Understanding home modification outcomes from the perspective of older people and people with a disability: informing home modification evaluation.

Purpose: There is limited evidence to guide therapists in home modification outcome evaluation. Involving consumers in evaluating home modifications is critical to progressing practice. This study investigated the home modification experience and outcomes most valued by older adults and individuals with a disability in Australia.

Tracking down a solution: exploring the acceptability and value of wearable GPS devices for older persons, individuals with a disability and their support persons.

Purpose: To explore the acceptability and value of three wearable GPS devices for older persons and individuals with a disability and safety concerns when accessing the community.

Methods: This pilot study explored six wearers' and their support persons' experience of using three different wearable GPS devices (a pendant, watch, and mini GPS phone), each for a two-week period.

Results: Participants identified safety as the main value of using a wearable GPS device.

The aesthetic appeal of assistive technology and the economic value baby boomers place on it: A pilot study.

Background: This pilot study aimed to understand the importance of assistive technology (AT) aesthetics on the intention to purchase, using grab rails as the example. Furthermore, the study explored the economic value consumers placed on aesthetic appeal.

Method: Structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants, nine female, mean age 59; where seven grab rails were presented and feedback obtained on the level of appeal and 'willingness to pay'.

Understanding home modifications impact on clients and their family's experience of home: A qualitative study.

Background/aim: Home modifications aim to enhance safety and occupational performance in the home. However, given the complexity and unique meaning of the home, they can impact aspects other than function. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore the impact of home modifications on clients and their family's experience of home.

Impact of inaccessible spaces on community participation of people with mobility limitations in Zambia.

Background: The study investigated the perspective of people with mobility limitations (PWML) in Zambia, firstly of their accessibility to public buildings and spaces, and secondly of how their capacity to participate in a preferred lifestyle has been affected.

Objectives: Firstly to provide insight into the participation experiences of PWML in the social, cultural, economic, political and civic life areas and the relationship of these with disability in Zambia. Secondly to establish how the Zambian disability context shape the experiences of participation by PWML.

Development of an Activity Card Sort for Australian adults aged 18-64 years.

Background/aim: The Activity Card Sort (ACS) is an interview-based, client-centred tool that measures the activity engagement of older adults aged 65 years and above. The tool consists of photos which clients are asked to sort into categories to reflect their previous and current level of engagement. The activities that older adults engage in may differ to that of younger adults and there is a need to explore the development of an ACS Australia for adults aged 18-64 years.

Informing the Australian government on AT policies: ARATA's experiences.

Unlabelled: This article describes the development and dissemination of an evidence-based Policy Statement and Background Papers by the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA). An experienced project team was engaged to conduct literature reviews and member consultations, develop resources and implement a targeted advocacy strategy that included a policy launch and meetings with government officials. The Policy Statement and Background Papers have enabled ARATA to represent the views of Assistive Technology (AT) Practitioners in consultations around the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other AT-related inquiries.

Understanding the dimensions of home that impact on home modification decision making.

Background/aim: The home environment is a multidimensional and personally meaningful place, and the complexity of this environment often impacts on the home modification process and outcomes. Home modifications can appear as a straightforward solution to safety and occupational performance concerns; nevertheless, clients sometimes reject modifications or are unsatisfied with the completed works. To understand this phenomenon, this study aimed to determine what aspects of the home environment impact home modification decision making.

Participation-based environment accessibility assessment tool (P-BEAAT) in the Zambian context.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the preliminary development and validation of a potential measure for assessing the accessibility of the built environment in Zambia. It was designed to identify environmental features that present barriers to participation for people with mobility limitations (PWML) using mobility devices such as wheelchairs or crutches.

Method: The Participation-Based Environment Accessibility Assessment Tool (P-BEAAT) was developed through focus group discussions and personal interviews with 88 PWML from five provinces of Zambia regarding the accessibility of their built environment.

Understanding the essence of home: older people's experience of home in Australia.

This qualitative inquiry explores the experiences of community-living older people in Australia living in their home environment. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 30 older people, aged 56-90, from three states in Australia. Purposive or maximum variation sampling was used to recruit people with diverse characteristics in terms of age, gender, living situation, dwelling type, tenure and location (urban/rural).

Paediatricots: Utilisation of an Australian list serve to support occupational therapists working with children.

Background/aim: The development of list serves has enabled occupational therapists working in a range of practice settings and geographical locations to share information and provide each other with professional support. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the nature of communications occurring on the Paediatricots list serve, and determine whether topics and issues raised were congruent with current practice trends for therapists working with children.

Methods: A content analysis was undertaken of all archived Paediatricots emails sent between 1 June 2003 and 31 May 2004, using the previous Yahoo paediatricots group.

Development of the activity card sort--Australia.

Aims: To develop the Activity Card Sort (ACS)--Australia as a tool to measure participation in activities of daily living for older adults.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of activity diaries of older Australians in Brisbane and Adelaide were utilised for item generation. Survey of older adults and cluster analysis was used for item selection and determination of domains for the ACS-Australia.

Using the ICF in economic analyses of Assistive Technology systems: methodological implications of a user standpoint.

Purpose: This paper identifies key methodological issues for economic analyses of costs and effectiveness of Assistive Technology (AT) systems based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Following the biopsychosocial model of the ICF, the paper explores the consequences for cost-effectiveness analyses of AT systems when a user centred approach is taken. In so doing, the paper questions the fiction of neutrality in economic analyses and discusses the distinction between weak and strong objectivity.

Consumer-identified barriers and strategies for optimizing technology use in the workplace.

Purpose: This article explores the experiences of 26 assistive technology (AT) users having a range of physical impairments as they optimized their use of technology in the workplace.

Method: A qualitative research design was employed using in-depth, open-ended interviews and observations of AT users in the workplace.

Results: Participants identified many factors that limited their use of technology such as discomfort and pain, limited knowledge of the technology's features, and the complexity of the technology.

Putting technology to work: Users' perspective on integrating assistive technology into the workplace.

This qualitative study examined the experiences of people with disabilities who use assistive technology in open employment. This study aims to describe and understand the factors the participants perceived as important in integrating technology into the workplace, as well as the barriers encountered in the process. Fifteen people with a range of acquired and congenital disabilities as well as their employers (8) or co-workers (4) were interviewed.