Adaptive Equipment

Adaptive equipment are devices that are used to assist with completing activities of daily living.

Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and feeding are self-care activities that are included in the spectrum of activities of daily living (ADLs).  Typically, a piece of adaptive equipment is utilized to increase a patient's function. Examples of adaptive equipment or assistive technology are wheelchairs, lifts, standing frames, gait trainers, augmentative communication devices, bath chairs, and recreational items such as swings or tricycles.

A growing market for adaptive equipment is in the use of mobility vans. In this case, adaptive equipment, also known as assistive technology, can help a person with a disability operate a motor vehicle when otherwise they would not be able to.  Obviously a quadriplegic would not benefit from some of these useful tools as they are limited because of the nonfunction of their limbs.


I thought the above image was humorous, as it shows the diverse capability of a quadriplegic and the variety of adaptive equipment available.