What the experts say

Disability Online has asked representatives from community organisations, educators, researchers and other professionals—as well as parents and people with a disability—to share their thoughts about assistive technology and accessibility. Here is what they had to say:

‘Technology is one tool in your bag of tricks (as a practitioner or a parent). Everything in moderation is the way your child is going to be stimulated in every sense.'

Kirsty Gibson, Auditory-Verbal Therapist, Hear and Say Centre. You can read about how Kirsty, and other professionals, are integrating technology with education.

‘Technology like the internet, wireless networks (wi-fi), smartphones, smartphone applications (apps), devices with text-to-speech capabilities-and importantly, infrastructure platforms like the National Broadband Network-hold wonderful promise for our communities. Studies have shown that these new technologies lead to increased independence, productivity and quality of life, as people with disabilities don't need to rely on others as much to assist with everyday functions and tasks. With better communication options, these people are better able to connect with others around them, stay in touch with friends and family and generally be more included in day-to-day society.'

Hannah Bishop, Marketing and External Communications Manager, Australian Communication Exchange Limited (ACE), the provider for the relay service component of the National Relay Service (NRS).

‘The beauty of technology is it is becoming less disability-specific.'

Jocelyn Bartlem, spinal injuries advocate and the coordinator for ART for SPINE, a not-for-profit organisation that raises money for the Spinal Injuries Unit.

‘Technology is great, but it has to be appropriate. It comes back to individual needs. There are some people that find that they can't get their head around a flat touchscreen. They can't feel the keys and they don't get any spatial orientation. They don't get any feedback. Quite a few clients (of Vision Australia) prefer the good old standard mobile phone.'

David Woodbridge, Senior Adaptive Technology Consultant, Vision Australia. David, who is blind, is also an accessibility tester for Apple products. He shares his story with Disability Online.

‘They are very excited because it is so visual and so rewarding. It is right now. You get that reward instantly. It is-"bang"-you get that reward.'

Janine Allen, Area Manager, Disability Services, Multicap, talks about using iPads with communication, learning and behaviour management strategies to support clients with autism requiring high needs disability support. 

‘It is important to remember that a certain type of device may well be the most appropriate speech-generating device for a specific augmentative and alternative communication (ACC) user. However, if it is selected outside or ahead of the best practice evaluation process and considerations, we are matching technology to person-not person to technology.'

Dennis Lo, Speech Pathologist, LifeTec Queensland.

‘Modern technologies are significantly changing the lives of children with a disability.'

Amanda Corby, Education Consultant, Down Syndrome Association of Queensland.

‘A major improvement towards accessibility is the Australian Government's commitment to web accessibility in the form of the Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy. The strategy states that all government websites must meet the international accessibility standard, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 level A by the end of 2012, and all federal government websites must meet WCAG 2.0 AA by 2014.'

Sarah Pulis, web accessibility specialist, Media Access Australia.

‘Always ask the question: ‘How best does this assistive technology meet my need or goal? Always insist on trialling assistive technologies in the environment where they are to be used before purchase.'

John Pashen, Occupational Therapist, Assistive Technology Support Service (ATSS), Cerebral Palsy League