There are some individuals that can do stuff on their own without anyone’s help while there are others that need others’ help in order to complete the same tasks. However, unlike before there are many assistive technologies that are now available that were impossible to even think out in the early 1900s that can help them. These assistive technologies are now available to help you or your loved ones do stuff on their own without actually having to depend on others for assistance. This article discusses some of the present technology for down syndrome that can be used and also about how down syndrome affects intellectual development. Read more about Down syndrome and information on the Disability Tax Credit.
Table of Contents
- What is Down Syndrome?
- How Can Assistive Technologies Help?
- 10 Best Assistive Technologies For Individuals With Down Syndrome
- Children Suffering From Down Syndrome In Canada
What is Down Syndrome?
Before we get down to discussing, different assistive technologies that can help individuals suffering from down syndrome, we should know what down syndrome really is. Down syndrome is a disorder that is caused by an “error” in a cell division that ultimately causes an extra 21st chromosome in the human body. Down syndrome can affect both physical growth and cognitive ability of an individual from a resulting in mild to moderate developmental disabilities. It can also cause learning disability among children. Read more
How Can Assistive Technologies Help?
Assistive technologies are designed to help individuals suffering from various disabilities or diseases complete certain tasks. These assistive technologies can help these individuals do stuff on their own without requiring others’ help or depending on them. The assistive technologies mentioned below are technologies that you can use to assist students with down syndrome and other individuals down syndrome in Canada in various ways. For example, it helps them remember the important stuff, it helps them read and write, it can help them take notes or edit documents, and much more.
10 Best Assistive Technologies For Individuals With Down Syndrome
Ginger
Ginger is an assistive technology that can help individuals suffering from down syndrome with their writing. Ginger is a tool that is available for both mobile and desktop users. Some of Ginger’s features include word prediction, customizable themes, grammar checker, sentence rephrase, and translator. This assistive technology can be greatly helpful for students suffering from down syndrome as it will allow them to write more effectively than a normal keyboard. Moreover, Ginger’s keyboard is available in different colors that users can choose according to their choice. Ginger also offers many other features that the users can make use of.
Solo 6 Literacy Suite
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Solo 6 Literacy Suite is an amazing assistive technology for individuals suffering from down syndrome, especially students. Solo 6 Literacy Suite allows its users to read text out loud, organize graphics in various ways and even help its users write text out loud. Moreover, it also includes word prediction which means that users don’t even have to complete writing and the software guesses the words for them to pick. This Solo 6 Literacy Suite’s assistive technology is simple and easy to use. It is the perfect tool for students and office workers that suffer from down syndrome as they struggle to read and write.
Simple Smartphone
A simple Smartphone is the perfect assistive technology for individuals suffering from down syndrome. A simple Smartphone is a simplified phone that is designed to help make lives much easier. It doesn’t have any complicated features that are hard to use or impossible to understand. Some of the key features of Simple Smartphone include automatically updating the latest software, a family app that allows “chosen” family members to receive access to certain information about the user, and extended support from support centers to help individuals perform Simple Smartphone operations and much more. This assistive technology is perfect for those suffering from down syndrome as they don’t have to deal with complicated software like IOS and Android smartphones. Moreover, it also has a support program that can help individuals suffering from down syndrome use the device more effectively.
See and Learn Speech
The See and Learn Speech is an assistive technology that is specifically designed to help children that are suffering from down syndrome. See and Learn Speech allows children suffering from down syndrome to develop their speech. Some of the key features of See and Learn Speech is that it is to support speech development. This means that children are able to develop their speech skills. Moreover, it also allows them to clear their speech production and also allows them to practice speaking skills with different techniques such as producing sound speech. Children suffering from down syndrome should defiantly try this assistive technology as it helps them build and develop their speech which can, later on, help them to effectively communicate with other individuals around them.
Echo Smartpen
Echo Smartpen is an assistive technology introduced by Livescribe. Echo Smartpen can help individuals suffering from down syndrome work quite effectively; especially students and office workers that regularly attend lectures and meetings respectively. The Echo Smartpen allows its users to record everything they write, hear or say or what others say. For students, it can allow them to record their lectures while for the office workers it can help record their meetings. Later, users can replay whatever they recorded simply by tapping on their notes or anywhere on the notebook. Echo Smartpen also allows its users to transfer their notes and audio onto their laptops or desktop computers via a USB cable onto the Echo Desktop. Moreover, Echo Smartpen also allows its users to easily share their notes and audios from Echo desktop as PDF and audio file onto any other device or with other individuals. Echo Smartpen’s assistive technology is perfect tools for individuals suffering from down syndrome as it allows them to record important information and help’s them refer back to it later on.
