Introduction
Assistive technology (AT) is a generic term that includes
assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people
with disabilities, special needs and includes the process
used in selecting, locating, and using them.
In certain regions of the world, AT use, enablement and
prohibition of discrimination related to people with
disabilities and special needs is codified into law such as
the U.S. Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals
with Disabilities Act of 1988 (US Public Law 100-407)
and the U.K. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (1995
CHAPTER 50).
An ever increasing number of enlightened, citizen-focused
governments across the globe are embracing AT not only as a
matter of law, but also as top national priorities to
harness the "intellectual powers" of all their citizens and
building a "competition-ready", productive, enabled
citizenry.
AT is not only a matter of altruistic humanitarian values
for societies wanting to enable, integrate their entire
populations in healthy, productive societies, but also a
paramount imperative that enables global competition,
presence in a "integrated" technology world!
Perhaps no better example of AT benefits is celebrated,
world-renowned British theoretical physicist Dr. Stephen
Hawkins who single-handedly broadened the scope of human
knowledge profoundly impacting science and its application
for decades to come. AT enabled the unlocking, harnessing
of one of the most brilliant minds in history trapped in a
debilitated body.
The question inevitably arises: how many Dr. Hawkins-like
individuals are amongst us awaiting "the promise of
tomorrow" in an AT-enabled society?
e Worldwide Group fully understands the importance, brings a
successful track record, creative solutions for effective
deployment, education, adoption and use of AT. Our goal is
to enable "the promise of tomorrow, realized today".
e Worldwide Group and AT
e
Worldwide Group brings an interdisciplinary approach to AT.
Our Vice President, Healthcare Systems brings valuable
knowledge, experience and know-how of Kaiser Permanente's
Garfield Center.
The Garfield Center opened on June 26, 2006 and is located
in San Leandro, California near the Oakland airport. Created
as a resource for all of Kaiser and its regions, the Center
is jointly funded internally by Kaiser Permanente’s National
Facilities Services (NFS), Information Technology (KP-IT),
and Cross Regional Patient Care Services (PCS) groups.
A Garfield Center-like model should be an innovations center
where many new and advanced healthcare technologies are
tested for use in many settings ranging from enabling
technologies for the disabled and persons with special needs
to the "extension" of the doctor and hospital setting at
patient homes, workplaces and leveraging computer-assisted
technologies to provide "real-time" healthcare delivery.
An AT center is a living laboratory where ideas, products
are tested and solutions are developed in a hands-on,
mocked-up environment. Many aspects of delivering healthcare
can be innovated and examined at the center using real-world
scenarios and activities, such as simulations, technology
testing, prototyping, product evaluations, education and
training.
From our experience we realize that the effective
implementation of a successful AT initiative relies on four
interrelated components:
-
Research
-
Availability
-
Education
-
Adoption
Experience
Our experience is grounded on strong technological
foundation allied to our extensive knowledge in e Health
both in terms of care delivery and its impact on daily
living.
Our track record in working with both public and private
sectors, mission and passion for social enablement,
empowerment at a global scale provide us with an extensive
toolset of experience, determination and drive to see
through a successful AT implementation.
The following detail our track record in the four critical
components for an effective, workable AT initiative:
I. Research
As a foundation stone research is on which a successful AT
initiative can be effectively
built and delivered. The research area is broad and
extensive while at the same time needs to be focused
in critical areas that can deliver significant and immediate
value and social benefits.
Our experience and knowledge focuses technology research in
the following areas:
·
Mobility, social interactions and independent
living (voice-command technologies, computer-assisted
mobility, special needs sports equipment, transfer/lift
devices, etc.)
· Special
needs human-machine interactions
(tactical input, voice-activated, Braille technologies,
assisted devices, etc.)
· At-home,
at-workplace enablement
(ergonomics, accessibility, rehabilitation, aiding devices,
learning management systems, etc.)
·
Device-based healthcare and delivery
(monitors, health-check, biomed devices, etc.)
·
Comfort-based technologies
(bed, special needs clothing, eating, utensils, etc.)
