Interview Survey on Provision of Assistive Technology Services for Students with Disabilities under COVID-19 Pandemic
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Keywords
Remote Assistive Technology Services, Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Supports for Students with Disabilities, Interprofessional Collaboration
Abstract
Assistive technology services (ATSs) are essential for the provision, selection, acquisition, or use of accessible environments and assistive devices for students with disabilities. Additionally, ATSs require continuous support, as they include ongoing and dynamic processes. However, COVID-19-enforced “social distancing” has inhibited the crucial processes, despite the increasing needs for online learning environments and using ICT. To consider methods for ATSs to perform effectively and in a timely manner in the future, this study reports the results of an interview survey on how local facilities and special schools have implemented ATSs practices and resources during COVID-19 pandemic.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted at four regional assistive technology (AT) centers, two IT support centers for people with disabilities in communities, and five special schools in Japan. In all cases, remote AT consultations were conducted using videoconference software. Information obtained from the practices were categorized into seven items. The survey results suggest that hybrid ATSs benefit from remote access. Further studies are required to clarify the skills required by AT specialists in hybrid ATSs and to create training programs to learn remote equipment and visualization.
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Takashi Watanabe, Nihon Fukushi University
Takashi Watanabe, Ph.D., is a professor at the faculty of health sciences, Nihon Fukushi University, Japan. He is a rehabilitation engineer and specializes in assistive technology for people with disabilities. He has developed many commercial products and has also provided consultation to assistive technology users.
Hiroyuki Fujii, School of Social Work, Nagano University
Hiroyuki Fujii, Ph.D., M.D., is a professor at the School of Social Work, Nagano University, Japan. As a physician, he is primarily engaged in rehabilitation medicine and home health care and has experience in the administration of medical institutions. He has worked on the development and management of systems to disseminate assistive technology in medical institutions and community care.
Tomoko Hosho, Nihon Fukushi University
Tomoko Hosho, D.S.W., is a professor at the faculty of Social Welfare, Nihon Fukushi University, Japan. She is a Certified Social Worker and has been studying Social Workers competencies. Her work shows changes in competence as social workers become newcomers, mid-career, and veterans, and it has influenced many studies.
Yuji Asaishi, Nihon Fukushi University
Yuji Asaishi, M.A., is an assistant professor at the faculty of healthcare management (distance education), Nihon Fukushi University, Japan. He is a social worker and specializes in community care for people in the country. He is interested in the use of ICT and assistive products in social welfare facilities and community service.
Mamoru Iwabuchi, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University
Mamoru Iwabuchi, Ph.D., is a professor at the School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Japan. He has been working in assistive technology research and development for over twenty years.