Assistive Technology

If you can't find what you are looking for, please check under the specific disability pages (i.e. hearing, vision, mobility) or use the search function at the top of the page to search the hundreds of full-text articles in our archives!

From the CODI Archives:

• Get a Handle on Things with Reachers -- simple fact sheet about the usefulness of reachers.
• Helpful Products for Older Persons
  • Telephones and Accessories 1994 - Phone and Accessory Products for Older Persons
  • Bath Seats - Products to Assist with Bathing
  • Benches & Lifts - Products to Assist with Bathing
  • Canes & Walkers 1994 - The most common devices used for walking are canes and walkers, which provide support and balance. This booklet describes several types of canes and walkers, and gives general instructions for their use.
  • Devices for Leisure Activities 1996 - Many devices are available to help us engage in leisure activities despite physical limitations.
  • Wheelchairs & Scooters 1997 - Buying a wheelchair is a significant decision. This booklet explains how to select and be fitted for a wheelchair or scooter.

Useful Information regarding Assistive Technology

• Abledata -- Database of assistive devices.
• Adaptive Technology Research Centre at the Univ. of Toronto
• Assistive Technology at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
• ADLS on the Web -- Adaptive Device Locator System (database)
• Devices for Memory Loss
• Devices for Persons with Hearing Impairments
• Ergonomic Products (for independent sales reps)
• Infinitec -- education and resources site about assistive technology
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Online Test Solutions E-news -- A primary source of news on cutting edge assistive technology online tests and systems.
• Tetra Society of North America -- recruits engineers and technicians to create assistive devices for people with disabilities.
• USA TechGuide -- Assistive Technology resource for people with disabilities, their caregivers and healthcare providers. Wheelchair and cushion reviews, information and articles. TechGuide to assistive technology on the Web.
• Where to get Assistive Technology in Western New York

Activities of Daily Living

• Bath Seats
• Book Holders and Page Turners
• Break Boundaries -- Break Boundaries offers REACH, an Electronic Aid to Daily Living (EADL) or Environmental Control Unit (ECU).
• Dressing Aids
• Helpful Products for Older Persons: Canes & Walkers 1994 - The most common devices used for walking are canes and walkers, which provide support and balance. This booklet describes several types of canes and walkers, and gives general instructions for their use.
• Helpful Products for Older Persons: Devices for Leisure Activities 1996 - Many devices are available to help us engage in leisure activities despite physical limitations.
• Helpful Products for Older Persons: Telephones and Accessories 1994 - The telephone is changing to meet the needs of older persons with disabilities.
• Helpful Products for Older Persons: Wheelchairs & Scooters 1997 - Buying a wheelchair is a significant decision. This booklet explains how to select and be fitted for a wheelchair or scooter.
• Independent Living Products -- Aids for Daily Living (ADL) products, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Mobility Equipment
• JB-3 -- Deluxe Leg Bag Kit
• Rub A Dub Dub - Devices for the Tub
• Scooters
• Self-Wipe Bathroom Toilet Aid -- accommodates persons having only one hand.

Blind and Low Vision

• Full Spectrum Lighting

Catalogs (Online and Print)

• Adaptability
• Alimed
• Allysa Medical -- artistically enhanced medical devices
• Connetquot West, Inc Health Care Products
• Dynamic Living
• Easy Choice Medical -- wheelchairs, adls, bath safety
• Flaghouse - this company has been around a long time, so I can't believe I missed adding them to this page earlier
• hospital beds (Mountainside Medical Equipment)
• Independent Living Aids -- Can-Do Products
• MaxiAids.com -- Products for Independent Living -- Offers products to help the blind and visually impaired. Find talking and low vision products, mobility products, canes, labeling products, amplified phones, TTY/TDD, magnifiers talking watches and clocks, medical products, adaptive computer products.
• Medication Link -- medical products and assistive devices
• Medline - Health Care Supply Catalog
• MobilityStore.com -- Independent Living Aids --Ambulatory, Bathroom Aids, Daily Living Aids, Patient Care, Personal Care and MORE!
• North Coast Medical
• Professional Fit Clothing -- Provides adaptive clothing and apparel for the disabled
• Professional Medical Technologies -- offers a large selection of ADL, physical therapy and rehabilitation products.
• RJ Cooper & Associates
• Sammons-Preston
• SpecialtyAutomated -- Hundreds of rapid, standardized, and online tests for vision, cognition, knowledge, and driving skills for individuals, including those with special needs and disabilities, and those who are speakers of languages other than English.
• UK Shop Ability -- Online seller of assistive technologies and disability aids.

