Assistive Technology : the Official Journal of RESNA

This paper analyzes the technology-related outputs from The National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). We seek to answer the questions: What are the types and frequency of assistive technology (AT) technology transfer (ATTT) outputs from NIDILRR grants? How does NIDILRR's ATTT generation compare to other granting organizations? What types of ATTT outputs occur, how, and what is the relative productivity of the most frequently funded universities and small businesses performing with funding by NIDILRR grants? An online search was conducted for indications of ATTT from grants funded from 1983-2021 through publicly available databases, the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), and the internet...

The Health App Review Tool (HART) is an evaluation tool that is designed to help the users in evaluation of the health apps for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) population. As the development of the HART continues, the domain items that HART addresses require evaluation to determine if they meet the intended required criteria for the users.To complete content validation of the HART 10 health care professions provided content validation of the HART via a content validation form. Specifically, data collection took place virtually through Microsoft Teams and Qualtrics-based content validity index...

About 1% of the world's population uses a wheelchair. Wheelchair use is a well-known risk of pressure injury. A connected pressure detection system could help to prevent this complication that is linked to long durations of sitting, provided that user expectations are understood. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of wheelchair users (WU) regarding connected pressure detection systems to prevent pressure injury. A cross-section survey-based study of WU was conducted, using an anonymous electronic questionnaire posted from July 2019 to June 2020...

Despite an increased application of social theory in assistive technology (AT) outcomes research, there continues to be a gap in integrating AT conceptual models in research design, data analysis, and results interpretation. This paper merged two preexisting AT models, the Human Activity Assistive Technology model (HAAT) and the interdependence frame for AT into a novel framework, the interdependence-HAAT model (i-HAAT). This model was used to examine the outcomes of former long-term nursing home residents using AT...

Children with disabilities need comprehensive intervention spanning health, education, and social systems from infancy through adulthood, with ongoing assessment of outcomes. While assistive technology is crucial, it must be complemented by inclusive learning options and other systemic interventions. Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory guides this approach. A project in South Africa's Northern Cape Province utilized Acumen's Lean Data methodology for monitoring and evaluation. This methodology emphasizes rapid, technology-enabled data collection to inform stakeholders effectively...

Assistive Technology for Cognition (ATC) can help people to compensate for cognitive impairments following Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Examples include mainstream devices such as smartphones, watches and environmental controls, and bespoke devices such as medication devices or specific educational software. Evidence suggests that professional support is key to people successfully adopting ATC, yet low confidence amongst clinicians and perceptions about barriers are often cited as reasons for not recommending ATC in practice...

The Voiceitt app is designed for people with dysarthric speech, to support vocal communication and access to voice-driven technologies. Sixty-six participants were recruited to test the Voiceitt app and share feedback with developers. Most had physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments in addition to atypical speech. The project team liaised with individuals, their families and local support teams to provide access to the app and associated equipment. Testing was user-led, with participants asked to identify and test use cases most relevant to their daily lives over three months or more...

Congenital limb defects occur when a limb does not develop normally during pregnancy. The quality of each person's everyday life is significantly impacted by any of these defects and there is no concrete treatment. 3D modeling and printing, enables the creation and customization of precise virtual and/or physical models, including models of the human anatomy. These technologies provide a novel method of producing new devices with optimized design and production time, improving adaptability, and incorporating functionality...

This study aimed to clarify the kinematics, particularly of the shoulder and hip joints, during preparation for manual wheelchair-to-bed transfer (i.e. when flipping up the arm and foot supports). This cross-sectional study included 32 able-bodied individuals. The kinematics of the shoulder and hip joints when the arm and foot supports were flipped up of manual wheelchair, were evaluated using a markerless inertial sensor-based motion capture system. We found that flipping the arm support upwards involved a large amount of abduction, internal and external rotation, flexion, and extension at the shoulder joint, whereas flipping the foot support upwards involved a large amount of flexion at the hip joint...

Individuals with cognitive disabilities have challenges with personal navigation and wayfinding, especially when traveling on public transportation. The purpose of this case study is to describe the structure and implementation of the Personal Navigation for Individuals with Disabilities (PNID) education and training program, which is based on a socio-technical architecture for individuals with cognitive disabilities within a fixed-route public bus system. A case study methodology was used to describe preliminary findings of the skills, attributes, and experiences of three individuals with cognitive disabilities as it relates to transportation on fixed-route bus systems in a midsized urban setting...

CLOSER is a computer-based exercise program that aims to improve older adults' health, fitness and social lives. This pilot study aimed to examine the effect of CLOSER, the first computer-based exercise program developed for older adults on a national scale, on those with a history of falls. Forty-eight older adults (71.33 ± 7.47) with a history of falling at least once in the last year were included in the study. Older adults performed CLOSER exercises for (balance maintenance, neck rotation, rhythmic walking, knee flexion and trunk rotation) 2 sessions per week for eight weeks...

Adolescents with CP classified as Gross Motor Functional Classification System Level V attend school up to 8 h daily with limited ability to self-reposition. Despite pain reported within this population, perceived pain and self-pressure relief during prolonged classroom sitting is unknown. A case series design was used with a convenience sample of six students (13-18 years) with CP. Pain assessments were taken every 30 min for 5 h. Self-relief assessments using the SensiMATTM were recorded while students were in their wheelchairs...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Children with physical impairments may have trouble effectively performing the hand movements used in haptic exploration and may miss information about object properties. Assistive robotic systems with haptic feedback may enable children with physical impairments to haptically explore objects. However, it is important to understand if they might be encountering difficulty in assessing object properties with the system. As such, we examined two methods to ascertain a user's uncertainty or stress when doing the exploration, user confidence and electrodermal activity (EDA)...

As the global aging trend increases, dementia pressures families and society. Mobile apps that provide interventions and independence for people with dementia (PwD) may relieve this pressure. This study reviews mobile app-based interventions designed for use with PwD, focusing on the type, design, and evaluation of mobile apps. This study searched PubMed, Web of Science, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, and IEEE Xplore databases for mobile applications designed for people with disabilities and reported the evaluation results...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

This study described and compared use of supported-standing and stepping devices by young children with cerebral palsy, Gross-Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels III-V following power mobility introduction. Data was collected at two time-points, 5-6 months apart, for 42 participants, aged 18-80 months, using the Home Use of Technology for CHildren (HUTCH). Supported-standing and stepping device choice, and time in each device remained stable over 6 months. Associations between device use and three functional classifications were examined...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults. Walkers are often used by and prescribed to this population to reduce fall risk, however, walker users and walker non-users alike experience similar fall incidence rates. The role of walkers in preventing falls is unclear as some studies suggest walkers may be a fall-inciting factor. The purpose of this study was to analyze walker deficits by evaluating the circumstances and causes of falls in older adult walker users residing in long-term care facilities...

This study aimed to improve hand performance and play behavior in children with developmental disabilities (DD) using a remodeled glove puppetry approach. Overall, 62 children with DD were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups ( n  = 31 each). The experimental group underwent a 12-week rehabilitation program by playing with the remodeled glove puppetry, while the children in the control group played with non-remodeled glove puppetry. The Chinese puppet was remodeled using a Lego EV3® robot...