Robin Tacchetti is a doctor of physical therapy whose work has focused on the academic and humanitarian sectors.
Learning, Acting and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems
Select a country (and if appropriate state) to view information about this course's accreditation and/or acceptance in this jurisdiction.
Introduction
Assistive technologies (AT) allow individuals to have independent, productive lives. They can decrease a user's need for health care services and caregiver support. Assistive technology is an umbrella term for devices that help with vision, hearing, mobility, self-care and communication. With ageing populations and the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases, the need for assistive technology is increasing rapidly. It is estimated that currently, over one billion people need assistive technology. This number is expected to grow to two billion by the year 2050. Moreover, it is believed that only one in ten people have access to the assistive technology that they need. This lack of access is due to the high cost of assistive technology and limited awareness and availability. There is also a lack of policy, financing and trained personnel. Access to assistive technology varies significantly between countries, with low-resource countries having an unmet need of almost 97 percent for assistive products.
Aims
The course aims to describe barriers and solutions to accessing assistive technology in low-income countries.
Outline
This course is made up of videos, reading, forum posts and a final quiz. The course content is split into the following sections:
- 2 Videos
- Reading activity
- Quiz
Target audience
This course is aimed at rehabilitation professionals, students and assistants including but not limited to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Rehabilitation Doctors, Rehabilitation Nurses, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Dietetics, Social Workers. Community Health Workers, Nurses or Medical Doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.