Assistive Technology Definition

The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, US Public Law 105-394, defines an assistive technology device as "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, this is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." ¹ The definition is broad and inclusive, as befitting a law on assistive technology. Any device that aids a person with a disability should be recognized as assistive technology.

To promote my own better understanding and research, I have to categorize devices in my mind. I break down Assistive Technology (AT) into high-tech and low-tech devices. A hearing aid would be high tech because it involves electronics and a ear horn would be low-tech because it does not. I would further break down high-tech devices into those which require computational processing, i.e. a computer, and those that don't. The hearing aid would not, whereas a speech-to-tech device would. It is the computational assistive technology devices which interest me most.

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(1) http://www.section508.gov/docs/AT1998.html