Categories on the AT Exchange

Use the following to scroll down to definitions and examples on this page:

Computers and related

Definition:

Hardware and software products that enable people with disabilities to access, interact with, and use computers at home, work, or school. Includes modified or alternate keyboards, switches activated by pressure, touch screens, special software, voice to text software

What's in this category?

Standard computers and computer-related devices (those that will be used without any adaptations), along with input adaptations used to mitigate, compensate or address motor limitations.

Examples of Computer Devices:

  • Alternative Input Devices: Includes alternative and adaptive keyboards, expanded keyboards ,Key guards, alternative and ergonomic mouse/pointing systems, head-operated pointing devices, Eye glaze pointing devices, mouth/tongue pointing devices, Morse code input devices, brain-actuated pointing devices, switches, touch screens, voice input systems, speech-to-text software, voice recognition/voice command software, dictation software, on-screen keyboards, cursor enlargement software, ergonomic computer-based equipment, etc.
  • Accessible Software: Includes software applications adapted for children and adults with disabilities, operating system accessibility options, accessible web browsers, etc.

What should be listed in a different category?

Computer adaptations used to address vision, hearing, or learning, cognitive or developmental limitations as these have their own categories on AT Xchange. Examples are screen reading software, Braille input devices or readers and scanners with optical recognition.

For more information about computer and related assistive technology on the web

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Daily Living

Definition:

Devices that enhance the capacity of people with disabilities to live independently, especially AT that assist with activities of daily living, such as dressing, personal hygiene, bathing, home maintenance, cooking, eating, shopping and managing money.

What's in this category?

Devices for:

  • Personal hygiene, care and toileting
  • Dressing and apparel, and aids to dressing
  • Housekeeping, cleaning, maintenance
  • Cooking and eating
  • Handling, reaching, manipulating
  • Alerting and signaling
  • Household management
  • Life safety devices and systems that do not involve home modifications
  • Devices used to accommodate multiple disabilities.
  • Devices that assist persons with motor impairments not categorized elsewhere.
  • Telephone equipment not intended to accommodate other categories of disabilities.

Examples of Daily Living Devices:

  • Writing guides, adapted writing implements
  • modified or large-handled tools and utensils
  • eating/feeding equipment, spiked cutting board, jar opener
  • zipper pulls, button hooks, needle threader
  • personal pager, multi-sensing/multi-sensory alerting devices
  • wheelchair desks/trays
  • reacher
  • wheelchair/walker bag
  • accessible baby changing table
  • switch-adapted food processor or other appliance
  • large-button telephone (not for vision or cognitive accommodation).

What should be listed in a different category?

Architectural/home adaptations or modifications are classified under Environmental adaptations. Devices intended to accommodate specific disabilities, such as hearing or vision, are assigned to those categories. Devices that assist with personal organization are classified as Learning, Cognition and Developmental.

For more information about daily living assistive technology on the web:

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 Environmental Adaptations

Definition:

Environmental and structural adaptations to the built environment that remove or reduce barriers and promote access to and within the built home, employment and community facilities for individuals with disabilities. Environmental adaptations usually involve building construction, engineering, and architecture, but also include environmental controls and switches that can control a large portion of or an entire living environment. Environmental adaptations are typically permanent or semi permanent structures, modifications or additions

What's in this category?

Examples:

  • Accessible HVAC controls, accessible plumbing fixtures and controls
  • Adapted playground equipment and structures
  • Alarm and Security Systems
  • Cabinetry and Storage equipment
  • Door/Gate Openers
  • Environmental controls and switches (i.e., electronic systems that enable people to control various appliances, lights, telephones, security systems etc.)
  • Flooring and Surface materials/Detectable warning surfaces
  • General Environmental Access Products
  • Lifts
  • Lighting/lighting controls
  • Ramps
  • Signage/signaling products
  • Workstations/Desks/Tables, Home-workplace adaptations.
  • Roll in shower,
  • wall or floor mounted grab bars

What should be listed in a different category?

Adaptations or modifications to vehicles are classified under Vehicle modifications.  Adaptations to furniture such as chairs, couches, beds, etc., would be generally be classified under Mobility, Seating, and Positioning. Shower chairs, commodes, raised toilet seats and similar portable items would be classified in the daily living category .  

