Assistive Technology for Improving Life in People Living With Muscular Dystrophy

This is not all, many other technologies are being developed to help people with disabilities. A good example of one such promising technology is the use of thoughts to control the various devices, in a way a person controls his or her physical movements with a brain.

The main aim of this article is to make people aware of the revolution in technology, to motivate them to search deeper for the options. Some of these technologies are fast evolving, and prices are coming down at a very sharp pace. Thus what seemed to be a theme from a sci-fi film is a reality today and easily obtainable.

When we opt for various hi-tech equipment to overcome the disabilities, it is also important to understand that we humans are emotional beings, and psychological well-being is very important for us. Sometimes the solution to our problems may lie in something traditional and low-tech.

None of the technological evolutions can compare with the positive effect of grooming, having a nice haircut, buying good clothes, having trendy wear in your wardrobe. These simple things are not only excellent confidence booster just for anybody, but they improve the social image of the person. Everyone loves to communicate with a person who looks good. You may not control your disability, but you surely have lots of control over your looks and your attitude.

Another potentially beneficial and cost-effective method for psychological well-being is getting a friend to assist you and love you. We are not talking about another human friend, but about someone called “man’s best friend” (and woman’s too). So rather than spending fortunes on acquiring devices and equipment, also think about getting the well-trained service dog (3).

It is important in life to strike a balance between everything. Automated solutions can be really helpful for your many physical disabilities, while some traditional methods can do magic for your psychological needs.

References

1. Wunderlich S. Home Smart Home - A Quest Article [Internet]. Muscular Dystrophy Association. 2016 [cited 2017 Sep 18]. Available from: https://www.mda.org/quest/article/home-smart-home

2. Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Equipment and assistive devices [Internet]. [cited 2017 Sep 18]. Available from: http://www.muscle.ca/living-with-muscular-dystrophy/mobility/

3. Allen K, Blascovich J. The Value of Service Dogs for People with Severe Ambulatory Disabilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 1996 Apr 3;275(13):1001–6.