Assistive Technology

Date: 14 September 2018 Claire Tellefson Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Ablelink / Digital Literacy Coordinator PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Able Australia | Victoria Phone: +61 2 6277 3083

Assistive Technology W: www.ableaustralia.org.au

Assistive Technology used by people living with combined vision and hearing loss includes accessible alert systems in the home to enable them to live independently and connectivity with the internet to facilitate communication and access to goods and services online.

The most important piece of assistive technology is a smart phone or tablet with inbuilt magnification and speech output and if required, connected to a braille display. Smart phones can link to alert systems like door bells, alarm clocks, food timers, smoke alarms. Whilst dependence on the smart phone to drive all these devices is not wise, the possibility for one or more solutions on the smart phone should be examined particularly with more and more devices being connected through the internet of things. Often the specialist equipment is much more expensive to purchase and maintain.

In the case of a Braille Notetaker, a stand alone specialist device that allows a deafblind person to connect to online services and electronic communication, these are considerably more expensive than a smart phone connected to braille display offering a cheaper and more innovative solution.

Being connected to the internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity and a smart phone is a sophisticated specialist device with inbuilt accessibility that provides access to online goods and services and is able to uptake emerging technologies. The camera, GPS, speech, microphone and connectivity provide access to innovative solutions not always available on specialist assistive devices.

A connected smart phone should be recognised as assistive technology as it can facilitate the delivery of goals for marginalised members of our society and purchasing a mobile phone and plan, is outside the reach of many people living with deafblindness, in terms of affordability, the support required to get connected and to build skills in digital literacy. NDIS have an opportunity to provide genuine choice and control and address the issues of access and capability by ensuring support hours are provided to assist the user to get the phone connected and to learn the many apps available to build their skills and use the phone to achieve their goals of greater social participation and inclusion. Without these skills, this marginalised group will fall through the cracks with limited options for inclusion in a connected society that has left them behind.

 the transition to the NDIS and how this has impacted on speed of equipment provision;

On behalf of the deafblind community in Victoria, I can report that equipment provision has been virtually non existent under NDIS. There is difficulty in finding an allied health professional to conduct an assessment for specialist assistive technology for a person with combined vision and hearing loss; there are often long wait lists or assessments can often be deemed “out of date” by the time planners access them. There is much confusion around the complexity categories of classification and confusion around assistive technology for the home and assistive technology for communication. Often the latter is limited to face to face speech generated devices, that are entirely unsuitable for most deafblind adults.

Deafblind users often need a range of hardware, software and accessories that combine to provide “the device” and each of these components are from different suppliers. Bought separately they may not require an assessment but they combine to provide a holistic solution. The device should be recognised as a Category 3 complex device and

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receive adequate funding to customize the configure the device so that the participant can use it. There is limited expertise amongst planners to navigate this process and often breaks down.

The NDIA Assistive Technology & Consumables price guide lists support items incorrectly and this makes it difficult for planners to be confident they are ordering the correct items.

NDIA Assistive Technology & Consumables Price guide:2nd Dec 2016 NDIA defined Support Item Support Item Reference Correct Name Tactile computer displays 05_223905273_0113_1_2 Braille Display Mobile phone with voice 05_222406258_0113_1_2 Smart Phone with inbuilt output and enlargement speech and magnification Word processing software for 05_22122438_0113_1_2 Screen Reader alternative access Portable note-taking devices 05_223906276_0113_1_2 Braille Notetaker. for braille

Within the limited number of suppliers of specialist assistive technology, it is difficult to evaluate equipment and make an informed choice about whether it suits the needs of the participant. It is overwhelming for planners, essassors and support Co-ordinators to navigate their way through these processes and the many barriers stall and often stop access to equipment.

There are never enough hours of capacity building to master their devices and smart phones are usually classified as Category 1 (even when connected to a braille display when it should be Category 3). Participants have limited understanding in how to manage the core and flexible funding for capacity building in learning to use their assistive technology to improve their independence.

In answer to your question about speed of delivery, all of the above have slowed the process to a standstill.

