Aimee Sterk, MSWMichigan Disability Rights Coalition Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP)aimee@mymdrc.org(616) 821-2517

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR DISABILITY AND AGING: COMMUNITY LIVING

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• A disability justice movement working to transform communities.

• Home of Michigan’s Assistive Technology Program (MATP)

Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC)

• Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software or product system that is used to help people with disabilities, including older adults, do what they want to do.

• Most assistive technology is low-tech.

What is Assistive Technology?

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• The most effective strategy for helping us do what we want to do

• Decline is slowed• Fewer nursing home and hospital stays• Greater functional independence• Reduced falls

Benefits of AT

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• Vibrating alarm clocks• Motion detecting lights• Assistive listening devices

• Toilet & tub bars• Meal prep tools• Walkers with wheels, baskets, seats & brakes

What type of AT was used in these studies?

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Types of AT, Continued

• Dressing aides• Bed assists• Photophones• Pill dispensers (28% of hospital admissions for people 65+ are due to med errors)

• Reminder devices• Eating aides

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• Start with their goal• Research device options• Know your environment• Review your resources--financial, friends and family (set up and installation), programs that might help

Choosing AT with Older Adults

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Kitchen AT

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Waking, Grooming, Dressing

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Around the House

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Mobility

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Memory, Wandering, & Safety

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Recreation

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• Handout has pricing and listings of where I purchased them

• Local durable medical equipment stores• Amazon.com• Alzstore.com• Patterson Medical (formerly Sammons Preston)• Allegro Medical• Liftlabs• Independent Living Aids• Harris Communications

Where to find these items

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Thank you!

• I crammed a lot of information in a short time. I hope it was helpful!

• Thank you for your time and attention!

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• Aimee Sterk(616) 821-2517 aimee@mymdrc.org

• MATP Main Office (800) 760-4600,(517) 333-2477mdrc@mymdrc.org

• Web: www.mymdrc.org

• MATP Blog -www.miassisttech.org/mdrcat/

• MATP Twitter -http://twitter.com/MIAssistTech

Contact

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