Assistive technology
Overview
Assistive technology is the application of organized knowledge and skills related to assistive products, including systems and services. Assistive products maintain and improve individual functioning, they include external devices, equipment, instruments or software that are used to support mobility, vision, hearing, cognition and communication. The provision and training in the use of assistive products is an integral component of rehabilitation as it aims to improve people’s functioning, prevent complications, and promote health.
Unfortunately, the provision of assistive products is often neglected in health systems, and many people cannot access or afford the products they need. This can hamper people’s rehabilitation, delay hospital discharge, and compromise health outcomes. Efforts to address this are being made and include work across the WHO rehabilitation, hearing, vision, ageing and assistive technology programme. Effective integration of assistive products within health service financing and delivery (e.g. eye and hearing care) are essential for achieving continuity of care and preventing service fragmentation. The WHO Rehabilitation programme integrates assistive products within all its tools for rehabilitation system strengthening, this includes the tools that address rehabilitation governance, workforce, financing, information and service planning. Assistive product provision is integral to rehabilitation and the WHO rehabilitation programme works closely with the Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE), which is devoted to assisting countries in strengthening assistive product procurement, distribution and provision.