Assessing Student's Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT)

Chapter 6 – Assistive Technology for Recreation …
Assistive Technology for Recreation, Leisure,
and Activities of Daily Living
Jill Gierach, MSE, ATP, Marcia Obukowicz, OTR, and Penny Reed, Ph.D.
Recreation, Leisure, and Activities of Daily Living covers a very broad area. We have chosen this
chapter of the manual to include information about using assistive technology with students with very
severe cognitive disabilities. That is the first section included here. It includes suggestions for
considering and increasing a student’s level of attention/arousal as well as considerations for selecting
assistive technology.
Two continuums, one for Activities of Daily Living, and one for Mobility follow this. We have not
provided support materials for these two continua. These two areas are very specific and needs have
been well met by Occupational Therapists (for Activities of Daily Living) and Physical Therapists (for
Mobility). We strongly suggest you rely on your OT and PT for information on items in these areas.
Finally, this section ends with a continuum on Control of the Environment. Providing access to
appliances and electronics opens many new worlds of recreation and leisure activities.
All products mentioned in this chapter appear in a table at the end of the chapter along with the company
that produces them. A complete list of products and company contact information for each is included in
the Appendix.
Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology (2004) 155