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CRPD jurisprudence on Assistive Technologies through Concluding Observations: An analysis from Global South perspectives

INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE (IDA)
GLOBAL DISABILITY INNOVATION HUB (GDI)
October 2023

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States parties have several obligations with regard to assistive technologies under the CRPD under Article 4, including undertaking and promotion of research and development of or new technologies, incorporating information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies that are suitable for persons with disabilities. It also prioritizes technologies at an affordable cost. States are also to provide accessible information to persons with disabilities about mobility aids, devices, and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities. This obligation is further elaborated in other Articles of the Convention, which may explain why the CRPD Committee has not focused observations around assistive technology related to this Article

No tech about us, without us

SALELKAR, Amba (IDA)
BANDUDKA, Maryam (GDI hub)
OJOK, Banya (IDA)
September 2023

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Two short talks concerning the centering of assistive technology projects on persons with disabilities and organisation of persons with disabilities (OPD/DPO). The talks are presented by a representative from IDA in India and one from IDA in Uganda. The talks are introduced by Maryam Bandudka of GDI hub. Story telling, the CPRD, communities of practice and advocacy are mentionned

 

Presented at the Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions conference organised by the GDI hub on 13 Sept 2023.

Seeking information about assistive technology: Exploring current practices, challenges, and the need for smarter systems

DANEMAYER, Jamie
HOLLOWAY, Cathy
CHO, Youngjun
BERTHOUZE, Nadia
SINGH, Aneesha
BHOT, William
DIXON, Ollie
GROBELNIK, Marko
SHAWE-TAYLOR, John
September 2023

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Assistive technology (AT) information networks are insular among stakeholder groups, causing unequal access to information. Participants often cited fragmented international marketplaces as a barrier and valued info-sharing across industries. Current searches produce biased results in marketplaces influenced by commercial interests and high-income contexts. Smart features could facilitate searching, update centralised data sources, and disseminate information more inclusively.

 

International Journal of Human - Computer Studies, Volume 177, September 2023, 103078

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103078

Embedding vital life skills into education to increase access to life opportunities

DONNELLY, Pete (Wheelchair Skills College)
September 2023

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A short talk given in the Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions conference organised by the GDI hub on 13 Sept 2023.

 

Difficulties experienced by children who are wheelchair users, both in use of the wheelchair and also in wider society are briefly described. The set up, and some of the associated issues in the set up,  of an organisation to teach wheelchair skills and life skills to wheelchair users is outlined. 

 

An introduction is given by Dr Tigmanshu Bhatnagar entitled "Innovation: are ecosystems ready to scale for success?"

How Koalaa is aiming to create sustainable access to prosthetics globally

MARSHALL, Niall (Koalaa)
September 2023

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A short talk given in the Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions conference organised by the GDI hub on 13 Sept 2023.

 

The start up, development and potential progress of a technology company manufacturing upper limb prosthetics is outlined. Pilot projects were set up and that in Sierra Leone is briefly described. It began with developing a network, listening to users comments, redeveloping the product and representing it to users. The challenges of the next step into larger scale manufactuing and supply, following positive outcomes from pilot projects round the world, are outlined. 

What next for disability innovation; assistive tech build in as the new standard of tech accessibility for all?

GOMPERTZ, Nick
September 2023

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A short talk given in the Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions conference organised by the GDI hub on 13 Sept 2023.

 

The story of the progress in the development and of issues with the roll out of Earswitch is briefly outlined. The particular advantages for people with communication difficulties owing to cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease and locked in syndrome and also the advantages for the general population are highlighted.  Work is being carried out on eye tracking. Difficulties in transitioning to market are discussed.

Strengthening government systems to empower children via early access to AT

SEGHERS, Fre (Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI))
September 2023

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A short talk in the Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions conference held by GDI hub on 13 Sep 2023

Work required to shape markets for assistive technology for young children is explored including assessing numbers and types of disability, regulations, and community leaders involvement

AT DIGEST Issue 1, September 2023

INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE (IDA)
GLOBAL DISABILITY INNOVATION HUB (GDI)
September 2023

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AT Digest is a quarterly publication curated by the International Disability Alliance with the objective of increasing awareness about the possibilities offered by assistive technology as experienced by its users. Additionally, it aims to disseminate information to a broad spectrum of assistive technology stakeholders, such as present and prospective users, manufacturers, and policymakers. Fellows of IDA and GDI’s Assistive Technology User Fellowship Program are the key creators of this publication, as they share their experiences, highlights from project activities, and author insightful, original articles.

 

This issue of the AT Digest is about CRPD jurisprudence on assistive technology. Fellows have collaboratively authored a substantive article titled Evolution of CRPD jurisprudence on Assistive Technologies through Concluding Observations: An analysis from Global South perspectives by analyzing AT related recommendations from IDA`s compilations of CRPD Committee`s concluding observations. 

Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions

GLOBAL DISABILITY INNOVATION HUB
September 2023

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Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions [13th & 14th Sept 2023]. Bringing together global experts and new voices to share big ideas and ask the question: What next for disability innovation?

DAY 1: Sharing big ideas and powerful insights

Disability innovation today...the good, the bad, the untold

Inclusive infrastructure: can cities be inclusive?
Innovation: are ecosystems ready to scale for success?
Participation and leadership: No tech about us, without us
What fails: and what's not needed. Disability dongles, failure or learning curve
What works: and why

DAY 2: Exploring a new horizon

Disability innovation tomorrow...what next

Disability justice: a disability innovation ambition or contradiction?
Para sport: a vehicle for community level social change?
Systems Strengthening, Disability innovation and Finance: is it possible to create the mechanisms for change?
Future tech: revolutionary solutions and AI – the new face of disability inclusion?

Innovative data use: can we learn more from what is already available?

DANEMAYER, Jamie
September 2023

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A short talk given at the Disability Innovation Summit: Inclusive Interactions conference organised by GDI hub on 13 Sep 2023.

The use of published datasets on the prevalence of disability is reviewed. The numbers of datasets and their harmonisation is described and the advantages, limitations and opportunities for use are outlined. 

Repair strategies for assistive technology in low resource settings

OLDFREY, Ben
HOLLOWAY, Cathy
WALKER, Julian
McCORMACK, STEVEN
DEERE, Bernadette
KENNEY, Laurence
SSEKITOLEKO, Robert
ACKERS, Helen
MIODOWNIK, Mark
July 2023

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Purpose: To  investigate the  practices of  repair that  exist for  users of  mobility assistive products in  low resource settings, as  well  as  the  psychosocial impact that  the  repair, or  non-repair, of  these devices has on users’ lives.

Materials and Methods: This article collates data on repair practices and the responses from participants on  the  topic of  repair from studies conducted by  the  authors across four  different low  resource settings in  Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and  Indonesia. This  data was  then analyzed to  identify the  common themes found across geographies

 

DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2023.2236142 

Assistive technology in Korea: Findings from the 2017 National Disability Survey

DANEMAYER, Jamie
LIN, Myung-Joon
July 2023

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Explicitly monitoring the need, use and satisfaction of assistive product (AP) provision is essential to support population health and healthy longevity in ageing/aged countries, like Korea. We present findings from the 2017 Korea National Disability Survey (NDS) on AP access and compare them to international averages, introducing Korea’s data into the wider coherence of global AP research.

 

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology

https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2023.2225565 

 

Wheelchair provision guidelines

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
June 2023

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These Wheelchair provision guidelines aim to support improved access to appropriate wheelchairs, for all those in need, including children, older persons, people with mobility disabilities, and those with chronic health conditions. They are relevant for all countries and apply to all wheelchair users and types of wheelchairs. They emphasize that the best outcomes in wheelchair access occur when wheelchair users have the benefit of an individual process of assessment, fitting, training, and follow up, provided by trained personnel. Their purpose is to ensure that wheelchair users have timely access through wheelchair services that are people-centred and responsive to their needs. Target audiences are those with a role in planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of wheelchair provision. This includes policy-makers, wheelchair service personnel, and wheelchair user representative organizations

Assistive technology: The current perspective in India

SENJAM, Suraj S
MANNAM, Hasheem
May 2023

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Despite many challenges, India needs to formulate evidence-based AT policy, planning within the purview of the healthcare delivery system in collaboration with various government and nongovernment sectors, including industries. This article explores the need, access, and potential challenges associated with AT services in India. Finally, we discussed various initiatives on AT in the country and possible recommendations to improve AT services across.

 

Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 May; 71(5): 1804–1809.

doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2652_22

WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics. Assessment package. Assessment guide

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
April 2023

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The Assessment package has been developed for countries to evaluate the implementation of the WHO Standards for prosthetics and orthotics. It enables identification of areas in need of strengthening and facilitates relevant planning. The complete Assessment package consists of four components:

Assessment guide: gives directions on how to organize and implement the assessment.
Assessment tool: Excel instrument used to carry out assessments and record results.
User manual: explains how the Assessment tool should be used.
Planning document: Excel file into which the recommendations that are generated by the Assessment tool can be pasted for easy use in subsequent planning.

 

Before undertaking the assessment, stakeholders at the country level should familiarize themselves with the package components and the WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics (Parts 1 and 2). A PowerPoint presentation describing the assessment process and a video presenting the main assessment steps and key functions of the tool are also available to download from the links below. It is recommended that assessments are undertaken in collaboration with the ministry of health and other ministries responsible for assistive technology, prosthetics and orthotics, and/or rehabilitation.

