This Special Thematic Session calls for papers on models and systems for integrated assistive technology (AT) provision and innovative information and communication technology (ICT) for sustainable and scalable competence-building in low- and middle income countries.

This includes examples of best practices in awareness raising on AT needs, from the individual to the governance level; service delivery models, training of human resources etc. Subjects can be:  

• Legislation/policies/advocacy on AT
• Public, private (nonprofit or for-profit) and public-private collaboration, including equitable financing models
• Screening and use of information systems for documentation of AT needs at a population level
• ICT for service delivery and financing (e-medicine, mobile phones etc.) 
• Production/ procurement, and supply/ distribution of AT
• Intersectoral collaboration for AT, such as Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)
• The Continuum-of-Care in AT services, and challenges in bridging specialist- and community-based rehabilitation
• Equitable AT services in terms of urban vs. rural, centre vs. periphery,  age, gender, class, ethnicity, type of impairment/ diagnose/AT needed etc.
• Training professionals and laypersons for sustainable AT services (ex. task-shifting)

We call for abstracts related to AT across the life-cycle and in a global setting, based on research or special interest reports. We hope for a discussion about context-appropriate and sustainable services and– systems fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities and recognizing the social determinants of health as well as persons’ capabilities. 

If you are interested and want to submit an abstract to this session, please contact: Graziella Van den Bergh (gvb (at) hvl.no) Western Norway University of Applied Sciences/ University of Bergen, Norway