Current Research
October 2010 Update
The Equipping Inclusion Reports were launched by Dr Helen Szoke, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, at the Melbourne Town Hall on 13 October 2010, to an packed audience including people living with disabilities, service providers, CEO's, academics and others.
The Equipping Inclusion Studies present the equipment need and cost effectiveness of a range of enablers for Victorians living with disabilities. Authored by Deakin University, the Report shows that people with disabilities lack vital equipment (assistive technology - AT) to assist them to participate in life.
Deakin University’s Associate Researcher, Natasha Layton said the study investigated factors that affect the capacity of Victorians with a disability to be mobile and active in their daily lives and to participate.
"The Equipping Inclusion Studies shows that assistive technology is critical for people with a disability to enable them to reach their potential".
"There is an unmet need for people with a disability, and a strong social justice argument for more assistive technology," she said.
Co-researcher Professor Rob Carter said this is the first time a comprehensive economic evaluation of the total packages of care for persons with a disability has been compared with the benefits across all life area.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke said while launching the report today that people with a disability have every right to be given every opportunity to participate fully in their communities.
"The report clearly shows that there is more work to be done in terms of equipping people with a disability with the tools to achieve their best," Dr Szoke said.
"The Commission is keen to see agencies work together to address the unmet needs for people with a disability living in Victoria," she said.
Significant findings include:
- 75% of people surveyed had unmet need for assistive technology solutions (devices, personal care and/or environmental modification)
- People living with disabilities require an average of eight assistive technology devices to participate in life
- Best outcomes occur when people are supported to construct their own individual solution which for most people includes devices, personal care, and environmental modifications.
- As the elements of enabling solutions are funded separately, Victorians struggle to navigate through a complex current service system
- Substantial elements of AT cost are carried by funders other than the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program
- For many Victorians, key elements of AT are not provided at all through any funder
- From a government affordability perspective, important improvements can be achieved at modest cost for many AT clients.
- The lack of a 'safety net' provision in the VAEP subsidy program means, for many Victorians, cumulative co-payment costs are unreachable.
- Lack of assistive technology is a major barrier to the achievement of participation as detailed in international, national and state disability policies.
The Equipping Inclusion Studies comprise an Equipment Study and an Economic Study, and are the result of 2.5 years of research funded by the William Buckland Foundation, auspiced by Victoria’s Aids and Equipment Action Alliance.
October 2009 Research Update
The Buckland Research Series consists of two related studies.
Study 1 asks what difference AT makes to life for people with disabilities:
- Phase 1 of Study 1, The Equipment Survey, has been open on line since August 12, and 100 paper copies have also been distributed. Over 70 responses have been received (4 complete paper copies, the rest are either partial or completed online responses).
- Phase 2 of Study 1 includes structured interviews with 6-8 survey participants, review by an Expert Panel, and re-interview to capture what participants think of the solutions suggested by The Expert Panel.
Study 2 entails an analysis of data from Study 1 by the economics team, to evaluate the costs of people's situations.
The survey data provides a comparative group to extrapolate findings. The survey has provided a huge breadth of information across diagnostic groups, across virtually all AT categories, and initial analysis demonstrated strong themes around funding choice and adequacy, personal care funding, and the (in) accessible environment.
Next steps: Phase 2 of Study 1 (interviews and expert panel) will be complete Dec/Jan, with Study 2 occurring in the first quarter of 2010, and a report the Buckland Studies due for completion June 2010.
The Equipment Survey
August 2009 AEAA launches The Equipment Survey.
This Survey, and an optional series of followup interviews, will capture the experiences of any Victorian who uses assistive technology. The survey covers what equipment, modifications or other help is used to manage across various life domains.
Buckland Research Study
In 2006 the AEAA was successful in obtaining a grant through the William Buckland Foundation. The grant of $110,000 is to conduct a research project entitled 'Powering Inclusion'.
September 2008: An update on progress of the Buckland Research Studies is available.
Conference Presentations
User Participation in AT Service Delivery (workshop) by AEAA members Deborah Humphris, Natasha Layton, Willa Longmuir, Robert Pask and Erin Wilson delivered to the ARATA National Conference (Adelaide) in September 2008.
Presentation on AEAA to the Disability Justice Advocacy AGM in 2009 by Deborah Humphris and Susan Stork-Finlay.
The following invited presentations were delivered by AEAA members to the March 2009 Technology Symposium and Showcase in Western Australia. This event was convened by ACSWA along with the Independent Living Centre WA (ILC) and National Disability Services WA.
- AT in Australia: Framing the Issue by Erin Wilson
- AT in Australia: what we need, what gets funded and what can we do about it? Facilitated Discussion by Erin Wilson and Natasha Layton
- Relating the extent of AT provision to the extent of outcomes (keynote address) by Natasha Layton
Further Reading
You may also be interested in reading some current aids and equipment research conducted by two of our member organisations, highlighting some of the issues. To find out more, please visit these websites:
- Aids and equipment for Victorians with disabilities - entitlement or hand-out? October 2006.
Aids and Equipment Report, Melbourne City Mission
- Too little too late: Wait times and cost burden for people with a disability in seeking equipment funding in Victoria. SCOPE (Vic) 2006.
What does the evidence-based literature say on issues in assistive technology provision?
Proceeds of the AEAA Evidence Subgroup 2007-2008, collated by Natasha Layton.