Certificate in Assistive
Technology
Queen’s University, Armagh
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Course Modules
Module 1
The fundamentals of
Assistive Technology
(AT): an introduction to
theory, policy and how
AT can be matched to
persons with disabilities
at school, college,
home or in the
community.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Course Modules
Module 2
Ways of sourcing
Assistive Technology
and building multidisciplinary team
assessments on
persons with disabilities
and how to source
funding
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Course Modules
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Module 3
Research methods and Project Design:
How to conduct a mini research project,
Carry out a short literature review,
Record personal experiences through a
learning journal and
Conduct a detailed case study on matching
needs to appropriate AT and resources for an
individual with a disability.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Course Objectives
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To identify the wide range of ICT and AT for
the home, school and the community,
To enable the participant to experience a
range of AT and software applications,
To provide disabled people, professionals
and volunteers with a set of skills that will
better equip them when assessing the needs
of individuals with sensory, physical or
cognitive disabilities and impairments,
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Course Objectives (Continued)
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To learn about resources that are available to
support AT devices and services,
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To equip participants with knowledge relevant
to the current person-centred approach in the
delivery of services,
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Course Objectives (Continued)
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To foster cross university and inter-agency
partnerships,
To contribute to the university’s equality
policy by providing a model of “good practice”
through a fully integrated course,
To teach a set of key research skills in order
to carry out an extensive piece of related
research.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Paul Lynch – A Short Resume
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Currently carrying out research in Visual
Impairments and ICT at Queen’s University
Belfast,
Special Needs Teacher in Dublin Outreach Class
for Autistic Spectrum Disorders,
Lecture part-time on ICT and Enabling
Technology Course at Trinity College, Dublin
Consultant in Africa for the Department for
International Development: Studying ICT and
SEN
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Part Two
An Introduction
to Assistive
Technology
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Lecture One
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Background to Disability Theory
Disability Movements
Medical Model vs. Social Model of Disability
World Health Organisation Terminology
What is Assistive Technology (AT)?
Characteristics of AT
Members of an AT Dream Team
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Background
Disability is both a common personal
experience and a global phenomenon, with
widespread economic, cultural and political
implications for society as a whole.
Estimates suggest that there are around 50
million disabled people in the EU and 500
million worldwide. Estimated at 18% of the
whole population by 2020.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Disability Theory
Focus on the social exclusion and
oppression of disabled people. The
barriers are embedded in policies and
practices based on the individualistic,
medicalised approach to disability. The
removal of such obstacles by changing the
way society is organised (Barnes, 1998)
“Rights not Charity”
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Politicisation of Disability
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In the 1970’s, disabled individuals and groups
began to self-organise to resist exclusion
form employment and enforced poverty. Also
publication of sociological texts, e.g.:
The Sociology of Physical Disability and
Rehabilitation – Gary Albrecht (editor) 1976,
The Meaning of Disability – Mildred Blaxter
(1976).
None of the studies attempted to question its
ideological underpinnings: what has been
called the “individual”, “medical” or
“personal tragedy” model of disability.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Disability Movements
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American Independent Living Movement
Swedish Self Advocacy Movement
Union of the Physically Impaired Against
Segregation, UK (UPIAS)
Liberation Network of People with Disabilities,
UK
Who else?
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Challenging the Authority of the
Medical Definition of Disability
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Medical model – disability is a physical or
mental impairment or a biological deficit” or
“flaw” that limits what disabled people can do.
This means that the “flaw” segregates those
labelled form social participation.
ABNORMALITY OR MALADAPTION
Confinement, denial of human rights and
oppressive practices of care (Barnes, 1990)
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Social Model of Disability
A key turning point in the development of the social
model of disability in Britain was the definition developed
at a meeting of the Union of the Physically Impaired
Segregation (UPIAS) in 1976:
Disability is something imposed on top of our impairment
by the way we are unnecessarily isolated and excluded
from full participation in society.
