Assistive technology (AT) is a powerful enabler of participation. The World Health Organization's Global Collaboration on Assistive Technology (GATE) programme is actively working towards access to assistive technology for all. Developed through collaborative work as a part of the Global Research, Innovation and Education on Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit, this position paper provides a "state of the science" view of AT users, conceptualized as "People" within the set of GATE strategic "P"s. People are at the core of policy, products, personnel and provision. AT is an interface between the person and the life they would like to lead. People's preferences, perspectives and goals are fundamental to defining and determining the success of AT. Maximizing the impact of AT in enabling participation requires an individualized and holistic understanding of the value and meaning of AT for the individual, taking a universal model perspective, focusing on the person, in context, and then considering the condition and/or the technology. This paper aims to situate and emphasize people at the centre of AT systems: we highlight personal meanings and perspectives on AT use and consider the role of advocacy, empowerment and co-design in developing and driving AT processes.

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This article describes an occupational therapy educational program's experience with service-learning courses that has fostered student learning about service to the community and disability as a multidimensional construct. Faculty-reflective perspectives about disability and ways to enhance learning about disability as a human experience are presented as an important consideration for health care education curriculum design and course development. Through review of educational evaluation described in research on service learning, the authors used a multi-method assessment matrix to capture students' perspectives on their service learning. The community project investigated accessibility issues that persons with disabilities encountered in social participation at community arts venues. Results from student surveys, interviews, focus groups, and journal entries indicated that service learning contributed to occupational therapy students' appreciation and understanding about disability as an individual, environmental, and societal construct.

This study investigated the attitudes of occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) educators toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in their educational programs. A nonexperimental design relying on a mailed survey was the methodology selected to examine the following research questions: (1) What are the attitudes of full-time OT and OTA educators who teach in accredited programs in the United States toward inclusion of students with disabilities in their OT programs? and (2) What factors are predictive of positive attitudes of OT faculty towards including students with disabilities in their educational programs? Results indicated that overall OT and OTA faculty have favorable attitudes toward including students with disabilities in their programs. However, consistent with the literature, these attitudes are hierarchical. In other words, attitudes toward inclusion of students with disabilities are different depending on the nature of the disability. Implications for future research are discussed.

Research has shown that for older adults (OAs), remaining at home encourages engagement in meaningful occupation. Physical and cognitive changes associated with aging result in functional changes that are a barrier to remaining independent. Assistive technology (AT) can be beneficial for OAs to maintain independence. In order to meet the AT needs of OAs living in Tompkins County, the university-based researchers were asked by the Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC) in Ithaca, New York, to identify the current AT needs of OAs who they serve. This is a market research study utilizing a nonexperimental descriptive survey design. After pilot testing the survey with experts to ensure content validity, the survey was given to a convenience sample of OAs. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Review of the data indicates that magnification devices, laundry baskets on .wheels, and amplified phone de-, vices were the most frequently identified AT-related needs of participants. The research findings will be used by FLIC to augment the inventory of their AT loan program to better meet the needs of the OAs who they serve.