When people hear “assistive technology,” they often picture something expensive and complicated. In practice, most of the devices that make the biggest difference in daily life are simple, and funding is often available based on individual need.
For reading and writing: handheld and stand magnifiers, digital magnifiers, bold writing pens and paper, and writing guides (sometimes called a typo scope) help patients keep doing everyday paperwork — reading mail, filling out forms, writing checks — without straining to make out small print.
For daily tasks around the house: talking watches and clocks, large-number telephones, tactile label dots, and talking labels reduce the number of things that require sharp central vision just to get through a normal day. Task lighting and magnifying lamps can also make a bigger difference than people expect, simply by improving contrast.
For technology: screen readers and computer magnification software let patients keep using email, online banking, and the web. TV glasses and sun filter lenses address two very different but common complaints — trouble seeing the screen, and discomfort with glare.
The right combination is different for every patient, which is why our Rehab Specialists start with an assessment rather than a catalog. If you’re not sure whether a specific task — reading a prescription label, managing money, using a computer — has a device that could help, that’s exactly the kind of question to bring to us.