TY - GEN
T1 - Sustainable solutions for wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision
T2 - Presenting a cosmopolitan narrative with rich pictures
AU - Gowran, Rosemary Joan
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - In the wheelchair and seating assistive technology (WSAT) literature, sustainability concepts are beginning to emerge in relation to appropriate provision from design to follow up and management involving key stakeholder perspectives. A qualitative research design utilising a soft systems methodological framework which included organisational ethnography and critical participatory action research was chosen to study this complex system. The research process overall involved participant observation, individual interviews and a series of collaborative workshops. The process was made up of four main pillars. Pillar 2 as an example sought to understand stakeholder perspectives individually and collectively. This paper presents the first of a series of workshops which created rich pictures of wheelchair and seating provision representing collective experiences. Findings identified the complexity of the system and key areas for development to improve the flow of the overall provision. Specific concerns that were reported to exist related to individual and nationwide organisational roles, responsibilities and regulation which appeared to influence the disproportionate rhythm of the wheelchair and seating provision system. A better understanding is required to set the provision of WSAT for prioritisation at a public and policy level both nationally and internationally.
AB - In the wheelchair and seating assistive technology (WSAT) literature, sustainability concepts are beginning to emerge in relation to appropriate provision from design to follow up and management involving key stakeholder perspectives. A qualitative research design utilising a soft systems methodological framework which included organisational ethnography and critical participatory action research was chosen to study this complex system. The research process overall involved participant observation, individual interviews and a series of collaborative workshops. The process was made up of four main pillars. Pillar 2 as an example sought to understand stakeholder perspectives individually and collectively. This paper presents the first of a series of workshops which created rich pictures of wheelchair and seating provision representing collective experiences. Findings identified the complexity of the system and key areas for development to improve the flow of the overall provision. Specific concerns that were reported to exist related to individual and nationwide organisational roles, responsibilities and regulation which appeared to influence the disproportionate rhythm of the wheelchair and seating provision system. A better understanding is required to set the provision of WSAT for prioritisation at a public and policy level both nationally and internationally.
KW - Policy
KW - Primary Need
KW - Stakeholder Perspectives
KW - Sustainability
KW - Wheelchair and Seating Assistive Technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84889062441&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-290
DO - 10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-290
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84889062441
SN - 9781614993032
T3 - Assistive Technology Research Series
SP - 290
EP - 297
BT - Assistive Technology
A2 - Encarnacao, Pedro
A2 - Azevedo, Luis
A2 - Gelderblom, Gert Jan
A2 - Newell, Alan
A2 - Mathiassen, Niels-Erik
PB - ISO Press
ER -