Direct/Related Experience
Globally, there are many options, tools and vendors
providing solutions in this space, e Worldwide
Group will seek out to research and work hand-in-hand with
qualified healthcare delivery personnel within the context
of an AT Enablement Centre in researching, selecting,
adapting, testing relevant technologies. Our understanding,
knowledge and exposure of the work being done at the
Garfield Centre make us uniquely qualified.
II. Availability
As a launching platform availability is a crucial element
for the introduction of practical and effective AT.
Availability makes ready relevant and tested technologies
within the context of an AT Enablement Centre for general
adoption and use.
Our experience and knowledge focuses availability work in
the following areas:
·
Adaptation
(language, interface requirements, localization,
interoperability, etc.)
·
Customization
(disability, special needs, age, gender, education level,
dexterity, etc.)
·
Context
(home, work, school, outdoors, social settings, etc.)
·
Culture
(norms, customs, sensibilities, awareness, etc.)
It is not enough having effective and tested AT, societal
context is vitally important for effective introduction and
adoption. Language, localization, cultural settings and
context are fundamental prerequisites. Broad,
multicultural, global presence and awareness make e
Worldwide Group an effective, uniquely qualified partner.
Direct/Related
Experience
Of particular relevance is the extensive work e Worldwide
Group has been doing globally in multi-cultural settings for
the introduction and adoption of technology as part of our
DEVTECHICT and IMPACT divisions:
· Linkage
for Knowledge Society
·
Creation of Multi Stakeholder Partnerships
·
Awareness Building Workshops, Seminars for ICT
·
Assessments of ICT4D initiatives
·
Pre Launch Surveys
·
New Product Launch Strategy
·
Customer Analysis
·
Customer Satisfaction Surveys
·
Brand Market Penetration
III.
Education
As a springboard to adoption, education is an essential
element for effective adoption and widespread use of AT not
only to the general public with disabilities and special
needs, but also for healthcare professionals, allied
providers, parents and educators to understand and leverage
AT capabilities.
Our experience and knowledge focuses education work in the
following areas:
·
Information Resource Centre, knowledge base
(content delivery, lessons-learned, alliances with
international organizations in the field, building knowledge
databases with local relevance, etc.)
·
Social media
(building a community network for the users and by the
users, interconnecting people: parents, friends, family,
educators, "idea banking", etc.)
·
Training
(program development, computer-based, educators, providers,
users, parents, friends, family, etc.)
·
Outreach
(schools, institutions, academia, community, international
associations, vendors, etc.)
Direct/Related Experience
e Worldwide Group brings a strong toolbox of skills and
experience in this area from our
work in e Health and our IMPACT consultancy division, of
particular importance are:
·
Training and
Certification in various ICT Disciplines
·
Design support of Kaiser's "Idea Book" internal Social Media
site
·
Implementation of a Product Management Framework for
Kaiser's Member Access Portal KP.org
·
Design, planning and implementation of Blue Shield of
California's Member Access Portal Mylifepath.com
·
Implementation of a full technology renewal program for the
CTB/McGraw-Hill Education division subsidiary
·
Implementation of knowledge management infrastructure at
Health Systems Design
IV. Adoption
As the final stage for a successful AT implementation,
adoption is a key element
that ensures that assistive technologies become an
ubiquitous, pervasive and natural presence in day-to-day
living. Successful adoption not only requires the
pre-requisites of research, availability and education, but
also requires:
·
Effective
Implementation Planning
(plans for: AT centre development, facilities, technology
integration, Programme, rollout, implementation, testing,
operations, sustainability, etc.)
·
Workable Operational Framework and Process
(governance,
operational guidelines, policies, procedures, monitoring,
reporting, compliance review, staffing, access and
utilization - public, institutional, academic, etc.)
·
Sustainability Programme
(quality and
outcomes measurements, continued improvement, technology and
facilities upgrade, operational and efficacy testing, vendor
and partner management, etc. )
Adoption is one
of the "sweet spots" and key competencies of e Worldwide
Group. We bring credible, tested know-how in complex
initiative planning, implementation, adoption and
sustainability leveraging our interdisciplinary approach,
strategic partnerships and world-class resources.
