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An Overview of Electronic Aids to Daily Living

An Overview of Electronic Aids to Daily Living
Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
October 20, 2015
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Electronic Aids to Daily Living

EADLs provide independent control of electrical devices within the environment. A more official definition is any electronic technology used for the specific purpose of providing independent operation of appliances. That can include many different things that can be controlled.

 

Figure 1. Examples of electrical devices.

This area of technology used to be referred to as environmental control units, or ECUs, or environmental control systems, or ECSs. You might have heard some of those terms, so why are we now using this term EADL? EADL defines the task that is being completed rather than putting the focus on what is being controlled.

Funding

In terms of funding this area of equipment is still quite challenging. By using the terminology ECU, the focus was on what was being controlled in the environment and that was a real hindrance in terms of funding. Also, technically in the engineering world, ECU refers to HVAC technology. HVAC is heating and air conditioning, so this would refer to your furnace and your central air in your home. It is possible to use this technology to control the temperature in the room, but it certainly does much more than that. ECU is not technically a correct term and that is why the term was changed a number of years ago.

Alternative Control of Devices

EADLs provide alternative control of devices in the environment. There are all sorts of things in the environment that we control every day that we take for granted. We control our audiovisual equipment, i.e. T.V. DVDs, cable box, etc. We control our doors, our telephones, our lights, and simple appliances. We turn up the heat or turn on the air conditioning. There are all sorts of things that we control. These items might be out of control for clients who have physical disabilities in particular, but those with sensory and cognitive disabilities as well. For some of our clients this might also mean control of an electric hospital bed, a power door opener, and some adaptive telephones.

Classification of EADLs

EADLs are classified into two main categories. The first category is general function EADLs. The second category is specific function EADLs, meaning this piece of assistive technology is designed to control one specific thing. The specific function EADLs include door openers, standalone adaptive telephones, and page turners, though this technology is really quite outdated and is rarely used. The general function EADL category includes limited output or basic EADLs providing control of maybe just a few devices or a few functions, and then multiple output EADLs can control just about anything in our home.

 

michelle lange

Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS

Michelle Lange is an occupational therapist with over 35 years of experience and has been in private practice, Access to Independence, for over 15 years. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the co-editor of Seating and Wheeled Mobility: a clinical resource guide. She is the former NRRTS Continuing Education Curriculum Coordinator and Clinical Editor of NRRTS Directions magazine. Michelle is a RESNA Fellow and member of the Clinician Task Force. Michelle is a RESNA-certified ATP and SMS.



Related Courses

Let’s Talk Augmentative And Alternative Communication: Preparing For The ATP Exam
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
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Course: #5633Level: Intermediate1 Hour
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in the context of preparing for the ATP examination is presented in this course. The course will address terminology as well as the HAAT model to explore key features including access, display layout, optimizing access, programming, mounting, and integration of systems.

Computer and Tablet Access
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Course: #5140Level: Intermediate1 Hour
This course will present a hierarchy of computer and tablet access options for clients unable to use standard access, such as a keyboard, mouse, and touch screen. Access assessment requires analysis of motor skills, vision, cognition, and functional applications. Alternative keyboards and mice will be presented, as well as other alternative access options.

Recreational Technology For People With Disabilities: Preparing For The ATP Exam
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
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Course: #5656Level: Introductory1 Hour
This course presents recreational technologies in the context of preparing for the ATP examination. The course addresses a wide variety of important recreational and exercise technologies available for people with disabilities.

Power Wheelchair Advanced Features
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
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Course: #4947Level: Advanced2 Hours
Power wheelchairs do far more than drive – the driving method can be used to navigate and control other features including Reverse, Speeds, Power Seating, or an Interfaced Assistive Technology device (i.e. a communication device). Power Wheelchairs can send Bluetooth signals to control devices such as tablets and smartphones. Finally, new SMART technologies are making power wheelchairs safer and more efficient for everyone.

AAC: Early Intervention and Transition
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS, Jill Tullman, MS, CCC-SLP
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Course: #5226Level: Advanced3 Hours
Master skills to implement in your practice immediately with continued Master Class. This three-hour master class addresses the complex needs of children with multiple disabilities in the early intervention setting, including successful transition to school. A multi-disciplinary approach to augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) and interventions are addressed and case studies are included.

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