Assistive technology for blind children: product support for personal mobility

• Autor(a) principal: Jesus, Lana Tuan Borges de
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Sampaio, Alexandra da Silva Santos, Bonilla, Maria Helena Silveira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Educação Especial (UFSM)
• Texto Completo: http://periodicos.ufsm.br/educacaoespecial/article/view/13635
• topic: Assistive Technology; Orientation and Mobility; Blind Child.; Tecnologia Assistiva; Orientação e Mobilidade; Criança cega

The purpose of this article is to identify, catalog and describe the functionality of assistive technology resources, especially in products to support orientation and mobility of blind children aged 0-5 years, used to increase their sensor and motor development and to reduce or eliminate the possible limitations caused by the disability. The previous literature review has shown that there are few scientific studies and papers on assistive technology specific to this audience, at the studied age group, which makes this a study of unique relevance to both the field, and society. Initial results indicated that the products available as Assistive Technology should follow instructions and individualized criteria, considering the specific and individual needs, the context the blind child is inserted and the barriers that make harder to execute tasks. We emphasize that all products identified are physical, analogic, and can be handcrafted with minimum cost and high functionality, and that there is a lack of digital products specifically made for blind children in the studied age group, which shows the development stage of technology in this area and/or the little investment made to treat these subjects.