What Is Assistive Technology?

What Is Assistive Technology? 

Assistive technology refers to the products, equipment, and systems that help those with disabilities function in their daily lives. It can help with work, learning, and everyday tasks. 

According to the American Libraries magazine, "Assistive and adaptive technology makes the library and its resources work for users with disabilities. The terms assistive and adaptive are applied to aids that either assist the user in accessing a library resource or adapt that resource in such a way that it becomes usable."

 A very small example of some types of assistive products that can be used in libraries are:

  •     Screen-reading software
  •     Audio books
  •     Closed-captioning functions in DVD or video materials

There are many more types of services and products that libraries can use to assist  patrons with disabilities or special needs.

 

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