Technical aids for disabilities

Technical aids are any object, equipment or product used to increase, maintain or improve the abilities of persons with disabilities, so as to promote independence in all aspects of daily life of the individual. Recognize the inequalities in people who are disabled, so try to compensate or equalize opportunities. Due to the dynamic nature of individuals, may vary during the life of the person and depending on the environment.

Technical aids are to be provided in due course, be effective and quality. It is very important that the time to identify technical assistance that will use the disabled person, it is informed, you will provide all the necessary guidance, and be consulted about it, so that the person actively involved this process, always respecting their preferences and self-determination.

They must consider the particular needs and characteristics of the individual. Likewise, for ease of use, take into account how the environment in which the person is developed. This means that the requirements vary not only depending on the particular characteristics of the individual, but also the conditions of where they will be used, for example, a wheelchair for the city and a beach.

Types of technical aids

Due to scientific and technological development, there is great variety and types of technical aids, without clutch, the medium offers a number of resources that can be used for the design and creation of these, ie, that technical assistance may well be created resources which are at the hand of a peasant people, for example, a sort of leather guards on the stumps of one person who's legs were amputated and working in the field.

It is imperative that the technical assistance of any kind they are, should always take into account the opinion of the person who will use and be supported by knowledge of a therapist or expert.

As support services assisted technologies recognize the condition of inequality in which people find themselves, must respect the self determination of people, so it is important information, guidance and consultation to them, and of course, must provided in a timely, effective and quality. Such as NMEDA dealers, they can help disabled get back onto the road of independence.

Characteristics of technical aids

All technical assistance should be simple, effective (producing the desired effect and meets the needs for which it was conceived), is safe and easy to handle and use.

• Featured and effective aid, in the sense that there is no prescribed or used without a real need for it. Produce the desired and meets the needs for which it was designed.
• No restrictive: no limit or reduce other features, capabilities or activities.
• Technical criteria: it is not contraindicated for the person, there should be no circumstance that oppose the use of technical assistance.
• Safe: Avoid unnecessary risks
• Quality - Price is very important that the materials are tough, durable, easy to clean and affordable. The resistance of the materials and the structure of both technical assistance directly affect the quality of this and life. The pressing need for technical aids are long lasting and lowest cost possible, answered that much of the population facing disability, incurred greater costs than a person who does not face.
• Easy to obtain: the acquisition of technical assistance should be timely, so that the person has a chance to use it from the very moment when a need was identified.
  
• Accepted by the user: it is required that the person agrees to technical assistance, and that it feels natural and comfortable as possible to it.
• Maintenance: Maintenance of technical assistance should be possible, affordable and friendly. Also, parts should be available to them.
• They are dynamic, vary during the life of the person and depending on the environment.

Why do we need a technical help?

There are four main reasons that necessitated the use of a technical assistance:

• If for one or more activities require a disproportionate effort. Example: wheelchair for a person who has a hard time walking.
• As prevention of a degenerative process. Example: orthopedic shoes.
• To evaluate the performance of an individual.
• During rehabilitation. Example: exercisers.

For the prescription of technical aids

For the prescription of technical aids should take into account:

• Diagnosis and prognosis: the diagnosis determines the (s) deficiency (s) presenting the person, the forecast predicts how will the course and termination of a disease or its consequences. Through these information is obtained from the constraints, the degree of the latter and the possibility of greater or lesser recovery of them.
• Age and sex: which vary the size and characteristics of technical assistance. Should be considered, since a person is born: a baby becomes child, then adolescent, adult and older adult is undisputed that the individual characteristics of each of these stages of life vary. That is, with time and maturation must also change the characteristics of technical aids, as new needs presented by the person at every stage. The aforementioned changes since the change involves physical dimensions to the activities that take place.
• Evaluation of user and environment: involves taking into account a number of other specific aspects of a person (not reflected in the diagnosis and prognosis) important in determining how technical assistance should be to prescribe. They are of great impotence personal tastes and preferences of the person who is going to make use of the device. You should also take into account how the environment in which the person develops and participates.
• Contraindications: You must assess whether there are any circumstances which opposes the use of technical assistance.
• Training: refers to learning that involves making a series of activities with technical assistance. The learning capacity must also be considered when prescribing technical assistance.
• Follow-up: that it must give the person to corroborate the adaptation technique with help and identify the need for modifications or change it.

Classification of technical aids

The ISO 9999 is an international technical standard that classifies technical assistance to facilitate search and selection. And, The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality. The rules provide a number of levels and sub-level classifiers, and then broken down the basic level:

Aids for therapy and training: are intended to improve the physical, mental and social skills of individuals.

