Assistive technology and its relationship to the quality of life of people with disabilities. Rev Ter Ocup Univ São Paulo.

Abstract

Introduction: Assistive technology offers products, resources, methods, strategies, practices and services that promote functionality, autonomy, independence, quality of life and social inclusion for people with disabilities. Its development and deployment can be considered an attempt to neutralize the barriers caused by disability. Objective: To understand and point out the relationship between assistive technology and quality of life of people with disabilities. Method: We used the topical life story. Three subjects with physical/motor disability, three with visual impairment and three with hearing impairment were interviewed. The relationship between assistive technology and quality of life was investigated individually for each subject, in addition to the common patterns in responses considering the “group” of disability. Result: Applications of assistive technologie include activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, education, work and leisure, playing different relationships with quality of life. Conclusion: Assistive technologie is related to the quality of life of people with disabilities facilitating and making possible the activities performances, promoting autonomy and independence, creating individual and social positive effects.