For more information about environmental adaptations on the web:

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Hearing

Definition:

Products designed to assist with hearing.

What's in this category?

Products/devices intended to facilitate access and participation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are classified in this category, even if they are used for activities of daily living or could have another application for people with other disabilities or for other functions.  Products intended to facilitate telephone usage for individuals with hearing disabilities are categorized here, rather than as aids to daily living.  If the telephone adaptation is for an individual who is both visually impaired and hearing impaired, are under either vision or hearing.  Products that amplify voice are classified here if the purpose is to enhance the volume of speech produced by an individual without a disability, in order for his/her speech to be heard by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.  This category also includes systems that provide for text communication, both via telecommunication (text messaging; TTY) and face to face (Interpretype).  Peripherals designed to facilitate access or otherwise support the use of a device for hearing (e.g. neck loop induction coils; TeleLink phone couplers; conference microphone; telephone signalers) are counted in this category.

Examples:

  • Personal amplification systems (hearing aids, PocketTalker Pro,  etc.)
  • Assistive Listening Systems (FM; loop; infrared, sound-field, large area, personal)
  • Wireless headphones to enhance TV listening (e.g. DirectEar; TV Listener)
  • Daily living aids that use visual or tactile rather than audible signals (e.g. vibrating alarm clock; smoke alarm with strobe light; door bell with flashing signal; etc.)
  • Instant messaging devices (used as portable TTY)
  • Daily living aids with enhanced audible signals (Sonic Boom Alarm Clock)
  • Amplified Telephones, in-line amplifiers for telephones, cell phone amplifiers
  • Text telephones (TTYs), Voice carryover (including CapTel) and Hearing carryover telephones and Signaling devices (visual and/or tactile alerting to incoming phone calls)
  • Classroom Captioning System
  • iCommunicator (Voice to text system)
  • AudioSee (enhanced view of speaker for speech reading, in addition to FM capabilities)
  • InterpreType dual keyboard system

For more information about hearing assistive technology on the web:

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Learning, Cognitive, & Developmental

Definition:

Products to provide people with disabilities with access to educational materials and instruction in school or other environments; products that assist with learning, and cognition.

What's in this category?

Examples:

  • Calculators and measurement tools
  • Clocks/Timers/Wake-up Systems
  • Electronic Reference Tools and Money Management Tools
  • Memory Aids
  • Electronic Note takers, Portable Word Processers, and Recording Devices
  • Electronic Organizers/Personal Digital Assistants
  • Scientific Equipment
  • Educational/Instructional Software (cause and effect, reading, language, spelling, math, writing, science, history, etc)  
  • Cognitive/Perceptual Training Software
  • Tape or other audio players (except as related to vision)
  • Text-to-speech systems (WYNN, Read and Write Gold, etc.)
  • Sensory/Developmental Stimulation Products

  • Light boxes

What should be listed in a different category?

Products designed to assist people who are blind or visually impaired with reading, organization, learning, computer access, etc. are classified under vision. 

For more information about Learning, Cognitive, & Developmental assistive technology on the web:

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Mobility, Seating & Positioning

Definition:

Products whose main focus is on augmenting or replacing the functional limitations of an individual’s mobility.

What's in this category?

Examples:

  • Ambulatory aids: low tech aids such as canes, walkers or crutches
  • Strollers & transport chairs
  • Wheelchairs, Scooters and power chairs
  • Seating and positioning – pelvic guides, contoured seating systems, head supports
  • Orthotics - cervical collar, lap strap cover
  • Prosthetics -breast form, foot adapter

What should be in a different category?

Wheelchair restraints (tie downs: 4-belt & docking or lock downs: trailer-hitch) associated van locks which allow a power chair user to drive and/or be transported safely is classified under Vehicle Modification and Transportation. A wheelchair designed specifically for a sport or recreational activity would be under Recreation, Sports, and Leisure.

For more information about mobility devices on the web:

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Recreation, Sports, and Leisure

Definition:

Products not already classified in other categories that help persons with disabilities to participate in sport, health, physical education, recreation, leisure, and dance events.

