Contact information
To report a problem, ask a question, or share feedback, please contact: assistivetechnology@who.int
Advancing data collection on Assistive Technology
WHO estimates that as of 2021, at least 2.5 billion people worldwide need one or more assistive products. The need will exceed 3.5 billion by 2050, due to the ageing global population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, with many older people needing two or more assistive products as they age. However, there is considerable inequality in accessing assistive products, which can be as low as 3% in some settings.
Access to assistive technology is a human right and essential for many individuals to engage in education, work, family life, and community participation. Assistive technology is essential for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
One significant barrier to accessing assistive technology is the lack of comprehensive data. Without relevant and high-quality information, decision-makers face challenges in developing evidence-based policies and programs to improve access to their populations.
To respond to this need for comprehensive data, WHO developed the Assistive Technology Assessment (ATA) toolkit to support countries in systematically collecting data related to assistive technology. The ATA toolkit also responds to the WHA71.8 resolution on improving access to assistive technology and recommendation number six of the Global report on assistive technology, which calls for a systematic collection of the latest evidence on access to assistive technology.
The purpose
The ATA toolkit consists of four data collection tools that address the following questions:
- What are the met and unmet population needs in terms of access to assistive technology?
- What is the country’s capacity to meet the identified unmet need?
- What is the impact of assistive technology on the people who use it?
- What progress has been made by Member States in implementing the WHA78.1 resolution on improving access to assistive technology?
The ATA toolkit can help countries collect data to inform decisions regarding policy and program design, raise awareness of the need and impact of assistive technology, and galvanize political support and resources for assistive technology.
The potential target audiences of the ATA toolkit include policymakers, researchers and academia, associations and representatives of users of assistive technology and their families, assistive technology service managers and providers, subject matter experts in assistive technology, and other development partners.
The tools
Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C)
The assistive technology capacity assessment (ATA-C) is a system-level tool to understand a country’s capacity to finance, regulate, procure and provide assistive technology. ATA-C is intended to be implemented by a team with experience in assistive technology in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders. The ATA-C implementation process itself is valuable, as it brings together all key assistive technology stakeholders in a country or region, and act as a catalyst for action.
Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA)
The rapid assistive technology assessment (rATA) is a population-based household survey that collects self-reported information from people regarding their access to assistive technology, measuring the need, demand, and barriers. The tool can be used alone, or incorporated into other surveys and/or, or in national censuses.
Assistive Technology Impact Assessment tool (ATA-I)
The assistive technology impact assessment tool (ATA-I) is a population-based household survey to measure the impact of assistive technology on individuals. The tool was designed to collect information about the impact of assistive technology on a person’s empowerment, inclusion, participation, quality of life, dignity, and enjoyment of human rights. This tool is currently in development and will be piloted in 2-3 countries in 2024.
**
WHA71.8 Progress Indicators for Access to Assistive Technology
The WHA71.8 Progress Indicators for access to assistive technology is a high-level survey to measure Member States’ progress in implementing the WHA71.8 resolution and improving access to assistive technology up to 2030. The survey includes ten indicators measuring system preparedness in terms of governance, legislation, public budget, financing mechanisms, regulations and standards, collaborations and initiatives, service provision coverage, workforce availability, and training. The first round of data collection was implemented in 2021 when 70 Member States reported their Progress Indicators to be included in the Global report on assistive technology (2022). The second and third data-collection rounds are planned for 2025 and 2029, each serving to inform reporting to the World Health Assembly on progress in increasing access to assistive technology.
Related publications
15 May 2022
Global report on assistive technology
There is a large, unmet need for assistive technology worldwide. The Global report on assistive technology was developed in response to the World Health...
The 71st World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolution WHA71.8 on 26 May 2018. It urges all Member States to take action to improve access to assistive...
The assistive technology capacity assessment (ATA-C) is a system-level tool to evaluate a country’s capacity to finance, regulate, procure and provide...
14 June 2021
rapid Assistive Technology Assessment tool (rATA)
This population-based survey tool should be used only for rapid mapping of need, demand, supply, and user satisfaction with Assistive TechnologyAvailable...