Defining aids, equipment and assistive technology
What is aids, equipment and assistive technology?
Accepted terms and definitions
With this content, aids, equipment and assistive technology refers to:
- Traditional aids and equipment, and more modern devices and systems, that provide people with support with completing everyday life activities.
Here are some other accepted terms and definitions.
The World Health Organization (PDF, 746KB) defines assistive technology as:
- An umbrella term for any device or system that allows individuals to perform tasks they would otherwise be unable to do or increases the ease and safety with which tasks can be performed.
The Productivity Commission uses the term ‘aids and appliances' in its National Disability Insurance Scheme inquiry report to describe:
- A range of products to improve functioning, enable a person to live at home and in the community, and enhance independence. These would range from low to high-tech aids and encompass toilet supports or hand-held showers, continence aids, wheelchairs, hearing aids, mechanical lifters, electronic communication devices, equipment to support the use of Braille, and artificial limbs.*
*Information about other individualised supports recommended for funding under the NDIS are provided in chapter 5 of the inquiry report. The Queensland Government has given in-principle support to the NDIS, and the Australian Government has committed to introducing an NDIS and a National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS).
Other definitions
Aids, equipment and assistive technology can also separately grouped as ‘aids and equipment' and ‘assistive technology'; with ‘assistive technology' being used to refer to contemporary technologies that are used to support people with completing everyday life activities, and ‘aids and equipment' referring to more traditional types of supports.
How do people use aids, equipment and assistive technology?
Assistive, adaptive and rehabilitative devices allow people to perform tasks they may be otherwise unable to do, and support them with being independent and enjoying a better quality of life.
People may use assistive technology to support them for various reasons. They may have a disability, a chronic illness or an injury; be frail or elderly; or have another identified need for using assistive technology to support them with meeting their individual needs.
