Assistive Technology Resource Center is Open to All

While technology is the key to the future, children and adults with disabilities are finding that assistive technology is the key to their success today.  People of all ages can use assistive technology tools to overcome physical, sensory, and cognitive limitations.

When a child has a disability, even the simplest activity represents a challenge.  The child finds it difficult to explore, interact with, and learn from the world at large.  This creates an inaccessible learning environment.  When learning is too hard, children lose interest.  Assistive technology is the key to an accessible learning environment for children.

Adults with disabilities frequently experience difficulty in communicating, mastering computer usage, or even turning on lights.  These limitations impact independence and can contribute to feelings of failure and depression.  Assistive technology is the key to accessible living and working environments for adults.

At Redwood, children and adults use assistive technology every day to independently play, learn, communicate, access the computer for educational or vocational tasks, or control their daily living environment.

The Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) makes this happen through services and supports for all Redwood programs.  Additionally, the center offers services to any person of any age and any ability level in the region and beyond!

Redwood’s program is one of only four assistive technology centers in Kentucky.  The philosophy of “try before you buy,” and the extensive inventory of state-of-the-art equipment, allows people to borrow or rent equipment for trial use.

So, how do people know what they need?  Nationally certified assistive technology practitioners, including a special educator, speech pathologist, and rehabilitation engineer, provide evaluation, consultation, and training.  Based on their recommendations, the Resource Coordinator provides assistance in equipment loan for control of the daily living environment, augmentative and alternative communication, and computer access.

As an example of the impact of assistive technology, consider the benefits to Kristen.  She was a student in the Computer Learning Center.  Kristen wanted to learn new skills and be as independence as possible.  Technology staff evaluated her abilities and recommended equipment to best meet her needs.  Now, Kristen is effectively inputting information into the computer through an on-screen keyboard, a cursor controlling joystick, and a switch-activated mouse.

The ATRC is open Monday through Thursday.  For more information, contact us at (859) 331-0880.