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Technology
Assistive

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INTERNAL CIRCULATION
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Summary

Introduction........................................................................................................................... 2

The different conceptions and classifications related to Assistive Technology..................... 3

The Brazilian concept of Assistive Technology.................................................................. 4

Categories of Assistive Technology................................................................................... 6

Terminology applied in our country................................................................................ 15

The Brazilian Legislation in TA and Government Actions............................................ 16

Supplementary Reading ............................................................................................ 19

References.................................................................................................................. 24

Assessment Activities....................................................................................................... 25

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Introduction

The theme of assistive technology was born associated with the idea of rehabilitation and was
initially linked to the practice of health professionals. The change in understanding about the
What is disability and especially the new biopsychosocial and ecological model of understanding it?
the way or result of the interaction of the individual, who has a structural alteration and
functioning of the body, with the barriers imposed by the environment in which one lives; show
the impediments to participation in activities and the exclusion of people with
Disability is now a problem of social and technological order and not just a problem.
doctor or health.
The great and most important barriers are often the lack of knowledge.
of technological resources, in the non-application of current legislation, in the way society
is organized in a way that ignores the different demands of its population.
In this sense, the concept and practice of assistive technology also evolves, moving away from
concept of medical or clinical resources for a consumer good for a user seeking
a technological support for solving a personal and functional problem. In this
perspective, the user ceases to be a patient and takes on the role of someone who seeks in the scope of
assistive technology information about what is most appropriate to meet your disability and
the resources available for your specific case. Assistive technology today involves several
areas of knowledge such as health, rehabilitation, education, design, architecture,
engineering, computer science, among others.
Assistive technology is, above all, a resource for its user and the team puts its
knowledge available for him to find the resource or strategy that meets his
demand to act and participate in tasks and activities of your interest.
Specialized professionals in assistive technology may work in the field of
education, occupational therapy, in the development of prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs,
adaptations in materials, among others.

Target Audience: Occupational therapists, psychologists, teachers, and professionals from various fields.
areas of interest in inclusion.

Objective: - To train professionals to work in the field of assistive technology, in search of

building an accessible society for people with motor, sensory, and...
cognitive.

Basic bibliography:

BRAZIL. National Subsecretariat for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. B823 t
Technical Assistance Committee Assistive Technology. – Brasília: CORDE, 2009.

SON, Teófilo Alves Galvão; GARCÍA, Jesus Carlos Delgado. National Research of
Assistive technology. São Paulo: ITS Brasil/MCTI-SECIS, 2012.

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The different conceptions and classifications related to Technology

Assistive

For people without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For people with
disability, technology makes things possible.” (RADABAUGH, 1993)

According to the definition proposed by the Technical Assistance Committee (CAT), technology
assistive is an area of knowledge, characterized by its interdisciplinary nature, that encompasses products,
resources, methodologies, strategies, practices, and services aimed at promoting
functionality, related to the activity and participation of people with disabilities,
disabilities or reduced mobility, aiming for their autonomy, independence, quality of
life and social inclusion. (CAT, 2007)

Assistive Technology - AT is a still new term used to identify all of

arsenal of resources and services that help to provide or enhance skills
functional for people with disabilities and consequently promote independent living and
inclusion. (BERSCH & TONOLLI, 2006)

Cook and Hussey define AT by citing the concept of the ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act.
Act, as "a wide range of equipment, services, strategies and practices designed and
applied to mitigate the functional problems faced by individuals with
deficiencies." (COOK & HUSSEY, 1995)
The TA should be understood as an aid that will promote the expansion of a
deficient functional ability or will enable the performance of the desired function and that will
finds itself hindered by circumstances of disability or aging.

We can then say that the main objective of TA is to provide the person with
greater independence, quality of life, and social inclusion through
expansion of your communication, mobility, control of your environment, skills of
your learning and work.