Related links:

Assessment guide

Assessment tool

User manual

Planning document

PowerPoint presentation

PowerPoint presentation in pdf

Video 

Assistive Technology Changes Lives: an assessment of AT need and capacity in England

AUSTIN, Vicki
PATEL, Dilisha
DANEMAYER, Jamie
MATTICK, Kate
LANDRE, Anna
SMITOVA, Marketa
BANDUKDA, Maryam
HEALY, Aoife
CHOCKALINGAM, Nachiappan
BELL, Diane
HOLLOWAY, Kathy
2023

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The aim of this research was to undertake a Country Capacity Assessment (CCA) to inform a more integrated approach to Assistive Technology (AT) provision in England. The results aim to support policymakers in identifying actions to strengthen service delivery to better meet disabled people’s needs, improving outcomes for AT users and reducing inefficiencies in the current approach. This report was prepared by Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub for the Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office His Majesty’s Government (HMG). The research was undertaken from November 2022 to March 2023 and led by the Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub, which is the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Collaborating Centre on AT access, using WHO tools in the Assistive Technology Assessment (ATA) suite

Experiences of lower limb prosthesis users in Kenya: a qualitative study to understand motivation to use and satisfaction with prosthetic outcomes

MATTICK, Kate
OLDFREY, Ben
DONOVAN-HALL, Maggie
MAGOMERE, Grace
GAKUNGA, Joseph
HOLLOWAY, Catherine
December 2022

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An estimated 1.5 million people undergo limb amputation each year [1]. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to have a rapid increase in people living with an amputation in the coming years due to prevalence of non-communicable disease, trauma and conflict. This paper explores the personal and system factors that motivate and enhance outcomes for patients accessing a prosthetic service and using a lower-limb prosthesis within a low resource setting.

This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the motivations and satisfaction of individuals with lower limb loss engaging with a prosthetic service in Mombasa, Kenya. In-depth interviews were conducted over Microsoft Teams with 10 lower limb prosthesis users and thematic analysis was applied.

 

Disability and Rehabilitation Volume 45, 2023 - Issue 26

https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2152875

Cost analysis of 3D printing services implementation into public services to produce orthoses: An Ugandan case-study

NIZET, Alicia
BRUS, Aude
December 2022

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3D printing is a new technology and there is a need for producing evidence to justify and demonstrate its associated costs and benefits. Humanity and Inclusion has been implementing an innovative 3D printing project in Uganda, in the Omugo Refugee Settlement, to address the unmet rehabilitation needs of people with disabilities (PETRA Project) since November 2018. This project is implemented in collaboration with the public hospital of the Arua District (Arua Regional Referral Hospital). 

 

This study aims to calculate implementation and running costs of 3D printing services to produce orthoses in a public service (here ARRH), in addition to traditional services, in a developing context.

Specific objectives:

To define and detail all phases of the patient pathway for the 3D printed orthosis provision(from patients’ identification to orthoses delivery);

To evaluate costs of the 3D printed orthosis procurement (from patients’ identification to orthoses delivery) based on lifetime of digital material;

To give a better understanding on how to implement such a digital service in a public health structure.

 

The results of this study will allow HI, other organisations, States or potential donor to enrich their decisions on the implementation of 3D-printed orthoses production in their context of intervention - embedded in addition to traditional services or in remote areas where there is no traditional services.

 

Hypotheses, choices and data are based on the information collected through multiple sources and methodologies (desk review, semi-structured interviews, surveys, workshop, and literature review) and are specific to the context of Arua, Uganda. To calculate all the costs related to the service that produces and delivers 3D-printed orthoses, a matrix has been created.

Training in Assistive Products (TAP)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
November 2022

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WHO’s online Training in Assistive Products (TAP) is designed to prepare primary health and other personnel to fulfil an assistive technology role. This may include identifying people who may benefit from assistive technology; providing simple assistive products such as magnifiers and dressing aids; or referral for more complex products and other services. Appropriate to a broad range of contexts, TAP is targeted at primary health care and community workforce, as well as those providing services to people who need assistive products within other sectors. 

TAP is a practical tool to support countries to respond to the recommendations in the Global Report on Assistive Technology.

TAP includes a range of assistive products to support cognition, communication, vision, hearing, self-care, and mobility from WHO’s Priority Assistive Products List. TAP has a modular structure; personnel may select the modules that match their role and the needs of the local population. For each assistive product, an introductory and product-specific module will together cover key learning content to support the acquisition of skills to safely and effectively provide that product, through a four-step process: select, fit, use and follow up.

A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) of the first TAP module, Introduction to Assistive Products, will run for a two-week period until 10 - 24 November 2022

 

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