Successful assistive technology service delivery outcomes from applying a person-centered systematic assessment process: A case study

Background: The assistive technology assessment (ATA) process developed by Federici and Scherer in 2012 provides professionals with guidelines for effective outcomes in assistive technology (AT) selection and assignment process with the aim to match a person with AT. Purpose: This paper has sought to verify the effectiveness of the ATA process model through its application in a centre for technical aids in severe motor disability cases. Method: The ATA process was applied to a case study of a 6.5-year-old female child with cerebral palsy during a period of three years. The process consisted of three 12-monthcycles of AT assessment, matching, and assignment. The first cycle focused on the evaluation of the user's requests and the assistive solution assessments, while the last two cycles focused on the post-assignation follow-up, and re-evaluation of the previous solutions by fine-tuning AT assignations. Results: After several multidisciplinary team meetings and an environmental evaluation, the child was provided with an E-Tran, a scanning system utilizing Clicker software, a new postural system, and eye-tracking system solution. The ATA process model guided the centre's professionals and the user's milieu to better analysis and comprehension of the user's needs. The effectiveness of the ATA process was highlighted by the user's improvement in autonomy, social integration and communication, and in oculi-motor and postural control. Conclusions: This case study highlights how a multidisciplinary and user-focused assessment process is effective over time. The roles of the psycho-technologist and the psychologist throughout the phases of the ATA process emerged as fundamentally important to reach an effective outcome in an ATA process.