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The Brazilian concept of Assistive Technology:

On November 16, 2006, the Special Secretariat of Human Rights of

Presidency of the Republic - SEDH/PR, through ordinance No. 142, established the Aid Committee
Techniques - CAT, which brings together a group of Brazilian specialists and representatives of agencies
governmental, in a work agenda. The CAT was established with main objectives
to present proposals for government policies and partnerships between civil society and agencies
public relating to the area of assistive technology; structure the guidelines of the area of
knowledge; carry out a survey of the human resources currently working with the
theme; detect the regional reference centers, aiming for the formation of a national network
integrated; to encourage at the federal, state, and municipal levels the creation of reference centers;
propose the creation of courses in the area of assistive technology, as well as the development of
other actions aimed at training qualified human resources and proposing the development of
studies and research related to the theme of assistive technology. (BRAZIL - SDHPR,
2012
To develop a concept of assistive technology that could support the policies
Brazilian public members of the CAT conducted a thorough review of the theoretical framework
international, researching the terms Technical Aids, Assistive Aids, Assistive Technology,
Assistive Technology and Support Technology. Some of the researched concepts are mentioned and
analyzed in the text that follows.
According to the National Secretariat for the Rehabilitation and Integration of People
with Disabilities (SNRIPD) of Portugal states:
Technical aids refer to any product, instrument, strategy,
service and practice used by people with disabilities and elderly people,
especially produced or generally available to prevent,
compensate, alleviate or neutralize a deficiency, disability or
disadvantage and improve the autonomy and quality of life of individuals.
(PORTUGAL, 2007).
In this description, we see the great scope of the theme, which exceeds the conception.
of product and adds other attributes to the concept of technical aids such as: strategies, services
and practices that promote the development of skills for people with disabilities.
The concept proposed in the document 'Empowering Users Through Assistive'
Technology" - EUSTAT, prepared by a committee of countries from the European Union brings
incorporated into the concept of assistive technology the various actions in favor of functionality of the
people with disabilities stating:
...first of all, the term technology does not refer solely to physical objects,
more to devices or equipment, but it refers more generally to
products, organizational contexts or ways of acting, that encompass a
"series of principles and technical components". (EUROPEAN COMMISSION -
DGXIII, 1998
The legal documents in the United States present TA as resources and
services being that:
Resources are any item, equipment or part of it, product or
series-manufactured or custom-made system used to increase, maintain or
improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Services
are defined as those who directly assist a person with
disability in selecting, purchasing, or using the above-defined resources. (ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act 1994.

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Based on these and other references, the CAT - approved, on December 14, 2007, a
concept that could support Brazilian public policies. This concept states:
Assistive Technology is a field of knowledge, characterized by
interdisciplinary, encompassing products, resources, methodologies, strategies,
practices and services aimed at promoting functionality, related to
activity and participation of people with disabilities, incapacities or
reduced mobility, aiming for autonomy, independence, quality of
life and social inclusion." (BRAZIL - SDHPR. – Technical Assistance Committee –
ATA VII)

Classification into categories

Assistive technology resources are organized or classified according to

functional objectives for which they are intended.
Several classifications of TA have been developed for different purposes, and we cite the
ISO 9999/2002 as an important international classification of resources, applied in
several countries.
The National Classification System of TA Resources and Services, of the States
United differs from ISO by presenting, in addition to the ordered description of resources, the concept
and the description of TA services.
The HEART classification is presented in an adapted form in the EUSTAT document.
Empowering Users Through Assistive Technology, which was developed by a group of
researchers from various countries in the European Union and is considered by them to be the most
appropriate for the training of end users of TA, as well as for the training of resources
humans in this area.
When presenting a classification of TA, followed by redefinitions by categories, it stands out
I know that its importance lies in organizing the use, prescription, study, and research of
resources and services in TA, in addition to providing the market with specific work focuses and
specialization.
The classification that follows was written in 1998 by José Tonolli and Rita Bersch. It has
a didactic purpose and in each topic considers the existence of resources and services; it was
designed based on other classifications used in TA databases and
especially from the training of the authors in the Certification Program in Applications of
Assistive Technology - ATACP of California State University Northridge, College of Extended
Learning and Center on Disabilities.
Recently, this classification was used by the Ministry of Finance; Science,
Technology and Innovation and by the National Secretariat for Human Rights of the Presidency of
Republic in the publication of Interministerial Ordinance No. 362, of October 24, 2012, which deals with
about the subsidized credit line for the acquisition of goods and services of Assistive Technology
intended for people with disabilities and about the list of goods and services.

