News Highlights
The first Global Report on Assistive Technology has been released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Findings of Global Report on Assistive Technology
- People Need Assistive Products
- Over 2.5 billion individuals require one or more assistive items, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or communication and cognition-enhancing apps.
- People Denied Assistive Products
- A billion people are denied access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to these life-changing products can be as low as 3% of the demand.
- Number of People in Need of Assistive Products in Future
- Due to population ageing and the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases around the world, the number of people in need of one or more assistive goods is expected to reach 3.5 billion by 2050.
- Large Gaps in Service Provision and Trained Workforce
- Large gaps in service provision and trained personnel for assistive technology were discovered in a survey of 70 nations mentioned in the report, particularly in the categories of cognition, communication, and self-care.
| Assistive Technology(AT) Any device, piece of equipment, software programme, or product system used to help persons with disabilities increase, maintain, or improve their functional abilities is referred to as assistive technology (AT). Prosthetics, braces, walkers, bespoke switches, special-purpose computers, screen readers, and specialized curricular software are just a few examples. |
Recommendations Put Forward by Global Report on Assistive Technology
- Improve access to education, health care, and social services.
- Ensure that assistive products are available, safe, effective, and affordable.
- Increase the size, diversity, and quality of your staff.
- Users of assistive technology and their families should be actively involved.
- Combat stigma by raising public awareness.
What is the extent of the issue in India?
- Findings of 2011 Census
- According to the 2011 Census, people with disabilities account for 2.21 percent of the overall population, with the majority of those aged 19 to 59 having visual, hearing, speech, locomotor, and mental disorders.
- Between the 2001 and 2011 census periods, the country’s disabled population expanded by 22.4 percent, while the total population increased by 17.6 percent.
Government Steps for Welfare of Disabled
- Accessible India Campaign: Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs.
- DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme.
- National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities.
- Unique Disability Identification Project.
Content Source : The Hindu