Assistive technology and telecommunications

There are many different technologies and devices that assist people with disabilities in their everyday lives.

Assistive technology

Assistive technology (AT) is something that people with disabilities use to do day-to-day tasks. It can be a piece of equipment, a software program, or another item to increase a person’s ability to do things independently.

Examples of assistive technology

• Wheelchairs, canes, walkers, scooters, rollators, crutches, prosthetics
• Hearing aids, cochlear implants, assisted listening device
• Reachers, adapted joysticks and keyboards, pencil grips, page-turners, adapted cooking utensils, bump dots
• Screen readers, speech-to-text or text-to-speech software, screen magnifiers
• Communication boards or devices
• Lifts, transfer benches, shower or toilet chairs

Telecommunications

The Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws make sure people who are Deaf or have hearing disabilities have access to communication via telephone. 

People who are Deaf or have hearing disabilities may use:

• Teletypewriter (TTY)
• Telecommunication device for the Deaf (TDD)
• Video relay service (VRS)
• Voice carry over (VCO)