Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services Assistive Technology

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides evaluation, intervention and training to eligible Veterans and Active Duty Service members needing Assistive Technology (AT) to offset the impact of disability. The United States Assistive Technology Act of 1998 defines assistive technology (also called adaptive technology) as any "product, device, or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." VA has developed AT Labs at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers in Richmond, Tampa, Minneapolis, Palo Alto and San Antonio. The AT Labs provide services directly to Veterans, as well as providing consultation to other VA medical centers that serve Veterans across the VA health care system.

Assistive Technology devices are separated into categories including: 1) Electronic Cognitive Devices, 2) Adapted Automotive Equipment, 3) Adapted Sports and Recreation Equipment, 4) Electronic Aids for Daily Living, 5) Wheeled Mobility and Seating Devices , 6) Augmentative and Alternative Communication Equipment, and 7) Adaptive Computer Access Tools.

ELECTRONIC COGNITIVE DEVICES ADAPTED AUTOMOBILE EQUIPMENT ADAPTED SPORTS AND RECREATION EQUIPMENT Electronic cognitive devices are hardware Driving a motor vehicle is a cornerstone and software that facilitate improved for independence in our daily lives. Veterans with disability are encouraged to function in cognition and memory, route- Driving is essential for employment, participate in a wide variety of recrea- finding, information processing, emotional socialization, leisure pursuit, obtaining tional and leisure activities including orga- regulation, or social appropriateness. medical services and many other nized team events or individualized lei- Many of these technologies are computer activities. sure/gaming activities. Selection of based and require the internet to main- adapted recreation equipment varies tain functionality. Devices are typically based upon disability and personal pref- small, such as tablet computers and smart erences. phones.

VA Driver Rehabilitation Programs provide specialized evaluation, training, and education in the safe and competent utilization of adaptive equipment, mastery These devices also include learning tech- of specific skills and techniques to nologies that support the needs of Veter- effectively and independently drive a ans as they return to education or em- motor vehicle, consistent with State ployment in a variety of tasks, including Properly prescribed adapted equipment Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) personal organization, maintaining a allows people with disabilities to gain in- regulations. Driver Rehabilitation schedule, reading and writing, and practic- creased ability to perform recreation ac- Programs also address the ability to be ing daily living skills. Software programs tivities, and reduce secondary medical transported in a vehicle so as to regain include text-to-speech, writing and math complications such as repetitive strain in- independence with community support, and life simulation as well as juries, pain, and/or pressure sores. transportation. VA provides Driver voice recording activities. AT clinics sup- Rehabilitation programs in 49 facilities port the application of these technologies throughout the country. as this area is rapidly changing.

For more information, visit www.rehab.va.gov March 2019 REHABILITATION & PROSTHETIC SERVICES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

ELECTRONIC AIDS TO DAILY LIVING resources. Properly prescribed devices trackball, head or eye gaze control) and enable people with disabilities to gain in- mounting systems. AAC strategies serve Electronic Aids to Daily Living (EADL), also creased ability to perform activities of to enhance rate of communication, referred to as environmental control daily living, participate in community ac- message formulation, and prediction tech- units, are devices that facilitate the tivities, and reduce secondary medical niques. operation of electrical appliances for a complications. Prescription strategies for person with a severe physical disability. wheeled mobility are centered on the in- ADAPTIVE COMPUTER ACCESS TOOLS Activities that can be supported by using dividual’s priorities and consider their an EADL include: 1) controlling preferences, physical and functional Computer access addresses the needs of temperature (heater, air conditioner, fan, needs, home and social environments, individuals who cannot use a standard humidifier), lighting (lamps, curtains or transportation situation, and related is- keyboard to input data, or use a standard blinds) and positioning (bed positions); 2) sues. pointing device to perform basic functions information acquisition by controlling such as pointing, clicking and dragging. audio/video equipment, page turners and AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE Computer access includes modifications note taking devices; 3) safety/security by COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT to the way information is presented by in- controlling doors, door locks, monitoring creasing the size, contrast and color of the the premises, and summoning emergency Augmentative and Alternative Communi- display, changing the display method from assistance; and 4) communication by cation (AAC) Devices are necessary to visual to auditory or tactile, or by facilitat- controlling telephones, attendant calls, compensate for temporary or permanent ing information processing that is hin- alarm systems and intercoms. Using an communication impairments, including dered by cognitive deficits. Effective com- EADL is a necessity for the Veteran with disorders of speech-language production puter access is important to support disabilities to allow the independent learning, working, information acquisition, performance of both urgent and repetitive facilitate social interests, and to improve tasks. self-esteem for persons with limited physical and cognitive capabilities. WHEELED MOBILITY AND SEATING DEVICES POINTS OF CONTACT FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LABS Wheeled mobility and seating devices (manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, Richmond, Virginia scooters and associated seating compo- Melissa Oliver nents) are important AT devices. [email protected]

and comprehension of both spoken and Tampa, Florida written modes of communication. Telina Caudill Use of AAC involves four primary areas: [email protected] symbol system, device, access, and strate-

gies. Symbols (graphic, auditory, and/or Minneapolis, Minneapolis tactile) can be unaided (sign language, Benjamin Barrett gestures) or aided (objects, pictures, or- [email protected] thography) and serve to represent lan- guage or speech. Use of digitized and syn- San Antonio, Texas thesized speech output devices are fea- Ruben Rodriguez

[email protected] Appropriate selection of a device is com- tured on basic picture-message fixed dis- play aids, text-to-speech keyboard plex due to disability specific issues, varied Palo Alto, California spelling, and sophisticated symbolic cod- preferences, different approaches and Esmeralda Madrigal ing-based devices. Access systems include abundant technology options to address [email protected] users' needs, skills, environment and touch switches, pointing (i.e., mouse,

For more information, visit www.rehab.va.gov March 2019