Selma High to showcase technology for disabilities on Thursday

People with disabilities in the Black Belt will have the opportunity to see the latest in assistive technology on June 27 at Selma High School gym. The show will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. This demonstration is specifically meant for people in Dallas and the surrounding counties, including Wilcox. Assistive technology devices that will be showcased include wheelchairs, speech devices for those who can’t communicate verbally, and devices to assist visually impaired individuals in seeing a computer screen. Prosthetic arms and legs are not considered within this classification.

The Thursday demonstration is sponsored by Accessing Potential through Assistive Technology (APTAT), which is a federally funded grant program in Alabama aimed at increasing awareness and access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. Jessica McKay, an assistive technology specialist and coordinator of APTAT, mentioned that although they often attend shows in big cities, they recognized that people in rural areas may not have the means to attend. This realization has prompted APTAT to conduct a Rural Road Show, touring the state and bringing the demonstration closer to rural communities.

Marengo County is part of a group with Choctaw, Green, and Sumter counties, but there is no set date yet for when the Rural Road Show will reach this particular group. McKay explained that various technologies for different disabilities will be on display at the show, with experts available to explain and assist in acquiring these devices. Attendees will also have the opportunity to test some devices before making a purchase, and there is a lending program through APTAT that allows individuals to borrow a device for 30 days before deciding on a purchase.

To sign up for the lending program, individuals can create an account at www.al.at4all.com. While registration is not mandatory, McKay mentioned that it helps them to gauge the necessary technologies needed in the area. Interested individuals can sign up for the program at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RQ6RG3K.