Currency and Competence of Occupational Therapists and Consumers with Rapidly Changing Technology

Abstract

Assistive technology was once a specialised field of practice, involving products designed for populations with specific impairments or functional goals. In Australia, occupational therapists have, at times, functioned as gatekeepers to public funding, prescribing products from a predefined list. An expanding range of accessible mainstream products available via international and online markets has changed the meaning and application of assistive technology for many people with disability. In the policy context of consumer choice and cost-effectiveness, have occupational therapists been left behind? This paper describes the change in context for access to assistive technology resulting in expanded possibilities for participation and inclusion. A case study of environmental control systems is used to explore the overlap of mainstream and assistive products and the funding and services to support their uptake. The analysis describes a future policy and practice context in which assistive technology includes a spectrum of products decoupled from access to independent advice and support services. A broader scope of occupational therapy practice has potential to enhance the occupational rights of people with disability and the efficiency and effectiveness of assistive technology provision.

Lack of time and dependence on significant others: Occupational therapists´ experiences of prescribing time assistive technology for persons with dementia

“…However, this study showed that SOs sometimes requested advanced time AT, or wanted to use functions in smart phones, that the OTs considered to be too difficult to use for PwDs. This is in line with earlier research that has found that smart phones, with comparable supportive functions, often can be too advanced for PwDs [31,48].…”

Smart-speaker technology and intellectual disabilities: agency and wellbeing

“…As some individuals were resistant to help, training would need to be provided in a sensitive and optional format. The importance of ongoing training, assessment and support are commonly emphasised within the area of assistive technologies in order to reduce barriers to use (Steel et al, 2017, Jamwal et al, 2020, Adolfsson et al, 2016Boot et al, 2018). Our study sits well within this past work and stresses the importance of developing accessible and adaptive training and support for users.…”

HabITec: A Sociotechnical Space for Promoting the Application of Technology to Rehabilitation

“…Despite high levels of excitement about the use of technology in rehabilitation [12], actual knowledge about devices and technological solutions has been limited for not only the elderly, but also for most people with disabilities [6]. Self-efficacy has been posited as an important factor, as those with high levels of self-efficacy are more likely to engage in rehabilitation and to be early adopters of new technologies [13].…”