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Rigid Keyguards
Rigid Keyguards is an assistive technology that can help individuals suffering from down syndrome improve their way of writing on a laptop or computer. The Rigid Keyguard allows its users to rest their hands on the keyboard and even allows them to drag their hand on or across the keyboard without accidentally activating or touching the other keys that can end up ruining their piece of writing. This assistive technology will allow individuals suffering from down syndrome to carefully type out their words without them actually having to keep easing words they accidentally enter. Moreover, this will also allow them to rest their hand comfortably and steadily on the keyboard without too much movement that may end up causing them trouble. This assistive technology can be used by students and office workers that suffer from down syndrome and can take anywhere whether it’s home, office or school.
DIY Travel Games: Alphabet Learning
DIY Travel Games: Alphabet Learning is an assistive technology that is specially designed for with children with disabilities. The DIY Travel Games: Alphabet Learning is an “educational and a motor manipulation activity” that allows children to learn more effectively. DIY Travel Games: Alphabet Learning is part of a set that also includes games like Tic Tac Toe, Maze Fun, and Triangle Peg Solitaire can children can play. This assistive technology helps children suffering from down syndrome learn the alphabet in an easier and more fun way rather than learning from books or charts. It will also allow them to relax and enjoy learning with beautiful colored alphabets.
PFM PRO
PFM PRO is a personal FM listening system that allows the speaker’s voice reaches directly into the user’s ear. The PFM PRO assistive technology allows the audio to directly reach the user’s ear whether at home, work or school. This assistive technology is perfect for those suffering from down syndrome as it allows them to hear the speaker irrespective of any background noise or distance that may cause those poor listening and concentrate better on what the other individual is saying. This can be an effective assistive technology for students or office workers suffering from down syndrome to use so that they can effectively listen to what their teacher or boss and fellow students or co-workers are saying.
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KNFB Reader
KNFB Reader is an assistive technology that helps individuals suffering from down syndrome with their reading skills. KNFB Reader is fast, accurate, and efficient software that is designed to help those with disabilities. Some of the key features of KNFB Reader include reading virtually which includes printed text or documents, emails, receipts, memos, class handouts, and much more. Moreover, it also allows its users to view the report, automatic page detection, and tilt control. KNFB Reader also allows its users to analyze the document thoroughly and determines the words and reads them out loud to its users with a high quality of “text-to-speech”. This assistive technology it a helpful tool for individuals suffering from a down syndrome that finds it hard or complicated to read. Students and office workers can also use the software at home, school, and office to work more efficiently and effectively.
Memo to Me
Memo to me is an assistive technology designed to help those individuals suffering from down syndrome remember important stuff such as anniversaries, birthdays, meetings, deadlines, assignments, family dinners and etc. Individuals suffering from down syndrome may find it hard to remember stuff, therefore they can use Memo to Me to help them remember stuff for themselves. Students suffering from down syndrome can use this assistive technology at school or at home in order to remind themselves to complete certain assignments, projects, and homework. They can even use it to remind themselves of any meetings or prior commitments they had made earlier. Moreover, office workers suffering from the disease can also use it to remind themselves about certain client meetings, project projections and etc. Furthermore, this assistive technology can also be used by housewives suffering from down syndrome to remind themselves about household chores, grocery lists, appointments, and other stuff that they can’t remember.
Technology has been an important part of human lives where we will handicap if not able to access or use it. Assistive technology is a way for individuals suffering from the down syndrome or any other disability or disease to complete certain tasks or work that they are unable to do properly or require other individuals’ assistance. These assistive technologies can help those individuals overcome their weaknesses and make them more confident in themselves and their work or ability to work. These assistive technologies are not only specified for those suffering from down syndrome, these can also be used by other individuals suffering from other disabilities or others that don’t suffer from any disabilities. Moreover, parents, teachers, and office co-workers can recommend these assistive technologies to those suffering from down syndrome to help them over their obstacles to complete certain tasks.
Children Suffering From Down Syndrome In Canada
Children suffering from the down syndrome in Canada may be eligible to apply for Disability Tax Credit. The Child Disability Tax Credit can help parents take care of child children suffering from down syndrome with extra expenses. Therefore, if you have a child suffering from down syndrome then apply for a child disability tax credit today.
Check out our other Resources meant to Help Children Suffering from Down Syndrome.
- Disability Tax Credit Eligibility for Canadians with Down Syndrome
- Down Syndrome and the Disability Tax Credit
- 10 Mobile Apps to Help on the Autism Spectrum 2018 Edition
- 14 Assistive Technologies for Individuals with Learning Disability
