What is Assistive Technology

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

Assistive technology is identified by the United Nations Convention on the  Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) as human rights obligation of both States and international donors.  157 Countries that have ratified the  UNCRPD  must ensure  the  availability of  high-quality,  affordable assistive  products  as a  right, because they  are  recognized as  the  first  crucial—and  mediating—step towards equal opportunities.[1]One billion people globally need assistive technology to lead healthy, productive and dignified lives but only one in 10 has access. As the world’s population ages and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases increases, the need for assistive technology will continue to rise. Access to assistive technology is essential for many people to participate in education, work, as well as family and community life. Among the people who commonly need AT are older people, people with disabilities and people living with chronic conditions. As the world population ages and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases increases, the need for AT will continue to rise. [2] Assistive technologies include any item, piece of equipment or product used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Assistive technologies include low-vision devices, hearing aids, and augmentative and alternative communication systems, walking frames, wheelchairs and prostheses such as artificial legs. [3]

Common types of assistive technology[edit | edit source]

Assistive devices range from simple, low-technology devices (e.g. walking sticks or adapted cups), to complex, high-technology devices (e.g. specialized computer software/hardware or motorized wheelchairs) It is helpful to consider this wide variety of assistive devices under different categories. [4]

  1. Mobility products: Mobility devices assist people to walk or move and may include:Walking aids, portable ramps, and grab bars
  2. Seeing/vision products: Low vision or blindness has a great impact on a person's ability to carry out important life activities. A range of devices (simple to complex) can be used to maximize participation and independence, including reading glasses, magnifiers, audio players, talking and/or touching watches, white canes, braille systems for reading and writing audio devices, e.g. radios, talking books, mobile phones screen readers for computers, e.g. JAWS (Job Access with Speech) is a screen reader programme.
  3. Hearing products: Hearing loss affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others; it can impact on many areas of development, e.g. speech and language and restricts educational and employment opportunities, resulting in social discrimination and isolation.[4] Devices include:hearing aids and alarm signallers that use light, sound, and vibration
  4. Communication products: Augmentative and alternative communication devices can assist individuals who have difficulty understanding and producing speech. They are provided to support speech (augmentative), or to compensate for speech (alternative)[4]. Devices include:communication boards, books, and card
  5. Cognition (& remembering): Cognition is the ability to understand and process information. It refers to the mental functions of the brain such as memory, planning and problem-solving. Brain injuries, intellectual impairment, dementia and mental illness are some of the many conditions that may affect an individual's cognitive ability. The following devices can assist individuals to remember important tasks/events, manage their time and prepare for activities:[4]pill organisers and whiteboards to remember things.
  6. Self-care and environment products: People with physical impairments often have difficulty maintaining good lying, standing or sitting positions for functional activities and are at risk of developing deformities due to improper positioning. The following devices can help overcome some of these difficulties and enable people with disabilities to complete the activities of daily living (e.g. eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, home maintenance). [4]There are many examples of these devices, including: toilet and shower chairs, absorbent cloths

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References [edit | edit source]

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  1. ↑ Khasnabis C, Mirza Z, MacLachlan M. Opening the GATE to inclusion for people with disabilities. The Lancet. 2015 Dec 5.
  2. ↑ Assistive technology factsheet. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 (https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology, accessed 24 may 2021).  
  3. ↑ Tangcharoensathien V, Witthayapipopsakul W, Viriyathorn S, Patcharanarumol W. Improving access to assistive technologies: challenges and solutions in low-and middle-income countries. WHO South-East Asia journal of public health. 2018 Jul 1;7(2):84.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Khasnabis C, Heinicke Motsch K, Achu K, et al., editors. Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. Assistive devices. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310951
 
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