ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to some new buzz terms such as “assistive technology” and “Augmented Alternative Communication that are revolutionary technological innovations to assist a person with a disability. The term “assistive technology” was coined by John Williams decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed into law. It is also notable that, assistive technology by definition includes not only hardware devices but also it includes necessary “services” to increase the participation of people with a disability. A Venn diagram depicts the categories of assistive technology. In the context of the foundation period of assistive technology, one can say that during the Stone Age cavemen used sticks or other natural items for their daily activity when they had an acute injury or other physical disability. Throughout the different stages of innovation of assistive technology, a lot of assistive technology devices have been developed by the researcher and the designer.
