Lecture 8 - Assistive Technologies and Reducing Disability

Question 1

purpose of assistive technology

Answer 1

to help reduce disability by…
- > improving/enhancing a persons functioning and independence
- > maintaining health and well-being to prevent further disablement

Question 2

the use of specialized equipment and aids…

Answer 2

• > allow people with disabilities to carry out their daily activities
• > facilitate movement (wheelchairs, hand and arm supports) or help them hear, see, or communicate

Question 3

are glasses and contact lenses considered assistive technologies

Answer 3

NO

Question 4

what is the percentage of needs being met for ppl who require assistive technologies

Answer 4

61.3% all needs met
28.9 some needs met
9.9% no needs met
*these percentages vary across the different types of disabilities; age also affects these numbers *

Question 5

percentage of those with a milds disability that have their needs met

Answer 5

• > 76%
• > very severe disabilities had some needs met (50%)

Question 6

number of assistive devices used

Answer 6

• > people with learning disabilities used far more AD than any other type of disability(3.8/person)
• > people with mobility limitaions used the second highest amount (2.5/person) followed by those with seeing (2.0)
• > those with communication limitations used the fewest at 1.1 aids per person

Question 7

who pays for assistive devices

Answer 7

aprox. 70% people who need assertive devices devices mostly pay for them themselves (parent/guardian)
- > public funding amounts to only 12% on average
- > private funding amounts to 7%

Question 8

main reasons for unmet needs with assistive technologies

Answer 8

• > 56% of people say cost of the assistive tech is the greatest barrier
• > people living in the territories were more likely to identify the lack of availability

Question 9

percentages of canadian children with a disability that have their assistive needs met

Answer 9

• > less than half of canadian children have all their assistive needs being met
• > less than 1/3 of kids with a severe disability have their needs met

Question 10

costs of different wheelchairs

Answer 10

manual
- > 250-500%
mobility scooter
- > 2000-5000$
powered wheelchair
- > 2500-10000$

Question 11

percentage of canadians with a disability that use a wheeled mobility device that don’t have their needs met

Answer 11

8% of canadians with a disability use a wheeled device
- > 10% of these users has an unmet need for an additional device
power wheelchair - > 5%
mobility scooter - > 4%
manual wheelchair - > 1%

Question 12

% non-users of a wheeled mobility device who needed one of the 3 different types and why they couldnt get these devices

Answer 12

• > 60% needed mobility scooter
• > 21% needed a power wheelchair
• > 19% needed a manual wheelchair
  *******
  77% due to cost
  17% due to lack of insurance
  6% due to unavailibilty

Question 13

assistance provided to wheeled mobility device users

Answer 13

assistance provided by…
- > family members of the same household 65%
- > family members not in same home 44%
- > unpaid organizations/individuals 35%
*14% of users pay ~10000 per year for these assistance with activities of daily living