PARRY SOUND, ON – Seniors and the disabled might be living a tougher life than they need to, simply because they don’t know about all the technology available to them.
Community Living Parry Sound will be holding the Accessible and Adaptive Technology Information Session at the Bobby Orr Community Centre on Saturday.
Tricia Bain is the supervisor of Innovative Living Options for the organization. She said there will be multiple speakers and vendors to talk about and demonstrate the most cutting edge technologies.
According to Bain, the most important focus of the event is to give people who need to support their independence back.
“We don’t know what we don’t know,” Bain said. “I have been amazed to see what is on the market today. It is so important to seniors and people with disabilities who want to continue to live independently in their home.”
She added it is equally as important to families that they know their loved ones are safe.
Some of the technologies on display include alert buttons in case of falls, alarms that send warnings when a stove is left on too long and will even shut it off. Bain said there were many more.
Local resident Tim Vancoughnett has trouble communicating verbally and will demonstrate how he uses his tablet to display images and text to overcome his disability.
“We are basically presenting information to the community of Parry Sound that will enrich the lives of people who use support for their independence and safety,” Bain said. “There are people supported who don’t use words and there is technology that will help them order a coffee in the morning.”
Bain said this is the first time Parry Sound will hold an event of this magnitude on the subject. She added the speakers are experts from across Ontario.
The event is free and will run from noon to 3 p.m.