The Matching Person & Technology (MPT) assessment process is a set of person-centered measures, all of which examine the self-reported perspectives of adult consumers regarding strengths/capabilities, needs/goals, preferences and psychosocial cha

To validate an assistive technology (AT) baseline and outcomes measure and to quantify the measure's value in determining the best match of consumer and AT considering consumer ratings of their subjective quality of life, mood, support from others, motivation for AT use, program/therapist reliance, and self-determination/self-esteem. Prospective multi-cohort study. Vocational rehabilitation offices and community. Over 150 vocational rehabilitation counselors in 25 U.S. states with one consumer each receiving new AT. Counselor training in the Matching Person and Technology (MPT) Model and consumer completion of the MPT measure, Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA). Total and subscale scores on the ATD PA as well as counselor-completed questionnaires. ATD PA items differentiated consumer predispositions to AT use as well as AT and user match. There were no significant differences due to gender, physical locality, or age within this sample of working-age adult consumers. Vocational rehabilitation counselors exposed to training in the MPT Model achieved enhanced AT service delivery outcomes. The ATD PA is a valid measure of predisposition to use an AT and the subsequent match of AT and user. Rehabilitation practitioners who use the ATD PA will achieve evidence-based practice and can expect to see enhanced AT service delivery outcomes.

The results from many research efforts on the use of assistive devices are reviewed and summarized. Further, conceptual and methodological issues related to the use and abandonment of assistive technologies are discussed. Overall, this review should be helpful to professionals making device recommendations, documenting the need for a device, and assessing short- and long-term device utilization. The available literature lends support to a model of matching person and technology that considers environments of device use, characteristics of the user's preferences and expectations, and device features and functions. To ensure that assistive technologies enhance users' quality of life, future emphases should focus on consumer involvement in the selection and evaluation of appropriate assistive technology, and ways to make technologies more widely available and affordable.

This paper is based on work from the Global Research, Innovation, and Education on Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit that was coordinated by WHO’s Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE). The purpose of this paper is to describe the needs and opportunities embedded in the assistive product lifecycle as well as issues relating to the various stages of assistive product mobilization worldwide. The paper discusses assistive technology product terminology and the dangers of focusing on products outside the context and rolling out products without a plan. Additionally, the paper reviews concepts and issues around technology transfer, particularly in relation to meeting global needs and among countries with limited resources. Several opportunities are highlighted including technology advancement and the world nearing a state of readiness through a developing capacity of nations across the world to successfully adopt and support the assistive technology products and applications. The paper is optimistic about the future of assistive technology products reaching the people that can use it the most and the excitement across large and small nations in increasing their own capacities for implementing assistive technology. This is expressed as hope in future students as they innovate and in modern engineering that will enable assistive technology to pervade all corners of current and potential marketplaces. Importantly, the paper poses numerous topics where discussions are just superficially opened. The hope is that a set of sequels will follow to continue this critical dialog.

Purpose. The previously published ‘Framework for the conceptual modelling of assistive technology device (ATD) outcomes’ assumes antecedent factors that inform it and influence its component variables. This paper proposes a model of factors influencing consumer predispositions and provider practices related to procuring a particular ATD, which is the starting point in the framework. Method. The relevant literature on a variety of factors that influence specific ATD selection is summarized. Results. The decision that a particular ATD is an appropriate and desirable support for an individual is the result of a process which is affected by a broader societal climate that determines, in part, unique personal climates which then foster unique provider and consumer perspectives predisposing each to the selection of a particular ATD. Conclusions. The proposed ‘Framework for modelling the selection of ATDs’ can contribute to clinical practice and outcomes research by highlighting factors important to consider prior to ATD selection.