Building Policies and Initiatives for Inclusive Educational Contexts: The GLIC Italian Experience.

Inclusive education has emerged as a global priority, and the integration of assistive technology (AT) is recognized as a crucial component for creating inclusive educational environments. However, the successful implementation of AT hinges on supportive policies and initiatives. This article delves into the experience of the GLIC Association in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Education, exploring their efforts in developing policies and initiatives to facilitate the introduction of AT in educational contexts. The GLIC Association has devised a service provisioning model in state schools that ensures adequate support for the integration of AT, thus promoting inclusive education.

Adapting the World Health Organization rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) to the Italian context: implementation of a TRAPD-based approach.

BACKGROUND: Measuring access to assistive technology (AT) has become a global priority. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the rapid assistive technology assessment (rATA), a population-based household survey that measures the use, need, unmet need, and barriers to accessing AT. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to report on the translation and adaptation process undertaken to implement the rATA survey in the Italian context. METHOD: The Translate, Review, Adjudicate, Pretest, and Document (TRAPD) approach was used to translate and adapt the rATA from English to Italian. Eleven independent reviewers and 23 AT users were involved to validate the Italian translation of the rATA and pilot the survey, respectively. RESULTS: The feedback provided by the first users of the rATA indicate that the data collected are reliable and well reflect the state of AT provision in Italy. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the applicability of the rATA survey to the Italian context. The Italian version of the rATA can be used to support the government, the health system as well as the civil society to monitor the current state of AT access (and abandonment) in the country.

Family burden after severe brain injury: the Italian experience with families and volunteer associations.

BACKGROUND: As part of the development of the Italian National Consensus Conference investigating the period from the hospital rehabilitation of patients with severe brain injury to their return to the community, a working group was appointed to identify the needs of brain injury patients and their families in Italy. METHODS: Two postal self-administered survey questionnaires were carried out: one targeted families of patients with severe brain injury to evaluate their objective and subjective burdens and needs; the other focused on the viewpoints of volunteer associations helping people with severe brain injury. Issues explored were quality of discharge from hospital (information received, family participation, etc.), needs of the family (work, financial resources, spare time, relationships with friends and other relatives), and the viewpoint of volunteer associations. RESULTS: A total of 234 families (54% of sample) of patients (69% male, mean age 41 years) with severe brain injury returned the questionnaire. Most said they had been involved and informed in the hospital discharge process; about 17% had not been involved at all and only about one-third of families received satisfactory support during the discharge phase. Few families received any help from community social services (10%). Almost two-thirds of families had experienced financial difficulties and, in many cases, one family member had to change his/her work situation. Families' social relationships, travelling, hobbies, and spare time were significantly reduced. The 57 volunteer associations who returned the survey (84% response rate) confirmed that their members had experienced the same difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the difficulties and problems documented by these two surveys, more research is needed on effective interventions to support patients with severe brain injury and their families, particularly during the discharge phase from hospital to home and community life.