Selecting assistive products - The power of the who International Classification of Functioning, Disability and...

Assistive technology (AT) - that is, assistive products and skilled service provision - is critically important to optimize functioning for the billions who need it. Deciding what assistive product to select is a key service provision step and one that often relies on tacit knowledge of the provider workforce. This commentary describes a knowledge translation project developed by the World Health Organization which explored artificial intelligence, specifically machine reasoning, as a strategy to assist in the selection of assistive products. While the online tool ASPREX (ASsistive PRoduct EXplorer) remains in prototype status, the body of knowledge supporting decision-making for the 50 Priority Assistive Products has been systematically documented and made publicly available at eastin.eu. Recommendations are made about how we might enact. Recommendation 6 of the Global Report on AT: Invest in data and evidence-based policy. These include providing public access to knowledge; adhering to standard concepts and terms; and utilization of the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as an effective framework to describe the variables which impact assistive product selection and decision-making.