What is the purpose of assistive technology?

Assistive technology allows people to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives, as well as engage in school, University, the workplace, and social situations. Assistive technology can decrease the need for formal health and support services, long-term care, and the need for caregivers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people across the world need at least one piece of assistive technology, showing just how essential it is.

What are the benefits of assistive technology?

Assistive technology can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of a person and their family. Some benefits of assistive technology include:

• Assistive technology can monitor a vulnerable person’s safety in their own home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering peace of mind for both the individual and their family. This is especially useful when having professional caregivers available 24 hours a day is neither desirable nor economical. This is becoming known as Smart Home Technology.
• Assistive technology can help elderly people stay at home longer and delay or prevent the need for long-term care.
• Increased service consumers’ choice, safety, independence, and sense of control
• Improved living quality
• If a significant emergency arises, personal alarms and telecare can help to ensure a faster response. A faster reaction can decrease the long-term negative effects of an incident such as a fall or a medical emergency such as a stroke.
• Caregivers’ load is decreased.
• Improved support for persons with chronic illnesses
• Reduced home accidents and falls

Who can benefit from assistive technology?

Assistive technology can be beneficial to many different people. The following people are the most in need of assistive technology:

• People with learning disabilities
• People with physical disabilities
• The elderly
• People suffering from noncommunicable illnesses like diabetes and stroke
• People suffering from mental illnesses such as dementia and autism
• People experiencing progressive functional deterioration

How do you choose the right assistive technology?

Most of the time, the selection is made in collaboration with a team of specialists and consultants that are trained to match certain assistive technology to individual needs. An assistive technology team may include family doctors, regular and special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation engineers, occupational therapists, and other professionals, as well as consulting representatives from assistive technology manufacturers.

How can Wyvern help with assistive technology?

At Wyvern Business Systems, our team of specialists offer both assistive technology products and assessments and training for assistive technology.

We have a specialised staff of trainers that specialise in one-on-one training to guarantee that students understand their assistive technology completely. We have trainers all around the country who have been carefully chosen for a variety of talents and attributes that we believe make them outstanding Assistive Technology Trainers.

Wyvern Business Systems are on hand, to provide a wealth of Assistive Technology products, from hardware, software, accessories, ergonomic furniture and aids to fully support the individual.