Assistive Technology
for Veterans

Adaptive Equipment
What is Adaptive Equipment?
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Assistive technology is also abbreviated as AT.
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AT is an umbrella term for assistive products and their related systems and services.
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Assistive products help maintain or improve an individual’s functioning related to cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care and vision, thus enabling their health, well-being, inclusion and participation.
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Improving access to assistive technology can contribute to greater participation in everyday activities and to ensuring that no one is left behind.

Who can Benefit from AT?
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Most people will need assistive technology at some point in their lives, especially as they age. While some may require assistive technology temporarily, such as after an accident or illness, others may require it for a longer period or throughout their lifespan.

Key Facts
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Assistive products can range from physical products such as wheelchairs, glasses, prosthetic limbs, white canes, and hearing aids to digital solutions such as speech recognition or time management software and captioning.
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Most people who use assistive technology use more than one product, making integrated services important.
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Globally, more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products.
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With an ageing global population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, an estimated 3.5 billion people will need assistive technology by 2050.
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In many countries, most people who need assistive technology do not have access to it.
