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This study presents a novel method for evaluating the scientific research papers in the field of assistive technologies pertaining to different impairment conditions. The objectives are to understand the technologies used for addressing the needs of PWD by identifying relevant criteria for the assessment, explore the implications of these technologies in their lives and identify the gaps among certain technologies in assisting PWD. In this article, we reviewed around 40 research scientific papers in relation to the technologies used to assist PWD in their daily activities. A novel quantitative assessment methodology based on Multi-weighted Scoring Model (MWSM) has been developed. It is based on the judgement of clinical experts according to thirteen well-defined criteria. The proposed method is useful because it assesses the scientific studies related to PWD qualitatively according to efficient research coverage, as well as quantitatively in order to have good comparative judgment. Moreover, this method recognizes the research gap or areas which need further investigation and identifies the research papers that have good coverage of the respective criteria.Implications for RehabilitationHuman computer interface (HCI) solutions are critical for addressing the main issues facing people with disabilities (PWD) in their life.Assessment of scientific research papers according to well-defined criteria that address PWD needs would assist in verifying their suitability for PWDs.Novel quantitative assessment methodology is used for assessing these research papers using judgment of experienced researchers according to 13 well-defined criteria that have been weighted according to relevancy to different impairment groups.Identifying research papers that have good coverage of defined criteria and knowing the research area that needs further investigation by researchers and developers, would ultimately address the rehabilitation needs for PWD. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 2016 WHO launched the priority assistive products list (APL) consisting of 50 products and recommended that using this as a reference, countries should develop their own contextually relevant national APLs. This paper describes the development of Malawi's APL. Two hundred and ninety-six persons with disabilities participated in a rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) with people with various types of disabilities were conducted. The rATA questionnaire and FGDs collected data on assistive products (APs) participants used, APs they needed and the challenges they experienced. Data collection was done in six districts spread across the three regions in Malawi. All age groups were included in the survey. Persons with disabilities aged less than 18 participated but went with their guardians. All persons who participated in this study provided consent. Survey and FGDs results were presented at an APL consensus meeting with policymakers, service providers, disabled peoples' organizations and development partners in the disability sector. Based on the results and further discussions, a consensus was reached on the priority APs for Malawi. More than a third of respondents used wheelchairs (32%), followed by auxiliary crutches (25%), walking sticks (13%), reading glasses (11%), prosthesis (10%), elbow crutches (9%) and orthosis (8%). There is also a high demand for products such as pull-up underwear (incontinence products) (79%), hearing aids (70%), reading glasses (59%) and diapers (63%). After intensive discussions during a consensus meeting, an agreement was reached on the 22 priority APs for Malawi. There is a wide range of APs being used by people with different functional limitations in Malawi. There is also a demand for APs that are not readily available. When developing an APL, the list should include products in use, those in demand, and those recommended by service providers. Following the development of the priority assistive products list (APL) by WHO, member states should develop their own contextually based APL. The development of the APL should be based on research evidence. All key stakeholders including persons with disabilities and other functional limitations, government, and development partners should participate in this process. The APL should be part of the national health system or community services. The Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, being the Government of Malawi line ministry coordinating disability issues participated actively in this study including inviting participants in the stakeholders' validation workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies have transformed our lives in different social areas, facilitating interpersonal relationships thanks to technological tools. In the specific case of people with disabilities, Assistive Technologies (ATs) break down barriers and increase opportunities to become active members of society with equal opportunities. This paper presents a systematic mapping study that analyzes the current state-of-the-art of ATs proposed in the literature to support the empowering of people with disability. Specifically, this paper focuses on (1) describing a global vision of the scientific literature published in the last 20 years about ATs in the computer science field and (2) identifying research needs, gaps, and trends. For this purpose, an in-depth analysis of 389 primary studies is presented. The information obtained from the mapping process is also constrained. Concretely, 35 ATs versus 22 disabilities are compared, obtaining striking peaks for some disabilities described in the discussion. Finally, the findings show that several areas have been covered only lightly, revealing interesting future directions and challenges for junior researchers. • ATs have the potential to break down barriers for people with disabilities, enabling them to participate more fully in society. This implies a need for rehabilitation programs to incorporate ATs into their strategies to enhance social inclusion. • Given the transformative role of ICT, rehabilitation programs should focus on helping people with disabilities develop the necessary technological skills to utilize ATs effectively. • This work highlights the diversity of ATs and disabilities, suggesting a need for personalized rehabilitation plans that match specific ATs to individual disabilities. • Rehabilitation professionals should be trained to assess and recommend appropriate ATs for each case. Rehabilitation programs should consider incorporating cutting-edge ATs and staying involved in research to contribute to future developments to cover gaps and challenges identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The advances in artificial intelligence have started to reach a level where autonomous systems are becoming increasingly popular as a way to aid people in their everyday life. Such intelligent systems may especially be beneficially for people struggling to complete common everyday tasks, such as individuals with movement-related disabilities. The focus of this paper is hence to review recent work in using computer vision for semi-autonomous control of assistive robotic manipulators (ARMs). Methods: Four databases were searched using a block search, yielding 257 papers which were reduced to 14 papers after applying various filtering criteria. Each paper was reviewed with focus on the hardware used, the autonomous behaviour achieved using computer vision and the scheme for semi-autonomous control of the system. Each of the reviewed systems were also sought characterized by grading their level of autonomy on a pre-defined scale. Conclusions: A re-occurring issue in the reviewed systems was the inability to handle arbitrary objects. This makes the systems unlikely to perform well outside a controlled environment, such as a lab. This issue could be addressed by having the systems recognize good grasping points or primitive shapes instead of specific pre-defined objects. Most of the reviewed systems did also use a rather simple strategy for the semi-autonomous control, where they switch either between full manual control or full automatic control. An alternative could be a control scheme relying on adaptive blending which could provide a more seamless experience for the user. Assistive robotic manipulators (ARMs) have the potential to empower individuals with disabilities by enabling them to complete common everyday tasks. This potential can be further enhanced by making the ARM semi-autonomous in order to actively aid the user. The scheme used for the semi-autonomous control of the ARM is crucial as it may be a hindrance if done incorrectly. Especially the ability to customize the semi-autonomous behaviour of the ARM is found to be important. Further research is needed to make the final move from the lab to the homes of the users. Most of the reviewed systems suffer from a rather fixed scheme for the semi-autonomous control and an inability to handle arbitrary objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-induced lockdowns have increased the importance of technology in education. Though access to technology as well as availability of the internet remain a major concern for a lot of children in the global south, children with intellectual disabilities are disadvantaged even more as most of the e-content is developed keeping in mind the average learner. Unstructured interviews were conducted with children with intellectual disabilities studying in government schools in Haryana as well as their teachers and parents. Thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted to understand the use-patterns of mobile phones by children with intellectual disabilities. Findings suggest that these children are learning to use mobile phones on their own or with some support and are able to navigate the complexities of these smartphones quite well. They use these devices mostly for their entertainment. This paper then reflects on the need and strategies to develop these technologies in ways that they can be used as effective tools for teaching children with intellectual disabilities, especially in the inclusive education system in developing countries. The paper reflects on the need to develop technology and tools using flexible and exploratory designs to enhance the learning processes for children with intellectual disabilities from the lower income strata. This study highlights the importance of being able to use mobile phones by children with intellectual disabilities belonging to low income families. Following this, the article argues for designing of mobile phones suitable for use by children with intellectual disabilities using playfulness and explorations, and Building e-content keeping the elements of playfulness and exploration which can enhance the learnings of this group of students which is often ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development and dissemination of an evidence-based Policy Statement and Background Papers by the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA). An experienced project team was engaged to conduct literature reviews and member consultations, develop resources and implement a targeted advocacy strategy that included a policy launch and meetings with government officials. The Policy Statement and Background Papers have enabled ARATA to represent the views of Assistive Technology (AT) Practitioners in consultations around the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other AT-related inquiries. In ARATA's experience, developing a policy statement and disseminating it through a targeted advocacy strategy is an effective way for a not-for-profit professional organisation to influence government policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONIndividuals with disabilities face psychological, environmental, and resource-related barriers to participating in exercise and sports. The lack of participation in exercise observed in the disability community poses great concern to this population’s health. This review discusses commercially available adaptive equipment and technology for exercise and sports that help people with disabilities circumvent barriers to