What's included in this category?

Specialized products designed specifically for recreational, leisure or athletic pursuits are categorized here.

Examples:

  • Switch-adapted toys and games, playing card shuffler
  • Sports equipment - Tennis wheelchairs; beach wheelchairs, skiing equipment; sled/sledge hockey equipment
  • Fitness equipment
  • Adapted camera and other photography equipment
  • Musical instruments and related devices
  • Arts, crafts and photography equipment
  • Gardening and horticultural equipment
  • Adaptive equipment for fishing, hunting, and camping;
  • Camping, hiking and other outdoor recreational equipment
  • Adaptive musical instruments and accessories;
  • Audio and video entertainment equipment
  • Entertainment system remote control not used for lights, heat or other environmental control

What should be in a different category?

Devices intended to accommodate specific disabilities, such as hearing or vision, or learning are assigned to those categories.

For more information about mobility devices on the web:

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Speech Communication

Definition:

Products designed to assist with speaking and face-to-face communication for individuals with speech disabilities.

What's in this category?

Products that amplify voice if the purpose is to enhance the volume of speech produced by an individual with a disability, in order for his/her speech to be audible to others.   Peripherals designed to facilitate access or otherwise support the use of a device for speech communication (e.g. mounting systems; carrying cases, switch or mouth stick used for access) are counted in this category.

Examples:

  • Speech generating devices such as BIGMack; DV4; ChatPC; DynaWrite; Pathfinder; talking photo album
  • Communication boards/books
  • Software with speech output e.g. Speaking Dynamically Pro
  • Software that provides symbol sets for use in developing “low tech” communication boards/books or “high tech” overlays e.g. BoardMaker; Picture This!
  • Artificial larynx
  • Devices that produce text but not voice output for face-to-face communication (e.g. Crespeaker)
  • Voice clarifiers (e.g. Speech Enhancer)
  • Voice amplifiers (e.g. Falck amplifier)
  • Stuttering aids

What should be in a different category?

Products intended to facilitate computer access and usage for written communication are classified under Computers. Products intended to facilitate telephone usage for individuals with speech disabilities will be classified under activities of daily living, except when the adaptation is for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing in which case it is classified under hearing.  If the purpose of an amplifier is to enhance the volume of speech produced by an individual without a disability, in order for his/her speech to be heard by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, the device is classified under hearing.

For more information about Speech Communication on the web:

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Vehicle Modification and Transportation

Definition:

Products that give people with disabilities independence and enhance safety in transportation through adaptation of vehicles.

What's in this category?

Examples:

  • Adaptive shoulder and seat safety belts
  • Tie downs and lock downs that secure the wheelchair to the vehicle floor
  • Hand controls
  • Extended directional mirrors.
  • Vehicles and vans modified with lifts, ramps, raised roofs, etc.  

What should be in a different category?

Versatile/portable ramps (temporary adaptation) and wheelchair lifts (permanently installed in buildings) are classified under Environmental adaptations.  

For more information about Vehicle Modification and Transportation on the web:

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Vision

Definition:

Products designed to assist with vision.

What's in this category?

Products intended to facilitate access and participation for people who are blind or visually impaired are classified in this category, even if they are used for activities of daily living, computer access, reading/learning, way finding/travel, recreation, etc.  Products in this category provide output of information through large print/display, synthetic speech or Braille/tactile.   Reading systems to accommodate vision are classified here. A telephone with both a large print keypad and amplification for listening may be in either vision or hearing. 

Examples:

  • Magnifiers including Closed Captioned TV systems;
  • Talking scales, blood pressure gauge, glucometer etc.;
  • Screen readers, screen magnifiers and Braille displays;
  • Daisy or Victor Readers;
  • PDA’s with large print, speech or Braille output;
  • Talking or Braille GPS, white canes, talking or tactile compass, etc.;
  • OCR reading systems; talking thermostats, household appliances etc. 

What should be in a different category?

Systems for reading text on a computer for people with cognitive or reading disabiliites should be in the learning category. A TTY with Braille output would be in the hearing category.

For more information about Vision products on the web:

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