Service Delivery Systems for Assistive Technology in Europe: A Position Paper

摘要

As a follow-up of an International Workshop held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 21-22, 2012, a consensus process started under the leadership of AAATE (Association for Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe) and EASTIN (European Assistive Technology Information Network) that led to the production of a European Position Paper. This Paper indicates a framework for exploiting the role of assistive technology (AT) in supporting care and participation of people with disabilities and elderly people through appropriate service delivery systems (SDS). The Position Paper is organised in four chapters. The first chapter (Background) discusses the reasons why a position paper on this issue was deemed useful; it also summarises the key themes of the Copenhagen workshop and recalls the previous HEART Study of the European Commission. The second chapter (The scope of an AT SDS), discusses the concept of assistive solutions - intended as individualised interventions providing users with appropriate environmental facilitators (AT products, personalised environmental modifications, personal assistance) to overcome disability and enable participation in all aspects of life - and states the mission of a SDS -ensuring that all people with disabilities can access appropriate assistive solutions that are able to support autonomy in their life environment. The third chapter (Basic features of an AT SDS) discusses why public SDSs are needed for AT, what the main SDS models are, and how the SDSs quality can be monitored. The last chapter provides a number of useful recommendations for those who are engaged in the design, development and implementation of AT SDS policies.