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The Global report on assitive technology (May 2022) from the WHO scopes the Assistive Technology (AT) sector, highlighting key challenges and areas of progress globally. This report builds on evidence from a variety of stakeholder groups, the 2019 Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) consultation, and the 2011 World Report on Disability. We have supported the Global Report with the following activities.
Data visualisation platform for population-level data on Assistive Technology
A comprehensive understanding of global assistive technology (AT) marketplaces is essential to identify unmet needs, argue for political prioritisation, attract innovation and investment, develop best practices for AT delivery, and ultimately expand access to AT. Yet data on assistive technology (both products and associated services) are challenging to identify and compare, limiting their potential use for informed decision-making. This is the result of barriers at the market level and in the research sector.
To contribute to a global effort to increase the AT evidence base, we conducted a systematic review of studies that generated population-based data on Assistive Products (AP) access indicators for five priority APs (hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetics, glasses, or personal digital assistants). This review aims to (1) characterise existing population-level research producing estimates of AP access indicators for the five APs and (2) present and synthesise global data on AP access indicators to support scaling up AT provision.
This review builds on the findings of an initial scoping review, commissioned by the WHO and published separately which primarily focused on methods used for estimating AP supply and demand at the market level.
Outputs and Publications
- AT Data Portal
- AT2030 Insights Portal
- Estimating need and coverage for five priority assistive products: a systematic review of global population-based research
- AT2030, Estimating Need and Coverage for Five Priority Assistive Products (Full Publication)
Researchers involved
- Jamie Danemayer
- Prof Cathy Holloway
- Dr Youngjun Cho
- William Bhot
- Felipe Ramos Barajas
Data analysis for the Global Report on Assistive Technology
To support the development of the upcoming Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT), our team provides technical expertise in the analysis of data originating from multiple-country rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) surveys. The team also support the analysis and reporting of data coming out of progress indicators from the WHO Member States.
Outputs and Publications
Researchers involved
- Jamie Danemayer
- Prof Cathy Holloway
Background papers for the Global Report on Assistive Technology
The need for data on supply and demand estimation methods in this sector aligned with our ongoing research to create a repository for population-level AT data. We completed a scoping review of the study designs and assessment approaches utilised to estimate supply and demand for AT in a population, as well as the contexts where each method can be most effective. The paper has been finalised and published by RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) as part of the Special Issue: Background Papers to the Global Report on Assistive Technology.
Outputs and Publications
Researchers involved
- Jamie Danemayer
- Prof Cathy Holloway
Companion Papers to the Global Report on Assistive Technology
- Introduction to the companion papers to the global report on assistive technology
- Meeting AT needs in humanitarian crises: The current state of provision
- Measuring assistive technology supply and demand: A scoping review
- Scoping review of economic evaluations of assistive technology globally
- A review of innovation strategies and processes to improve access to AT: Looking ahead to open innovation ecosystems
- Applying market shaping approaches to increase access to assistive technology in low- and middle-income countries
Researchers involved
- Prof Cathy Holloway
- Dr Maria Kett
- Prof Rainer Kattel
- Dr Dafne Zuleima Morgado Ramirez
- Mr Tigmanshu Bhatnagar
- Dr Ben Oldfrey