Examples of assistive technology services and resources
| Service | Country/ continent | Practice characteristics | Website |
| Southern Africa Assistive Technology Database | Africa | A database funded by Google Impact Challenge that uses field officers (called ‘admins’) to collect data about AT and make it available to be viewed on a mobile app or computer for free. The site also lists suppliers of equipment and service providers. | https://assistivetechmap.org/ |
| National Equipment Database ATA Australia | Australia | There are two national AT databases providing independent advice. They are owned and managed by Indigo Solutions Australasia and Assistive Technology Australia. Both organisations have AT showrooms (in Perth and Sydney, respectively). Health professionals provide assessment and advice on AT products but do not sell products. | https://ilcaustralia.org.au/search_category_paths https://at-aust.org/ |
| China Disabled Person’s Federation | China | The website does not work, but from secondary sources, the CDPF: ‘The three basic functions of the CDPF are to represent the interests of people with disabilities in China and help protect their legitimate rights, to provide them with comprehensive and effective services and to supervise affairs relating to people with disabilities’. | http://www.cdpf.org.cn/ |
| Global Assistive Technology Information Network (EASTIN) | Europe/Australia | EASTIN is a global technology information network with full partners being Italy, the UK, Germany, Denmark, France, Australia and Belgium. The organisations in partner countries supply their databases to the EASTIN portal for consumers to search. Consumers can access the EASTIN database to obtain information about AT. There is an inquiry function where a member of EASTIN will answer consumers’ specific questions about AT. The individual partner organisations (and affiliate members) have locally based services. Some of these services (such as ATA in Australia) employ health professionals to advise consumers in addition to the database searching functions. | http://www.eastin.eu/en-gb/searches/Products/Index Partners: UK: https://www.dlf.org.uk/ Italy: http://www.dongnocchi.it/ Germany: https://www.iwkoeln.de/ Denmark: http://www.socialstyrelsen.dk/ Australia: http://www.at-aust.org/ Belgium: http://www.vaph.be/ France: http://www.hacavie.com/ |
| EASTIN affiliate organisations | EASTIN affiliates | As above. | Israel: https://azarim.org.il/ Lithuania: http://www.tpnc.lt/ Cyprus: http://www.euc.ac.cy/ Thailand: http://www.nstda.or.th/ Latvia: www.vtpc.lv/ Taiwan: http://www.treats.org.tw/ Slovakia: http://accesscentre.tuke.sk/ The Netherlands: www.innovatiesindezorg.eu/ |
| Enable Ireland | Ireland | Brokerage service to children and adults with disabilities based on the Social Model of Disability. | https://www.enableireland.ie/ |
| Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi | Italy | ‘The Italian Web Portal providing information and guidance on assistive technologies for independence, quality of life and participation of persons with disabilities. A systematic and up-to-date review of assistive technology products available in Italy and in Europe’. | http://portale.siva.it/en-GB/home/default |
| Display centre, information service and Hyogo Assistech | Japan | ‘The Association promotes research and development on welfare equipment, collects and provides information on welfare equipment, clinically evaluates welfare equipment, trains welfare equipment-related technicians, and conducts examination work related to artificial limb equipment. The purpose is to promote the safe and effective use of assistive devices and contribute to the promotion of the welfare of the elderly and the disabled’. Hyogo Assistivetech is a network of organisations offering information about AT. | http://www.techno-aids.or.jp/ and https://www-hyogo--an-com.translate.goog/index.html?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=nui,op,sc |
| Enable New Zealand | New Zealand | ‘Enable New Zealand provides disability services in New Zealand. We are a division of MidCentral District Health Board. The Ministry of Health and ACC contract us to provide disability information services, disability equipment, and housing modification and vehicle modification services’. | https://www.enable.co.nz/ |
| Tech Able | Singapore | ‘Tech Able is a joint initiative between SG Enable and SPD. Comprising an assessment centre, an assistive device library, a smart home/office technology showcase and an event space, Tech Able aims to provide information and resources on assistive and infocomm technologies (AT/ICT); Promote the adoption of AT/ICT among persons with disabilities and employers; and Leverage technology for more training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities’. | https://techable.enablingvillage.sg/aboutus |
| TREATS | Taiwan | ‘Taiwan Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society, TREATS, was established in 2011. Our members include experts and scholars from various fields such as medical physician, rehabilitation engineering, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, special education, social workers and etc. Our missions are mainly (1) to assist the government to develop AT policies, (2) to participate in international affairs and related activities and (3) to host relevant conferences or activities to promote AT affairs’. | http://treats.org.tw/Contactus.php?Lang=2 |
| Centre for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance—AT demonstration centres | USA | ‘State and Territory Assistive Technology Programmes focus on improving the provision of AT through comprehensive, statewide programmes that are consumer responsive. The goal of these programmes is to increase access to and acquisition of AT. Programmes serve people with all types of disabilities, of all ages, in all environments’. | https://catada.info/ |
AT, assistive technology; ATA, Assistive Technology Australia; EASTIN, European Assistive Technology Information Network; TREATS, Taiwan Rehabilitation Engineering and AT Society.