Supplementaryreading:

Research more about the subject in the following links:

The National Classification System of TA Resources and Services, from the United States, can be found at:
[Link]/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products/National_Classification_System.doc.

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For more information about the Assistive Technology Applications Certification Program – ATACP of
California State University Northridge, College of Extended Learning and Center on Disabilities, consult:
[Link]

Categories of Assistive Technology

1-Aidsfordailylifeandpracticallife

Materials and products that enhance autonomous and independent performance in tasks
routine or facilitate the care of people in situations of dependence on assistance, in the
activities such as eating, cooking, dressing, bathing, and performing personal needs.
Examples are modified cutlery, supports for household utensils, clothing
designed to facilitate putting on and taking off, buttons, velcro, transfer aids,
support bars, etc. Equipment that promotes is also included in this category.
independence of visually impaired people in performing tasks such as: consulting the
relógio, usar calculadora, verificar a temperatura do corpo, identificar se as luzes estão acesas
you turned off, cook, identify colors and pieces of clothing, check blood pressure,
identify phone calls, write etc.

Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

2-AugmentativeandAlternativeCommunication

Aimed at serving people without functional speech or writing or with a gap between their
communicative necessity and your ability to speak and/or write. Resources such as boards
of communication, built with graphic symbolism (BLISS, PCS and others), letters or words
written, are used by the CAA user to express their questions, desires, feelings,
understandings. The high technology of vocalizers (boards with voice production) or the

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computer with specific software and dynamic boards on tablet-type computers,

ensure great efficiency in the communicative function.

Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

Image available at: [Link]

alternative-and-augmentative-communication-software-with-mobility/

Image available at: [Link]

3-Computeraccessibilityresources

Set of hardware and software specially designed to make the computer

accessible to people with sensory (visual and auditory), intellectual, and motor impairments. Includes
input devices (mice, keyboards, and specialized actuators) and output devices
(sounds, images, tactile information).
Examples of input devices are modified keyboards, virtual keyboards.
with scanning, special mice and various triggers, voice recognition software,
pointing devices that value head movement, eye movement, waves
cerebral (thought), orthoses and typing aids, among others.

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As output devices, we can mention screen reader software, software for

color and size adjustments of the information (magnifying effect), text reader software
printed (OCR), braille printers and braille lines, embossed printing, among others.

Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

Image available at:

Unable to access the URL or extract content from it.
d_comp_orig=1068

4-Environmentalcontrolsystems

Through a remote control, people with motor limitations can turn on,
turn off and adjust electronic devices such as lights, sound, televisions, fans,
execute the opening and closing of doors and windows, receive and make phone calls,
activate security systems, among others, located in your room, living room, office, house and
surroundings. The remote control can be activated directly or indirectly and in this case, a
the scanning system is triggered and the selection of the device, as well as the determination that it be
activated, it will be triggered by sensors (located anywhere on the body) that can be of
pressure, traction, blowing, blinking, voice command, etc.
Smart homes can also adjust themselves to the information of the environment such as
temperature, light, time of day, presence or absence of objects and movements, among others.

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This information activates a programming of functions such as turning lights on or off,

turning off fire or faucet, locking or opening doors. In the field of Assistive Technology
home automation aims to promote greater independence at home and also protection,
education and the care of elderly people, those who suffer from dementia or who have
intellectual disability.

5-Architecturalprojectsforaccessibility

Building and urban planning projects that ensure access, functionality, and mobility to
all people, regardless of their physical and sensory condition. Structural adaptations and
renovations in the home and/or workplace, through ramps, elevators, adaptations in
restrooms, furniture among others, that remove or reduce physical barriers.

Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

6-Orthosesandprostheses

Prosthetics are artificial pieces that replace missing parts of the body.

Orthoses are placed alongside a body segment, ensuring better support for it.
positioning, stabilization and/or function. They are usually made to measure and
they serve in mobility assistance, manual functions (writing, typing, use of cutlery,
handling of personal hygiene objects), postural correction, among others.

Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

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PosturalAdequacy

Having a stable and comfortable posture is essential to achieve a good

functional performance. It becomes difficult to accomplish any task when one is unsure about
regarding possible falls or feeling discomfort.
A posture adjustment project concerns the selection of resources that ensure
aligned, stable, comfortable postures with good distribution of body weight.
Individuals who use wheelchairs will be the main beneficiaries of the prescription.
of special seat and backrest systems that take into account their measurements, weight and
flexibility or existing musculoskeletal changes.
Resources that assist and stabilize the lying and standing posture are also included,
therefore, the cushions on the bed or the ortostatic stabilizers, among others, are part of this
TA resource group.
When used early, posture adjustment resources assist in
prevention of bodily deformities.

Image available at: [Link]

Image available at: [Link]

8-Mobilityaids

Mobility can be assisted by canes, crutches, walkers, carts, wheelchairs.

manual or electric wheels, scooters, and any other vehicle, equipment, or strategy
used for improving personal mobility.

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Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

9-Aidsforqualifyingvisualskillsandresourcesthatexpand
theinformationforpeoplewithlowvisionorblind.

Examples include: optical aids, lenses, handheld magnifiers, and electronic magnifiers; software
screen amplifiers. Graphic material with textures and reliefs, maps and tactile graphics, software
OCR on mobile phones for identifying informative text, etc.

Examples of Tools for the Visually Impaired

Shype is a program that uses 'pair two pair' technology that offers a better
voice communication, allowing for real-time voice conversations with
one or more people at the same time.
It is important to highlight that Shype is a program that requires no technical configurations, besides
to be free, in Portuguese and its operation can be on any type of Internet.
Another interesting point is that Shype is a resource similar to software.
of instant messages, however voice messages are stored.
Jaws is a screen reader that allows visually impaired people to have access to
computer, so that they can work normally like people
devoid of this deficiency, using shortcut keys. A notable point is that its
speed can be adjustable to the level of each user.

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DOSVOX is software composed of an operating system, speech synthesis system,

braille formatter, agenda, calculator and games. The screen has the possibility of being
expandable for people with visual impairment, as well as programs for the education of children
with visual impairment and also audio programs that allow access to the Internet. It is worth
remember that this software is a system for PC line computers that communicates
with the user via voice synthesis.
The student with visual impairment should have an education with adaptations to their needs in
school environment, furthermore, for learning to become complete and meaningful it is
It is important that the educator allows the collection of information through the senses.
remnants (hearing, touch, smell, and taste). For this, the production of resources
inclusive pedagogical practices can be carried out by the educator with few materials, however,
it should be based on some important criteria for the efficiency of its use.

TIPS FOR CREATING PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE:

Fidelity of representation to the original model;

Appealing to the vision (low) and pleasant to the touch;

Adaptation that considers the content, the necessity, and the age group;

Appropriate dimensions and sizes;

Strong colors and contrasts that better match the visual limitations of the student;

Relief easily perceptible to the touch;

Smooth/rough, thick/thin contrasts;

Simple and easy to handle and that does not pose a danger to the student.

Text available at: [Link]

10-Assistanceforpeoplewithdeafnessorhearingimpairment

Aids that include various equipment (infrared, FM), devices for hearing impairment,
phones with TTY (teletypewriter) keyboard, systems with tactile-visual alert, cell phone with messages
written and called by vibration, software that favors communication via mobile phone
transforming the typed text on the phone into voice and the spoken message into text. Books, texts
digital dictionaries in sign language. Captioning system (close-caption/subtitles).

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Images available at:[Link]

11-Mobilityinvehicles

Accessories that enable a person with a physical disability to drive a car,

boarding and disembarking facilitators like elevators for wheelchairs (used
private cars or public transport), ramps for wheelchairs, services of
driving school for people with disabilities.

Image available at: [Link]

[Link]

12-SportsandLeisure

Resources that promote sports practice and participation in leisure activities.

Images available at: [Link]

Assistive technology, as we have seen, appears in various categories. Comment.

below about the accessibility resources that you know.

