Assistive technologies, also called adaptive technologies, include all those clever products, tools, and devices that make life and functioning easier. These types of innovative labor and energy saving tools are part of your survival kit if you have MS and include small and seemingly insignificant devices like the roller knife and buttonhook, as well as sophisticated technologies like electric-powered scooters and software developed to assist with speech and language.
You may need to consult with the physical therapist, occupational therapist, or another member of your rehabilitation team to find the assistive technologies that will give you the most benefit and to learn how to use them correctly and safely.
The list below provides examples of some assistive technologies organized by functional area, including mobility, hand and arm function, home chores, communications and computers, home access, and driving.
Assistive Technologies: Functional area / Product or Device
- Canes and crutches, including forearm crutch, quad cane
- Walkers, including 4-wheeled rollator walker
- Wheelchair (manual or motorized)
- Motorized scooter
- Ankle-foot orthosis or AFO, including post leaf spring and carbon AFOs
- Functional electrical stimulation or FES
- Hip flexion assist device
- Long-handled shoehorn, elastic shoe laces, Velcro closure shoes
- Stocking aid, buttonhook, elastic thread
- Reachers
- Card or book holders
- Fingertip moistener
- Heavier utensils (brand: Knork Flatware) to counteract tremor
- Cups or glasses with lids, plates with lips
- Signature stamp, large diameter textured pen or pencil, Writing Bird or other pen/pencil holders, plastic writing guides
- Smart pen (uses a recording feature to help with note-taking)
- Digital recorder
- Cushions or leg extenders to raise level of seating
- Lift chairs, devices that assist in sitting and getting up from chairs (brand: UpEasy Assist)
- Rocker knife, utensils with built-up handles (brand: Good Grips utensils), cutting boards with feature to stabilize item being cut
- Wheeled carts for kitchen items
- Cooling vest (to counteract heat of kitchen stove)
- Video communication systems (computer-based)
- Speakerphones or phone headset for hands-free function
- Voice recognition software for phone and computer
- Driving:
- Hand controls for acceleration or braking
- Cargo mount for transport of wheelchair or scooter
- Ramps
- Mechanical lift or elevator
- Handrails
- Bathroom safety and personal hygiene:
- Toilet safety frame, tub transfer bench, shower chair, clamp-on tub grab bar and other types of grab bars, hand-held shower hose, bathtub lift
- Extra high toilets and sinks
Sources for information about assistive technologies
Several organizations provide useful information about assistive and adaptive technologies. Some of these are described in the table below.
Resources for Information on Assistive Technologies
8201 Corporate Drive, Ste 600, Landover, MD 20785
Tel 800-346-2742
E-mail: naricinfo@heitechservices.com
Some services provided at a cost
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 930, Silver Springs, MD 20910
Tel: 800-227-0216
Web site: www.abledata.com
E-mail: abledata@macrointernational.com
Database of more than 29,000 products that you can search by subject or product type
2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77019
Tel: 713-520-0232
Web site: www.ilru.org
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web site: www.abilityhub.com
Web site: www.specialiving.com
P.O. Box T, Hewett, NJ 07421
Tel: 800-736-2216/973-853-6585
Web site: www.angelfire.com/nj/nire2
E-mail: nire@theoffice.net
Onsite training available
Services offered on a sliding fee scale
801 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006-3517
Tel: 800-416-7645
Web site: www.pva.org
Useful architectural design information
3075 Adeline Street, Ste 280, Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel: 510-225-6400
TTY: 510-225-0478
Fax: 510-225-0477
Web site: www.wid.org
E-mail: wid@wid.org
111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1202
Tel: 800-829-0500
Web site: www.lighthouse.org
E-mail: info@lighthouse.org
Includes link to Vision Connection, a service that provides that latest information on technologies and services for people with vision problems, including locally available resources
200 Portland Street, Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 617-695-1225 (v/tty)
Fax: 617-482-8099
Web site: www.humancentereddesign.org
E-mail: info@HumanCenteredDesign.org
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, Inc. (MCIL)
1600 University Avenue West, Suite 16, St. Paul, MN 55104-3825
Tel: 651-603-2029
Web site: www.wheelchairramp.org
E-mail: jimwi@mcil-mn.org
1700 N. Moore Street, Suite 1540, Arlington, VA 22209-1903
Tel: 703-524-6686
Web site: www.resna.org