Cognitive

• Attainment Company
• Automatic Clock Drawing Test -- Online clock drawing tests that uniformly and rapidly screen cognition and actively engage those who are unable to write or hold writing instruments and those who are speakers of languages other than English.   Online Trail Making Tests are also offered.  
• Mental Diagnostics -- web-based tests to screen for memory loss, cognitive impairment, and brain injury

Controls

• Adaptivation
• Dynamic Living -- X10 devices and other neat stuff!
• Environmental Control Links from Jim Lubin
• Environmental Control Units
• RJ Cooper & Associates
• X10

Driving

• Access Unlimited -- Accessible Vehicles
• Adaptive Driving Alliance -- The Adaptive Driving Alliance Members offer van conversions, hand controls, wheelchair lifts, scooter lifts, tie downs, conversion van rentals, paratransit, adaptive equipment. The site offers information on driving evaluation and resources for getting financial assistance.
• Ameriglide - Wheelchair lifts for vehicles
• The Braun Corporation -- all sorts of devices for driving and getting in and out of vehicles
• Bruno Independent Living Aids -- wheelchair lifts
• Galbreath Motor Company -- Specializing in custom conversion vans, wheelchair lifts, elevators, adaptive hand controls and more!
• Lap Belt Cinch
• Online Driver's License Tests -- Online, comprehensive, and standardized tests for screening the vision, cognition, knowledge, and driving skills of drivers of all ages, including those with special needs.
• Para Driving Aids -- complete driving controls, used vehicles and equipment.
• Tip Top Mobility - Wheelchair Lift
• Viewpoint Mobility - VISION wheelchair accessible vans
• Vision Vans by Viewpoint Mobility -- Vision Vehicles are rear entrance lowered floor wheelchair accessible mini-van conversions by Viewpoint Mobility.

Home and Building Modifications

• Architectural products (for commercial agents)
• Door-Aid Corporation
• Garaventa Lift - home elevators, inclined wheelchair lifts, vertical platform lifts and portable wheelchair lifts
• Grab bars for the physically challenged, elderly, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
• Great Grips -- Ribbed thermoplastic sleeves that slip over existing door hardware. I heard these were invented by a former University at Buffalo Occupational Therapy student!
• Silver Cross -- Find recycled and new stair lifts through a prescreened network of installers. Compare common stairlift models. Learn stair lift useful tips.
• Smart Thinking -- enabling older and disabled people through appropriate design of technology for their homes.
• Vertical Platform Lifts -- Quality and inexpensive Vertical Platform Lifts. With 15 years experience in the supply business you can be assured of the best pricing and delivery.

Learning Disabilities

• Assistive Technology for Individuals with Learning Disabilities -- A Fact Sheet published by the LDA
• Assistive Technology for Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities: An Overview -- Article by Marshall H. Raskind and Eleanor L. Higgins
• Assistive Technology Training Online -- Addresses many of the assistive technology computer needs of the student with a learning disability

Mobility

• See our CODI page on Mobility

Organizations and Services

• RESNA -- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
• A.T. Act Programs - Formerly the Tech Act Projects, formed as a result of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (ATA1998)

Recreation

• AbleWorkshop -- for people who enjoy woodworking, and have some type of disability. The site shares photos and tips of how other people who have a disability, get around in the shop, and solutions to barriers. This is an encouraging, how-to site, no pity parties here, just lots of woodchips flying!
• Grover Gear -- Hard to find products, hunting, and sporting equipment for the disabled.
• K's Creations - Needlework frames

Telecommunications

• Telephone Amplification Devices