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The things you use in your home, or in your car...
The things that enables a disabled person to do things...
That's assistive technology!
Some of the things we keep in our rural Michigan home - to take care of my elderly father with Parkinson's and dementia - are a lift chair, walkers, elevated toilet seats, shower chairs, stuff for feeding yourself, and a seat cover in the car.
These are just a few of the many items we have in our home that are used really regularly.
These are the ones that get used most often.
"Abandonment" takes place when you buy something to help out in your home, and start to use it, but don't end up using it long-term.
It's common for Assistive technology in American households to end up in disuse.
My household is no different.
We have many other devices that were purchased… used a bit …and stored because they did pass the test of being useful enough to make it worth the effort of using them.
According to research, this assistive technology abandonment happens a lot! About 20% of prescribed assistive technology are not used eventually.¹
Walkers, wheelchairs, braces are some of the items in the prescribed assistive technology category, that we've found go to disuse on our own basement.
For all of the other assistive devices families purchase, I have not found any research to date about its use or disuse. I can tell you that in our house we have tried a variety of things, both big and small… relatively inexpensive and quite expensive… that are not collecting dust or donated.
I wonder how much time and money was used that resulted in these failures for us? Enough of that…
There is a possible solution in each state… it will take your time but it may save you some money. There is a federally funded program called the State Assistive Technology Program.
This program supports improved provision of assistive technology to those with disabilities of all ages. You can find these programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and these other areas (American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Where to find an assistive technology program for my state?
The AT3 Center is home to the directory for these programs for each state.
Or you can go straight to the Michigan Assistive Technology Program here.
The first image seen above is where the directory link will land. From there you click the + next to the state or other areas where you or the person being cared for lives. The second image provides an example of the general information provided when clicking on the state or area link. The state of Alabama has a website link to get more information and learn more about their assistive technology programs: device loan, device demonstration, device reutilization (device refurbish/reuse), and loans. Each state develops their program to meet the needs of those living in their state.
I am most familiar with the program in the state of Illinois. It is a wonderful…a hidden gem. The staff there are very knowledgeable and will work with you to try to find the best match between the needs of the individual and the characteristics and capabilities of the devices. Very rarely is anything perfect! (I always want something to completely take that task off of my plate…I can hope).
Illinois has a device loan program so you can try different devices to help find the best fit for your needs. They also have a device recycling and financial loan program to help keep costs down once you determine the best device.
Yes, these programs take time but maybe they will cut down on the time you take doing internet searches for something that works. Maybe you can share some of your wisdom with them so that they can forward that to others in the big disability boat.
Give them a try…..
The Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) official website is HERE!
Thought after writing this post:
It is hard to ask for help but if you don’t ask you will never get the help needed.
—Me