Direct/Related Experience
We bring a considerable mix of competencies, skills and
experience in this area from our work in e Health and
throughout our consultancy practices:
· Developed
and Implemented eHealth Technology, Operational and
Implementation Framework at Kaiser Permanente
· Managed
Technology Renewal and Integration at CTB/McGraw-Hill
·
Established ICT rollout and adoption plans at Blue Shield of
California
· Built
an ITC Operational Centre at Blue Shield of California
including facilities, technology, and physical plant
· Formulated
“e enablement” Strategies with UNDP, ADB, IDB ,UNESCO,
UNCTAD & Governance in multiple sectors
· Created
the roadmap and transformation model of Telemedicine
Centres into Multipurpose Self Sustainable Telemedicine &
Information Centres in rural Pakistan
· Created
blended-team ITC vendor management function at Sun
Microsystems for global ERP rollout
·
Established ICT Governance, Risk and Compliance Programme
for Kaiser Permanente
·
Created and designed models for Multipurpose Community
Telecentres focused on empowering women in Africa, ITU,
Geneva
Operational Model
There are
multiple models currently existing in the United States for
assistive technology implementations. These models range
from community-run, hospital-based, regional,
institutions-based, academic-based, education-based and
end-to-end centres like the Garfield Centre all with varying
degrees of capabilities in terms of research, availability,
education and adoption.
We envision the
creation and implementation of a first-of-its-kind
Assistive Technology Centre that not only brings together
the research, availability, education and adoption functions
in an active, productive Endeavour hub, but also a physical
and virtual community anchor with regional reach bringing
together participants from care providers, academicians,
partners, educators, parents, family members and users to
showcase existing, emerging and applicable enabling
solutions providing people with disabilities and special
needs with a higher level of quality of life.
Our vision is to
establish a plan, do, check and act methodology to enable
effective, efficient implementation and create and
environment of continuous improvement.
Plan
Planning not only for the operational readiness of the
centre, but also related activities such as information
seminars, symposiums, outreach campaigns, parents and family
members training, user adoption, etc.
Do
Doing not only due diligence in the implementation of
assistive technologies, but also bringing in disabled and
special needs users to be enabled with and trained for
assistive technology, parents, family members, educators to
be trained on the use and handling of assistive technology
and its users.
Check
Checking not only for the efficacy of assistive
technologies, but also on its impact on the daily living of
its users, its impact in the social context of home, work,
school, evaluation of lessons-learned, etc.
Act
Acting not only on lessons-learned for continuous
improvement, but also on new findings, new technologies and
emerging ideas of care, suggestions by the users, parents,
family members, educators, etc.
Potential Areas of Collaboration
The e Worldwide Group is capable, ready and enthusiastic
about engagement and collaboration opportunities on several
fronts for the implementation and realization of a
successful AT initiative. Potential areas of collaboration
include:
·
Requirements Gathering and Definition
·
Facilities Planning
·
Programme Planning and Management
·
Implementation Planning and Management
·
Execution Planning and Management
·
Partner/Vendor Selection and Management
·
Research Function Planning and Management
·
Operational Planning
·
Governance Structure Definition
·
ITC Infrastructure
·
Availability Planning and Management
·
Education Planning and Rollout
·
Adoption Planning and Management
·
Social Media Build-Out
·
Sustainability Planning and Management
·
International Outreach and Collaboration
·
Information Communication and Dissemination
·
Others as requested
Conclusion
The e Worldwide Group brings extensive, practical and
relevant experience for the successful implementation of an
effective AT initiative. Our extensive eHealth experience,
allied with our mission and sense of purpose for social
betterment and enablement make us uniquely qualified and a
passionate partner.
We approach our work with the fundamental deep belief,
realization, and understanding that what we do in healthcare
technology really matters.
This belief has consistently propelled and motivated our
work. Not only an intellectual, sincere belief but rather a
personal, visceral and foundational understanding of what we
do really matters and improves quality of life – by helping
to give hope when hope is in short-order and to buy time
when time is all what is left.
From our perspective eHealth ICT, especially assistive and
enabling technologies, is not only a matter of skill sets,
qualifications and "tools of the trade", but much more so it
is a work of the heart in making the world a better place
for those needing inclusion as productive, equal and happier
members of healthy societies!
