Assistive technology is a fundamental right, says Irish charity

Assistive technology is not just about equipment or software, but is a fundamental rights issue, according to the individuals supported by St John of God Community Service who attended a Community Hub for Assistive Technology event to highlight how AT can transform lives.

St John of God Community Services (SJOGCS) partnered with FreedomTech to host yesterday’s [February 17] event called ‘AT in Action: From Rights to Reality’ at SJOG Hospitaller House in Stillorgan.

The national community of practice sponsored by Sight and Sound Technologies and CREATE Fund wanted to give people with disabilities a chance to share their AT stories and listen to ideas that can encourage better understanding and take up of AT, as it can help improve the lives of people living with disabilities, supporting them with communication, independence, decision-making, employment and relationships.

Patrick Fitzgerald, a paid DIGICoach who is supported by SJOGCS Liffey said that this is an important discussion in the lead-up to International Day for Social Justice on February 20.

“AT is not just about equipment or software, but as a fundamental rights issue,” he said. “This event is about putting lived experience at the heart of the conversation. Assistive technology is often described in technical terms. We want to focus on what AT really means in people’s everyday lives: the difference between having a voice and being silenced, between participating and being left out,” Patrick said.

Sarah Boland, Assistive Technology Facilitator at SJOGCS explained that it was vital that the voice of AT users be heard when Ireland makes decisions about what comes next in the sector.

“Too often decisions about assistive technology are made without the voices of the people who use it. This event was about flipping that dynamic, learning directly from the experts by experience,” she said.

Those in attendance heard from AT users and families, with a panel discussion about how access to AT is a fundamental right, what barriers remain and what must change to ensure fair and timely access to support.

The event was attended by AT users, family members and supporters, health and social care professionals, educators and researchers, policy makers and advocates and community organisations.

There were interactive demonstration zones to also showcase AT in action from communication and augmentative and alternative tools, vision impairment supports, mainstream accessibility features, and smart home and environmental controls.

The AT Passport Initiative was also discussed, as well as the DigiCoach project, which upskills and employs people with disabilities to support others with digital accessibility and AT. The project is sponsored by ReThink Ireland, CREATE and the National Clinical Programme for People with Disability.

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