There is a huge variety of equipment available to help people with disabilities of all kinds;, in order to increase disabled independence. These include:
Equipment for people with physical disabilities
- Walk-in baths and showers
- Stair lifts
- Rails and supports (usually found in the bathroom)
- Wheelchairs
- Walking aids
- Mobility scooters
- Rise and recline chairs
- Adjustable beds
- Specially adapted kitchen appliances (these are easier to use than other products)
Equipment for people with hearing impairment
- Induction loop
- Telephone amplifier
- Hearing aid
- Text phones
- Specialist baby alarms
- Specialist doorbells
- Hearing dogs: these dogs are specially trained to alert people to sounds that they cannot hear, such as the doorbell or a baby crying. The dogs are trained by Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, a great initiative to promote disabled independence.
Equipment for blind and partially sighted people
- Large button telephone
- Guide dogs: guide dogs are specially trained to help people with significant loss of sight
- Computer screen readers
- Magnification software products
- Special types of glasses
- Braille telephone