Assistive technology use and unmet need in Canada.

This study comes at a time when global attention is focussed on research on access to AT. This study using data from the CSD will serve disability and social policy analysts at all levels of government, as well as associations for persons with disabilities and researchers working in the field of disability policy and programmes.Implication for RehabilitationThe current initiatives on assistive technology, including the World Health Organization's Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) project, recognize the substantial gap between the need for and provision of assistive devices. In Canada, for example, as well as in other countries, despite rapid growth in innovation, unmet needs for assistive devices persist and multiple barriers have been reported by individuals in accessing needed assistive devices. A better understanding of the met and unmet needs of assistive technology users can assist in anticipating accessibility and human support needs of individuals with disabilities, and in turn, inform resource allocation and prioritization of services. • The study estimates the prevalence of assistive device use in community dwelling Canadians and describes the unmet needs for assistive devices of Canadians with activity limitation (disability).• This study provides evidence on the use and unmet assistive technology needs for disability and social policy analysts at all levels of government, as well as associations for persons with disabilities and researchers work...

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology. - March 23, 2020 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Berardi A, Smith EM, Miller WC Tags: Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol Source Type: research