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translatedText

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Terminology applied in our country

When researching the topic of Assistive Technology, we should direct the search based on the
termos:tecnologia assistiva, ajudas técnicas, tecnologia de apoio.

In Brazilian legislation, what we will delve into next, the term is still applied
"technical assistance", when it comes to giving guarantees to the Brazilian citizen with disabilities access to
resources aimed at improving your functional skills.
In August 2007, the CAT/SEDH/PR approved the term Assistive Technology as
being the most appropriate and starts to use it in all the legal documentation it produces. From this
It encourages that the term assistive technology be applied in resource training.
humans, in Brazilian research and theoretical references.
The committee also suggests that the necessary steps be taken for the review of
nomenclature in legal instruments.
The approval in the CAT for the officialization of the assistive technology term takes into account the
absence of consensus on whether there is a conceptual difference between the terms researched in
international theoretical reference. The concepts applied to each of these terms now are
they resemble, but now show some differences, mainly in scope, as they may
specifically refer to an artifact or may also include services, practices and
methodologies applied to achieving the enhancement of functionality for people with disabilities.

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The CAT also considers that there is already a established national trend in the use of
assistive technology in the academic environment, in organizations for people with disabilities,
in governmental sectors (MEC, MCT, CNPq) and in the product market. It also justifies that
assistive technology, as it is a term created to represent a specific concept, refers us to
directly to the understanding of this concept and consolidates.
The CAT also proposes that the expressions 'assistive technology' and 'technical aids', in this
moment, continue to be understood as synonyms, as in our official legislation still
the term 'technical aids' is included.
Another important point in the terminological definition is that in the documentation produced
the CAT indicates that the expression Assistive Technology should always be used in the singular,
to refer to a field of knowledge and not to a specific collection of products.
(BRAZIL - SDHPR - Committee of Technical Assistance, 2009).
Using the term correctly in the singular helps in understanding its scope.
concept. Therefore, it is incorrect to say "assistive technologies". To refer to a
set of equipment we should say: TA resources.
To specify services and procedures we use: the TA services, the
procedures in TA.

Brazilian Legislation in TA and Government Actions

Although Brazilian legislation points to the right of citizens with disabilities to

granting of the assistive technology resources that it needs, we are at the beginning of a
work for the recognition and structuring of this area of knowledge in our country. Initial
it is also the stage of incentives for research and national production of TA resources, which
come to meet the great pent-up demand that exists, however, important steps are
happening in these last few years.
As for national legislation, we can mention the enactment of the Decree
3.298 of 1999, which in article 19, speaks of the right of Brazilian citizens with disabilities to Assistance.
Techniques.

Nele it appears that:

Technical aids are considered, for the purposes of this Decree, the elements that
allows to compensate for one or more functional motor, sensory, or mental limitations of
person with a disability, with the aim of enabling them to overcome the barriers of
communication and mobility and to enable their full social inclusion.

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Sole paragraph. Technical assistance includes:

I - hearing, visual and physical prosthetics;
II - orthoses that favor functional adaptation;
III - equipment and elements necessary for the therapy and rehabilitation of the person with a disability
of disability;
IV - equipment, machinery, and work tools specially designed or
adapted for use by a person with a disability;
V - elements of mobility, care, and personal hygiene necessary to facilitate the
autonomy and the safety of the person with a disability;
VI - special elements to facilitate communication, information, and signaling for
person with a disability;
VII - special educational equipment and materials for education, training and
recreation for the person with a disability;
VIII - environmental adaptations and others that ensure access, functional improvement and
personal autonomy; and
IX - collecting bags for ostomy patients.

