The Importance of Assistive Mobility
Assistive mobility is the capacity to move around and interact with the surrounding. It can be restricted gradually, for example, in the condition known as multiple sclerosis, or instantly like in a spinal cord injury or loss of limbs.
Assistive devices can assist people with disabilities that affect mobility to achieve. But before you pick the right device, it is important to have a comprehensive assessment with a specialist.
Human Assistance
Mobility aids help people with disabilities manage the impact of their limitations on their everyday lives. They are available in different categories depending on the needs of the person and range from basic items like walking sticks and adapted cups to specialized computer hardware and motorized wheelchairs. The devices are also adapted to specific settings like school, home and community.
A variety of assistive technologies are not suitable for remote and rural areas and low-income countries and must be carefully matched to people's needs and environmental factors. The most appropriate technologies are easy, efficient and affordable, use local skills, tools and materials, and are easily maintained. They must be designed with people in mind and accessible to people who are disabled.
The selection of assistive technology is a complicated procedure, and it's crucial to work with a seasoned AT team. The team should include various professionals in the field, such as family doctors as well as regular education teachers, special education teachers and rehabilitation engineers. Other experts may include occupational therapists and speech language pathologists.
A good assistive technology team will include a person who has a disability. They are a great source of information about assistive technology and will help you in your decision-making. They can also explain how the device functions and offer you the chance to test it.
An example of a suitable assistive technology is the ear moulds for Koris who is deaf in the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. Koris was incapable of sending her daughter who is deaf to school due to her hearing loss. However, through CBR workers from Callan Services for Disabled Persons who were trained in this field, she was able to find schools for children who are deaf and was able to register her.
CBR programs can also teach local artisans to make small repairs on assistive devices. This can help reduce the need to travel long distances for repair and maintenance which can make disabled people reluctant to use their devices. A national organization for disabled people in Lebanon, for example has established production units and workshops for wheelchairs and assistive devices as in addition to repair and distribution centers across the country.
Navigation apps
Navigating one's surroundings can be a challenge for everyone, but it is especially problematic for visually impaired individuals. In the past blind people had to rely on others for directions, but now there are an array of navigation apps that can help them navigate with confidence and independence. These apps include features such as audio descriptions, GPS technology, and adaptive functions. They can provide unprecedented levels of accessibility and freedom.
Apps such as Google Maps and Commute Booster are some of the most popular navigation tools available with a range of useful features that can be tailored to the individual's needs. For instance the former can provide global offline usability, allowing users to download maps for specific regions and avoid having to use data while using the navigation. The second however, provides real-time updates for public transportation schedules and routes that allow users to plan their travel ahead of time and reach their destinations faster.
They also focus on safety by ensuring users adhere to the rules of the road and take appropriate precautions during their journeys. For example, some offer guidance for lane usage to ensure that drivers are staying on the proper side of the road. Meanwhile, others have voice-guided navigation that can alert users of imminent obstacles or pedestrian crossings. These apps can also save parked locations which is particularly helpful for drivers who have trouble remembering where they left their car.
Other features that can improve user experience include multi-modal navigation, which allows users to plan and navigate across different landscapes using the flexibility of multiple modes of transport. Some apps also let users save their preferences by allowing them to exclude toll roads or specific areas from their journeys. This creates a tailored experience that is based on personal preferences.
Certain navigation apps provide tactile feedback via vibrations while others provide audio cues that inform users about their surroundings. They can also provide step-bystep instructions, which allow users to learn how to complete complex tasks easily and confidently. This can help users build skills that empower and empower them, whether they are navigating an unfamiliar environment or getting to their job.
Complex Venues
Providing mobility access in huge locations like airports and stadiums can seem impossible at first. But there are many ways to make sure users with disabilities don't face any barriers when visiting public places. It is important to provide assistive devices that are tailored to their needs, and not the generic ones they find in a general shop or when renting a wheelchair. CBR programs can help locate local artisans interested in producing these custom orthoses and facilitate training.
Other options include accessible counters at checkouts as well as information desks. Access to elevators and escalators is crucial and should be accompanied by wide aisles that allow wheelchairs to turn or turn. Finally, indoor wayfinding apps such as Evelity designed by Okeenea can be helpful in helping users with physical disabilities apprehend their surroundings and navigate.
Freedom
In lowand middle-income countries, 5 to 15% of those who need assistive technologies have access these. This is due to a lack of production capacity and the lack of resources. In addition, a lot of people are unaware of the importance of assistive devices.
A thorough evaluation is necessary to ensure that assistive equipment is the best fit to the person. This includes a medical exam and physical examination and a discussion of the individual's goals. This is especially crucial when providing power mobility and other types of assistive equipment. Poor selection or fitting may lead to frustration, discomfort and secondary conditions such as pressure sores.
Assistive mobility is a method to enable a person to move about freely in their surroundings. This includes school, home workplace, as well as the community. This freedom is a right that is expressly recognized in section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Mobility aids can be a life-changing device that increases independence, fosters confidence in yourself and helps to increase social integration. It can also enhance the quality of life for those who need it and keep or regain functional capabilities. For electric scooters who have disabilities, assistive mobility is about recovering aspects of their lives that they may have lost or never been in a position to enjoy due to injury or disease.
Freedom Mobility helps disabled veterans and first responders by gifting the latest technology in mobility and lift and specially modified pickups for transport. Freedom Mobility is backed by national foundations and companies that partner with it to give back to civilian and military heroes who have been injured in service to their country.
Freedom Mobility is also committed to providing an exceptional experience for its customers by providing a client centric mobility outcomes tool. This tool offers evidence of functional improvement and permits regular monitoring by an accredited RESNA the ATP. This allows Freedom Mobility to spot any health issues that could cause harm such as skin breakdown, early pressure ulcers or other mobility-related issues, and to take prompt preventative actions. This means less time spent in hospital for clients, greater autonomy and the ability to stay active and engaged with their communities and careers.