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Assisting People with Physical Disabilities Through Technology

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Education and Information Technologies

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Synonyms

Accessibility; Assistive technology; Augmentative and alternative communication; Physical access

Introduction

The term physical disabilities often refers to a broad range of disabilities of people facing difficulties in limitation on physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina. These may include orthopedic and neuromuscular disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and other orthopedic difficulties inherent or acquired), as well as sensory disabilities (e.g., visual or hearing impairment), and chronic health issues, cardiovascular or respiratory difficulties. Furthermore, the complexity of a number of diagnoses of physical disabilities often involve identification of difficulties in various aspects and interrelated sectors of the human activity and quality of life. Hence, as Heward (2011) identifies, people with physical disabilities compose an...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Katerina Mavrou

Authors
  1. Katerina Mavrou
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Correspondence to Katerina Mavrou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Victoria University , Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Arthur Tatnall

Section Editor information

  1. Dept of Special Education, Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece

    Vassilis Argyropoulos

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Mavrou, K. (2019). Assisting People with Physical Disabilities Through Technology. In: Tatnall, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Education and Information Technologies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60013-0_144-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60013-0_144-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60013-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60013-0

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