exercise. The methods section highlights various categories of adaptive tools and their cost, accessibility, ease of learning, and progress level to help people with disabilities determine points of entry to fitness that align with their needs. Additionally, fitness-related businesses, fitness device developers, and researchers can leverage the discussed findings to understand gaps in this field to further advance adaptive equipment and technology and help facilitate widespread use. The paper serves as a comprehensive resource to researchers, entrepreneurs, and consumers to guide developing, accessing, and marketing adaptive exercise technology.A majority of people with disabilities experience barriers to participating in exercise and sports which can drastically affect their physical and mental well-being.Although there are commercially available adaptive equipment and technologies for exercise and sports, limited accessibility, cost, and lack of options for various disabilities can hinder participation in physical activities.There are many developments needed in terms of technology and programs that can address issues faced by the disability community regarding exercise and sports participation.A majority of people with disabilities experience barriers to participating in exercise and sports which can drastically affect their physical and mental well-being.Although there are commercially available adaptive equipment and technologies for exercise and sports, limited accessibility, cost, and lack of options for various disabilities can hinder participation in physical activities.There are many developments needed in terms of technology and programs that can address issues faced by the disability community regarding exercise and sports participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the rapid proliferation and emphasis on technology, the use of assistive technology among individuals with varying disabilities and age is different. This situation instigates the need for a systematic review to gain a realistic understanding of prominent issues, research trends and assistive technology applications with minimal bias. Identification of leading researchers and prominent publications in assistive technologies. Subsequently, semantic relation between qualitative and quantitative research literature on assistive technologies was explored to future research directions. A manual search across reputed research databases was done to find out relevant literature from January 2005 to April 2020. In this paper, latent semantic analysis (LSA) was done to develop an information model for achieving defined objectives. A corpus of 367 research papers published during 2005–2020 was processed using LSA. Term frequency, inverse document frequency of high loading terms provided five major topic solutions. Marcia Scherer, Rory Cooper and Stefano Federici are most noticed authors in assistive technology research. "Smart Assistive Technologies" and "Wearable Technologies for Rehabilitation" came out as contemporary research trends within assistive technologies. The manuscript concludes the fact that assistive technologies for rehabilitation are experiencing a transition from standalone mechanical devices towards smart, wearable and connected devices. Customized assistive devices could be programmed for multiple uses. User data privacy and internet dependency of smart assistive technologies must be taken care of while designing smart assistive devices for rehabilitation. Fog devices could eliminate the latency issues associated with cloud-based rehabilitation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evidence on the strategies, resources, and tools shown to improve winter mobility and community participation. This paper describes a multifaceted approach taken to develop an mHealth application that provides information, resources, and strategies to facilitate winter mobility for mobility device users, service providers, community organisations, and researchers. The study was conducted in three phases: (1) A scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature was completed to identify literature that reported on tools, strategies, resources, and recommendations used to promote winter mobility; (2) Online asynchronous focus groups were conducted to identify the type of content that mobility device users wanted to include in the web-based application; and (3) A prototype mHealth application was developed based on the findings from the previous phases. Using a rapid prototyping process that included stakeholder review through an online survey, four cycles of application design and development were undertaken. The scoping review identified 23 peer-reviewed studies and limited grey literature on winter mobility strategies, resources and recommendations. Twenty-four participants from across Canada engaged in one of five focus groups. Focus group analysis led to the development of the content categories for the mHealth application. The initial prototype application developed was reviewed by; 27 mobility device users, 16 health care providers, and seven consumer organisation representatives identified areas of strength and further refinement in regard to application design. The approach used in this study provided a method to develop an application based on the ideas, needs, and interests of a variety of stakeholders. Once fully developed, the application has the potential to fill the gaps related to the lack of a unified collection of winter mobility strategies and resources, and open the dialogue on methods to improve winter participation among mobility device users. Despite winter conditions being a common challenge among mobility device users, there is an absence of an organised approach towards helping individuals manage their winter mobility needs. As the development and usage of mHealth applications continues to increase, it is valuable to use methods of designing applications based on the ideas, needs, and interests of a variety of stakeholders. Development of a framework for collating information on winter mobility strategies and resources is the first step towards launching an mHealth application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion is a core philosophy for health practitioners and human service users, and co-production is a way to achieve inclusion. Australia's assistive technology (AT) community seeks to include and amplify the voices of service and product users at multiple levels. Implementation of genuine partnerships for inclusion is however challenging. This paper describes the iterative co-design process undertaken to structure and deliver a peer-led information and support program, enabling AT users and supporters to build their AT decision making capability and share their expertise with each other and the broader community. A living labs approach was grounded in co-design principles and drew on the peer education, AT competency and capability-building knowledge base. Methods included embedding intersectional capabilities within the service, and the engagement of over 600 people in design thinking and program iterations through surveys, focus groups, journey mapping and think tanks. A national, peer-led, co-designed online community for AT users was established and has been running since 2017. The community of 5000 users contribute to a peer-led information and support initiative geared to share expertise and build AT decision making capability. Service delivery by the AT user community and for the AT user community requires a commitment to co-design, and an engagement with concepts of risk, competency, scope of practice and capability. The learnings from AT Chat have implications for AT services on this journey everywhere. Active co-design of AT services meets human rights and good practice benchmarks required by contemporary services. Foregrounding AT users within program design and delivery, brings a range of positive outcomes and possibilities for the way services are delivered. AT users have substantial untapped potential which brings tangible outcomes for other AT users, health professionals, service provider organizations and for society. Development of paid roles and pathways to recognize the skills of AT users, and indeed AT communities has potential to improve AT user self-efficacy as well as to contribute to the AT workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only 1 in 10 people with disabilities can access assistive devices, underlining the critical need for low-cost assistive products. This paper describes the design evolution of a manual user-operated standing wheelchair (SWC), translating from prototype to product. The SWC design has been refined over 5 years through multiple iterations based on comments from user trials. The SWC product, Arise, provides standing functionality, facile outdoor mobility, affordability, customisability, and is aesthetically pleasing. A one-time fitting and training ensure optimal effort for operation, correct posture, and comfortable user experience. The SWC accommodates users of different sizes and body weights (up to 110 kg) and minimises user effort with the use of a gas spring. Incorporating discrete adjustments enables customisation while retaining the advantages of mass manufacturing, which is necessary for ensuring affordability. The SWC has been field-tested and well received by over 100 wheelchair users, and Arise was launched recently by the industry partner. It should be noted that RESNA cautions on the use of any standing device without medical consultation. Nevertheless, with appropriate dissemination and awareness, it is anticipated that the affordable SWC product, Arise, will immensely benefit the eligible users and make a difference in their quality of life. Provides standing functionality, outdoor mobility, affordability and customisability Accommodates users of different sizes and body weights in a mass-manufacturable design Ergonomic design reduces net user effort during sit-to-stand, stand-to-sit activity Design iterated and refined based on feedback from over 100 user trials [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with physical disabilities often require lifetime support and experience challenges to maintain or (re)define their level of independence. Assistive living technologies (ALT) are promising to increase independent living and execution of activities of daily living (ADL). This paper provides a systematic literature review that aims to analyse the present state of the literature about the impact of ALT on perceived independence of people with a physical disability receiving long-term care. Databases Embase, Medline, and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies from 2010 or later. Nine studies were included, of which seven qualitative, one quantitative, and one mixed methods. Quality was generally high. ALT enabled participants to execute ADL. We found six themes for the impact of ALT on perceived independence: feeling enabled, choice and control, feeling secure, time alone, feeling less needy, and participation. ALT appears to impact perceived independence in many ways, exceeding merely the executional aspect of independence. Existing research is limited and quite one-sided. More large-scale studies are needed in order to inform care organisations how to implement ALT, especially considering societal developments and challenges impacting long-term care. People with a physical disability receiving long-term care experience that assistive living technology impacted their independence. Their independence is increased by making them feel enabled, secure, and less needy and increasing their choice and control, time alone, and participation. Most studies focused on the use of environmental control systems by people with spinal cord injury. More research is needed to evaluate long-term effects of diverse assistive living technologies used by people with a physical disability receiving long-term care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe non-participation during the outcome measurement step of the wheeled mobility service delivery process (WMSDP) based on the Functional Mobility Assessment (FMA)-Uniform Dataset (UDS) Registry. The WMSDP is a standard framework for the provision of wheeled mobility devices, and several factors influence the client's experience throughout the process. Patient-reported outcomes are one way to measure the client's experience as part of a quality improvement program. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on the FMA-UDS Registry to measure the response rate during the outcome measurement step of the WMSDP and describe the reasons an individual did not complete the FMA-UDS. The FMA-UDS was examined at two time points: pre-delivery and post-delivery of the wheeled mobility device. As of September 2, 2021, 10,253 cases have been entered into the FMA-UDS Registry. 2,247 cases were no longer participating pre-delivery, and an additional 3,905 cases were no longer participating post-delivery. The most common reasons for non-participation in the FMA-UDS pre-delivery and post-delivery included: equipment not delivered; provider no longer participating in the FMA-UDS; funding issues; no new equipment; client opted out; loss in contact; deceased; returned equipment; and other. The type and frequency of non-participation in the outcome measurement step of the WMSDP is critical to understanding why individuals participate in outcome measures and provides insight into the barriers and facilitators for the implementation of quality improvement programs. The outcome measurement system provides a structured mechanism for consistent communication between the client and the professionals providing the service, thereby identifying issues earlier in the process and mitigating frustration throughout the wheeled mobility service delivery process. The role of a credentialed professional, specifically an Assistive Technology Professional, in the wheeled mobility service delivery process could emphasize the importance of the follow-up and outcome measurement steps, which may increase the consumers' participation rate and demonstrate the effectiveness of devices and services. Clients who no longer participate in the outcome measurement process do not have the sustained support of the interprofessional team, and possess an increased chance that they will not get their mobility needs met through the health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST). Searches were conducted in August 2021 on four electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible papers included cross-sectional validation studies evaluating the psychometric properties of all QUEST versions. Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient, and comparison tools were reported. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Nineteen studies were included in this systematic review. Results showed that the QUEST and QUEST 2.0 were available in 10 languages, and most validation studies analysed this tool in patients using mobility devices in various clinical conditions. One article analysed the child version (QUEST 2.1) in English. The most analysed psychometric property was Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency in 14 out of 19 studies, with values ranging between 0.74 and 0.79. Overall, 17 out of 19 studies were of adequate quality, though responsiveness was never studied. Our systematic review showed that the QUEST and its subsequent versions are reliable and valid measurement instruments to evaluate satisfaction in patients with different disabilities using various assistive technologies. This study provides useful information on the instrument's psychometric properties in different populations and cultures. This systematic review verify the appropriateness of the "Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology" (QUEST), as a measure of satisfaction; This systematic review allow clinicians to keep up to date with new versions of the tool, new countries of validation and population in which it can be used. This study supports clinicians in making informed decisions when choosing assessment tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To offer guidance for future welfare technology research, this review provides an overview of current knowledge gaps and research needs as reported in primary scientific studies addressing the implementation of welfare technology for older people, people with disabilities and informal caregivers. This paper conducted a state-of-the-art review based on systematic searches in 11 databases followed by a descriptive qualitative analysis of 21 selected articles. Knowledge gaps and research needs were identified concerning two categories: research designs and populations and focus of research. The articles reported needs for comparative studies, longitudinal studies, and demonstration trials as well as the development of co-design processes involving technology users. They also called for studies applying a social system theory approach, involving healthy and frail older adults, representative samples of users within and across countries, informal and formal caregivers, inter-and multidisciplinary teams, and care organizations. Moreover, there are reported needs for studies of acquirement, adoption and acceptance of welfare technology, attitudes, beliefs, and context related to welfare technology, caregiver perspectives on welfare technology, services to provide welfare technology and welfare technology itself. There are considerable knowledge gaps and research needs concerning the implementation of welfare technology. They relate not only to the research focus but also to research designs, a social system theory approach and study populations. When planning for the implementation of welfare technology for older people and persons with disabilities, it is important to be aware that necessary evidence and guidance may not always be available in peer-reviewed scientific literature but considerable knowledge gaps and research needs remain. Actors implementing welfare technology are encouraged to include researchers in their projects to study, document and report experiences made, and thereby contribute to building the evidence base and supporting evidence-based implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technologies (ATs) promote participation and inclusion in society, and support access to health, social services, education, work and other important life experiences for persons with disabilities, older people and those with chronic conditions. The Global Report on Assistive Technology, launched in May 2022 by WHO and UNICEF, calls for concrete actions to improve access to AT globally, and recognizes AT as both a means to, and an end itself, in the achievement of rights of persons with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, 2006) is the most widely ratified human rights convention, affirming the right to participation in society on an equal basis with others. In this paper, we highlight examples of how AT may play a role in realizing each of the fundamental rights affirmed in the UNCRPD. We conducted an indicative literature search for relevant literature to each of the substantive articles of the CRPD. Assistive technology plays a critical role in achieving the rights affirmed by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ensuring adequate provision of AT by states parties is critical to the progressive realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and to fulfilling commitments made by states parties upon ratification of the CRPD. Assistive technology (AT) is critical to enable full participation of persons with disability in society and the achievement of rights affirmed by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Governments and other key stakeholders should endeavour to improve access to AT through inclusive, evidence-informed programs and services. Advocacy is required to improve access to AT through universal health coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically reviews and reflects on the processes for providing Assistive Technology (AT) services to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. The aim is to investigate the AT service delivery systems in these countries and suggest improvements where weaknesses are identified. We carried out a descriptive qualitative exploratory study in Bangladesh, India and Nepal by conducting key informant interviews with policymakers (5), AT service providers (22) and mobility and hearing related AT service users (21). We used a directed content analysis approach guided by a seven-point AT service delivery process model to thematically analyse the existing processes for AT service delivery, from first contact through to follow-up and maintenance. AT service delivery processes are sub-optimal in all three countries, and improvements are needed. No common AT service delivery process was found, although there are common features. In general, it is easier for PWDs in India and Nepal to access AT than for those in Bangladesh, but all three countries are failing to live up to their commitments to uphold the human rights of PWDs. Although good elements of AT service delivery processes can be identified, the systems in all three countries are fragmented and generally weak. A more holistic approach of looking at the process of AT service delivery, from first contact right through to follow-up and device maintenance, with a single door service delivery system, free of cost at the point of service is recommended in these countries. Although we found significant weaknesses in AT delivery in all three countries, there are some good AT service delivery practices and opportunities for these countries to learn from one another. A systematic and stepwise approach to assessing current AT service delivery processes in the three countries – examining the delivery system as a whole, from initiation to repair and management – can help identify opportunities to improve the process for (prospective) AT users. A more coherent single door system of AT service delivery will increase the quality and efficiency of the fragmented AT service delivery practices in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manual user-operated Arise Standing Wheelchair (SWC) is the end-result of multiple design iterations based on comments from user trials. The Arise SWC provides standing functionality, outdoor mobility, affordability, and customizability. This paper describes a user experience study of the Arise SWC's pre-commercial version. Thirty participants (N = 30, 25 Male, 5 Female) were recruited for the study. All the participants were people with spinal cord injury. