Presented by Karen Beard-Greer

NGO Forum 13th March 2018

Create Asia

Coalition on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology

An Alliance of agencies across Asia and the Pacific

interested in promoting the development,

provision and use of assistive technologies

Assistive Technology vs Assistive Products

Assistive Products

• Any external product (including devices,

equipment, instruments or software),

especially produced or generally

available.

• Primary purpose to maintain or improve

an individual’s functioning and

independence and thereby promote

their wellbeing.

• ATP’s also used to prevent impairments

and secondary health conditions.

Assistive Technology

• Is the application of organised

knowledge and skills related to

assistive products, including systems

and services.

• It includes a jar opener to sophisticated

robotic equipment and everything in

between.

Early days

• iCREATe conference 2007 (International Convention for Rehabilitation Engineering and

Assistive Technology).

• An alliance was loosely formed at iCREATe 2013 in Korea.

• First official meeting of Create Asia Alliance iCREATe Singapore 2014.

• Alliance signed MOA in the presence of Princess of Thailand, iCREATe Singapore 2015.

• Independent Living Service signed as the New Zealand founding member.

• New Zealand membership transferred to The Federation at iCREATe conference Kobe

2017.

• Members of the Alliance are diverse and cover the regions of Singapore, Thailand,

Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

World Health Organisation

WHO estimates that more than one billion people (mostly older people and people with disabilities) are in need of one or more assistive products. With populations ageing and the rise in noncommunicable diseases, this number is expected to increase to beyond two billion by 2050.

Access1 in 10 has access to assistive technology

Low-Middle Income Countries3% of the population in need has access to hearing aids

AT prioritised by WHO as an essential medicine

WHO has reclassified assistive technology as

an essential medicine simply to give it the

priority it deserves.

Governments’ often do not recognise the

importance of assistive technology to

individuals lives and they fund as

an added extra.

By prioritising AT as an essential medicine it

becomes a basic human right.

GATE Global Cooperation on Assistive

Technology

only one goal

A world where everyone in need has access to high quality affordable

assistive products to lead a healthy, productive and

dignified life.

Priority Assistive Products List

Publication detailsNumber of pages: 16Publication date: May 2016Languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, SpanishWHO reference number: WHO/EMP/PHI/2016.01

DownloadsArabicChineseEnglishFrenchPortugueseRussianSpanish

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207694/4/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_ara.pdf?ua=1http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207694/3/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_chi.pdf?ua=1http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207694/1/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_eng.pdf?ua=1http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207701/2/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_fre.pdf?ua=1http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207694/14/WHO-EMP-PHI-2016.01-por.pdf?ua=1http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207694/2/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_rus.pdf?ua=1http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207697/1/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_spa.pdf?ua=1

Next Steps for the Assistive Products List

WHO has developed tools to assist member states to develop national assistive

technology policies and programmes as an integral component of universal health and

disability coverage.

THE FEDERATION as a member of Create Asia, is taking the lead for New Zealand.

WHO defines these as the 4 P’s

1. Products – APL List

2. Policy – Assistive Technology Policy Framework

3. Personnel – Assistive Products training package

4. Provision- Assistive Products service delivery model

The work of Create Asia linking global AT information databases

• EASTIN (European Assistive Technology Information Network) to deliver on GATE

initiative globally.

• Asia AT Search portal joining the databases from members.

• Asia AT portal is based on EASTIN portal and funded by the Singapore Government.

• EASTIN has 7 databases working in all languages of the European Union.

• Enable NZ and Assistive Technology Australia are EASTIN Partners.

• EASTIN only allows one Agency per country who is the Principle Contact.

The Federation AT Initiatives with Create Asia linking to the WHO Goals

• Providing a framework in New Zealand for the WHO’s 4 P’s

1. Products – APL List

Develop the NZ AT database in association with Enable NZ to link NZ to

Asia Pacific AT search portal.

2. Policy – Assistive Technology Policy Framework

Drive a NZ campaign to use the globally accepted term AT.

Lead the adoption of the policy framework for NZ.

3. Personnel – Assistive Products training package

Introducing AT Mentor Programme to New Zealand in association with Assistive Technology Australia.

4. Provision- Assistive Products service delivery model

Continuous improvement of Federation Members service delivery of AT

• International Organising Committee Member.

• Co-hosting 13th iCreate Conference in Canberra August 2019.

The annual iCREATe Conference

iCREATe is the conference of the Create Asia Alliance.

The objectives are • To provide a common platform for researchers/academics, practitioners, end-users/caregivers; • For industry players and policy makers to interact and share knowledge, information and

experiences in assistive and rehabilitation technologies; • To promote awareness, acceptance and adaptation of assistive and rehabilitation technologies

in the Asia Pacific region; • To encourage and strengthen research, education and commercialization of assistive and

rehabilitation technologies in the Asia Pacific Region.

The annual iCREATe Conference

Global Student Innovation Challenge

• Encourages students globally to develop creative and innovative devices or solutions to improve the quality

of living for the elderly or people with disabilities.

• Showcases the talents and abilities of students whilst providing an opportunity to work with clients and

clinicians to develop these innovative ideas.

• Two categories

DESIGN – to apply user-centred design to produce a solution that makes life easier for its users.TECHNOLOGY- to apply principles of engineering and/or information technology to design and implement solutions for elderly/people with disabilities, caregivers or clinicians.

13th iCREATe Conference 2019

13th iCREATe Conference 2019

Canberra 27/29 August

Co-hosted by

The Federation and Assistive Technology Australia

A Trans-Tasman Collaboration

For more information contact…

• Karen Beard-Greer

email: karen@ilsnz.org

ph: 021 471 386

International Organising Committee

• Scott Ambridge

scott.ambridge@enable.co.nz

ph: 027 595 9159

EASTIN Partner

mailto:karen@ilsnz.orgmailto:scott.ambridge@enable.co.nz