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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you or a loved one suffer an injury that leads to either short-term or long-term difficulty in performing daily tasks, the use of assistive equipment and technology may help you return to independence.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The world of technology to help with everyday tasks is vast and varied. There are many options and industry lingo to sift through; so much so that consultation with a professional, such as a rehabilitation therapist, is often merited.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It&amp;amp;#39;s important to learn the different categories of assistive technology and, hopefully, set a starting point in finding and understand the technology that might work best for you or your loved one.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;A Brief Note on Categorization and Definitions&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Though durable medical equipment, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology are at times used interchangeably, it is generally accepted that assistive technology is the broadest category of devices to assist people in participating in everyday life. Assistive and durable medical equipment are subcategories.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment are a type of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/types-of-medical-supplies-2318343&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;medical supply&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, which can also be categorized as self-care supplies. These categories are important to understand because they may impact whether the device is covered by insurance.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The phrase \u201Ctechnology\u201D is somewhat misleading as some types of assistive technology are very simple tools, such as a magnifying glass. These are known as low-tech assistive technology. High-tech assistive technology can be as complex as a power wheelchair operated through puffs of air.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What Is Assistive Technology?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assistive technology refers to any equipment or technology that enhances life participation for people with disabilities or injuries.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A standard definition of assistive technology is used in several pieces of legislation including &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.section508.gov/assistive-technology-act-1998&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Section 508&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,statute,I,A,602,1,&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;IDEA&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;: \u201CAssistive technologies are items, pieces of equipment or product systems, whether commercial, modified or customized.\u00A0 These devices are used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals.\u201D&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;What sets assistive technology apart from its subcategories is that it does not need to be specifically designed for people with disabilities. It can also benefit the general public.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For example, it is handy for anyone to be able to disarm their smoke detector via a phone app. For a person with limited mobility who is not able to access a ladder, this technology is the difference between being able to perform the task independently and needing to find someone to help.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Other examples of assistive technology at this broadest level include:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Home automation&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Self-driving cars&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Voice recognition software&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Public spaces that have ramps and elevators&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Health and fitness trackers&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assistive technology in this broadest sense is closely associated with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-good-design-can-alleviate-disability-2509964&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;universal design,&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; which is the aspiration of making things accessible to as many people as possible. Universal design can eliminate the need for special technologies and accommodations for people with impairments.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What Is Adaptive Equipment?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Adaptive equipment is designed specifically for people with long- or short-term disabilities. An occupational therapy textbook defines adaptive equipment in this way:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;\u201CAdaptive equipment designed to help persons with disabilities compensate for functional limitations; equipment ranges from simple, such as a long-handled reacher for those unable to bend over, to complex, such as computerized environmental control systems.\u201D&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Adaptive equipment is sometimes referred to as assistive or adaptive devices.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Activities of Daily Living&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The most common types of adaptive equipment are related to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-adls-and-iadls-2510011&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;activities of daily living (ADLs)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. These are essential tasks people must perform to sustain a quality of life.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This categorization is important because hospitals and medical facilities ascertain that individuals have a method for safely performing ADLs before discharging. It is in this context that many people are introduced to adaptive equipment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The examples below are not exhaustive but do represent some of the most common types of adaptive equipment.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Dressing&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Dressing sticks&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Reachers&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Long-handled shoe horns&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Button hooks&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Velcro&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Elastic shoe laces&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Sock aids&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Legs straps&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-hip-kit-2552057&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Hip-kits&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;: Hip kits contain a dressing stick,\u00A0reacher, long-handled shoehorn, and sock aid. They are often recommended following hip replacements as most doctors recommend patients do not lean forward at the waist for a few weeks.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Bathing&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Tub chair/tub bench with a back&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Transfer board&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Handheld shower&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Long-handled sponge&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Grab bars&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Thermometer&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Shower chair&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Transfer board or mechanical lift&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Wash mitt&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Toileting&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Commodes&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Toilet aid to assist with cleaning the perineal area&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Leg straps to assist lifting legs&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Eating&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Universal-cuff to hold utensils&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;ADL wrist splint to stabilize wrist&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Non-skid bowl&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Plate guard&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Scoop dish&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Adaptive utensils&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Long straw&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Mobile arm supports&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Basic Mobility&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Mobility can range from walking to driving to the grocery store. Often times, a physical therapist will recommend and provide instruction on &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/common-mobility-devices-used-in-physical-therapy-2696059&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;basic mobility devices&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Walkers&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Rollators&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Canes&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Crutches&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Power and manual wheelchairs&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Ramps&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Lift chairs&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Stair lifts&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Adaptive Equipment for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-adls-and-iadls-2510011&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Instrumental activities of daily living&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (IADLs) are activities that enhance daily life beyond basic survival. These are often the second tier tasks that are addressed once discharged from an acute setting.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;These pieces of adaptive equipment are more likely to be introduced in an outpatient setting, skilled nursing facility, through home health or investigated by an individual or family member.