My favorite gadgets at this year’s Assistive Technology Industry Association conference, which featured more than 100 vendors, include two communications products and a new PDA for the blind. I also note some worthy mentions – gadgets that I liked because of their design or originality. Here’s the list. ECO2 This eye-gaze system brings the latest in alternative [...]
Though assistive tech isn’t really a topic to be taken lightly, sometimes it’s good to have some fun with it — and find the humorous side of things. Here’s hoping you smile with these photos taken today at the 2010 Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference in Orlando: Don’t touch that pony! A blind woman attended [...]
The New York Times article about insurers refusing to pay for speech-generating devices has hit a sore point among the disability community. Today's newspaper reserves a section for comments from people who use these devices, including Roger Ebert, the film critic for The Chicago Sun-Times.
Insurance companies argue that many of today's speech-generating devices are not eligible for reimbursement because they can also perform "fun and games" -- like e-mail and web browsing. But is it really fair? The disabled say they'd rather have an all-in-one device that lets them speak while doing computer work and web browsing. But they can't simply walk into a Best Buy or Circuit City to get what they need, unless they pay for it out of pocket.
AAC maker DynaVox Mayer-Johnson has merged with Blink Twice, whose products include Tango speech-generating device for children and teens with speech and language challenges.
The phrase “Cat got your tongue?” is an all-too-real question for someone rendered speechless by disability. With text-to-speech becoming more widely available on computers and cell phones — used mostly for voice-dialing and menu controls — it’s great to see new applications for the iPhone and BlackBerry that are helping people with disabilities to [...]
The Today Show featured Augie Nieto, vice president and co-chairman of the ALS division of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, who described how he uses a Dynavox EyeMax System to speak, send email, watch TV, and operate his computer.