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks (five participants per week) within the hospital premises under the supervision of clinical personnel. A 30 min interactive training session involved thirteen activities. During the trial period, the participants were trained to perform twenty-two activities to familiarize themselves with the SWC. The participants were also trained to perform four functional usage activities with the SWC. At the end of the study, participant responses to ten outcome measures were captured using a smiley-based Likert-scale questionnaire. A majority of the participants (93.3%) felt happy when they stood in the SWC. The majority participants (83.3%) preferred the Arise SWC over their current wheelchair. Also, 80% participants anticipated that they could get more work done at home using the standing function of the wheelchair. A one-time fitting and training ensured optimal effort for the SWC operation, correct posture, and comfortable user experience. With proper dissemination and awareness, it is believed that the Arise SWC will benefit eligible users and improve their quality of life. The Arise wheelchair provides standing functionality, outdoor mobility, affordability, and customizability. Study confirms that incorporating standing functionality can improve the quality of life for wheelchair users. The majority of users were happy, felt safe and expected to do more with the standing functionality. Study results support further testing in real world conditions beyond the hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise is a safe, evidence-based approach for improving symptoms such as mobility impairment, cognitive dysfunction, and fatigue; however, persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) who use wheelchairs for mobility have been excluded from most research. This paper describes our approach for recruiting ten community advisor board (CAB) members and partnering with them on developing a novel home-based exercise training program for wheelchair users with MS. The exercise training program, which was developed based on initial qualitative research, includes a progressive exercise prescription, equipment, and one-on-one behavioural coaching based on Social Cognitive Theory. The CAB members convened in groups of five people for five meetings online, using virtual conference software. The CAB meetings each lasted approximately 1-hour and notes were transcribed into digital format for data analyses. Content analysis identified elements that aligned with meeting foci (i.e., prescription, equipment, coaching, and outcomes). Feedback was divided into categories to refine the program, specifically modifying, adding, or retaining content and/or activities. CAB member feedback was very positive and emphasised potential additions to the materials presented. The research team proposed implementing modifications based on the CAB member feedback such as adding wrist weights to the equipment options for completing resistance training exercises. The overall CAB feedback was invaluable for assessing the appropriateness of the proposed exercise training program before initiating feasibility testing. This report provides a model and guidance for researchers who seek community-engaged research approaches in creating products and interventions. Community advisory board participation was invaluable in creating and modifying a novel exercise training programmes for wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis (MS). The current study provides a framework for the creation of exercise interventions for subpopulations of persons with MS that may provide substantial rehabilitation benefits such as improved symptoms and quality of life. Health behaviour interventists targeting individuals with disabilities may consider the benefits of recruiting stakeholders from the community in creation of novel programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive Technology (AT) devices provide essential means of mobility, employment, communication, social engagement for older adults and people with different disabilities, if prescribed correctly to match users' needs and goals. Regardless of the setting or location, a successful AT service delivery model includes the multidisciplinary collaboration of the people with disabilities and the specialists who have knowledge and expertise in the design and application of AT. In Saudi Arabia, unfortunately, the availability of AT devices is mainly limited to basic mobility and daily living aids such as wheelchairs and seating systems, prosthetics and orthotics, communication devices, low-vision devices, and adapted transportation equipment. The aim of this perspective is to provide clinicians and healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia with a model for the optimisation of the provision of AT devices decision making regarding AT devices for people with disabilities by adhering to a user-centered team approach throughout the service delivery process The policy, human, activity, assistance, technology, and environment (PHAATE) model is used as a conceptual framework and guideline for this paper. The PHAATE components could serve as a guideline for a wide range of stakeholders in Saudi Arabia (e.g., researchers, product developers, practitioners, clinicians, third-party reimbursement entities, consumers, and educators) when developing service delivery systems. Despite the support and funding resources of AT devices by the Saudi government, there is still the needs to increase awareness and knowledge about AT application and services, as well as optimal service delivery models of AT devices. AT service delivery provision models such as PHAATE model may help clinicians and other medical professionals in Saudi Arabia to make informed decisions about the provision of AT device services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article showcases the adaptability of existing mobility devices for the Algerian disabled population. It aims to develop a behavior model of disabled Algerian persons through (1) development of a theoretical model based on literature review and (2) improvement of this model by using local collected data from our developed questionnaire. The majority of existing mobility devices for disabled persons are adapted developed countries context. The Algerian context (people and environment) has its own specifications and needs. Researchers does not address the disabled people behavior modelling in Algeria, due to the unavailability of data and the difficulty of their collection. In order to overcome this problem and develop adapted mobility devices for this particular population, the deployment of a questionnaire to collect local data, becomes necessary. First, a behavior model is deduced from the literature review then a questionnaire is developed and deployed to complete the missing field of this model. The deployment questionnaire panel is composed of 260 persons including users, their families and staff working in disabled person's aid organization. The main result of this paper consist in a specific behavior model of Algerian disabled persons. This population are looking for reliable and smart wheelchair (97%) to be able to overcome their daily mobility difficulties due to the infrastructure and the global economic context. The proposed model can generate adapted wheelchair for Algerian context. The results of the questionnaire are an important step to understand disabilities in Algeria and developing countries. Development of a behavior model for the disabled persons displacement. Development and deployment of questionnaire for disabled persons in Algeria. Review of disabled person situation and existing wheelchair in Algeria. Identification of Algerian disabled persons requirement and demonstrate that are different from European one. Definition of recommendation set for the design of wheelchair adapted to Algerian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to describe how people living with a neurological disability such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and stroke reason regarding using apps to facilitate self-management in everyday life. A qualitative research approach with a focus group methodology was used. The sample comprised 16 participants, 11 men and 5 women, with an average age of 64 years (ranging from 51–80 years). Six participants were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, six with Parkinson's disease and four with stroke. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns. The results formed two themes. The first theme "using apps to have control of my health" comprises two subthemes; "monitor and take responsibility for a healthy lifestyle" and "compensate to facilitate everyday life". The second theme "using the app as a tool and means for communication" also comprised two subthemes; "dare to trust the app" and "feeling safe when sharing information with health care professionals". The use of apps put increased responsibility on the person and had the possibility to make them more involved in their own care. The use of an app can facilitate a healthy lifestyle and help to monitor disease-specific symptoms. In order to be able to use apps for communication with the health care sector legislation and safety issues need to be considered. Apps can be used for self-management if they are safe and can be trusted. People with neurological disabilities want to be involved in their healthcare and needs to be addressed by health care professionals. The use of apps grasp over a wide variety of areas this is something that may be considered in health care and something that can be addressed by interdisciplinary approaches. Ordinary health-oriented apps and disease-specific apps were used differently and for different purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following an earlier review in 2007, a further review of the academic literature relating to the uses of assistive technology (AT) by children and young people was completed, covering the period 2007-2011. As in the earlier review, a tripartite taxonomy: technology uses to train or practise, technology uses to assist learning and technology uses to enable learning, was used in order to structure the findings. The key markers for research in this field and during these three years were user involvement, AT on mobile mainstream devices, the visibility of AT, technology for interaction and collaboration, new and developing interfaces and inclusive design principles. The paper concludes by locating these developments within the broader framework of the Digital Divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel application of an assistive robotic system with virtual assistance to enhance manual performance of individuals with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy affects one’s voluntary motor movements resulting in limited opportunities to actively engage in physical manipulative activities that require fine motor movements and coordination. Lack of object manipulation and environmental exploration can result in further impairments such as cognitive and social delays. The proposed assistive robotic system has been developed to enhance hand movements of people with disabilities when performing a functional task colouring. This paper presents the usability testing of the effectiveness of the developed system with an individual with cerebral palsy in a set of colouring tasks. Assisted and unassisted approaches were compared and analysed through quantitative and qualitative measures. The robotic-based approach was further compared with the participant’s typical alternate access method to perform the same proposed tasks. The robotic system with virtual assistance was clinically validated to be significantly more effective, compared to both unassisted and typical approaches, by increasing the hand controllability, reducing the physical load and increasing the easiness of maintaining movements within the lines. Future studies will inform the use of the system for children with disabilities to provide them with assisted play for functional and playful activities. Implications for rehabilitation: Robotic system can enhance manual performance in individuals with disabilities. Participating in a robot-mediated play activity could increase children’s motivation and engagement. The developed robotic system can contribute to a basis for clinical and home-based implementation of the technology to promote manual play activities for children with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: People with disabilities or special needs can benefit from AI-based conversational agents (i.e., chatbots) that are used for competence training and well-being management. Assessing the quality of interactions with these chatbots is key to being able to reduce dissatisfaction with them and to understanding their potential long-term benefit. This in turn will help to increase adherence to their use, thereby improving the quality of life of the large population of end-users that they are able to serve. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, we systematically reviewed the literature on methods of assessing the perceived quality of interactions with chatbots using the from Scopus and the Web of Science electronic databases. Using the Boolean operators (AND/OR) the keywords chatbot*, conversational agent*, special needs, disability were combined. Results: Revealed that only 15 of 192 papers on this topic included people with disabilities or special needs in their assessments. The results also highlighted the lack of a shared theoretical framework for assessing the perceived quality of interactions with chatbots. Conclusion: Systematic procedures based on reliable and valid methodologies continue to be needed in this field. The current lack of reliable tools and systematic methods to assess chatbots for people with disabilities and special needs is concerning, and ultimately, it may also lead to unreliable systems entering the market with disruptive consequences for people. Chatbots applied in rehabilitation are mainly tested in terms of clinical effectiveness and validity with a minimal focus on measuring the quality of the interaction The usability and interactive properties of chatbots applied in rehabilitation are not comparable as each tool is measured in different way The lack of a common framework to assess chatbots exposes people with disability and special needs to the risk of using unreliable tools [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: Visual impairment is a disability more commonly caused by diseases that lead to several disadvantages to the daily activities amongst those blind. For almost a century since the white cane was first introduced, the cane has remained as the most reliable tool for those affected by blindness. Methods: By using a combination of the capabilities of Internet of Things (IoT) and existing devices, such as mobile phones, an InWalker system is proposed to expand the functionality of the typical white cane, so as to introduce several new features that enhance the safety and confidence amongst people who are blind. As such, this paper explores the existing works and projects to comprehend the motivation and the standard practices for each proposed feature. Each of the strength and drawback has been assessed thoroughly to refine the scope of this project. Results: The proposed project, InWalker, is an intelligent system that has an embedded board system with various sensors to enhance the usability of white cane. The inputs from the sensor are processed on a microcontroller, which then pass the data to a smartphone via Bluetooth for additional features, such as global positioning system (GPS) tracking and SMS services. Conclusions: Based on the initial user testing, the proposed system has successfully fulfilled most of the users' need. Visual impairment is a disability more commonly caused by diseases that lead to several disadvantages amongst those blind. The white cane has been seen as the most reliable tool for the visual impaired. This tool could be further improved with the integration of additional sensors that works with today's mobile devices. The proposed system, InWalker, is able to improve the overall quality of life among people who are blind through several features: obstacle detection, GPS tracking and a light illumination in dark environments for increased safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive Technology (AT) product use occurs within a socio-cultural setting. The growth internationally in the AT product market suggests that designers need to be aware of the influences that diverse cultures may have on the societal perception of an AT product through its semantic attributes. The study aimed to evaluate the visual interaction with an AT product by young adults from Pakistan, a collectivist society, and the United Kingdom (UK), an individualist society. A paper-based questionnaire survey was carried out with 281 first-year undergraduate students from the UK and Pakistan to evaluate their perception towards the visual representation of a generic conventional wheelchair image. A semantics differential (SD) scale method was used involving a seven-point bipolar SD scale incorporating sixteen pairs of adjectives defining functional, meaning, and usability attributes of the product. The mean (M) and standard deviation (sd) values were obtained for each pair of adjectives and compared between both groups by employing appropriate parametric tests. The results show that having a diverse cultural background did not appear to have overtly influenced the meanings ascribed to the generic manual wheelchair, which was unexpected. The University 'Internationalist' environment may have influenced the results. Some minor but critical differences were found for some pairs of adjectives (bulky-compact, heavy-light), having p-value less than.05 (p <.05) that related to previous experience of wheelchairs and/or their use. Further studies are planned to investigate and validate outcomes with other student and non-student groups. The semantic attributes of assistive technologies highlight a number of aspects that have implications for those involved in Assistive Technology (AT) product development, manufacturing and marketing. • For online sales, the AT products rely on the web page image to communicate the purpose and attributes of the product. There are limited explorations related to the semantic/communicative attributes of AT product presented in images, as perceived by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. • The knowledge towards semantic meaning ascribed to the AT product is important to investigate to provide a perspective that goes beyond practical functions of the AT product towards the communicative function. • Information of comprehending semantics and significance of the AT product from a social (non-users) viewpoint may benefits manufacturers in the development of AT products that best meet the societal needs, preferences and expectations. • A model of best practice, with a focus on semantic manipulation will offer Industrial Designers (ID) internationally with the suitable process and tools to reframe perceptions of disability and enhance acceptance of AT products not only for users, but also for the society around them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the context of assistive technology, mobility takes the meaning of "moving safely, gracefully, and comfortably".The aim of this article is to provide a system which will be a convenient means of navigation for the Visually Impaired people, in the public transport system. Method: A blind regular commuter who travels by public transport facility finds difficulty in identifying the vehicle that is nearing the stop. Hence, a real-time system that dynamically identifies the nearing vehicle and informs the commuters is necessary. This paper proposes such a system namely the "Vehicle Board Recognition System" (VBRS). Computer Vision techniques such as segmentation, object recognition, text detection and optical character recognition are utilized to build the system, which will detect, analyze, derive and communicate the information to the passengers. Results: Thanks to the rapid development in technology, there are several navigation systems both hand held and wearable, available to help visually impaired (VI) people move comfortably both indoor and outdoor. Many blind people are not comfortable in using these devices or they are not affordable for them. Thus the proposed system gives them the comfort of navigation. Conclusion: This system can be installed in the bus stop to assist the Visually Impaired, from externally rather than their hand held or wearable assistive devices. This proposed system will help the visually impaired to ensure secure navigation be independent of the others develop self confidence. overcome the training, affordability of wearable/ handheld devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Access to adaptive equipment is a crucial factor that can determine if a child or youth with disabilities is going to participate in physical activities, sports and play in different local settings. A prerequisite for success is awareness of and specific knowledge concerning the equipment and its use among relevant actors. The aim of this paper is to explore how important groups of actors working with young people with disabilities perceive their level of knowledge concerning adaptive equipment and discuss these actors' role in children and youths' opportunities to obtain relevant equipment to participate in activities. Methods: An online, population-based national survey was distributed to: (1) occupational therapists and physiotherapists, (2) teachers, and (3) leaders and coaches in sports clubs in Norway. Results: The findings generally indicate that overall knowledge concerning adaptive equipment among the three groups is limited. However, significant statistical difference is found, indicating that occupational therapists and physiotherapists have higher levels of general knowledge, about the accessibility of equipment, regulations and legislation and that they are more familiar with adaptive equipment than teachers, leaders and coaches. Conclusions: A practical implication of the results is that the actors' varying knowledge and experiences need to be brought together to form a coherent picture of how the equipment will be used and by whom. This can contribute to an increased understanding concerning adaptive equipment and its importance among different actors, which could help more young people with disabilities to participate. Important actors must utilize the knowledge and experience possessed by young people with disabilities concerning adaptive equipment. Improved access to knowledge concerning adaptive equipment among important actors is required. Increased collaboration between different actors relating to adaptive equipment and participation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over one billion people with disabilities (PWDs) and older adults with mobility impairment are currently in need of assistive technology devices (ATDs) and only 10% of those population have ordinarily access to them. The need for advancement in mobility-assistive technology is growing to address the gap in ATDs provision globally. The purpose of this review is to identify potential future areas of development and research in mobility-assistive technology. Publications were identified using scientific and medical electronic databases. Also, a limited grey literature search was conducted to muster a variety of sources. A combination of keyword search terms was used, corresponding to the medical subject heading (MeSH) terms. A total of 392 articles were identified, of which 75 were selected for detailed review. Twenty-eight articles were identified that met the review's inclusion criteria. Future areas of research for mobility-assistive technology were identified by grouping the publications into four main categories. The findings of this review identified several areas of research and development in ATDs in general and mobility-assistive technology, in particular, with special attention to the importance of engaging users and stakeholders in the process of research and design. It is apparent that users' needs and priorities vary between regions within countries. The majority of studies were noted to mainly identify consumers' perspectives on a national basis. The authors, therefore, suggest that further research should be conducted on a global level to determine the knowledge and perspectives concerning future research and development needs and priorities in mobility-assistive technologies. Despite the benefits derived from the use of ATDs, only 10% of people with disabilities have access to them. Increasing access, quality and affordable ATDs in all countries is global demand. Identifying mobility consumers' needs and priorities would help in enhancing their quality of life by translating research into new technologies that meet their environment and culture needs. Users' involvement in research and design process is a crucial approach to re-shape the future research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: People with disability have a right to assistive technology devices and services, to support their inclusion and participation in society. User-centred approaches aim to address consumer dissatisfaction and sub-optimal outcomes from assistive technology (AT) provision, but make assumptions of consumer literacy and empowerment. Policy discourses about consumer choice prompt careful reflection, and this paper aims to provide a critical perspective on user involvement in assistive technology provision.Methods: User-centred approaches are considered, using literature to critically reflect on what user involvement means in AT provision. Challenges at the level of interactions between practitioners and consumers, and also the level of markets and policies are discussed, using examples from Australia.Results: There is no unanimous conceptual framework for user-centred practice. Power imbalances and differing perspectives between practitioners and consumers