The IDEAL PROCESS for developing Assistive Technology policy

ABSTRACT

Policy development and implementation are key to improving access to Assistive Technology (AT). In this paper, we describe a strength-based framework for doing this at national level. We used an action research approach, with the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) as the primary frame of reference. Primary data were collected using the World Health Organisation’s rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA). We describe the process of applying our emergent framework and how our findings support it. We identified seven guiding principles for effective policy process: Participatory, Resource aware, Outcomes focused, Collaborative, Evidence-informed, supporting good practices, and System strengthening – which can be summarized by the acronym PROCESS. Five crucial building blocks for effective AT policy development emerged: Identification of the assistive technology ecosystem, Demography of disability and AT use, Evaluation of inclusion and participation in existing policy, Alignment with UNCRPD and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Locality of implementation – which can be summarized with the acronym IDEAL. The IDEAL PROCESS incorporates key content building blocks and core process principles, constituting a systematic framework for guiding the development of context sensitive AT policy and a strength-based pathway to improving access AT.

KEYWORDS:

• APL
• Assistive Technology
• IDEAL PROCESS
• policy development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funding from the Irish Research Council (IRC) grant number-COALESCE/2019/114 for the Assistive Product List Implementation Creating Enablement of inclusive SDGs (APPLICABLE) project and the Assistive Technology 2030 initiative, led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub, and funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office. The authors are very grateful to the members of APPLICABLE Project Action Research Group.