Assistive Techology Provides More Opportunities

I was very impressed by the young quadriplegic man, Todd, who created a successful career for himself working in IT. His use of the computer adaptive tools demonstrate that one is truly only limited by their own self. He was able to use a mouth wand to turn pages on a magazine or book. He used a joystick to operate his wheelchair. He used puffs of air to operate his mouse. His workstation was adjusted to allow his wheelchair to fit and everything was adjusted and placed in the correct position for him to reach them.


These types of devices are very useful for individuals with major cognitive challenges. Within the medical occupations, these devices would enable an individual to pursue a career in medical billing and coding. These individuals translate the information provided by the physician (e.g., reason for the visit, the patient’s diagnoses, treatment provided, procedures performed, etc.) into a specific numerical or alphanumerical code that is then provided to the insurance carrier for payment. The passage of the Health Information Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996 (HIPAA) has resulted in the beginnings of electronic medical records and insurance clearinghouses. All insurance claims must now be submitted electronically, something the patient is unable to do. This requires specialized training to understand the forms and correctly chose the codes to enable the physician to receive payment.

There was a time when individuals with these extreme challenges had no opportunity to develop a meaningful career. They were victims of a society that locked them away. They were told, “You can’t do that”. Today’s technology has opened a marvelous world of countless opportunities for these individuals; all they have to do is take the first step. I firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue his or her dreams, especially in education. To be able to have a workstation such as this for a student who is disable, and watch them learn and grow would be so worthwhile. It would also provide a learning experience for the rest of the class. They would be given the opportunity to see that everyone, no matter who they are, can be a contributing member of society.