Accessible Consumer Electronics Are Essential to Closing the Gap in Assistive Technology Provision

According to the Global Report on Assistive Technology (2023) [1] more than 2.5 billion people require one or more assistive products - a number that is expected to grow to over 3.5 billion by 2050 due to the aging of our societies. Over the past decade, the design of products that empower people with a disability has shifted from specialized and dedicated products designed only for those with a disability to features and functions integrated into cost-effective consumer technologies for the benefit of all. The opportunity to expand the availability of such technologies is at risk of being ignored due to models of AT delivery that are founded in medical devices, and which have failed to reflect trends in our understanding of technology and the choices and preferences expressed by persons with a disability. This research suggests that such expansion offers significant benefits to people with a disability and better both economic and social return on investment for authorities.

Towards a Model for the Transfer of Technology-Driven Innovation in Accessible and Inclusive Public Transport

This article reports on work undertaken by AAATE researchers in the framework of the EU-funded TRIPS Project. The project (2021-2023) has aimed to contribute to transforming public transport in Europe and beyond toward more inclusive models, leaving no one behind. The reported findings refer to a specific aspect of the transformation process that has been investigated by the authors, namely the factors that impact the transfer of innovation in accessibility by the public transport providers. A framework model was created due to a process of factor extraction from existing literature and their validation by a sample of decision-makers in the public transport sector.

Reflections on Building a Multi-Country AAC Implementation Guide

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) implementation at any level is a multifaceted process that requires selection of relevant and appropriate systems to suit individual users who may have complex communication needs and other co-occurring difficulties. Careful and systematic action may be required to develop skills and abilities in the use of chosen technologies with suitable ongoing support within a wide range of settings. The wider milieu in which services are provided must also be considered in order to provide a firm foundation for capacity building alongside considerations for multilingual and multicultural factors. UNICEF with the Global Symbols team supported by local professionals working with AAC users, their families and carers set out to collaboratively provide an implementation guide based on their experiences in several Eastern European countries. The aim of the guide was to illustrate work already being undertaken in the area and to ensure the sharing of knowledge and resources where gaps were discovered. The result became a series of linked webpages in an online framework that covered practical aspects for the development of policies and procedures to support early intervention for those with severe speech, language and communication needs across countries of differing cultures and languages. The actual AAC implementation required ingenuity on all sides with translations for pictographic symbol and software adaptations with Cyrillic and Latin alphabets, new synthetic voices alongside deployment and capacity development. Considerable local support was forthcoming and captured with interviews by those working with AAC users as technology was introduced and outcomes measured. As the guide was completed several videos were shared publicly by carers with examples of AAC and assistive technology use. Policies and procedures were also shared in the form of tables, charts, symbol sets, communication boards and software that illustrated not only the occurrence of knowledge transfer and the use of open licenses, but also differences in strategies and the way they were adapted to suit the range of settings in the various countries.

Basic principles for the development of an AI-based tool for assistive technology decision making

INTRODUCTION

The impact of assistive technology use on the lives of people with disabilities has long been demonstrated in the literature. Despite the need for assistive technologies, and a wealth of innovative, afford-able, and accessible products, a low rate of assistive technology uptake is globally maintained. One of the reasons for this gap is related to data and knowledge formation and management. Low access to information and a lack of assessment services is evident. Fragmentation of data, inconsistency in assessment methodology and heterogeneity in the competence of assistive technology professionals, has led to a growing interest in the opportunities that data sciences, including AI, hold for the future of the assistive technology sector, as a supportive and constructive mechanism in any decision-making process.

OBJECTIVES

In this short paper, we seek to describe some of the principles that such an AI-based recommendation system should be built upon, using the Atvisor platform as a case study. Atvisor.ai is an AI-based digital platform that supports assistive technology assessments and the decision-making process.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Our recommendations represent the aggregated insights from two pilots held in Israel, testing the platform in multiple environments and with different stakeholders. These recommendations include ensuring the continuum of care and providing a full user journey, incorporating shared decision making and self-assessment features, providing data personalisation and a holistic approach, building a market network infrastructure and designing the tool within a wider service delivery model design. Assessment and decision-making processes, crucial to optimal uptake, cab be leveraged by technology to become more accessible and personalised.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONProvides principles for the development of an AI-based recommendation system for assistive technology decision making.Promotes the use of artificial intelligence to support users and professionals in the assistive technology decision making process.Personalization of data regarding assistive technology, according to functional, holistic and client centered profiles of users, ensures optimal match and better use of assistive technology.Self-assessment and professional assessment components are important for enabling multiple access points to the assistive technology decision making process, based on the preferences and needs of users.

