Deaf Accessibility Technology: What Devices do Deaf People Use?

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OFFICIO e Ambiente - Inovar

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Aug 9, 2024, 4:33:44 PM8/9/24

to Ana Isabel Paraguay

"Currently in the United States about 1 in 8 people experience hearing loss in both ears. This means that at least 13% of Americans have some degree of a hearing disability. Did you expect it to be this many people?

This is why the concepts of digital accessibility and assistive technology are so important, and gaining more attention as the community of people with disabilities claim their spaces in society.

Assistive technologies are essential for people with disabilities to be able to experience the world with more equality and autonomy. Deaf people, in particular, also rely a lot on it with some main assistive devices. So let’s learn more about them, shall we?

What are assistive devices?

According to The Technology Related Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities Act, assistive devices can be described as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”

In other words, they are made up of any number of services and tools that aim to help people with disabilities interact with the world around them and carry on with their daily activities with more independence and equality. A bonus point for assistive devices is that they are also great allies for social inclusion!

A fun fact about them is that they can be both high tech or low tech, which means that not all assistive devices are necessarily connected to the digital world. For example, wheelchairs and level doorknobs are assistive devices, as well as voice recognition softwares and screen readers.

What assistive technology do deaf people use?

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