Policies and Development of Assistive Technology Services for People with Disabilities in Australia / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the prevalence of people with disability, and the demand, service policies and service system for assistive technology (AT) services in Australia. Methods:Referring to policy recommendation and indicators in World Health Organizaion's Rehabilitation in Health Systems, Australia's assistive technology service policy framework, services development and trend of development were analyzed by the means of content analysis and development research. Results:There are about 4.4 million people with disability in Australia, of which 1.4 million (32%) with severe or profound disabilities. Federal, state and territorial governments have respectively issued legislation, policy and related service project, including the National Disability Strategy, National Disability Agreement, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, National Standards for Disability Services and others assistance programs to support disability services. There are about two million Australians with disabilities received AT services support from the mentioned programme and scheme. Australia provides more than ten thousands kinds of AT appliances per year, covering all kinds of products in WHO's Priority Assistive Products List. Conclusion:Australia has developed a federal National Disability Strategy, AT service policies and standards, and established federal and state AT insurance and financial support programs for people with disabilities based on the unmet needs of AT services, and federal and state networks for AT services have been established, and service coordination mechanisms at federal and state levels have been established through the National Disability Agreement, covering all types of people with demand of AT in Australia. It meets the requirements of the policy recommendations and assessment indicators in the WHO's Rehabilitation in Health Systems policy guidelines involving AT services. The future development areas in AT will focus on the fields of policy development, ICF implementation, service delivery system, upgrading of service quality and standard, and new technology application.