Assistive Devices for Autistic Student

Assistive Devices for Autistic Student

The autistic student for whom a device is needed has health problems that require specific needs to be met, and these needs may be best met by providing an electronic device to the student. This student has significant difficulty communicating, and will generally shut down completely and not be able to communicate at all when he enters any kind of stressful or unfamiliar situation, or when approached by strangers. This student additionally requires medication at regular intervals, and he has medical allergies and other important medical information that he would be unable to provide to someone if the situation arose where this information needed to be known. A traditional medical bracelet is better than not having any identifying information on his person, however a better option would be an electronic medical identification tag that could store an electronic message.

ABLEDATA provides information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources to consumers, organizations, professionals..." (http://test.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19329&sectionid=19329_The online products listing at AbleData provides several similar electronic message medical identification tags. (http://test.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&sectionid=19327)

The first item is called My Voice ID, and it is specifically designed for those with cognitive disabilities. This electronic ID is approximately 2.75 inches by two inches long, and it includes a medical card to fill out, a place to put a photo, a clip for attaching it to a belt or pocket, and is marked as containing medical information. This can be helpful in recording medications, the device can record up to approximately 80 words, and this message can be updated at any time and played back at the touch of a button. This device utilizes two 3-volt batteries and has a battery self-tester. The recorded messages not lost when the battery is changed. This item weighs about two ounces and has also a one year warranty.

This item costs $29.95. (http://test.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=113583&top=0&productid=113886&trail=0) S. similar device is known as Medical Medallion, and it is manufactured for the same purpose. It has the same easy-playback and update options, the same word capacity, the same storage features, and so forth. The only noticeable difference is that the Medical Medallion has a leather cover.