Reflections of Assistive Technologies

     The first person I learned about was a young girl named Ella. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,which extremely limits much of her motor functions. Communication is also hard for Ella. At a young age, she had used different types of technology, such as a tablet and a laptop to help her communicate what she was thinking/feeling. However, these technologies had their downsides regarding their effectiveness and their accessibility. Eventually, her mother helped her acquire what is called a Dynabox, which allows for easy communication and was easies for Ella. This Dynabox allowed Ella to convey her thoughts through eye tracking and selection of different words and ideas presented in this technology. Ella could now quickly and fluently communicate to other peers without actually having to move or talk.
     The second person I learned about was a young boy named Mason. Mason is completely blind in one of his eyes, and only has 20/100 vision in his other eye. Because of Masons visual limitations, learning can be hard for him. He has own personal typewriter called a "Mopad Brailler". This personal tool allows Mason to type in braille, and also allows him to hear exactly what he is typing. This technology literally announces the letters he is typing at such a young age. The keyboard is also a much more simple version of a regular English keyboard. Less buttons and gadgets makes the typewriter much more simple than a computer, but allows for so much more. The braille that Mason produces can now be read easily by not only his teachers, but Mason himself. Mason is now able to write just like other students.
     The last person I was able to learn about was a young man named Lukas. Lukas has beaten the odds of a disease that limits the use of all of limbs. Limited arm and leg use forces Lukas to find new ways to do things. This disease is called Amioplaysia. A special wheelchair equipped with a sort of joystick with mechanical properties allows Lukas to do he loves, like playing an instrument, which is a huge accomplishment for anyone, and he is able to do it even while being affected with his condition. This Joystick assists Lukas in controlling the valves of his instrument and play the notes he wants to play. Lukas can now play a big part in his school band due to the help of his specialized joystick.