Mobility and body function disabilities
Assistive technology for mobility and body function disabilities helps people move or supports their movement. This includes mobility aids for moving around and special computer tools that let people use devices without needing precise hand or body control.
Physical environment
In the real world, assistive technology for mobility disabilities includes wheelchairs, walkers, artificial limbs and powered devices that help or replace a person’s own movement.
Example
A person with a spinal cord injury uses a powered wheelchair to move around buildings on their own. But the wheelchair only works well if the building has ramps, wide doors and lifts that are easy to to use.
Key point
Mobility assistive technology helps people move, but only as much as the surroundings allow. For example, a powered wheelchair cannot be used to go up stairs. Assistive technology and accessible design must work together; one alone is not enough.
ICT environment
In the ICT environment, assistive technology for mobility disabilities includes different keyboards, switch devices, eye-tracking systems, voice recognition software and mouth or head sticks.
Example
A person with quadriplegia uses an eye-tracking system to move a computer cursor by looking at things on the screen. Each part of the screen they need to select must be big enough and far apart so their eyes can easily target it.
Key point
Voice recognition is a tool for people with mobility disabilities, just like it is a handy feature for everyone else. People who need it because they have no choice are more affected when microphone access is blocked or voice control does not work well.