Assistive Technology | Baltimore, MD

Assistive Technology

What is assistive technology?

Any device that helps a person with a disability do the things they want to do. Assistive technology comes in all shapes and sizes, what matters most is what you are able to do with it. Technology is integrated within many aspects of daily life, including community connection, education, independent living, employment, and social interaction. The idea behind Assistive Technology is to increase a person’s independence and community connections.

Technology is constantly advancing, and fortunately, it’s becoming more inclusive as it evolves. While there are far too many assistive devices, apps, tools, and technologies to cover in one list. We have listed some resources to get you started.

MARYLAND

MDTAP Home (maryland.gov) 

Assistive Technology – The IMAGE Center of Maryland (imagemd.org) 

Assistive Technology (maryland.gov) 

MAT Program Application Process (maryland.gov) 

Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) (marylandlibraries.org)

PENNSYLVANIA

TechOWL – Technology for Our Whole Lives (techowlpa.org) 

Resources for Advocating for Disability Rights (disabilityrightspa.org) 

Who We Are | Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (patf.us) 

Pennsylvania – iCanConnect 

Assistive Technology (pa.gov) 

EDUCATION

Free Kindle Reading Apps for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC (amazon.com) 

Big Button Calculator 

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

FaceTime & Google Duo – Video calling app that can be used when providing remote supports. 

Seeing AI App  – Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed for the blind and low vision community, the power of AI opens the visual world and describes nearby people, text, and objects. 

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Pictello – Talking visual story creator 

Alexa – Makes technology accessible to people with disabilities. People are already using their devices to make their lives easier and finding unexpected uses of technology. 

EMPLOYMENT

WordQ – A simple text editor with powerful word prediction, speech feedback and speech recognition 

Work Autonomy – This is broken down into three parts: Schedule, Communication, and Production. The Scheduling section helps the employee capture and understand all the different components of a job. 

Questions to consider when deciding if assistive technology is right for you:

What tasks are difficult for you?

  • Will the use of AT help you complete these tasks more independently?
  • Will you be able to use the AT in different places (work, home, social situations)?

What have you tried before?

  • What ways of doing things have you tried?
  • What materials, equipment, or tools have you used in the past?

How involved will you be in the process?

  • Will you be part of the decision making to figure out what AT you should try?
  • What do you hope the AT device will do for you?
  • Will you have a chance to try it before buying it?

How will you know if the AT device is a good fit for you?

  • Will you be trained on the new AT device?
  • Will you actually use it?
  • Will the AT device help you meet your goals?

From https://mdtransitions.org/assistive-technology/

Interested in learning more about Assistive Technology? Contact assistivetechnology@penn-mar.org for more information.

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