Getting Started with Assistive Technology: A Guide for Families
If you’re starting to explore the most suitable assistive technology for a family member, you may quickly realise just how many options are commercially available.
Traditionally, families have worked closely with occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and assistive technology specialists to evaluate which tools are most appropriate for the individual. This is still a common and highly recommended approach, and there are many services available to support you through this process.
More recently, however, a growing number of families wish to be more informed and take a more active role in selecting assistive technology. This desire for independence in the decision-making process is entirely understandable and can lead to more meaningful outcomes when done with care and support.
Where do you start?
The best starting point is to focus on the individual—their needs, preferences, and daily activities. It is considered best practice to begin with the person, not the product. This is often referred to as “matching the person and the technology.”
In contrast, simply providing a device—such as a consumer tablet—without considering the individual’s specific requirements is known as “matching the technology to the person.” While this can sometimes yield insights, it can also lead to poor outcomes that may be ineffective, frustrating, or even distressing.
Starting with the person ensures a planful, step-by-step introduction of appropriate equipment, supporting success and satisfaction.
Family members are often well-placed to help identify the individual’s needs and preferences, as they know them best in the context of daily life.
Understanding the Person’s Needs
Several frameworks are used in assistive technology assessment. One approach that may be helpful for families is a needs assessment.
This involves identifying the gaps between the person’s current situation and their desired outcomes. A need may arise from the desire to improve or compensate for current abilities.
Important: At this early stage, try to avoid jumping to solutions too quickly. Doing so can unintentionally limit options or overlook more suitable alternatives.
Using a Needs Assessment Table
A simple way to begin is to use a table to map daily activities and identify support needs. Start by listing common daily activities, then consider additional activities the person might want to participate in but currently can’t. Assistive technology may help expand these opportunities.
Here are two sample tables:
Example 1: Adult post-stroke (CVA)
| Activity | Current | Gaps | notes |
| Get up, shower, dress,breakfast, walk dog. | Managing ok | Safety in shower | OT assessment booked |
| Read paper | Finding reading more difficult | Reading? | |
| Shopping for groceries etc | Okay until needing to speak to someone or ask question | Speech difficulties | |
| Ring daughter | Okay with some common words, but difficulty with conversation | Communication difficulties | |
| Bowls - social | Difficult physically but enjoying social sontact. Embarrassed trying to converse. Now more of a listener. | Communication difficulties | |
Example 2: Teenager with developmental delay
| Activity | Current | Gaps | notes |
| Get up, dress,breakfast, get ready for school | Increasing independence. | Remembering next step in some activities. Working on making own breakfast. | |
| Go to school by car | Okay | Planning on using school bus. | Plan in place |
| Greetings at school | Uses single message communicator. | Message may not be suitable at times. | |
| School time | Has aide to assist with written work and to answer questions | Others are using computer? More independent communication? | |
| Recess | Relies on adults to assist with freindships | Communication? Opportunity? | |
These tables can help highlight potential goals and areas where assistive technology may be useful.
At this stage, it may be helpful to contact an assistive technology service, occupational therapist, or speech pathologist to explore specific tools or strategies.
It’s also possible to continue researching options independently. For example, in the second case, contacting Zyteq could help explore communication options beyond a single-message device. This would naturally lead into more detailed discussion around communication settings, available support, and environments.
Final Thoughts
Assistive technology is not used in isolation—it depends on support from people and systems around the individual to be truly effective.
We’re happy to discuss how assistive technology may assist someone in your family. Please feel free to contact us for a chat.
If you’d like to explore the evaluation process further, check out our other Zyteq Selection Guide: Are you new to Assistive Technology?
You may also wish to visit the Purchasing section of our website, which includes information about Funding and NDIS.
