What Are the Different Assistive Technologies Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Supports?

If you're wondering what are assistive technologies and which options Guide Dogs NSW/ACT supports, our team can help. Assistive technology, often referred to as AT, includes tools, equipment and devices designed to help people who are blind or have low vision complete everyday tasks more easily, safely and independently.

Assistive technology can be as simple as a handheld magnifier, better lighting or a smartphone accessibility feature. It can also include more advanced solutions such as screen readers, text-to-speech devices, GPS navigation tools, wearable technology and braille displays. These technologies can support reading, communication, navigation, work, study and everyday living.

Technology for Blindness and Low Vision.

We work with a wide range of assistive technology for blindness and low vision, helping people identify the solutions that best suit their goals, lifestyle and level of vision.

Some common examples include:

• Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and other wearable technologies
• Smartphones, including iPhones and Androids, BlindShell Classic three which is a semi-smartphone option with a tactile keypad and buttons, speech output and event AI built in and KISA phones
• Navigation and reading apps
• Screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver and TalkBack.
• Braille devices
• Magnifiers and optical character recognition (OCR) technology
• Lighting solutions and other mainstream products that support accessibility

How We Help You Choose the Right Technology.

New technology devices are constantly being developed, making it difficult to provide a definitive list of available options. Our specialists continually monitor, assess and trial emerging technology to understand how it performs in real-world situations for people living with low vision and blindness.

Rather than recommending products based on sales or commissions, we focus on finding the right solution for each person's unique needs. We remain independent and objective, ensuring every recommendation is based on your goals, preferences and circumstances.

Trial Assistive Technology Before You Commit.

Whilst we don’t sell Assistive Technology, we do have access to a range of devices for demonstrations and trials. This gives you the opportunity to explore different options, understand how they work and determine whether they are a good fit before making a decision.

Where appropriate, we can also source and trial other technologies not currently available within our service. This helps build the evidence needed to support informed decision-making and funding applications.

NDIS Assistive Technologies and Funding Support.

If you're considering NDIS Assistive Technologies, our team can help you understand your options and provide evidence to support funding requests.

We can assist with:

• Identifying suitable assistive technologies
• Demonstrating and trialling equipment
• Assessing how technology supports your goals
• Providing recommendations and reports
• Understanding how to apply for assistive technology funding through the NDIS and other funding pathways