MD Evaluation Tools
For a specific look at the impact of this disease, I am going to look at a case of an individual such as myself who is suffering from dry MD and is taking online computer courses through SIU.
The main issue this user would have is seeing and using a computer to interact with others in their class. In an attempt to determine what low vision solutions would work best for me I would use one of the AT tools available to help identify some possible solutions and then see how they fit into my particular environment.
The tool that I found to help identify assistive technologies for individual impairments is the “Assistive Technology Decision Tree” from UNUM Provident. I accessed it at the following link from Hewlett-Packard’s website:
http://www.hp.com/cgibin/leaving_hp.cgi?cc=us&lang=en&exit_text=Continue%20to%20site&area_text=HP%20Accessibility&area_link=http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/accessibility/index.html&exit_link=http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/e/b/7ebfb5a1-69af-4e2a-aba7-7f11e2d66fed/atdecisiontree.pdf
To use the tool, you choose your impairment and level of functionality and then a number of assistive technologies are suggested. The tool is in the form of a visual flow chart that allows the user to make decisions based on their impairment. The impairments include: Range of motion, Quadriplegic, Back Impairment, Visual Impairment, Auditory Impairment, Speech Impairment, and Psych Impairment.
The tool also has a chart at the end which breaks down each of the suggested assistive technologies into three categories (Computer Centered, Phone Centered, and Office Centered). The approximate cost to implement each solution was also listed.
For my example of macular degeneration (low vision), the tool walked me through the following sequence: Visual Impairment – Can see clearly (no)-Can see monitor up close (no)- Can see with Enlarged Type (yes).
The suggested assistive technologies for my impairment were: Hi Resolution Monitor, Oversized monitor, Screen magnifier, Glare guard, Talking calculator, Telephone LED reader, Closed Circuit TV, Oversized Keyboard, and Large button phone.
Here are some links to other helpful tools:
http://fritschi.home.mindspring.com/tools2.html
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/soc/