When I think about home accessibility, things like ramps, grab bars, and walk-in showers come to mind. While I realize the list I’ve mentioned is in no way all-inclusive of the modifications available to make a person’s home more accessible, recently, I ran into an article that discusses how new technology has the potential to increase someone’s independence by introducing various forms of technology and really takes this idea to the next level.
This article will discuss the advancements of technology and how it increases the independence of people with disabilities.
For those with a disability, accessibility in your own home is like a breath of fresh air. At least I like to think of it that way. Not only have I worked with people to make their homes accessible and have had home modifications completed for my own home but many years ago I was invited to speak to a group of realtors and discuss homebuying as a person with a disability.
The speech focused on the importance of accessibility for someone with a disability in their quest for home ownership and how different modifications and accessibility features were a necessity so that the homeowner could fully enjoy all of the amenities their home has to offer.
Accessibility allows individuals with disabilities to do things for themselves they may not otherwise be able to do.
Now let’s talk about what I’m calling the “home of the future”. The reason I’m using that term is because when I read this article that spoke of different types of automation like video doorbells and smart thermostats, it made me think of movies like “I, Robot” starring Will Smith, or even “The Jetsons”, a Hanna Barbera cartoon from the l980’s. Equipment I never dreamed would be available in my lifetime will be more readily available in the not-so-distant future. Lights being controlled by smartphones and voice-activated television guides for the visually impaired were just some variations of technology that were mentioned. This is definitely a game-changer to help people with disabilities thrive in their own homes.
Right now, there’s a significant cost for such innovative technology. However, there are currently some organizations offering assistance for individuals with disabilities to get the equipment and upgrades they need to make these pieces of equipment available to them. As the years go by, hopefully these gadgets won’t be so difficult for someone to obtain on their own so that independence is not so far out of reach.
The assistive technology we use every day not only helps people with disabilities be more independent but adds to our quality of life and self-esteem. It helps us accomplish this by increasing the number of tasks that we can accomplish independently.
The advancements being made now will only help us reach our goals more and more as time goes by. In the long run, there’s no limit to what people with disabilities will be able to accomplish.
What gadget interests you the most?
Author’s note: The article that was originally included in this blog post was no longer a viable link. Updated information on home automation can be found here.
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