Impairment is a lacking part or all of a limb, organ or
mechanism of the body; and disability as the
disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by a
contemporary social organisation which takes no or little
account of people who have physical
impairments……(1976:
14)Armagh Assistive
Queen's University,
Technology
Social Model of Disability
A focus on economic, environmental and
cultural barriers encountered by people
viewed by others as having some form of
impairment. These include inaccessible:
Education
Working Environments
Information and Communication Systems
Inadequate Disability benefits,
Inaccessible transport, etc………
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Inclusion in works of Bruegel
(1520 – 69)
The Battle between
Carnival and Lent depicts
many of the human
elements of the medieval
social order. These two
paintings gives us a view of
the European feudal
landscape with gambolling
figures, lame beggars set
unremarkably within the
larger, symbolic mise-enscene Gleeson 1999: 62)
The Cripples – Pieter Bruegel
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health, or
ICIDH (WHO 1980)
A new paradigm (an example or conceptual
framework) of disability, offering what it calls
"a framework for understanding the
dimensions of disablement and functioning at
three different levels: body, person and
society."
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
ICIDH Terminology
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Impairment – Any temporary or permanent loss or
abnormality of a body structure or function, whether
physiological or psychological.
Disability – A restriction or inability to perform an activity
in the manner or within the range considered normal for
a human being, mostly resulting from impairment.
Handicap - This is a result of an impairment or disability
that limits or prevents the fulfilment of one or several
roles regarded as normal, depending on age, sex, and
social and cultural factors.
www.who.int/icidh
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Example
A child who has lost an eye following an
accident will be impaired but may not be
disabled, and will be able to participate
fully in school and family activities. If a
career as an airline pilot, police officer or
professional tennis player had been
anticipated, then this may be seen as a
personal disadvantage or handicap.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Modifications to
Classification
Impairment Disability Handicap
Impairment Activity Participation
WHO 2001
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
What is Assistive Technology?
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“Any product, instrument,
equipment or technical
system used by a disabled
or elderly person, made
specially or existing on the
market, aimed to prevent,
compensate, relieve or
neutralise the deficiency,
the inability or the
handicap.”
International ISO-9999
Standard
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Finding the Right Fit
Assistive technology or Enabling Technology
is sometimes referred to as "work-around"
technology. The "fit" of technology solutions
with the individual's circumstances must be
carefully judged - low technology solutions
are often more effective and easily integrated
into a person's lifestyle.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Design for All
Design for All (DfA) – design practices will have to
change as a result of new challenges to meet the ever
growing needs of an aging population. There is also a
need for sustainable development that is more inclusive
for diverse user groups.
DfA methods and tools should be part of the professional
toolkit of all designers. This toolkit should include
understanding of the cross-cultural nature to ensure that
environments, products or services designed for people
support inclusion of all citizens to society See EU eAccessibility
[http://www.e-accessibility.org].
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
AT is a Very Broad Area
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Daily Living aids,
Mobility Aids,
Vocational Technology,
Environmental
Technology (ECU)
Recreational Technology,
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Communication
Technology (AAC)
Seating and positioning
aids,
Transportation
Technology (POW)
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Characteristics of AT
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Low to high tech,
Hard or soft tech,
Minimal to maximal,
Augment or replace,
General or specific,
Commercial or custom
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Low Tech to High Tech
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“low-tech" - non-electronic devices, such as
widened pencil grips, velcro fasteners, or book
holders.
"medium-tech" devices are more complicated but
are used by those with some degree of independent
functioning. e.g. adaptive computer peripherals tracker balls, joy sticks, keyboards, etc.
"high-tech" devices are more sophisticated
communication and environmental control systems.
Considerable specialist support and training is
necessary.
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Members of a Dream AT team
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AT User (Client)
Family/ caregiver
The Funder
The AT Advisor
The Supplier
The Engineer
Others depending on context
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Personal Characteristics when
considering the introduction of AT
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Physical,
Cognitive,
Cultural,
Experience,
Age,
Gender
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology
Reading
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Introduction to “A Review of Good Practice in
ICT and Special Educational Needs for
Africa”.
Ability Net Service Providers –
http://www.abilitynet.co.uk
Information, products and services for
disabled people - http://www.youreable.com/
Research Binder
Queen's University, Armagh Assistive
Technology