Assistive Technology during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic: The Roles of Government and Civil Society in Fulfilling the Social Contract

Daniel Mont, Natasha Layton, Louise Puli, Shivani Gupta, Abner Manlapaz, Kylie Shae, Emma Tebbutt, Irene Calvo, Mahpekay Sidiqy, Kudakwashe Dube and Ulamila Kacilala
Additional contact information
Daniel Mont: Center for Inclusive Policy, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Natasha Layton: Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne 3800, Australia
Louise Puli: Access to Assistive Technology Team, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Shivani Gupta: Center for Inclusive Policy, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Abner Manlapaz: Center for Inclusive Policy, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Kylie Shae: Access to Assistive Technology Team, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Emma Tebbutt: Access to Assistive Technology Team, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Irene Calvo: Access to Assistive Technology Team, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Mahpekay Sidiqy: Kabul Orthopaedic Organization, Kabul 1001, Afghanistan
Kudakwashe Dube: Africa Disability Alliance, Pretoria 0077, South Africa
Ulamila Kacilala: Pacific Disability Forum, GPO, Suva Box 18458, Fiji

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-15

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed significant challenges to users of assistive technology (AT). Three key issues emerged from a series of structured qualitative interviews with 35 AT users in six low- and middle-income countries. These were (1) access to information about COVID-19 and available supports and policies, (2) insufficiency of the government response to meet the needs of AT users, and (3) the response of civil society which partially offset the gap in government response. AT users noted the need for better communication, improved planning for the delivery and maintenance of AT during times of crisis, and higher-quality standards to ensure the availability of appropriate technology.

Keywords: assistive technology; policy; disability; assistive products; service provision; health systems; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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