Safekipedia

Assistive technology

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A person riding an adaptive handbike along the Rhine promenade in Düsseldorf, showcasing inclusive sports and mobility.

Assistive technology is a special kind of tools and devices that help people who have trouble doing everyday things. These tools can help with moving around, eating, or even going to school.

There are many different kinds of assistive technology. Wheelchairs help people who cannot walk move around easily. Hearing aids help people who have trouble hearing understand sounds better. There are also tools that help people write or read on computers.

These tools are very important because they help people live more independent and happy lives. They let people do things they couldn’t do before, giving them more freedom and control.

Assistive technology can also help students in school. For example, some tools can read books aloud or help with writing. This makes school easier and more fun for everyone.

In the future, new and better tools will keep being made to help even more people. This means everyone can have a better life, no matter what challenges they face.

Images

A lightweight power add-on attached to a wheelchair, helping users move more easily.
A behind-the-ear hearing aid, showing how it helps people hear better.
A special keyboard with large keys and tactile guides, designed to help people who are visually impaired use computers more easily.
A person using special technology to help them communicate.
Tatyana McFadden, a determined athlete, races in the New York City Marathon using a wheelchair in 2011.
Chart showing patent filings for assistive technologies from 2013 to 2017
Chart showing growth in patents for assistive technologies from 2013 to 2017
A chart showing how many patent applications were made for different kinds of assistive technologies from 2000 to 2017.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Assistive technology, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.