Assistive Technology from Adapted Equipment to Inclusive Environments

Book excerpt: The concept of Assistive Technology is moving away from adopting the most appropriate devices to overcome the limitations of users, to the designing and setting up of total environments in which people can live, supported by suitable services and additional support devices integrated within the environment. These two perspectives are deeply intertwined, both from technological and social points of view, and the relationship between them currently represent the primary challenge for the field of Assistive Technology. This publication covers the proceedings of the 10th European Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (http://www.aaate.net), the organisation which stimulates the advancement of assistive technology for the benefit of people with disabilities, including elderly people. This conference seeks to bridge the gap between these two complementary approaches, providing an opportunity to clarify differences and common points, and better define future direction. Topics covered by the conference include: technological innovation in assistive technology; the need for multidisciplinary approaches; equipment interconnectivity and compatibility; cultural aspects and the acceptance of different approaches; and the role of Europe in building inclusion competence worldwide. Disability results not only from a person’s intrinsic attributes but also from the context in which they live. This publication is a significant contribution to the advancement of inclusion for people living with a disability everywhere.