistive technology services and devices.

New England ADA Center
The DBTAC-New England ADA Center provides information and services about the Americans with Disabilities Acts and accessible information technology living in the New England area.
Crotched Mountain
This is a non-profit organization that works to maximize abilities of persons with disabilities at home, work and in leisure activities through assistive technology.

Easter Seals Transit
Easter Seals’ transit service is the largest paratransit program in the state.

Governor’s Commission on Disability
A state commission dedicated to providing benefits and removing barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in activities no matter how big or small.

Vermont Assistive Technology, Financial Aid & Disability Programs

Vermont is a state where Freedom and Unity flourish. Vermont programs aid people with disabilities to live a more independent life by offering resources, financial assistance and training initiatives.

Opportunities Independence Fund
The Independence Fund provides loans for purchase of assistive technology including adaptive vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loan can be combined with grants made possible by the Vermont Center for Independent Living.

Vermont Assistive Technology Program
This program increases access of assistive technology to people of all ages and abilities. They provide short term equipment loans, advocacy, funding resources and training.

Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
Offers programs and services to assist persons with disabilities live life as independently as possible.

New England ADA Center

The DBTAC-New England ADA Center provides information and services about the Americans with Disabilities Acts and accessible information technology living in the New England area.

Northern New England AgrAbility Project

Provides assistance to farmers and their families who are affected by a disability. They have three offices in the state of Vermont. There are no fees for their services.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports

A program that provides skiing and sports recreation for persons with disabilities. The Kelly Brush Foundation is an advocate for ski racing safety and helps make purchases of adaptive athletic equipment for those with financial imitations.