The sticking point is the definition of Assistive Technology as being “specialist”. By ignoring the benefits of a smart phone with its free inbuilt accessibility features, participants risk being left behind in a society that increasing demands connectivity for any form of participation, including accessing the NDIS portal.

whether the estimated demand for equipment to be sourced through the assistive technology process in

each roll out area was accurate;

The demand for mainstream solutions to replace specialist devices was not anticipated and has meant that many many participants have been denied access to vibrating alarm clocks, alert systems and door bells, electronic communication, and access to goods and services online. In nearly all cases, solutions using smart phones are cheaper, easier to use, easier to learn and are locally sourced. The NDIS has remained stubborn on this issue and missed a wonderful opportunity to “ride on the back” of the tremendous transformation that smart phone and tables can bring to the lives of people with a disability, as a comparatively cheap and sustainable alternative to “specialist devices” where appropriate.

whether market based issues impact the accessibility, timeliness, diversity and availability of assistive

technology;

Market based issues for specialist blindness products include Australian suppliers needing to import expensive specialist equipment from overseas for example a Braille Notetaker. There are quite a range of devices available with new devices coming onto the Australian market from India and Asia. They are excellent quality and are driving prices down but participants are expected to buy a Braille Notetaker, without the opportunity for prior testing. There are limited options for repairs and limited expertise in the community to assist with the setup and teaching of these devices. These devices often have a limited shelf life due to the fast pace of emerging technologies making these specialist devices obsolete in short time frames. In short, a smart phone connected to a braille display is a more innovative solution and is cheaper, easier to learn and able to embrace emerging technologies.

Australian Society’s Grappling With Technological Change

Australian society is grappling with the pace of change in technology to enable them to stay connected in society. Providing funds for people with disabilities to uptake mainstream devices that are otherwise unaffordable, addresses the issues of sourcing costly specialist equipment from a handful of specialist suppliers, allowing purchases from mainstream shops where mass markets drive prices down.

4. The role of the NDIA in approving equipment requests;

Deafblind participants have been unable to find allied health professionals with the ability to provide an informed assessment of their needs due to lack of experience and expertise amongst professionals who have worked with this cohort

Many deafblind participants choose to use mainstream devices, so they can use the expertise of their families and friends for their informal support and learning. However, they are in a bind as they cannot afford to purchase these mainstream devices and believe they should be purchased within their NDIS plan. Although they have a large range of features, they are not always the best device for a person who is deafblind. A braille notetaker is designed for a blind person to use mainly with speech output. The braille access is complicated and requires expert tuition, with very few trainers skilled to provide this training, especially in Auslan or tactile signing. A participant is faced with the choice to put these expensive items in their plan to ensure access to the internet when a smart phone with inbuilt accessibility connected to a braille display, would be a much cheaper and simpler device to learn.

5. The role of current state and territory programs in the assistive technology process;

I am not sure of the exisiting state and territory programs.

6. Whether the regulatory frameworks governing assistive technology are fit-for-purpose:

The regulatory framework governing technology is finding it difficult to keep abreast of the fast pace of change in emerging technologies and the proliferation of devices now available in the mainstream area, that provide good design principles making them fit for purpose for people with a disability.

WHO have established that the increase in the ageing population globally has driven unprecedented demand in “Assistive technology” and it has now crossed into mainstream market delivery. These devices are cheaper and more responsive to emerging technologies and present very real challenges for regulatory frameworks. By not including mainstream devices for consideration in purchasing assistive technology leaves consumers with outdated and complicated equipment or with none at all. The NDIS can take advantage of being able to purchase cheaper, innovative and responsive solutions that are part of the emerging internet capabilities and the emerging internet of things.

The digital Inclusion index has shown that people with disability have extremely low participation rates in mobile phone ownership and access to the internet. The index has identified the barriers as being access, affordability and low digital literacy skills.

The NDIS is uniquely placed to address these barriers by providing the funding to purchase a smart phone or tablet and by providing supports to work with participants on capacity building. As smart phones are now ubiquitous in society, support workers can provide the necessary support for participants to learn how to manage their connectivity and how to engage with the online world and build their skills in economic and social participation to ensure they stay connected with society and realise their dreams and aspirations with real choice and control .

Claire Tellefson Digital Literacy co-ordinator, Able Australia, 3