But older workers would not point out that they are disabled, even though they may come across functional limitations that are comparable to those met by persons with disabilities. Elder workers with vision, hearing, dexterity, memory, attention, standing, and/or sitting disabilities may come across difficulties on the job. There are a range of AT aids and other useful products available to tackle the issues that older workers may experience. (Assistive Technology and Aging) 6. Describe a process as to how assistive technology devices will be transferred to and/or purchased by another agency to support postsecondary activities

Once the nature of the needs have been identified, you can then look at the appropriate assistive technology devices and services. It is also important, that most technologically advanced system may not be the best solution. Any device must be tried out before purchasing it. A device that appears to be perfect may not be really suitable and will prove to be difficult. When you are thinking about the price of device, also think about any extra costs that may crop up. Check up with some of the members of your child's assessment team who will give you some opinion about the future costs. You must have a clear budget and a decision about what to buy, as prices are a major worry for the parents buying assistive technology. Some may purchase the device or it may come through some foundations. Some sources of funding are: early intervention programs; Head Start; state programs; vocational rehabilitation programs; Medicaid; nonprofit disability associations; civic organizations. Plans for checking your child's use of the device should be incorporated in the assessment you do before buying it. Members of your child's assessment team should occasionally test to make sure the device is working properly, that no changes are to be done, and that it is efficient and safe for your child as he grows. Maintenance of the device will be essential, so before buying it you should find out what kinds of warranties it has and whether it can be easily repaired at a place close to your home. (Characteristics of Appropriate Assistive Technology)

7. Identify some of the barriers that might prevent an individual from obtaining or using assistive technology in the school, work, or community

Assistive technology in order to be effective is required to be accessible to the people with deficiencies. The Assistive technology is required to be conceived of with regard to the fullest possible availability of the mainstream technology with regard to the information technology, educational technology, instructional technology, entertainment technology, medical technology etc. The mainstream technology is required to be generated with the in built accessibility, with utilization of the basic tenets of general designing and general applicability. Presently it is evident that the money is spent on technologies meant for schools, community centers, libraries and other public entities in absence of clear policy guidance without any regard to the general accessibility. This result in the depriving of the individuals with deficiencies to use the newly installed technology and the public agencies are to strive hard to resolve the problems with regard to the access. To illustrate, some schools are found to have adopted special education budgets so as to the meet the costs of accessibility adaptations for educational technology instead of utilizing general educational technology budget so as to guarantee the access. (Federal Policy barriers to assistive technology)

Besides the problems of accessibility the complexity is considered to be another barrier in application of the assistive technology. Complexities with regard to litigations are considered barriers. Problems resulting in litigations, to illustrate, problems arise when colleges do not permit accommodations associated with computers and word processors with spell checking programs for examination purposes. Since this involves the hardship of close monitoring educational institutions are reluctant to allow such devices resulting in denial of assistive technology to the students. In case of the colleges applying assistive technology and computerized educational testing is facing the problems with regard to the issues of equitable access in the testing environment. The question arises whether the students with learning disabilities have the adequate ability to perform well in the computerized standardized tests. As Hockley pointed out those analyses are to be made so as to find out the barriers generated by technology are required to be conducted in the near future so as to confirm that access is not declined by the introduction of technology. (Day; Edwards, 1996)

8. Give example of assistive technology for the following functional domains

The extension of the scope of the assistive technology to the functional domains is seen as a solution to the functional limitations relating to physical, mental or sensory conditions...

The assistive technology facilitates the people to overcome the physical deficiencies and to be productive to the fullest extent possible. The Adaptive Play involves the availability of the battery operated devices so as to permit the children and adults to exert control over the circumstances irrespective of the physical deficiencies like, motor control deficiencies, and other developmental disabilities. Switches involve single and potentially multiple switch access methods that permit a person with the most severe disability to regulate various aspects of their environment inclusive of entertainment, communication, education, mobility, and also employment. (What is Assistive Technology?)
The devices and aids devises so as to permit a person to experience better regulation over their environment enhances the users liberty and in normal functioning of his life. The augmentative and alternative communication technology enhances the facilities for the communication of a person with individual in groups and even by means of telephone. The Augmentative and Alternative communication technology even assist in enhancing a specific language concept and strategies to make the non-verbal persons able for effective interaction with the existing environment. The devices of the assistive technology also assist in improving the sensory interactions with medication of the mode of receipt of the information so as to accommodate the sensory limitations. Assistive technology also provides alternative learning strategies so as to meet the requirements of certain individuals with learning deficiencies. (What is Assistive Technology?) The role of assistive technology in sphere of social competence is seen as aids so as to cater to deficiencies of effective skills essential for interpersonal functioning. (Nurturing Social Competence in a Child with LD)

9. Assistive technology has a variety of application for all type of people. Who might benefit from assistive technology use? Why might people be better candidates for assistive technology used than other?

Normally, any technology enabling someone to perform something without which they are unable to do is known as assistive technology that makes it easier to access and attain the unreachable objectives. The assistive technology as applied to a person with impairments are more often known as adaptive technology in the circumstances of computer related accessibility. The assistive technology seems to be advantageous to all concerned irrespective of disparities in age, disability and health conditions. A varied range of physical and cognitive deficiencies are evident within the young children ranging up to the adults. They deficiencies with regard to the Disabilities in Learning, Blindness or less Vision, Loss of Hearing, Difficulties of Speech, Difficulties in Mobility, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, a Developmental disability, ADHD, PDD, Brain injury etc. can conveniently be overcome by the assistive technology. The persons suffering from such deficiencies are profoundly assisted by the assistive technology in many directions of their personal life, education, employment, recreation and social. (What is Assistive Technology?)

The assistive technology assists in improving the individuals their independence, building of self-confidence and self-esteem and develop the quality of life and also combat the obstacles in extending the tools for potential employment and educational facilities. (What is Assistive Technology?) Children suffering from listening impairments are effectively benefited by the assistive technology through the assistive listening devices. The assistive listening devices are designed to resolve basic problems relating to the listening problems generated by a hearing impairment that is not overcome effectively by the personal hearing aids alone. The assistive learning devices are applied alone or in combination with personal hearing aids. The major groups of assistive learning devices are considered to be the personal frequency modulated systems and sound field frequency modulated systems. (Assistive Technology Fact Sheet #2)

10. What assistive technology training should be presented to teachers, families, and users?

Assistive technology is taken to be the devices or mechanical aids used for enhancement of the functions of some physical or mental ability that is handicapped. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA provides the basics about the assistive technology devices that can be applied in the educational environment to entail a variety of accommodations or adaptations for people with disabilities. The assistive technology includes a number of applications. The students with physical disabilities in the class room necessitate assistance with regard to their positions for seating so as to be capable of effectively participating in the school…