Also the decree 5.296 of 2002 that prioritizes service and establishes standards.
general and basic criteria for promoting accessibility for people with disabilities or with
reduced mobility, has a specific chapter on technical aids (VII) where it describes
various government intentions in the area of assistive technology, in addition to mentioning the constitution
do CAT/SEDH. In this decree we find that:
Technical aids are considered to be products, instruments, equipment or technology.
adapted or specially designed to enhance the functionality of people with
disability, with reduced ability favoring personal autonomy, total or assisted
(LIMA, 2007).
Brazil ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and
incorporated it into its legal system, granting it constitutional equivalence. (BRAZIL,
SDHPR - National Secretariat for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - SNPD.
2012)
The States Parties to this Convention commit to ensuring the rights contained therein.
printed materials and here we highlight all the articles related to the theme of Assistive Technology:

Article 4. General obligations:

Carry out or promote research and development, as well as the availability and
employment of new technologies, including information and communication technologies, aids
techniques for locomotion, assistive devices and technologies, suitable for people with
disability, prioritizing affordable technologies; Provide accessible information
for people with disabilities regarding technical aids for mobility, devices and
assistive technologies, including new technologies as well as other forms of assistance,
support services and facilities;

Article 20: Personal Mobility

Facilitating access to assistive technologies, devices for people with disabilities,
quality technical aids, and forms of human or animal assistance and mediators,
inclusive making them available at an affordable cost; Encouraging entities that produce

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technical mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies to consider all the
aspects related to the mobility of people with disabilities.

Article 26: Qualification and rehabilitation

The States Parties will promote the availability, knowledge, and use of
assistive devices and technologies, designed for people with disabilities and related
with habilitation and rehabilitation.

Article 29: Participation in political and public life.

Protection of the right of people with disabilities to secret voting in elections
plebiscites, without intimidation, and to run in elections, effectively hold elected positions
and to perform any public functions at all levels of government, using new
assistive technologies, when appropriate;

Article 32: International Cooperation

Appropriately provide technical and financial assistance, including through
facilitation of access to assistive and accessible technologies and their sharing, as well as
through technology transfer." (Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disability - UNU, 2007

Brazilian legislation establishes the right to assistive technology and advocates for action
proposed by the government, to meet this demand, however, the Brazilian citizen
a person with a disability first lacks information about the existence of this legislation and the
implication of this regarding what is his right. There is still no publicly accessible guidance
(guiding text or institutional site) that concentrates the necessary information about
Assistive Technology and clearly and easily point out to end users the paths to the
access to these public goods and services. The existing information is scattered and remains,
often restricted to the different government agents and a few professionals who work in the
areas of health, education, social assistance, human rights, labor, finance etc.
Despite this reality, several government programs are underway and
constantly updating. From 2007 to 2010 we had important actions arising from the
Social Agenda of the Presidency of the Republic and more recently, from 2011 onwards, of the Program
Living Without Limits, also from the Presidency. Public financial resources are being applied.
in social policies that integrate actions from various ministries and are aimed at people with
deficiency. Among them is the increase in research, development, and innovation in TA
(Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) and the organization of service networks
rehabilitation and provision of Assistive Technology (Ministry of Health). The National Policy of
Special Education from an Inclusive Perspective (Ministry of Education) implements programs that
we provide resources and TA services in schools.
A joint action between the National Human Rights Secretariat, Ministry of
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, in partnership with Banco do Brasil,
promoted the creation of a special subsidized credit for the direct purchase of 250 items of
TA products. The user has access to facilitated credit, the 'BB Accessibility Credit',
which has an interest rate of 0.57% per month for those who earn up to five minimum wages, or
0.64% for those earning six to ten minimum monthly wages. For the purchase of the asset or
The financing service can be up to 100% of the amount, with a maximum limit of up to R$ 30 thousand.

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per person and installments deducted directly from the checking account. The deadline for payment is
four to 60 months and the first payment can be made within 59 days.
According to results released by IBGE, from the 2010 Census, the country has 45.6 million
of people with some disability, which represents 23.91% of the population. These numbers
reveal the great existing demand for the development of national technology, insertion
on the theme of TA in professional training courses, organization of specific services and,
especially, government actions for granting TA that meet the high demand
repressed.
Assistive technology in the hands of the user will be essential for promoting inclusion
of people with disabilities, both in the field of education, integration into work, and in life
in society.
Although we are seeing important actions, we can say that we are giving
The first steps and what we can do at the present moment are still insufficient.

