Expo showcases assistive technology for people with disabilities

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Tuesday’s “South Carolina Assistive Technology Expo” showcased many of the latest and greatest tech-savvy options available for folks with disabilities.

The free event allowed visitors to experience multiple different devices, get connected to disability services, and attend twelve educational sessions.

Program Manager Rachell Johnson says the annual expo has been taking place for 31 years.

“I’m so excited to be involved in this. I love being the Program Manager for the SC Assistive Technology Program, but personally, I have a disability. I have a vision disorder, and so to know that I’m giving back and there’s resources for people who have a vision disorder like me, or any other kind of disability. You can walk down these vendor aisles, and find what you need, and maybe what you didn’t know you needed. And I think it’s really good to have that connection and I’m happy to be a part of it,” she says.

Anna Price is an instructor for the National Federation of the Blind’s Successful Transition Program — teaching vision impaired high school students independent and self advocacy skills.

She’s also legally blind herself.

“And so coming to places like this, seeing the technology that is available to help overcome obstacles that exist in the world currently, is really encouraging both for me as an educator but for me to be able to show my students that their goals are absolutely possible is really exciting,” Price says.

Nearly 60 vendors highlighted assistive technology options — from newly designed wheelchairs and accessibility vans, to vision and hearing assistance communication devices.

Malachi Johnson is a volunteer for the nonprofit organization, Able South Carolina.

“That’s the good part about why we’re making this movement in the first place. So that more people can express their needs. They can say what they want to have change. And we can bring more awareness to new problems that aren’t known already,” Johnson says.

Mark Riffle also works with  Able SC, and is on the Board of Directors for The Spinal Cord Injury Association.

He says folks who are able-bodied now may need some of this technology in the future.

“Whether it’s hearing, or vision, or needing a cane, or walker, or whatever the case is gonna be, we’re all gonna get there someday. So it’s important to know the resources that are available so when you get there you’re not wondering, ‘What now?’ he asks.

Price teaches her students to live the life that they want, saying, “A lot of the time, we’ve had to give up things like our privacy or independence in search of accomplishing certain tasks, but with the new technology that’s coming out, even things like voting, are accessible and independent for us, which is really exciting.”