Assistive Technology Empowering Individuals with Disabilities

Abstract

TAC is an inclusive enabler technology that helps people with disabilities to function through personal assistance technology and gears. Enablement with assistive technology (AT) improves the independence, interaction and community involvement of persons with disability. This study looks at AT to determine the uses, pros, and cons to embrace the technology. Thus, the method and framework cover a survey of 100 persons with disabilities from three setting hospitals in Pakistan namely, Pakistan institute of Medical Science (Pims), Poly Clinic Hospital and Holy Family Hospital person’s disabled preferred AT device through close ended questionnaires and interviews of thirty AT users and five industry experts. The present study finds that 82% of the participants found extended degree of independence and productivity with the use of AT, while the 76% said that there was enhanced communication and mobility. The use of progressive interfaces including artificial intelligent based communication equipment and virtually connected tools were closely associated with the management of complex disabilities. Still, issues like cost, awareness, and availability remain the main inhibitors to the broad use of the systems. However, there are some problems have been observed that include high cost, low awareness, and physical access which in one way or another hinder the adoption of the framework fully. The results show that IT should extend to the design of assistive technologies, costs should be kept as low as possible, and that public health campaigns should be concentrated on the potential of AT. This research is thus ended by calling for a multisectoral effort towards hoping that, assistive technology remains a viable and accessible tool for individuals with disability.