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Assistive technology use and unmet need in Canada
Anna Berardi1, Emma M Smith2,3, William C Miller2,3
1Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology
|March 25, 2020
Summary
Assistive technology (AT) use is high among Canadians with disabilities, but significant unmet needs persist, particularly for hearing and bathroom aids. Understanding these gaps is crucial for improving AT access and support services.
Area of Science:
- Assistive Technology Research
- Disability Studies
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Global disparities in assistive technology (AT) access highlight the need for context-specific assessments.
- Legislation and policies lag behind the growing demand for AT, necessitating better service prioritization.
- Understanding AT needs informs resource allocation and support for individuals with disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the current use of AT among Canadians experiencing disability.
- To identify and quantify the unmet needs for AT in this population.
- To inform policy and service development for AT provision.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2012 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD).
- Bootstrapping methods were employed to estimate prevalence of AT use and unmet needs.
- Analysis included a sample size of 45,443 individuals.
Main Results:
- An estimated 3,775,920 Canadians (13.7%) live with a disability, with 3,579,580 using some form of AT.
- The most common ATs used are glasses/contact lenses and bathroom aids.
- The most significant unmet needs were for hearing aids (0.86%) and bathroom aids (0.36%).
Conclusions:
- This study provides critical evidence on AT use and unmet needs in Canada, informing policy and service planning.
- Addressing the gap between AT needs and provision is essential for enabling full participation of individuals with disabilities.
- Findings support global initiatives like the WHO's GATE project by highlighting persistent barriers and needs.
