Then & Now: 35 Years of Assistive Technology at Donka

35 years ago, a head wand was the go-to device for people with limited mobility and paralysis.

Today, those with mobility issues can use an eye scanner – a small device that reads eye movements – to navigate a computer!

Today, old-school communication boards are still available – and still expensive – but a free or affordable communications app that can be used on a tablet or smart phone is much more efficient.

35 years ago, persons with visual impairment or blindness could use this device – an Echo Speech Synthesizer – to read the screen. Although not reliable in correctly reading all words – and a voice that was decidedly robotic – it was considered state-of-the-art at the time.