A commentary on influences on selection of assistive technology for young children in South Africa: perspectives from rehabilitation professionals

This commentary explores the issues raised in the original article and seeks to suggest how the systems and processes that the professionals utilize shape the challenges and issues they face. Furthermore, it asks the question as to the extent to which self-determination in the selection of many forms of assistive technology would address and resolve the barriers identified.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe implications of the study and experiences of the professionals are highly relevant for the planning of future rehabilitation services. With increasing global demand for service, and an associated understanding that the client carries significant knowledge and experience it could be suggested that the underlying client/provider relationship is changing and will continue to change.There is potential for a shift from community-based rehabilitation services, to community led rehabilitation services, where the self-determination of solutions to need is led by the individual, with curated input from the professional, mediated through machine learning and artificial intelligence. Such a model of delivery could effectively support many of those with a disability, where the client has extensive experience, allowing the professional to spend increased resources on those who lack the experience to engage confidently in decision making.The recognition and validation of the knowledge held by clients, against which options can be mapped could ensure extended reach and reduce the cost and efficiency of future services.

Assistive technology policy: a position paper from the first global research, innovation, and education on assistive technology (GREAT) summit

Increased awareness, interest and use of assistive technology (AT) presents substantial opportunities for many citizens to become, or continue being, meaningful participants in society. However, there is a significant shortfall between the need for and provision of AT, and this is patterned by a range of social, demographic and structural factors. To seize the opportunity that assistive technology offers, regional, national and sub-national assistive technology policies are urgently required. This paper was developed for and through discussion at the Global Research, Innovation and Education on Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit; organized under the auspices of the World Health Organization's Global Collaboration on Assistive Technology (GATE) program. It outlines some of the key principles that AT polices should address and recognizes that AT policy should be tailored to the realities of the contexts and resources available. AT policy should be developed as a part of the evolution of related policy across a number of different sectors and should have clear and direct links to AT as mediators and moderators for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The consultation process, development and implementation of policy should be fully inclusive of AT users, and their representative organizations, be across the lifespan, and imbued with a strong systems-thinking ethos. Six barriers are identified which funnel and diminish access to AT and are addressed systematically within this paper. We illustrate an example of good practice through a case study of AT services in Norway, and we note the challenges experienced in less well-resourced settings. A number of economic factors relating to AT and economic arguments for promoting AT use are also discussed. To address policy-development the importance of active citizenship and advocacy, the need to find mechanisms to scale up good community practices to a higher level, and the importance of political engagement for the policy process, are highlighted. Policy should be evidence-informed and allowed for evidence-making; however, it is important to account for other factors within the given context in order for policy to be practical, authentic and actionable. Implications for Rehabilitation The development of policy in the area of asssitive technology is important to provide an overarching vision and outline resourcing priorities. This paper identifies some of the key themes that should be addressed when developing or revising assistive technology policy. Each country should establish a National Assistive Technology policy and develop a theory of change for its implementation.

Introducing an AT Passport: A Key to Managing Transitions Across the Lifespan

The service delivery of Assistive Technology for access to information and communications technology is frequently fragmented and inconsistent as evidenced by experience in the US and much of Europe (AAATE 2012). AT users can experience hiatuses in their access to appropriate assistive technologies as they transition from home to education, to employment and in the community. An AT Passport can provide a record of Assistive Technology requirement and use across the lifespan.

Democratisation of AAC Symbol Choices Using Technology

The use of an online voting system has been developed to enable democratic choices of newly designed symbols to support speech, language and literacy skills in a localisation situation. The system works for those using and supporting Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) symbols on electronic systems by the provision of simplified scales of acceptance and adapted grids. The methodology and results highlighted the importance of user participation at the outset and concrete examples of symbol adaptations that were found necessary to ensure higher levels of user satisfaction. Design changes included appropriate local dress codes, linguistic nuances, social settings, the built environment and religious sensitivities.

A Participatory Research Approach to develop an Arabic Symbol Dictionary

The purpose of the Arabic Symbol Dictionary research discussed in this paper, is to provide a resource of culturally, environmentally and linguistically suitable symbols to aid communication and literacy skills. A participatory approach with the use of online social media and a bespoke symbol management system has been established to enhance the process of matching a user based Arabic and English core vocabulary with appropriate imagery. Participants including AAC users, their families, carers, teachers and therapists who have been involved in the research from the outset, collating the vocabularies, debating cultural nuances for symbols and critiquing the design of technologies for selection procedures. The positive reaction of those who have voted on the symbols with requests for early use have justified the iterative nature of the methodologies used for this part of the project. However, constant re-evaluation will be necessary and in depth analysis of all the data received has yet to be completed.