• Classified therapy aids, training and learning communication and foreign language, including audio recorders and receivers.
• Grants for training and learning in alternative and augmentative communication to enable communication Interpersonal include Braille, sign language, support for training cognitive skills, communication, information and signage, including support for reading, writing, telephone and security alarms.
• Learning tips continence are devices for training a person to control his bladder and / or intestines.
• Helps cognitive skills training designed to improve capabilities in the underlying activities and logical reasoning
• Grants for training and learning basic tasks, including activities related to the basic knowledge necessary to develop new capabilities in education and other activities required for life in society.
• Grants for education, provides aid for studying and acquiring skills in all areas, as well as for training and professional learning.
• Grants for training and apprenticeship, which includes social skills, as well as those required for the handling of products and goods.
• Grants for art education. Team to acquire functional skills and / or tools for artistic expression.
• Grants for training and social skills through which you learn how to interact with the outside world.
• Grants for training and learning in everyday life activities related to the care and personal protection.

Orthoses and prostheses:

Orthoses are externally to the people who are used to modify the structural and functional neuromuscular and skeletal system. The prostheses are used to completely or partially replace a body part that is absent or deficient. This includes support for abdominal hernia, forearm supports used to typing or computer-aid to compensate and / or replace functions of arm, hand and / or fingers, substitutes (functional and / or aesthetic) of an absent party member and orthopedic shoes.

Aid for protection and personal care

• Clothing and footwear: includes clothes for wheelchair users, gloves, bibs, aprons and shoes.
• Protective aids worn on the body: support for the protection of the hand, foot, heel, toe, for full protection of the body and trunk.
• Help with dressing and undressing: shoe horns of socks, shoe horns and jack, hooks for dressing and undressing, and buttoned zipper pulls.
• Aid for protection and care for grooming personal: chairs urinating, special toilets, toilet seats, toilet rises or lifts, toilet paper clips, toilet paper, channelers of urine, urine collecting systems for men and women, grants for washing, bathing and showering. Bath or shower seats, backs and seats for washing, bathing and showering, bathing beds, bidets, bathtubs, helps to reduce the length or depth of the bath, sponges and brushes with handles, tool handles, nail brushes, nail files nail and nail clippers. Helps hair care to wash the head, hair combs and brushes. Grants for dental care, non-electric toothbrushes and facial care support and skin.
• Helps tracheostomy: devices used to breathing through an opening in the trachea and aids for respiratory therapy.
• Helps osteotomy: devices used to collect human waste products through an artificial opening in the intestines (a stoma) and protection products for the skin.
• Products for the protection and cleaning of the skin: devices used to protect the skin from injury and to remove the materials used, for example, skin adhesives or special makeup for skin imperfections.
• Channelizes and urine collectors: used to drain and collect urine when bladder control is affected, protective pants for swimming and sealing products.
• Helps the absorption of urine and feces: Devices worn on your body used to absorb and contain feces.
• Aid for bathing, washing and showering
• Aids for manicure and pedicure
• Helps hair care
• Grants for dental care
• Helps skin care and skin
• Grants for measuring human physical and physiological properties
• Watches
• Grants for sex

Personal mobility aids

• Walking aids manipulated by one arm Walking aids used individually or in pairs and are handled with one arm, possibly in combination with the upper body. canes, crutches, tripods, quadripods.
• Mobility aids for walking manipulated by both arms: Walking aids used individually manipulated by both arms. Walkers and cars.
• Accessories for walking aids: subject-sticks, rubber batons ferrules, grippers to be attached to aid.
• Special Vehicles: special production by manufacturer for easy access and use.
• Adaptations for vehicles: control (to operate and maneuver the car), security features (seat belts, anchorages and head restraints), transfer cranes for vehicles, vehicle lifts, wheel chairs to put aid on or in a car, equipment to secure the wheelchair.
• Motorcycles and cycle: three and four wheels.
• Cycles: tricycles with pedals, propelled by the hands, four-wheel bikes and trailers.
• Wheelchairs: wizard controlled by levers, hand and power.
• Wheelchair Accessories: piping systems and control.
• Vehicles: push chairs to walk children, toddlers, to move tables, couches, cars with pedestal, game carts and motor vehicles operated by the user.
• Helps transfer: Helps to change position in relation to another activity. Support devices, tables and mats from slipping discs, transfer and rope ladders, transfer belts and transfer chairs.
• Aid for lifting and moving: cranes

Aid for domestic activities

• Aid for activities for the preparation of food and drink: to cut, split and divide (including machines for making slices, knives, cutting devices, devices to hold and grate). Helps clean and peel, machinery and containers for food preparation. including mixed-food hand blender, aid for cooking and frying. Including fixed-frying pans and clamps and units of kitchen (stoves, ovens, cookers).
• Helps clean: sinks, scrub and clean bottles.
• Helps to eat and drink: to serve and present food and beverages, cutlery, cups, glasses, bottles and straws, plates (including plates thermos), raised edges to plates and plates with caps, cups, egg and equipment to help eat.
• Helps clean the house: brushes, sponges, cloths, floor cloths and dusters.
• Helps keep making and textiles: supports and subsidies for cooking, needle threaders, scissors, iron and ironing machines.

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