TY - JOUR
T1 - Enabling appropriate personnel skill-mix for progressive realization of equitable access to assistive technology
AU - Smith, Emma M.
AU - Gowran, Rosemary Joan
AU - Mannan, Hasheem
AU - Donnelly, Brian
AU - Alvarez, Liliana
AU - Bell, Diane
AU - Contepomi, Silvana
AU - Ennion, Liezel
AU - Hoogerwerf, Evert Jan
AU - Howe, Tracey
AU - Jan, Yih Kuen
AU - Kagwiza, Jeanne
AU - Layton, Natasha
AU - Ledgerd, Ritchard
AU - MacLachlan, Malcolm
AU - Oggero, Giulia
AU - Pettersson, Cecilia
AU - Pousada, Thais
AU - Scheffler, Elsje
AU - Wu, Sam
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2018/7/4
Y1 - 2018/7/4
N2 - Background and Methods: This paper reviews the current capacity of personnel in enabling access to assistive technology (AT) as well as the systems and processes within which they work, and was reviewed, discussed, and refined during and following the Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit. Findings: Key concepts addressed include a person-centred team approach; sustainability indicators to monitor, measure, and respond to needs for service design and delivery; education, research, and training for competent practice, using the six rehab-workforce challenges framework; and credentialing frameworks. We propose development of a competence framework and associated education and training programs, and development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel. Conclusions: There is a resolve to address the challenges faced by People globally to access assistive technology. Context specific needs assessment is required to understand the AT Personnel landscape, to shape and strengthen credentialing frameworks through competencies and certification, acknowledging both general and specific skill mix requirements.Implications for Rehabilitation Personnel in assistive technology (AT) provision should be trained using a person-centred team approach, which emphasizes appropriate skill-mix to address multiple needs within the community. Sustainability indicators should be used which allow personnel to monitor, measure and respond to needs for service design and delivery. A competence framework with associated education and training program, coupled with the development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel needs, will promote quality in AT personnel training globally.
AB - Background and Methods: This paper reviews the current capacity of personnel in enabling access to assistive technology (AT) as well as the systems and processes within which they work, and was reviewed, discussed, and refined during and following the Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit. Findings: Key concepts addressed include a person-centred team approach; sustainability indicators to monitor, measure, and respond to needs for service design and delivery; education, research, and training for competent practice, using the six rehab-workforce challenges framework; and credentialing frameworks. We propose development of a competence framework and associated education and training programs, and development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel. Conclusions: There is a resolve to address the challenges faced by People globally to access assistive technology. Context specific needs assessment is required to understand the AT Personnel landscape, to shape and strengthen credentialing frameworks through competencies and certification, acknowledging both general and specific skill mix requirements.Implications for Rehabilitation Personnel in assistive technology (AT) provision should be trained using a person-centred team approach, which emphasizes appropriate skill-mix to address multiple needs within the community. Sustainability indicators should be used which allow personnel to monitor, measure and respond to needs for service design and delivery. A competence framework with associated education and training program, coupled with the development and implementation of a certification framework for AT personnel needs, will promote quality in AT personnel training globally.
KW - assistive products
KW - assistive technology
KW - human resources
KW - Personnel
KW - self-help devices
KW - skill mix
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047115124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17483107.2018.1470683
DO - 10.1080/17483107.2018.1470683
M3 - Article
C2 - 29772939
AN - SCOPUS:85047115124
SN - 1748-3107
VL - 13
SP - 445
EP - 453
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
IS - 5
ER -