A statistic from the CDC states that up to 27% of adults have some type of disability. That is more than one-quarter of the population! The STAR Center is dedicated to helping those individuals learn, work, and achieve their personal goals through the use of Assistive Technology. You might wonder, what is Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology is a broad-scope term filled with exciting possibilities that come in many shapes and sizes. In every scenario put forth, the primary purpose of Assistive Technology is to improve the quality of life for the person using it.
Founded in 1988, the STAR Center’s mission is to help any person, with any disability, to realize their potential. While this is a broad statement, it has directed our agency to fulfill needs, expand services, and reach more individuals over the past 35 years. The STAR Center’s Assistive Technology Department has been at the heart of this mission since the beginning, serving individuals throughout West Tennessee for Vocational Rehabilitation and the Tennessee Technology Access Program. In 2019, the STAR Center’s Assistive Technology department began serving the same role in Middle Tennessee. Just a couple of years later, Vocational Rehabilitation looked to change the structure of assistive technology services for the customers they served. STAR Center was chosen through a competitive process and has been the statewide contract agency for Assistive Technology for Vocational Rehabilitation since 2021, serving all 95 counties. STAR Center is also the nonprofit partner agency with Tennessee AgrAbility, supporting farmers with disabilities as they continue to work throughout their lifetime.
Many Assistive Technology items are specialized for a given disability. This may include ergonomic arm supports and desk setup for someone with a carpal tunnel diagnosis or an individual with a neck impairment. Solutions may incorporate speech-to-text/voice control technology to support physical impairments or learning disabilities. Accommodations that are often overlooked in a workplace are notetaking and organization options to support individuals diagnosed with attention disorders or anxiety, as the struggles faced in the education setting do not disappear once a high school diploma is received. Some of these options could be specialized pen/paper technology (e.g., Livescribe), notetaking applications (e.g., Notability, Glean), haptic feedback from wearables (e.g., smartwatches, WatchMinder), task manager lists, or many other things.
With the explosion of technology over the past 10-15 years, many accessibility features are now found in the devices we use every day. While these features make life easier for those without a diagnosis, they remove many barriers faced by those who have a disability. By activating options in the Windows Accessibility Features, the user can adjust the size of the system text or mouse pointer, add cursor locators, change the screen contrast, or activate the “night light” mode to soften the white hues. This section is also home to the built-in screen magnifier with select-to-speak technology, easing eye fatigue or supporting comprehension for a specific learning disability. Another characteristic that can be set is “flashing my screen,” which will cause the screen to flicker during audio notifications to benefit the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Lastly, this is where manual dexterity features like sticky keys and keyboard sensitivity can be moderated. These options are easily explored by going to Windows Settings and clicking on Accessibility.
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Assistive Technology can improve the chance of employment success through our partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation. No matter the barriers, the goal of Assistive Technology is to support each individual’s unique set of abilities in order to achieve their personal goals.
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