Computers and Mobile Technology can help disabled people

Computers and Mobile Technology can help disabled people

Computers and the growth of mobile technology can really help disabled people to take advantage of online offers and everyday stuff.

Here are a few really useful ideas

Tablets are a great way to help with speech

The portability and affordability of tablets has made them a popular tool for speech and language therapists. Apps such as Speak for Yourself and Augie AAC allow therapists to work with individuals to help them access a vocabulary of over 13,000 words – all with just a few taps of the screen.

Smartphones can be used from an App

Voice control systems such as Nuance allow users to say a message that is then typed into the phone. Its so smart it can convert displayed text on phones into speech. Anyone with dyslexia can express their ideas without the frustration of having to write. Systems that read text messages aloud are a great help in the lives of visually impaired individuals.

Improving communication skills of people with autism

Many parents of children with autism are turning to iPads and other tablets to enable their kids to communicate, practice eye contact and learn new vocabulary. Children enjoy the repetitiveness of the computer’s speech functions and appear to be less distracted when using tablets instead of traditional alphabet sheets when communicating.

Apple’s AssistiveTouch

Apple has been creating accessible technology for deaf and visually impaired people for ages, but the iPhone and iPad’s AssistiveTouch technology lets people with motor control difficulties use the device in a different way. It means that, instead of having to pinch the screen to zoom, adjust volume using the side buttons or use multiple fingers in apps, an on screen guide allows users to perform these functions just through tapping.