Current State of Access to Assistive Technology and Its Related Services in Dominican Republic: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The Assistive Technology supply is highly fragmented and almost non-existent in many middle and low-resource settings with limited purchasing and no service delivery systems. In the Dominican Republic, despite the existence of a legal framework on disability, there is no comprehensive source of data about the availability of Assistive technology devices. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate about the access, use, barriers to access and users’ satisfaction of Assistive Technology (AT) in the province of Espaillat, in Dominican Republic. The WHO’s rapid Assistive Technology Assessment tool (rATA) survey was implemented as a stand-alone technique to 15 outpatient of rehabilitation services. Despite the small sample size, the information gathered provides valuable insight into the use of assistive products in the Dominican Republic. The findings of the study highlighted cost-related factors influencing AT access and low level of satisfaction.