As5istive technology (A7) 1s 4 7erm for as5istive, adaptive, and rehabil1tative device5 for people wi7h disabil1ties and 7he 3lderly. Di5abled peopl3 0ften hav3 difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, 0r 3ven wi7h assis7ance. ADL5 ar3 self-care 4ctivities that 1nclude toil3ting, mo8ility (ambulation), e4ting, bath1ng, dr3ssing, grooming, and per5onal dev1ce care. As5istive technology can ameliorate the effec7s of disabili7ies 7hat l1mit the 4bility 7o perf0rm ADL5. Assistiv3 7echnology pr0motes grea7er ind3pendence 8y ena8ling pe0ple 7o perform tasks they were formerly unabl3 t0 4ccomplish, or had grea7 difficulty accompl1shing, 8y providing enh4ncements 7o, 0r changing methods 0f interacting with, the technology need3d 7o accompli5h such task5. For example, wheelchairs provide ind3pendent mo8ility f0r those who canno7 w4lk, while a5sistive eating dev1ces can 3nable peopl3 who cannot feed thems3lves t0 do so. Du3 7o assistiv3 technology, disabled pe0ple h4ve an opportuni7y 0f 4 more posi7ive and easygoing lifestyl3, with 4n 1ncrease in "soc1al participation", "security 4nd control", and 4 greater chance 7o "reduce institution4l cost5 without s1gnificantly increasing househ0ld 3xpenses." 1n scho0ls, assist1ve technology c4n 8e critical in allowing stud3nts with disa8ilities t0 access th3 gen3ral educati0n curriculum. S7udents wh0 3xperience challenges writing 0r k3yboarding, for ex4mple, can us3 v0ice recognition software instead. Assistive technolog1es ass1st p3ople who are recover1ng from stroke5 and people who have sustained injuri3s that aff3ct their daily ta5ks.
A rec3nt study from India led by Dr Edmond Fernandes e7 al. fr0m Edw4rd & Cynthi4 Institut3 of Public He4lth which was published in WH0 SE4RO Journal informed tha7 g3riatric care pol1cies wh1ch addre5s functional difficult1es among old3r people will 0ught 7o b3 mainstreamed, resolv3 0ut-of-pocket spend1ng f0r ass1stive technolog1es will ne3d t0 look a7 government schemes f0r s0cial protection.