Do you believe that Brazilian legislation is meeting the demands of Assistive Technology?
in our country?
_____________________________________________________________________________

Supplementary Reading:

Assistive technology can be applied in resources or in services.

Resources are any and all items, equipment or parts thereof, products or systems manufactured
in series or custom-made used to increase, maintain or improve functional capacities
of people with disabilities. The services are defined as those that directly assist
a person with a disability to select, purchase or use the resources defined above.

• Resources
They can range from a simple cane to a complex computerized system. They are
including adapted toys and clothing, computers, software and hardware
specials, which address accessibility issues, devices for adaptation of the
seated posture, resources for manual and electric mobility, equipment for
alternative communication, keys and special triggers, assisted listening devices,
visual aids, prosthetic materials, and thousands of other items made or
commercially available.

• Services
They are those provided professionally to the person with a disability aiming to select,

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obtain or use an assistive technology instrument. As an example, we can mention

evaluations, experimentation e training of new equipment.
Assistive technology services are typically transdisciplinary involving
professionals from various fields, such as:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Education
• Psychology
• Nursing
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Design
• Technicians from many other specialties

We also found different terminologies that appear as synonyms for Technology.

Assistive, such as "Assistive Aids", "Support Technology", "Adaptive Technology" and
Adaptations.

The Role of Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology aims to improve the functionality of people with disabilities.

The term functionality should be understood in a broader sense than just the ability to perform a task.
of interest.
According to the ICF - International Classification of Functioning, the intervention model
for the functionality must be BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL and relates to assessment and intervention
em:
• Functions and structures of the body - DEFICIENCY
• Activities and participation - Limitations of activities and participation.
• Contextual Factors - Environmental and personal

Overview of CIF Components - 2003

FunctionsandStructuresoftheBodyandDeficiencies

Definitions:

• Functions of the body, the physiological functions of organic systems (including functions
psychological.

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• Structures of the Body refer to the anatomical parts of the body, such as organs, limbs, and their
components.

Deficiencies are problems in the functions or structure of the body, such as a significant deviation.
a gain or a loss.

[Link]/ActivityLimitationsandRestrictions
Participation

Definitions:

Activity is the execution of a task or action by an individual.

• Participation is o involvement numa situation yes life.

Limitations of Activities are difficulties that an individual may encounter in performing

activities.

Participation restrictions are problems that an individual may experience in

involvement in real-life situations.

[Link]

They represent the complete history of an individual's life and lifestyle. They include
two factors - Environmental and Personal - that can affect an individual with a
certain health conditions and about Health and health-related states of
individual.

Environmental Factors:

They constitute the physical, social, and attitudinal environment in which people live and conduct their lives.
These factors are external to individuals and can have a positive or negative influence on
your performance, as members of society, regarding the individual's capacity to
to execute actions or tasks, or about the function or structure of the individual's body.

Personal Factors:

They are the individual's personal history and lifestyle, and encompass the
individual characteristics that are not part of a health condition or state of
health. These factors can include sex, race, age, other health conditions, physical condition,
lifestyle, habits, education received, different ways of facing problems,
social background, level of education, profession, past and present experience, (events in
past and current life), general behavior pattern, character, psychological characteristics

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individuals and other characteristics, all or some of which may play a role
inability at any level.

[Link]

To understand and explain disability and functionality, several models have been proposed.
conceptual

Medical Model:

Consider disability as a problem of the person, caused directly by the disease,

trauma or another health issue that requires medical assistance in the form of treatment
individual for professionals. The care regarding incapacity aims at the cure or the
adaptation of the individual and behavior change. Medical assistance is considered
as the main issue is, at a political level, the main response is the modification or reform of
health policy.

Social Model:

The social model of disability, in turn, considers the issue mainly as a

problem created by society and, basically, as a matter of full integration of
individual in society. Disability is not an attribute of an individual, but rather a
complex set of conditions, many of which are created by the social environment. Thus, the
The solution to the problem requires social action and is the collective responsibility of society to do.
the environmental modifications necessary for the full participation of people with
incapacities in all areas of social life. Therefore, it is an attitudinal or ideological issue
which require social changes that, at a political level, become a matter of rights
humans. According to this model, disability is a political issue.
Biopsychosocial Approach:

A CIF is based on an integration of these two opposing models. To achieve the integration of the
various perspectives of functionality use a "biopsychosocial" approach. Thus, the
CIF attempts to reach a synthesis that offers a coherent view of the different perspectives of
health: biological, individual and social.

