Many individuals with a disability find that it can be extremely challenging to be independent and will often have to rely on somebody else to help them with their day-to-day life. This may include aspects such as getting dressed, cooking and getting out and about each day. This can be incredibly frustrating, but, fortunately, there are certain new technologies and gadgets that can be used to give those with a disability more independence.
Transport
One of the biggest and most important challenges is transportation. Everybody needs to be able to get around whether it is commuting to and from work, going to the shops or simply going to visit friends. Unfortunately, public transportation is not quite up to the required standard and is also famously unreliable. One of the best developments for those with a disability in recent years has been the introduction of disabled cars and vehicles.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are automobiles that have been adapted so that a wheelchair user can easily and safely travel either as a passenger or as a driver. The vehicles from specialists like Allied Mobility use a ramp or lift and have a high entry point so that a wheelchair user can easily gain access. The wheelchair will then be safely secured inside the vehicle for safe transportation. There are various adaptations that can be made to suit the individual too.
Adapted Cars
Additionally, there have been all kinds of brilliant adaptations that have been made to make it easy and safe for those with a wide range of disabilities to get behind the wheel of a car. Hand controls for accelerating and braking, a joystick instead of a steering wheel and left-foot accelerators are just a few examples of the adaptations that can be made. The motorist will need to pass their driving test (the same as everyone else’s) and they will then be licensed to operate any vehicle with that particular adaptation. This is fantastic because it provides a huge sense of independence and makes it possible for somebody with a disability to hold down a job.
Other Technologies
Other examples of technologies helping those with a wide range of disabilities include speech into text converters for those with hearing impairments, braille smartwatches for those with visual impairments and voice-activated controls in the home for those with mobility issues. These are just a few examples, but there are many more and all kinds of exciting technologies being developed which will transform the lives of millions of people around the world.
It can be difficult to be independent when you have a disability, but technology can be of a massive assistance and it is already helping people with a wide range of disabilities to gain more independence.
