About this Research Topic
Assistive technology (AT) is an umbrella term for assistive products and their related systems and services. Assistive products help maintain or improve an individuals' functioning related to cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care and vision, thus enabling their health, well-being, inclusion and participation.
The importance of AT as a pillar of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was recognized by the World Health Organization, and the 71st World Health Assembly through the Resolution 71.8 on improving access to AT was adopted. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places good health and well-being at the centre of a new development vision. It emphasizes UHC to ensure sustainable development for all so that everyone can access the health services needed without financial hardship.
Addressing the unmet need for assistive products is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, providing UHC, and implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Leaving no one behind' means ensuring people with disabilities, the older population, those affected by chronic diseases and everyone who needs AT are included in society and able to live healthy and dignified lives.
To date several barriers and challenges hinder assistive technology availability. According to the WHO framework, reasons should be found for lack of policy and adequate financing, difficulty in products availability and high costs, fragmented services and lack of qualified personnel, among others. Multi-sectoral and cross-cutting strategies are urgently required and several stakeholders are called to act.
The present research topic wants to explore strategies to reduce the gap on AT and UHC, addressing both clinical and educational challenges, as well as using a global health approach. Studies on the application of AT products, innovative rehabilitation approaches, psychometric properties of assessment tools, and systematic reviews and their relevant meta-analyses are the best candidates for this Special Issue.
The importance of AT as a pillar of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was recognized by the World Health Organization, and the 71st World Health Assembly through the Resolution 71.8 on improving access to AT was adopted. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places good health and well-being at the centre of a new development vision. It emphasizes UHC to ensure sustainable development for all so that everyone can access the health services needed without financial hardship.
Addressing the unmet need for assistive products is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, providing UHC, and implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Leaving no one behind' means ensuring people with disabilities, the older population, those affected by chronic diseases and everyone who needs AT are included in society and able to live healthy and dignified lives.
To date several barriers and challenges hinder assistive technology availability. According to the WHO framework, reasons should be found for lack of policy and adequate financing, difficulty in products availability and high costs, fragmented services and lack of qualified personnel, among others. Multi-sectoral and cross-cutting strategies are urgently required and several stakeholders are called to act.
The present research topic wants to explore strategies to reduce the gap on AT and UHC, addressing both clinical and educational challenges, as well as using a global health approach. Studies on the application of AT products, innovative rehabilitation approaches, psychometric properties of assessment tools, and systematic reviews and their relevant meta-analyses are the best candidates for this Special Issue.
Keywords: Assistive Technology, Universal Health Coverage, Education, Rehabilitation, Disability, Wheelchairs, Communication, Prostheses, Orthoses, Visual Aids, Hearing Aids, Augumentative and Alternative Communication, Splints, Outcome measures, Systemtic Reviews
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