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This list is nowhere close to exhaustive as IADLs is a broader category than ADLs. These are simply some examples from a few of the categories, intended to give you a glimpse into the scope of adaptive equipment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Driving and Community Mobility&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.fordmobilitymotoring.com/AdaptiveEquipment/AdaptiveEquipment#.VzCzlGN9L5M&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Vehicle modifications&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Communication Management&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Screen readers&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Hearing aids&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Assistive listening devices&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Amplified telephone equipment&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Communication boards&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Speech generating devices&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Augmentative communication devices&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Cognition&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Memory aids&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Leisure&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Adaptive sports equipment&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Adaptive toys&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Safety&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Wearable call buttons&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Fall-detection devices&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Durable Medical Equipment&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/durable-medical-equipment-categories-2318274&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Durable medical equipment&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; includes adaptive equipment items that are most likely to be covered by your insurance.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;When the below criteria are met, these items are covered by &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/durable-medical-equipment-coverage.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Medicare Part B&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Medicaid programs and other insurance options can also cover durable medical equipment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In order to be covered by Medicare, a prescription must be written by your doctor. Your rehabilitation therapist\u2019s documentation may be critical in justifying this claim to Medicare.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;According to the Social Security website, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600610200&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;durable medical equipment is defined&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; by the following qualities:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;It is durable (has an expected lifetime of at least three years).&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;It is used for a medical reason.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;It is not usually useful to someone who isn&amp;amp;#39;t sick or injured.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;It is used in your home.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Examples include:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/canes.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Canes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/commode-chairs.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Commode chairs&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/crutches.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Crutches&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospital-beds.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;16&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Hospital beds&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/manual-wheelchairs-and-power-mobility-devices.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;17&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Manual wheelchairs and power mobility devices&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/nebulizers-and-nebulizer-meds.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;18&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Nebulizers and nebulizer medications&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/patient-lifts.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;19&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Patient lifts&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/walkers.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;20&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Walkers&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Who Will Help You Identify the Right Technology and Equipment?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assistive technology can be introduced in all stages of a health care journey, from the hospital to an online support group.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Many people will first be introduced to assistive technology, especially adaptive equipment, through collaboration with a medical professional, such as an &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/occupational-therapist-overview-2510014&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;21&amp;quot;&amp;gt;occupational&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, speech or physical therapist. All three disciplines have training in assistive technology.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;These therapists often have the goal of facilitating physical healing for a patient\u2019s return to independence. There are circumstances, however, when devices are needed for a period while physical healing progresses (for example, the use of a walker in the first weeks following a hip surgery) or in the case of a more permanent condition adaptive equipment may become a part of daily life (for example, the use of a wheelchair.)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Assistive Technology Professionals&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Some therapists do go on to become &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.resna.org/certification/becoming-certified.dot&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;22&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs).&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; This is a special certification that requires 1000 hours of work experience and extra training. Your rehab facility may connect you with one of these professionals for more complex cases. Within this certification, some specialize specifically in seating (ATP/SMS).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Purchasing and Acquiring the Right Piece of Equipment&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;While a therapist may recommend certain kinds of equipment and a doctor may order it\u2014it is often up the client to actually purchase the equipment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The hospital or facility may have some devices on hand for you. In many cases, it will be in the best interest of your pocketbook to shop around and explore all avenues for finding the right aid.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Purchasing from Medical Supply Vendors&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Many times, hospitals and facilities will have particular medical supply vendors they work with and can recommend. This can be particularly helpful when medical supply companies have ATPs on staff. Local vendors can also help you understand Medicare, Medicaid services in your state and other local resources.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Borrowing Closets&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Some communities have borrowing closets for commonly used medical supplies. This is particularly beneficial when you need a piece of equipment for a short time. Begin by asking your therapist if they are aware of this service.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Rental Programs&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Some medical supply companies and other entities offer rental programs for expensive medical supplies. Again, ask your local rehab department or vendor about options available in your area.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;National and Local Associations Related to Your Diagnosis&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you or your loved one has a particular diagnosis, there may be assistance through related organizations, either national or local. For example, see this page on the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/Insurance-and-Financial-Information/Financial-Resources/Assistance-for-Adaptive-Equipment&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;23&amp;quot;&amp;gt;National Multiple Sclerosis Society&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Your State\u2019s Assistive Technology Program&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Almost every state has an assistive technology program. RESNA (The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology of North American) has &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.resnaprojects.org/allcontacts/statewidecontacts.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;24&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;a helpful directory&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0of resources in each state.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Hacking Your Own Adaptations&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you or a loved one has a disability, you may benefit from more complex and specialized equipment than has made the above list of common items. There are exciting resources out there to help individuals with disabilities make their environment more accessible. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.diyability.org&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;25&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;DIYAbility&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; out of NY is a great resource to check out.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt;Sources&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt;Radomski MV, Latham CA. (Eds.). (2008). Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams &amp;amp;amp; Wilkins.&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/assistive-technologies-for-independence-4065357>