Class 10 - Assistive Technology in Physical Education/Sports

Assistive technology and sports is an area of technology design that is expanding with a variety of new devices created to enable sports enthusiasts who have disabilities to play different sports.  Fortunately, assistive technology may be used in disabled sports, where an existing sport is modified to enable players with a disability to participate; or, assistive technology may be used to invent completely new sports with athletes with disabilities exclusively in mind.

An increasing number of people with disabilities are participating in sports, leading to the development of new assistive technology.  Assistive technology devices can be simple, "low-tech", or they may use highly advanced technology, with some even using computers. Assistive technology for sports may also be simple or advanced.  Accordingly, assistive technology can be found in sports ranging from local community recreation to elite Paralympic games.  More complex assistive technology devices have been developed over time, and as a result, sports for people with disabilities "have changed from being a viewed as a clinical therapeutic tool to an increasingly competition-oriented activity."

Assistive Technology is divided into three categories.  Their definitions of each include:

1. LOW TECHNOLOGY

Low tech is assisted devices or equipment that needs no batteries to operate. For example, a bowling ramp, velcro handles, larger volleyball, bright colored equipment, bell balls/jingle trainers, lower basketball hoop, guide rope, PEC’s (Picture Exchange Communication), Picture icon book, Picture schedule, Object schedule, 1-Step Switch

2. MID TECHNOLOGY

Mid Technology is assisted devices or equipment that needs batteries to operate and may or may not need some training to utilize. For example, a laser pointer, beep box, beep ball,      talking pedometer/watch, toys to knock over pins, manual wheelchair, multi-step/level switch, switches that talk, and switches that activate objects .

3. HIGH TECHNOLOGY

High Technology is assisted devices or equipment that are electronic in nature, have multi-step processes to utilize them and may or may not need specialized training to utilize them.      For example, a beep baseball kit, hand crank bikes, high tech prosthesis, Wii gaming system, power wheelchair, Sport specific wheelchair, voice output communication devices, computers/laptops/tablets and FM System.

Assistive devices can enable exercise and training, on top of enabling participation in a sport. Below are some of the assistive devices currently available for different impairments:

• Mobility impairments:
• Light-weight wheelchairs for basketball, tennis, and racing
• All-terrain wheelchairs with rugged frames and wheels for rolling over unpaved surfaces, like hiking trails, snow, or beach sand
• Handcycles, or recumbent bicycles, which are like bicycles with pedals and steering using only the rider's arms
• Cross-country sit skis that allow skiers to sit down and push along the trail with tips that dig into the snow 
  

 

• Weights that users strap onto their wrists rather than having to hold them with the hands
• Gym equipment that lets users stay in a wheelchair while using arm exercise machines
• Mitts with Velcro straps that help users to hold onto an exercise machine if their grip isn’t strong enough
• Elastic band or tubes that exercise muscles through resistance instead of weight
• Paramobile devices such as specialized golf carts with support for standing assist players with mobility disabilities
• Bowling balls with hand grips assist bowlers with limited use of their hands
• One-handed fishing rods assist fishers who have limited mobility

• Visual impairments:
• Softballs that beep, so that people with visual problems can locate the ball to hit and catch it



 

• Basketballs with jingle bells inside for people who have limited or no eyesight

The following are some pictures of various athletes using a variety of equipment that has been modified to meet their needs so that they can fully participate and enjoy a sport they obviously love.

 

A golfer with a leg amputation uses an adaptive golf cart that has a chest strap to help him maintain his balance while standing on one leg.



Wheelchair curling uses a specially adapted long stick to launch the "rock" down the ice. 

 

 

Paralympic athletes use a two-seated tandem racing bicycle; the visually impaired cyclist pedals in rear, while a sighted "pilot" sits in the front.

In the past, students with disabilities were usually excluded from gym; left off to the side to be 'the cheering section' or 'observers' instead of active participants.  We have come a long way!  The following youtube video is a wonderful example of how assistive technology is being effectively used to support a variety of students with differing needs in their inclusive physical education classes.  Seeing the smiles on the students faces is amazing!  

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5hTa3X4u1A

Presently at my school, their are siblings who have Albinism.  Both siblings have been diagnosed Blind-Low Vision.  Despite the fact, these two children have the most ambitious, determined personalities.  Observing them in a gym class is amazing.  Despite vision limitations, they eagerly engage in all the planned gym activities.  Adaptations and/or modifications are made to meet their individual needs including using balls that have bells inside of them.  CNIB is a community resource that supports these two students within our school and lucky for us, they have come and shown us some adapted games; one of which is called GOAL BALL.  A sport that is growing in popularity around the world.  So, what is goal ball?  Well, Wikipedia defines it as ...

... a sport for people who cannot see. It is played by men, women and children. Each team has three people on it. A team throws the ball at a goal behind the people on the different team. They get a point if the ball goes in the goal. The ball has a bell in it. Players cannot see the ball: they can hear the bell. They use their body to stop the ball. People wear glasses that make it so player can see anything. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qE2C4mM0-8