Equipment for Children with Disabilities

One or more body senses in children with disabilities do not function properly. So. they depend on special equipment such as different types of wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetic limbs, sign language modules, etc. In this concept, the young learners will know more about assistive devices.

After reading the concept, students will be able to:

• Know about the purpose of assistive devices.
• Recall that Braille script is used by the blind children.
• Understand about Braille system and the use of a white cane.
• Compare elbow crutches and walking crutches.
• Answer- who needs to use a walker with wheels?
• Categorise equipment for deaf and dumb children.
• Differentiate between hearing aid machines and cochlear implants.

Each concept is explained to class 4 students using descriptions, illustrations, and concept maps. After you go through a concept, assess your learning by solving the two printable worksheets given at the end of the page.

Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept Equipment for Children with Disabilities provided in PDF format.

Children with Disabilities:

• Children who live with a disability are called disabled children.
• They can study at both regular and special schools.
• These children are often discriminated against at school, so a proper educational environment, support, and care are necessary.

 

Why Do Disabled Children Use Assistive Devices or Equipment?

• Assistive equipment helps children live independently.
• These assistive aids give them proper support and enforce their participation in routine activities like other children.
• Modern digital assistive technologies are constantly helping them become self-dependant and reducing the responsibilities of long-term caregivers.

1. Equipment for Blind Children:

 

a) Braille System:

 

b) White Cane:

• A white cane or stick, also known as a mobility cane, is used for smooth mobility.
• These sticks are white so that the blind person using them can be easily identified.
• These are foldable sticks and easy to carry.
• The primary function of these sticks is to scan obstacles on the road.

 

c) Speciality Sunglasses:

 

d) Speciality Watches:

• Different types of speciality watches are available in the market.
• Blind children can use braille watches to check the time through touch sensations.
• Some watches come with glass lids so the time can be checked by touching minute and hour hands.
• Talking watches are more expensive, but blind children also use those. There are electronic digital watches that give information about time and weather.

 

2. Equipment for Lame and Disabled Children:

 

a) Wheelchairs:

• Children who are unable to walk use wheelchairs to move from one place to another.
• These chairs are made of four wheels and a seating surface.
• Wheelchairs can be of two types—manually powered and electric powered.
• These chairs have two large wheels at the back, which help to propel the equipment and maintain balance.
• Two small wheels are present in the front. These wheels are called caster wheels that help to change directions.

 

b) Walker with Wheels:

 

c) Underarm Walking Crutch:

 

d) Below Elbow Crutch:

 

e) Prosthetic Limbs:

 

f) Ramp:

 

3. Equipment for Deaf Children:

 

a) Hearing Aid Machine:

 

b) Cochlear Implants:

 

4. Equipment for Dumb Children:

 

a) Artificial Tongue:

 

b) Sign Language Training Modules:

 

New Words:

Did You Know?

• Digital smart glasses allow visually impaired children to see and help in mobilisation without obstacles.

• Lame children use parallel bars to practice walking and for walk therapy.