Assistive Technology Information Mapping Project (AT-Info-Map)

Assistive Technology Information Mapping Project (AT-Info-Map) is rated 3 out of 5 in the category information services. Read and write reviews about Assistive Technology Information Mapping Project (AT-Info-Map). The Assistive Technology Information Mapping Project (AT-Info-Map) is funded by the Google Impact Challenge to make the world more accessible for persons with disabilities by increasing access to assistive technologies. Attainment of most human rights affecting persons with disabilities may not be achieved without high-quality affordable assistive products and/or information thereof globally. The four lead partners implementing the AT-Info-Map project are the Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD); the African Network for Evidence–to–Action in Disability (AfriNEAD), the University of Washington, and Dimagi. AT includes a wide range of technology products that are used to support persons with disabilities as they work, learn, play and live in their communities. Some examples of AT include: crutches, wheelchairs, ramps, hearing aids, Braille printers, adaptive software, communication devices, just to mention a few. This project serves to map the current availability of different types of AT in ten countries in Southern Africa, and works with local disability organizations to address gaps in AT availability. In southern Africa, it is estimated that 85-95% of people with disabilities who need assistive technology (AT) do not have access to it. Without information on availability of AT, these needs will continue to go unmet. It is in this context that the AT-Info-Map project was initiated in April 2016 to help redress the existing information gap in the immediate term, and help improve access to AT by persons with disabilities in Southern Africa and beyond. Through this mobile data system, developed by our partner Dimagi, we aim to inform AT designers, producers, service providers, and policymakers about the local availability of AT so that we can influence the increase in access to AT for persons with disabilities.