Seeing the Importance of Trying Before Buying
By Bowles, Amy; AT Messenger , Vol. 7, No. 2Publication Date: April/May/June 1999
Article on how Delaware's Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRC) provides hands-on experience through its AT lending program and other outreach activities to help consumers choose AT equipment. Every day, the ATRC receives calls from consumers with a variety of needs and requests. Many of the requests require an AT Specialist to research certain pieces of technology, then send the information to the consumer. Sometimes, the ATRC has the particular piece of equipment in its lending program, which allows the consumer to try a product before deciding to order it. Consumers can also have "hands-on" time with technologies through the ATRC's various outreach activities, i.e. workshops, health fairs, and inservices. The value of hands-on AT experience is illustrated by a story of the successful loan of a CCTV (closed circuit television, also called a video magnifier) to an elderly woman with low vision for a two-week home trial.
Published by:
Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (Web Site: http://www.dati.org )
Link to text: http://www.asel.udel.edu/dati/ATmessenger/aprmayjun99/lowvis.html
