Unicorn Roots

Holistic disability blogging & walks for our canine companions

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  • Silver Linings

    Silver Linings

    I started my blog with research posts discussing specific issues that members of the disability community face regularly. I research each topic thoroughly and provide references at the end for anyone who wants to explore further. However, I felt there was more I could do for holistically-minded members of the disability community, like myself. So, from time to time, I’ll be posting what I like to call Silver Linings.

    Silver Linings posts will include reviews of products, services, and businesses, along with the occasional interview, all focused on things that can help to brighten your day. I welcome suggestions on products, places, goods, and services worth looking into. I love hearing from other members of this community about what has helped you. I’m only one person with my own experiences, and I firmly believe that a community benefits most when we work together. After all, who better to vouch for a product or service than real people who really use it?

    If you’d like to contribute or just send me a message, feel free to comment below or email me at UnicornRootsHolistic@gmail.com. And as I like to say: eat chocolate, pet puppies, and have a great day!

  • Assistive Technology, Part 2

    Access

    Assistive Technology (AT) can take many forms: high-tech, low-tech, products, systems, and services. In fact, most people who use ATs regularly use more than one type, which shows just how important integration and integrative services are. More than 2.5 billion people worldwide use AT, and that number is expected to reach 3.5 billion by 2050. However, in many parts of the world, the majority of people who need the independence that AT provides have no access to the technology that could help improve their hearing, vision, mobility, self-care, cognition, communication, and much more. Greater access could help not only AT users; it could improve the well-being and inclusion of communities, enabling greater participation in the political, economic, and social life (World Health Organization, 2024).

    Most people will need some form of AT as they age, and the majority of AT users are seniors, disabled people, and those with long-term health conditions. However, AT has the potential to help everyone. Research shows that early access to appropriate AT can support language and communication development, improve access to education and employment, help prevent secondary complications, and support a greater sense of independence and safety. Still, the gaps in access globally are shocking. Nearly 80 million people require a wheelchair, while only up 35% of them have access to one. Around 1.5 billion people are deaf or hard of hearing, but fewer than 10% have access to a hearing aid (World Health Organization, 2024).

    It’s easy to assume that these numbers are disproportionate solely because of costs, and funding is certainly a factor. But other barriers play a significant role as well. A general lack of awareness, issues with physical access, limited product range, procurement challenges, workforce issues, and inadequate policy-making are just a few examples. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes universal health coverage (UHC) as a path toward universal access to health services, including the rights established by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2022, the WHO and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology provided recommendations for governments and stakeholders to work towards universal AT access for all. Examples of these recommendations include improving AT access across development sectors, involving AT users and their families in development processes, increasing public awareness to combat stigma, investing in data-driven policy, and supporting research and innovation (World Health Organization, 2024).

    To better understand what specific ATs are needed for any given group, it’s important to understand how different disabilities affect those living with them. Understanding this can help us understand what types of AT will benefit which individuals. This is where classification and categorization systems are truly valuable.

    The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) defines disability as encompassing activity limitations, impairments, and restrictions in participation. The purpose of AT is to decrease these limitations while promoting participation in society. As I covered in part 1, AT helps by aiding body structure and function, activity performance, and environmental modifications. Some options require insurance, prescriptions, or detailed documentation, while other options are readily available, such as touch lamps and electric toothbrushes. Some AT options may also require services to help with specialized customization, maintenance, and repair. Because the effects of an individual’s disability can also change with their environment, ideally, AT should be considered part of an adaptable environment rather than a standalone solution (Gray et al., n.d.).

    AT classification systems, such as the National Classification System for Assistive Technology Devices and Services used in the US and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and ICF-based classifications used internationally, organize AT into classes and subclasses for ease of access. The US system divides AT into classes, including architectural elements, sensory elements, computers, controls, independent living, mobility, orthotics and prosthetics, recreation and leisure, and modified furnishings, each with a unique numeric code. Europe uses a similar ISO-9999 and 3-tiered system. Both systems support efficient information retrieval, inventory management, and appropriate acquisition. These systems also specify hard technologies (tangible devices that can be assembled), soft technologies (human decision-making elements), as well as strategy and training materials. Within these systems, AT that requires specific skill is classified as a tool requiring additional soft technology, while AT that does not require specific skill is classified as an appliance (Gray et al., n.d.).

    Unsurprisingly, the majority of AT users are seniors relying on low-tech supportive appliances like walkers, canes, and glasses. Children and young adults more commonly use AT tools such as braces, prosthetics, and adaptive keyboards. However, mobility aids are the most widely used AT category. All of this classification and categorization also helps to determine costs and payment systems. Payment may be made in full or in part by individuals and families, or by insurance, rehabilitation centers, employers, veterans organizations, charities, or other third parties. Some AT can even be donated or loaned. In some US jurisdictions, businesses may be offered tax deductions for making their buildings fully accessible (Gray et al., n.d.).

    Two key tools used for measuring AT effectiveness are the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) and the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) questionnaires. Both of these questionnaires collect data on AT benefits and user satisfaction using criteria such as environment, expectations, perceptions, psychological factors, adaptability, competence, self-esteem, and specific AT characteristics. While some important factors like changes in satisfaction, self-esteem, adaptability, safety, and continued competence haven’t been adequately studied, current evidence shows that AT users have seen significant improvement in their ability to complete ADLs and in their overall quality of life (Gray et al., n.d.).

