Understanding the person behind the technology.

Abstract

The field of assistive technology (AT) encompasses many professions, each with its own disciplinary understanding of the client. Many take a medical viewpoint, some take a biomechanical stance, whereas others view individuals from a psychosocial perspective. One commonality among all AT professionals is their focus on increasing independence and attaining the personal goals in the day-to-day life of an individual with a disability.The delivery of the technology is not an end in and of itself; the processes involved in ensuring adequate attention to the finer points of technology integration include a unique understanding of the person with a disability. Professional efforts to deliver the targeted technology can be successful only if attention is given to the needs of the individual. This chapter summarizes the contemporary perspectives of AT services with a focus on evaluating the individual behind the technology. A n overview of AT assessment issues is provided, followed by two case examples of AT service delivery in which the personal characteristics of the recipients were and were not taken into consideration. Finally, current trends and issues in assessing people for ATs are examined. UNDERSTANDING THE PERSON BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGYRehabilitation professionals have just recently begun to seriously study the issues of who uses assistive devices and why they use them. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is the truth: Only since researchers began to focus on the reasons for abandonment of technology have they looked beyond the technology to the users. This section examines assessment of individual users of AT.

The right to assistive technology: for whom, for what, and by whom?

“…It is necessary to look beyond the technology and the physical features of the user; his or her needs, preferences and expectations need also to be met (Brown-Triolo 2001;Scherer 2005).…”

Identifying the Values and Preferences of Prosthetic Users

“…According to Scherer,3 a good match between person and technology is achieved if the prosthetic device meets the user's performance expectations and is easy and comfortable to use. It has also been recommended that when selecting a prosthesis for an individual, attention should be directed at the specific needs of the individual,4 that prosthetic users are provided with a choice of available options,3 and are involved in prosthesis selection 5,6…”

The Development and Evaluation of Performance-Based Functional Assessment

“…This process of technology matching can only be successful if rehabilitation professionals and HCI designers understand the user's needs and capabilities with respect to the IT solutions being considered [Brown-Triolo 2002].…”