make it difficult for consumers to feel empowered. Online access to information and international suppliers has not surmounted information asymmetries for consumers or lifted the regulation of publicly funded AT devices.Conclusions: Ensuring access and equity in the public provision of AT is challenging in an expanding market with diverse stakeholders. Consumers require personalised information and support to facilitate their involvement and choice in AT provision.Implications for RehabilitationVariations in approaches informing AT provision practices have a profound impact on equity of access and outcomes for consumers.An internationalised and online market for AT devices is increasing the need for effective information provision strategies and services.Power imbalances between practitioners and consumers present barriers to the realisation of user-centred practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To propose a system for convenience in using CAPTCHA by the Visually Impaired person. Method: To make this access secure CAPTCHA ("Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart") was invented. This form of CAPTCHA requires that the user type the letters of a distorted image, sometimes with the addition of an obscured sequence of letters or digits that appears on the screen. This traditional method receives many criticism from the disable people. Hence a finger print based CAPTCHA is introduced. Result: A CAPTCHA MONSTER, a convenient system of breaking CAPTCHA for the Visually Impaired is Proposed. Conclusion: Thus in this proposed system, it is possible to access the web services on websites for various day to day applications by effective authentication procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate: (1) the characteristics of people using, or had previously used, assistance animals within community living in Australia; (2) positive and/or negative experiences of these users; and (3) educational resources that may aid public awareness. An online survey was distributed through Australian assistance animal organisations and social media channels. Past/current assistance animal users (n = 112) responded to questions on demographic and types of animal supports used, experience of assistance animal use, community attitudes experienced, and perspectives about the need for public education. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Content analysis provided additional insights of the positive and/or negative experiences assistance animal users had faced. Nearly all participants used an assistance dog (n = 111), and 37 (33%) used the animal for more than one type of support. Seventy percent reported experiencing both positive and negative community attitudes/reactions. Length of time of having an assistance animal was associated with significantly higher prevalence of positive attitudes/reactions, whilst users who received medical support from the animal tended to experience more negative community attitudes/reactions than other users. The majority (90%) agreed that more public education is needed regarding assistance animal public access rights. This study is the first in Australia to undertake a large-scale survey of assistance animal users with a range of disability types. It highlights the benefits and challenges of assistance animals, which could be useful to consider when determining the most appropriate support for an individual. There are a range of possible benefits, but also challenges, in the use of assistance animals that should be considered when a person with disability or health conditions, or people advising them, are determining if an animal is the most appropriate support. Assistance animals can provide multiple types of support to one user, so could offer a potential cost-benefit beyond traditional assistive devices or other types of support. To ensure better inclusion of assistance animal users, public education is needed to promote community awareness of the types of animals that meet the definition of an 'assistance animal', and thus have public access rights. In Australia, a nationally consistent government approach to the regulation, accreditation and funding of assistance animals should be established with the aim to address the current fragmented or unfair investment approach and/or discrimination experienced by some individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies addressing barriers to and facilitators of implementation of welfare technology have been published, no systematic review synthesising evidence on such factors has been found. The purpose of this study was therefore to identify and synthesise existing primary research on facilitators and barriers that influence the implementation of welfare technology for older people, people with disabilities and informal caregivers. A systematic search in 11 databases was performed using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify empirical studies that assess the implementation of welfare technology for older people, people with disabilities or informal caregivers. The search identified 33 publications with quantitative, qualitative and mixed method designs. The reported findings were thematically synthesised and conceptualised into themes. Six themes of facilitators and barriers that influence the implementation of welfare technology emerged: capacity, attitudes and values, health, expectations, participation and identity and lifestyle. These were presented from five perspectives: older persons and persons with disabilities, informal caregivers, health and care personnel, organisation and infrastructure and technology. The findings may be used as a means to structure the planning and evaluation of implementation processes of welfare technologies for older persons and persons with disabilities and to understand the complexities of implementation. This knowledge generates deepened insights and structures to guide and evaluate the implementation processes of welfare technologies and engenders an understanding of the complexities of implementation. When planning for the implementation of welfare technology for older people and persons with disabilities, it is important to consider capacity, attitudes and values, health, expectations, participation, and identity and lifestyle. Using the result from the study facilitates deepened insights and structures for evaluation of implementation processes of welfare technologies and brings an understanding of the complexities of implementation. Welfare technology should be available, safe, usable and fit the user's daily lives. Implementable welfare technology should focus on needs, but also consider design and possible experienced stigma related to the identity of being a welfare technology user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the impact of assistive technology on the well-being of legally blind adults. In this mixed-method study, a convenience sample of 86 legally blind adults took an electronic survey. The questionnaire was comprised of demographics, use patterns, and an instrument called TENS-Interface that measured the impact of technology on well-being categories of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Descriptive statistics, reliability, power analysis and bivariate correlations were calculated using SPSS statistical software. Three participants completed follow up semi-structured interviews, which were analysed for themes of technological mediation using NVivo 12 software. The TENS-Interface was validated for use with a legally blind population. Descriptive statistics showed a higher mean for autonomy than competence or relatedness. Braille was positively correlated to both autonomy and competence, while screen reader proficiency was related to competence. Daily use of social media, email, instant messaging, and video calls were correlated to relatedness. The technological devices used by interview participants were analysed for technological mediation. Training was identified as an additional theme. Recommendations for practice include providing training to legally blind adults in screen reader use and braille use to support well-being via competence and autonomy. Training is also recommended for this population in the use of social media, email, and video calls to promote well-being through opportunities for relatedness. Further research is recommended to explore instructional methods that are not only efficient, but also meaningful for older adults in the position of losing their vision. Providing access to braille instruction and braille assistive technology equipment can promote legally blind adults' well-being by supporting their basic needs for both competence and autonomy. Providing training in screen reader use can promote legally blind adults' well-being by supporting their basic need for competence. Providing training in use of email, social media, video calls, and instant messaging can promote legally blind adults' well-being by supporting their basic need for relatedness. A consideration of technological mediation can allow practitioners to make recommendations that take into account not only efficient task completion, but issues related to meaning and social context. Instruction for adults losing their vision adventitiously needs to address not only efficient task performance, but also meaning and social context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although ongoing exercise is known to reduce disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), participation in lower-extremity exercise programs can be limited by their existing mobility impairments. Lower-extremity exoskeletons could address this problem by facilitating home and community locomotion and enhancing exercise capability but little data is available on the potential of this technology for reducing disability of people with MS. We evaluated the Keeogo™ exoskeleton for people with MS using an open-label randomised cross-over design. The trial design allowed us to quantify rehabilitation effects (tested without device) and training effects (tested with device) using functional outcomes: 6-minute walk test (6MWT), timed stair test (TST), and timed up-and-go (TUG). Baseline and post-study self-report instruments included Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF36), MS Walking Scale (MSWS), and others. Amount of home use was documented by daily activity log. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between changes in functional outcomes and self-report disability, controlling for amount of home use of the device. Twenty-nine participants with MS completed the trial. Change scores for MSWS, SF36 physical function and SF36 emotional well-being correlated positively with changes in 6MWT which was explained by amount of home use. The benefits in physical functioning and emotional well-being from using the exoskeleton at home were linked to amount of device usage. Low-profile robotic exoskeletons could be used to deliver facilitated exercise while assisting with locomotor activities of daily living, such as walking and stair climbing in the home and community environment. Exoskeletons for home use may have the potential to benefit people with MS in terms of physical functioning and emotional well-being. The benefits in physical functioning and emotional well-being appeared to be linked to amount of usage. Exoskeletons might be useful for delivering facilitated exercise while assisting with walking and stair climbing in the home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powered wheelchairs promote participation for people with mobility limitations. For older adults with cognitive impairment, existing training methods may not address learning needs, leading to difficulty with powered wheelchair skills. Error-minimized training, facilitated by shared control technology, may provide learning opportunities more suited to this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an error-minimized approach to powered wheelchair skills training using shared control in residential care. Feasibility indicators were hypothesized a priori to be feasible for use in a definitive RCT. A 2 × 2 factorial RCT compared an error-minimized powered wheelchair skills training program (Co-pilot) to a control intervention at two doses (6 sessions vs. 12 sessions). Data were collected on the feasibility of study processes (e.g., recruitment), resources (e.g., participant time), management (e.g., technology reliability), and training outcomes (e.g., adverse events, clinical outcomes). Twenty-five older adults with cognitive impairment participated in the study. Technical issues were encountered in 14.5% of training sessions. Participants receiving 6 sessions of training adhered better to the treatment than those receiving 12 sessions. All participants learned the skills required for PWC use with minor errors, regardless of the training method or dose. Co-pilot participants and trainers reported feelings of safety and training benefits with the use of shared control technology. Individuals with mild to moderate cognitive impairment are able to learn the skills required to drive a powered wheelchair in as few as six training sessions. Further evaluation of the Co-pilot training program is required. Shared control teleoperation technology may be used to augment learning in older adults with cognitive impairments. Evaluation of the feasibility of use of novel rehabilitation technologies is critical prior to engaging in large-scale clinical research. Individuals with cognitive impairment are able to learn the required skills for operation of a powered wheelchair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the experiences of new motorised mobility scooter users from the perspectives of the assessment and training of scooter skills. Descriptive secondary analysis of qualitative data. Community. 