    It’s also easy to see how AT advancement is closely connected to overall technological advancement and the growth of the internet. This relationship has made it easier for disabled people to access AT and paved the way for new innovations. At the same time, the rise in graphics-rich and audio-dependent content has contributed to existing challenges that AT was initially created to help prevent (Gray et al., n.d.).

    References

    World Health Organization (2024). Assistive Technology. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology

    Cook, A.M. (n.d.). Assistive Technology. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/assistive-technology

  • Assistive Technology, Part 1

    Definitions

    When I was younger, I used to wonder why none of the characters in fantasy stories and period dramas ever seemed to need glasses or wheelchairs. It seemed strange to me that disabled characters were virtually nonexistent. Of course, these stories were fiction, and I now know more about history and artistic licence. But representation matters. So what changed? The continued expansion of Assistive Technologies has played a major role in the growing visibility of the disabled community.

    Assistive Technology (AT) is an umbrella term for products, systems, and services designed to help those with disabilities and health conditions complete activities of daily living (ADLs) that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. This may include physical devices like shower chairs, canes, or prescription footwear; digital services and software like speech recognition or screen readers; and even widely available features like curb cutouts, accessible bathrooms, elevators, and widened hallways. While most ATs are designed specifically for those with disabilities, many can benefit everyone. For example, curb cuts help wheelchair users and people pushing strollers. ATs also help people with arthritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, vision and hearing loss, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and many other conditions with ADLs like bathing and dressing, eating, communication, learning and remembering, symptom management, and much more (Office of Disability Services, 2026; World Health Organization, 2024; Cleveland Clinic, 2025).

    At their core, ATs are intended to promote independence and accessibility. They address a wide range of needs, including communication, mobility, vision and hearing loss, learning and cognitive disabilities, neurodiversity, and dexterity and fine motor skills. Many ATs are also very versatile, and more are created every day. For example, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), mouth sticks, eye-tracking devices, and other speech-generating tools are typically used for communication needs, but they can also support mobility, learning, and cognitive needs. ATs such as adapted keyboards and joysticks, typically used to support mobility needs, can also support cognitive needs. AT systems and services like screen magnification and high-contrast displays, screen readers, audiobooks, captioning software, visual and haptic alerts, speech-to-text (STT) and text-to-speech (TTS) tools, as well as products like assistive listening and note-taking devices, can all support many needs (Office of Disability Services, 2026).

    Other ATs are designed for more specialized needs. Braille displays, hearing aids, and cochlear implants are largely unhelpful for those without vision and/or hearing loss. Similarly, wheelchairs, canes, and some highly specialized devices are primarily designed for those with mobility disabilities. On the other hand, some readily available tools, such as noise-canceling headphones, white noise apps, organizational apps, memory aids, and daily routine aids, can be especially helpful for those with learning and cognitive disabilities, even though they are simple conveniences to most people. In fact, Princeton University’s ODS site maintains a list of AT options organized by need, linked in the references below (Office of Disability Services, 2026).

    When considering all the ADLs that may need to be accommodated for, the list continues. Fall detection devices, vibrating alarms, grab bars, reaching and dressing aids, ramps, shower seats, ergonomic utensils, stair lifts, collapsible stools, eyeglasses, fidget toys, and that’s just the beginning. AT devices can be high-tech, like a touchscreen communication device, or low-tech, like a cardboard communication board. They can be physical hardware, like prosthetics, or computer hardware, like specialized keyboards. Some AT can include special software. Some can be found easily and independently, while others need to be carefully chosen by a team of professionals or consultants. This is partly because some AT requires a prescription, even when it’s covered by insurance or a government program. Cost and coverage are often significant barriers, as they often depend on the device or system, the reason or reasons that it is needed, the individual’s insurance coverage, and even the disabled individual’s employer (Cleveland Clinic, 2025; ATiA, 2026).

    Portability can also be an issue, making rental services a practical choice for some. Luckily, there are organizations like ATiA whose members can help their clients connect with AT providers. Online message boards and social media can also be a great place to start looking for information or to find less specialized AT (Cleveland Clinic, 2025; ATiA, 2026).

    Finally, when talking about AT, it’s important to acknowledge the ableism that often accompanies it. As with any form of discrimination, the discrimination against those with a disability is not always intentional, and it can come from within the disabled community as well. The modern concept of ableism, which likely emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, can be seen in almost every setting, personal, societal, cultural, and institutional. It can manifest in the unnecessary labeling and altered expectations of an innocent peer, or in more obvious judgments rooted in eugenics-based thinking. In almost every case, these judgments are based on what is perceived as “normal” (Britannica Editors, 2025).

    References

    Office of Disability Services (2026). Assistive Technology. Princeton University. https://ods.princeton.edu/assistive-technology

    Cleveland Clinic (2025). Assistive Technology. Health Library. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/assistive-technology

    ATiA (2026). What is AT?. Assistive Technology Industry Association. https://www.atia.org/home/at-resources/what-is-at/

    World Health Organization (2024). Assistive Technology. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology

    Britannica Editors (2025). Ableism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ableism