Establish advisory boards on the use of technology for people with disabilities to develop recommendations for public policy changes and applications and information dissemination. Membership should include consumers, and may include service agency reps, family or friends or advocates, third party payers, educational and government representatives. Develop technical assistance and resource centers for promoting the understanding and application of technology for the further development of human potential and to further assist in the exercise of full citizenship by people with functional limitations. Making a switch larger or a device easier to access can increase the ability of people with physical disabilities to independently control their environment. They also improves a person's ability to perform desk and table activities along with friends and classmates and allows a person to participate in educational and recreational activities.
Independent mobility is a first step toward independent living.
A head mounted light beam for a ten year old with cerebral palsy allows her to operate a communication system that speaks for her and allows her access to a computer keyboard. Ramps at state parks that allow people who can't use stairs to get around to key points of interest and to the waterfront to fish. Lifts for public transportation and TTYs for phone systems and pointers and switches. An environmental control system, including an amplifier on the phone to accommodate hearing limitations and a personal alarm system to notify health personnel if he has a medical emergency have improved one man's ability to manage his living quarters. This combination of high and low technology has given him the confidence and support to remain quite independent in his own home.