20 New users of motorised mobility scooters. Not applicable. Directed qualitative analysis of up to four semi-structured interviews over the course of the first year of scooter use, to identify themes and sub-themes that could inform recommendations regarding assessment and training protocols. We identified two themes. The first related to potential new content. As one example of the sub-themes, there were many excerpts that dealt with the use of skills in various combinations and permutations that were used to carry out activities during everyday life and participate in society. These excerpts suggested the importance of training skills in combination to facilitate skill transfer (or generalizability). The second theme is related to enhancements of existing content. As one example of the sub-themes, there were several excerpts that dealt with scooter security. These excerpts led to the recommendation that removing and inserting the scooter key should be added to the assessment criteria for the "turns power on and off" skill of the Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) and its questionnaire version (WST-Q). The experiences of scooter users over the first year of receiving a scooter appear to be relevant to the assessment and training of scooter skills and suggest themes for further study. Clinical trial registration number: NCT02696213 The experiences of new scooter users are highly relevant to the assessment and training of scooter skills. These experiences suggest both potential new content and enhancements of existing content to the Wheelchair Skills Program Manual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to examine the web accessibility of three tourism supply agents (hotels, travel agents and museums). The results obtained contribute to observing whether there are differences in levels of web accessibility among these tourism supply agents and, based on the problems identified, suggest strategies to overcome these problems. To evaluate the level of web accessibility of tourism supply agents, two automatic online tools (AccessMonitor and TAW), which consider Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), version 2.0, were used. To identify differences among the supply tourism agents in terms of the level of web accessibility, statistical tests (ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis) were used. All the tourism supply agents analysed reveal considerable problems related to web accessibility. The perceivable and robust principles are the two principles of WGAG 2.0 with the greatest number of failures. However, differences among the supply agents analysed are observed. Museums present the highest level of web accessibility, while travel agents have the lowest. Therefore, it is necessary to implement improvements in tourism websites to overcome informational constraints that many people with disabilities (PwD) face in tourism activities. Due to the central role of the Internet for people with and without disabilities, this study highlights barriers that should be eliminated to facilitate the travel decision-making process, especially for PwD. Consequently, it can contribute to a greater number of people being able to participate in tourism activities, improving their well-being and rehabilitation. The participation in tourism activities contributes to improve health, quality-of-life and well-being of all people. For people with disabilities (PwD) to be able to travel, without constraints, access to online information needs to be provided. The identification of the level of web accessibility of tourism supply agents provides important guidelines to improve the websites, facilitating the travel tourism planning of PwD. If informational barriers to access tourism activities are eliminated, the participation of PwD in tourism activities will tend to increase, and consequently improvements in their well-being, health and rehabilitation will happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex rehabilitation technologies (CRT) support independence for individuals with disabilities by enabling mobility for function, employment, education, and independent living. CRT service delivery is evolving, with changes to funding, provider qualifications, consumer needs, and technological advances. This scoping review investigated service delivery processes for individuals with disabilities who have a mobility impairment, while specifically identifying best practices, barriers, and unique features of health delivery policies and practices. We used a framework described by Colquhoun et. al. for conducting scoping reviews, a six-step process that includes: 1) identifying the research question, 2) identifying studies, 3) selecting studies 4) data charting, 5) reporting results and 6) consultation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was also used for reporting results of the review. Common categories were identified and organised into a hierarchical structure of four categories and 16 sub-categories. The primary categories included "policy", "consumer", "service delivery", and "wheeled mobility devices". The sub-categories described funding sources, consumer and professional populations, service delivery guidelines, and types of mobility devices. Analysis indicated the data were from 21 countries and 14 combinations of funding sources, and the articles were primarily descriptive studies. This scoping review identified evidence from various countries, health systems, and stakeholder. Currently, this process does not proactively address the needs of individuals with mobility disabilities. The scoping review provides the foundation for the development of a novel policy on the provision of CRT services and devices to address these needs. Examination of national and international service delivery practices in diverse clinical and funding environments indicate various challenges and opportunities for improvement. CRT consumers are negatively impacted by current service delivery practices, including long wait times, lack of specialised clinical expertise, and limited consumer education opportunities. More consistent and widespread research is needed within the CRT provision industry to grow evidence-based practice related to complex rehabilitation technology and individuals with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to promote assistive technologies to improve quality of life. The proposed SmartAbility Android Application recommends assistive technologies for people with reduced physical abilities, by focussing on actions that can be performed independently. The SmartAbility Application uses Android built-in sensors, e.g., accelerometer and gyroscope and application programming interfaces (APIs) to detect physical abilities, e.g., head movements and blowing and recommend suitable assistive technologies. This is supported by a MySQL database that stores assistive technologies and mappings between abilities. The underpinning research is the SmartAbility Framework that culminates the knowledge obtained during previously feasibility trials and usability evaluations. The Application was evaluated by pupils (n = 18) at special educational needs schools with physical conditions, including cerebral palsy, autism and Noonan syndrome, and assessed through the NASA Task Load Index (TLX) and System Usability Scale (SUS). Analysis using the Adjective Rating Scale highlighted that the Application achieves "Good Usability". The SmartAbility Application demonstrates that built-in sensors of Android devices and their APIs, can detect actions that users perform, e.g., head movements and speaking. The Application contains a database where assistive technologies are mapped to physical abilities, in order to provide suitable recommendations. It will be disseminated to assistive technology charities and manufacturers and be used by healthcare professionals as part of the rehabilitation process. Future developments of SmartAbility include the creation of a second Application designed specifically to recommend assistive technologies for the education sector, based on users' physical and cognitive abilities. Assistive technology is any item, equipment or piece of software designed to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. SmartAbility should be introduced into rehabilitation to promote awareness of assistive technologies that are suitable for the physical abilities of the user. Our research highlighted that physical abilities can be detected using built-in sensors of Android devices, e.g. accelerometer and gyroscope. Involvement of the intended user community during evaluations is essential to ensure that a smartphone application is suitable for people with reduced physical abilities. Assistive technologies can support the rehabilitation of people with reduced physical abilities by providing increased independence and improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed a new technology system to help six participants with intellectual and visual disabilities manage leisure engagement and communication with distant partners in an independent manner. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to assess the effects of the new technology system. This included a Samsung Galaxy J4 Plus smartphone with Android 9.0 operating system, mini voice recording devices, and a Bluetooth speaker. The smartphone was provided with a Google account and Internet connection. The participants could activate the smartphone's Google Assistant and thus access leisure events, start telephone calls or send messages by triggering mini voice recording devices. Each device, when triggered, uttered a specific verbal request (i.e., a request for a leisure option or for a communication partner to call or to reach by messages). Messages received from those partners were read automatically by the smartphone. During baseline (when the voice recording devices were not available), the participants did not manage to activate the smartphone's Google Assistant and thus did not access leisure events and did not make telephone calls or send messages independently. During the post-intervention phase (when the voice recording devices were available), all participants accessed leisure events and made telephone calls or sent and received messages independently, remaining positively engaged throughout the 10-min sessions. Staff rated the new technology system positively. The new technology system may be a useful resource to help people like the participants of this study access basic leisure and communication independently. A technology system relying on commercial devices may be practical and acceptable in daily programs for persons with intellectual and other disabilities. Such system may be used for supporting the persons' independent leisure engagement and communication with distant partners. A system may be accessible to persons with significant disabilities if the responses needed to operate it are simple. Simple hand-pressure responses may be sufficient to operate a system that relies on the input of mini voice recording devices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish the reliability and construct validity of two French-Canadian versions of assessment tools for manual (MWC) and powered wheelchair (PWC) users with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS): the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q-F) version 5.0 and the Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale (WheelCon-F) Short Form. We recruited 32 MWC and PWC users with ARSACS aged between 34 and 64 years. Participants completed measures twice within 2 weeks for test–retest reliability and to determine the standard error of measurement. Construct validity was established by verifying hypothesized relationships between wheelchair use scores and other variables regarding personal factors, body functions, and activities. Participants' scores were also compared with those of MWC and PWC users with other diagnoses to explore known-groups validity. Adequate to excellent test–retest reliability values were found for all questionnaires (intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.506 and 0.995). SEMs were acceptable, ranging from 3.3 to 9.1 on the WST-Q-F and from 0.7 to 1.2 on the WheelCon-F. Moderate to excellent correlations supported construct validity for the WST-Q-F and the WheelCon-F. Compared with other populations, adults with ARSACS reported limited wheelchair skills, but similar wheelchair confidence. The WST-Q-F and the WheelCon-F have excellent test–retest reliability, acceptable measurement errors, and support for construct validity in adults with ARSACS. This study was the first to evaluate these assessment tools in this population, and the results support a need to implement wheelchair skills training interventions in this population. The WST-Q-F version 5.0 and the WheelCon-F Short Form are reliable and valid assessment tools to measure manual and powered wheelchair skills and self-efficacy in adults with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS). The WST-Q-F version 5.0 and the WheelCon-F Short Form can be used to evaluate and describe wheelchair skills and wheelchair use self-efficacy in clinical practice and are recommended for future research in adults with ARSACS. These outcome tools may be especially useful to measure the effects of a wheelchair training program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The links between disability, activity limitation and participation restriction are well established. Recent and continued advancement of technology, particularly smart home and communication technologies, presents new ways in which some of the limitations and restrictions experienced by people with disabilities can be overcome. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the impact of smart home and communication technology on the outcomes of people with disabilities and complex needs. This review involved systematic searching of four databases, hand searches and data extraction. Eligibility criteria included [1] participant outcomes of [2] technology used within the home [3] among adults with a disability and complex needs. Of the 2400 studies identified, 21 met our inclusion criteria. Studies were characterized by significant diversity in relation to disability and type of technology. Overall, technology appeared to improve independence, participation and quality of life among people with a disability and complex needs. Despite this, ethical considerations were raised given the vulnerability of this population, including potential risks through social participation and privacy concerns of using monitoring technology. Smart home and communication technology can improve outcomes for people living with disabilities and complex needs. However, a number of factors impact the successful implementation of technology, including personalization, flexibility and ongoing support to the person with a disability and their close others. Future research should utilize high-quality study designs and established measures of important outcomes for this group. There is a broad range of smart home and communication technology devices and systems available that may support the independence and participation of people with disabilities and complex needs; however, high-quality evidence documenting the impact of technology is lacking. Soft-technology supports, including assessment, training and evaluation of technology implementation, may play just as important a role in shaping outcomes as the technology itself. Systematic research is required to ensure there is quality evidence to inform investment in both technologies, and the soft-technology supports that promote its successful use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature review presents a conceptual participatory design through accessibility technology solutions, considering the design experience to be an essential factor in communication processes. Technologies must assess a wide range of disabilities based on characterisations that helps daily activities. This work includes collaboration concepts to assist in the development of accessible technology. Collaborative design requires the fostering of communication between actors involved in the design process. This work implemented with a protocol of guidelines developed by a group of experts in disability research. The relevant literature is included and assessed based on three categories: accessibility, assistive technologies, and participatory design. A knowledge gap can be identified: the development of assistive technology processes should enhance the voice of participants and consider their ideas, desires and needs. Multidisciplinary communication is necessary to identify problems and propose solutions, and it is essential that people with disabilities collaborate with experts from a range of disciplines to identify problem-solving patterns. A participatory design can develop a holistic understanding of the participant's motivation and rehabilitation needs. This has provided a grounded basis to offer information about the assistive technology design. A participatory work provides information about the technology design which may finally result in a better understanding of rehabilitation, other types of home-based healthcare or the gamification for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation professionals can explore requirements of a customised technology for users, which allows to transfer knowledge about disabilities and skills in rehabilitation to people with disabilities, their families and communities. The notion of a research problem in rehabilitation can be re-evaluated through a participatory design process that attempts to capture the subjective experiences of persons with disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technology users may encounter challenges and inequality in having an access to health information and care during the emergency or in a crisis time. This issue seems to be understudied in most developing countries. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by Iranian people with disabilities faced during the COVID-19 pandemic as far as the use of assistive technology is concerned. A thematic analysis approach was employed to collect and analyse the data. We interviewed 10, 12 and 20 participants with physical, visual, and hearing disability, respectively during the pandemic between May to July 2020. A six-step thematic analysis method was used to identify categories and main themes. The results revealed that people with disability were faced with some challenges in accessing information or receiving it on time during the emergency time. The lack of clear information may increase uncertainty about providing, using or maintaining assistive products. With no clear information or instruction, increased fear of infection, as well as the lack of necessary infrastructure for using available online applications, people with a disability had to rely more on others and seemed to feel disempowered. Assistive technology (AT) users may not receive enough care and attention during health crisis, nor may be included in crisis management programs. Actions to create preparedness plans to meet the needs of AT users in possible future crisis seem to be necessary. Assistive technology users' voice and needs should be given priority in crisis management programs. Web accessibility barriers and information accessibility challenges need more research attention in order to create effective and timely information dissemination programs. There seems to be a research gap about AT users during health crisis, and more research in this area is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes and analyses the journey with technology of a woman with deafblindness, from her first experiences with communication assistive devices (CADs) until the setup of her homemade CAD. More specifically, it describes the homemade CAD setup, reports on her journey with technology until the setup, and examines the setup process and its outcomes in terms of user innovation and changes in life domains. This is a case study report derived from a previous assessment study. It was documented on the basis of meetings, operation sessions, literature searches, clinicians' memories as well as observations, impressions, stories and interviews from previous field visits. Analyses were performed based on von Hippel's description of the user innovation process and the Activities and Participation domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The participant in this case study was a female client of a deafblindness rehabilitation program in the Montreal region, living with type 1 Usher syndrome. The homemade CAD setup was based on an electronic braille notetaker connected to an iPhone via Bluetooth. The software included the iOS operating system, the VoiceOver screen reader and a text editing application, all running on the iPhone. The examination of the participant's journey found the presence of the four characteristics of the user innovator proposed by von Hippel. It appears that the participant's life has been positively impacted by the use of her homemade CAD on the nine "Activities and Participation" domains of the ICF. A CAD may make it easier to achieve some rehabilitation goals with respect to social participation. A person with deafblindness who becomes more autonomous with communications requires less support from rehabilitation professionals. An iPhone-based CAD provides access to a normalizing life and results in better self-esteem, among other things. Lead users facilitate future professional interventions in the field by providing positive experiences and successes that make the general public aware of the situation of persons using special technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the structural constraints of wheelchairs for users with motor disabilities, it is essential to understand and ensure their proper functioning for the quality of life of these users. The main objective of this study is to analyze the stresses and displacements in a wheelchair using the finite element method to evaluate its functional and structural aspects though simulations. Influenced by normative techniques that consider ergonomic, anthropometric and biomechanical, factors were considered to verify the compliance of this equipment considering current standards. Results were compared with experimental analyses performed by the Brazilian National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO). Results showed that von Mises stress limit values were exceeded in the chair frame by 6.5%, in the collision analysis by 72.1%, and in the footrest by 189.4%. This indicated that the structure of the analyzed wheelchair is not adequated based on simulation results, same as INMETRO reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]