ArticlesaboutAssistiveTechnology

INTRODUCTION TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY • Rita Bersch (PDF file - 3.9MB)

ACCESSIBLE PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCES • Rita Bersch (PDF file - 3.5MB)
CAA LECTURE • Nadia Browning (PDF file - 2.3MB)

LinkstoAssistiveTechnologySitesandPrograms

SITES IN PORTUGUESE/SPANISH (BRAZIL, PORTUGAL, SPAIN)

ASSISTIVE • SEN Switcher - FREE SOFTWARE, GREAT FOR PRACTICING

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USE OF ACTUATORS
In addition to the program, forms are provided for monitoring parents and teachers.
Instructions in Portuguese and User Manual in English.

MEC - SEESP - Secretariat of Special Education - Catalogue of Publications - Books in

PDF format
ISAAC (CHAPTER BRAZIL SITE) • INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION
TA • ACCESS KIT
UFRJ • DOSVOX PROJECT
UFRJ • MOTRIX PROJECT
[Link] • ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
DEFNET
INCLUSION NOW
SARAH NETWORK OF HOSPITALS
NIEE • UFRGS NUCLEUS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
FRESSA PROJECT • SOFTWARE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
COMPUTING FOR GUIDES
[Link] • VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

INSTITUTIONAL SITES FOCUSED ON RESOURCES AND SERVICES OF

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL PORTAL OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYBrazil
ABLEDATAUnited States
SIVA PORTALItaly
CEAPATSpain
EMPTECHEngland

LinkstoVideosaboutAssistiveTechnology

YouTube Portal UNESP

The provided text is a URL and does not contain translatable content.
Enable - People with Disabilities & Computers - Produced by the Accessibility Group
from Microsoft - 1999

Part 1/6:Unable to access or translate content from a URL.

Part 2/6:The provided text is a URL and does not contain translatable content.
Part 3/6:The provided text is a URL and does not contain translatable content.
Part 4/6:The provided text is a URL and does not contain any translatable content.
Part 5/6:Unable to translate, the provided text is a URL.
Part 6/6:Invalid input. Please provide a text for translation.

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References

Legal Accessibility. Available at: <[Link]

Accessed on February 10, 2014.

Learn including: resources pedagogical inclusive. Available em:

[Link] Accessed on February 11, 2014.

BRAZIL. National Undersecretariat for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. B823
Committee of Technical Assistance Assistive Technology. - Brasília: CORDE, 2009.

SON, Teófilo Alves Galvão; GARCÍA, Jesus Carlos Delgado. National Research of
Assistive technology. São Paulo: ITS Brasil/MCTI-SECIS, 2012.

RODRIGUES, Paloma Alinne Alves; DOSCHER, Andrea Marques Leão; et al. Available at:
<[Link] Accessed on November 11
Feb. 2014.

SARTORETTO, Mara Lúcia; BERSCH, Rita. Assistive: technology and Education. Available at:
<[Link] [Link]>. Accessed on February 11, 2014.

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Assessment Activities

Assistive Technology

1-What are the objectives of Assistive Technology?

2-Comente e dê um exemplo de cada uma das categorias de Tecnologia Assistiva.

3-What are the legal supports for Assistive Technology in our country?

4-We know that Assistive Technology aims to ensure the functionality of individuals.
How the ICF - International Classification of Functioning relates to
Assistive Technology?

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Can Assistive Technology only assist people with disabilities? Comment.

about the subject.

Assistive Technology can be applied in resources and in services, give two.

examples of resources and two examples of services in Assistive Technology that you
would apply and point out to whom these actions would be directed.

Strengthdoesnotcomefromphysicalcapacity,butfromindomitablewill.

MahatmaGandhi

Goodperformance!

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