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= Towards Inclusively Designed Assistive Technology(AT) Markets in North America, a case study of AT markets in U.S.A, by Aniyamuzala James Rwampigi (40). =

Introduction:
The assistive technologies are defined as any item “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improved functional capabilities of that individual with disabilities", [1](Cook & Polgar, 2008, p. 5, Georgia,2004, P.1 and US Public law 108-368).The above definition does formally recognize software programmes such as speech synthesis for reading, voice recognition for writing etc. that support individuals with disabilities to improve functional capabilities (Council of learning disability,2013). However, the USA Federal government broad definition of assistive technologies devices covers a wide list of items ranging from low tech such as crutches, cane, large print books, Pencil grip to high tech items like electronics such as Computer, scanners, Tap recorders, hearing aids [2](Dawn Carlson, Nathaniel Ehrlich, Betty Jo Berland, and Nell Bailey, September,2001). It also includes Computer aided instructional softwares programmes for reading or mathematics that help learners with disabilities to acquire skills.

This is study we use a combination of both  ATIA and US public law definitions  to define assistive technology  as “any item, piece of equipment, software programmes or product system, whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improved functional capabilities that individuals with disabilities including children with disabilities" acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improved functional capabilities that individuals with disabilities of all ages. The assistive technologies have the potential to support and supplement the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (Joseph p. Lane,2015, P.1 and P.2).

Assistive Technology Market:
There is a growing market demand for assistive technologies for old population aging with and into disability (Stephen M. Bauer and Joseph P. Lane ,2006 P69, US Department of Commerce,2003)[3].The AT market is small and some AT products and services have a market failure experience as the unmet needs fail to meet the business case standard for private corporations to make profits. The requirement to meet the unmet needs is beyond the capabilities of the private sector and they are not able to invest in some AT that do meet the business case (Joseph p. Lang ,2015, P.3). The Assistive technology (AT) market is served by two segments of industries that operate in a free market economy that is determined by the forces of demand and supply (Stephen M. Bauer and Joseph P. Lane ,2006 P69)[4].

The first Segment constitutes the majority of small scale manufacturers who serves a small and highly fragmented Disability markets with yearly sales less than US 100 dollars. The small scale AT industries serving this market are specialized in   mobility, hearing, vision, cognition, communication and education AT production. However, there is a growing market demand for assistive technologies for old population aging with and into disability (Stephen M. Bauer and Joseph P. Lane ,2006 P69, US Department of Commerce,2003)[5].

The supply side of Assistive Technology:
The second segment of industry is occupied by few hundreds of companies and dominated by few companies including large companies having sales revenue with   the order of US $1Billion (Stephen M. Bauer and Joseph P. Lane ,2006 P66-67). It has a middle size market and targets population aging into disability. Some of these companies include in the mobility industry Invacare corporation and Sunrise Medicare. Hearing industry has Some few large mainstream manufacturers such as Siemens AG and the Gennum who have AT product divisions. Some large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Knowles Electronics Manufactures Assistive technologies components for hearing aid manufacturers. Some AT manufacturers are small customers for Wheelchair batteries and controllers from many large original equipment manufacturers. However, many AT manufacturers struggle with high costs of designing, developing and testing sophisticated products for highly specialized small markets. The high costs are passed on to consumers in form of high prices of assistive technologies devices and services (Stephen M. Bauer and Joseph P. Lane ,2006 P68).

The Demand side of Assistive Technology:
Majority of Persons with different abilities Disabilities who need AT in the markets are either unemployed or underemployed and depend on government agency assistance and other third party assistance programmes such as Insurance company, school district and others to acquire AT (Barnes,2012 and Joseph p. Lang ,2015, P.5,)[6].Some Governments have established policies and funds to support the investment in the research and development of assistive technologies (Joseph p. Lang ,2015, P.2, Assistive technology Act 1998, Rehabilitation Act amendment 1978). Most of the times and often Governments around the World have invested in scientific research programmes to generate new discoveries that are beneficial to targeted population than investing in manufacturing, deployment and distribution of Assistive Technologies (AT) products and services through industrial production. The public or government exploratory-grant system of funding scientific research through academic institutions has generated high level scholarly publications but delivered very low level of technology based innovation (Joseph p. Lang ,2015, P.4).

Inclusively designed Assistive Technology Market systems.
Inclusively designed markets for Assistive technology are markets that deliver assistive technology to diverse users regardless of their income levels, disability, race, gender, Age and others. It is that market that delivers flexible affordable, accessible and appropriate assistive technology devices and software wares that are safe, easy to use and convenient to the diverse users. The realization of the inclusive design begins with centering the diverse users at the center of design of the Assistive Technology markets (IDRC,2012). Understanding the conditions and requirements of the diverse users who range from older users, users with different abilities and among others is key in ensuring that the markets are accessible and affordable to all users.

This should be accompanied by continues interaction among the diverse users, the suppliers or manufacturers and the policy makers or regulators in the design and delivery systems or processes and structures of the markets. This helps in addressing the barriers faced by users, manufacturers, distributors and regulators in accessing and delivering affordable assistive technology respectively. There is a gap between university research based and beneficial social-economic impact (Joseph p. Lang ,2015, P.2). There is a need to link the industries and University research projects to ensure that the research papers are transformed into finished Assistive technology products that benefits a range of diverse users as many as possible.

Reference
[1] Cook, A.M., &  Polgar, J.M. (2008). Cook & Hussey’s assistive technologies principles and practice, third edition.St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier

Georgia Project for Assistive Technology September 2004, P.1, http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-Assistive-Technology/Documents/Definition%20of%20Assistive%20Technology%20Devices%20and%20Services.pdf

[2] Dawn Carlson, Nathaniel Ehrlich, Betty Jo Berland, and Nell Bailey, September,2001, Assistive technology survey results: Continued benefits and needs reported by Americans with disabilities.

[3] US Department of Commerce ,2003, technology-assessment of the US-Assistive-technology-industry

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/forms-documents/doc_view/701-technology-assessment-us-assistive-technology-industry-2003

[4]Stephen M. Bauer and Joseph P. Lane ,2006 (P66-70) Convergence of assistive devices and mainstream products: Keys to university participation in research, development

and commercialization, Technology and Disability Journal, http://t2rerc.buffalo.edu/pubs/journals/paper_2006_bauer_t_and_d.pdf

[5] US Department of Commerce ,2003, technology-assessment of the US-Assistive-technology-industry

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/forms-documents/doc_view/701-technology-assessment-us-assistive-technology-industry-2003

[6] Barnes, C. (2012). Re-Thinking Disability, work and welfare. Sociology Compass. 6, 6, 472-484, http://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/files/library/Disability-Work-and-Welfare.pdf

[OCAD University -IDRC, 2012 What is Inclusive Design, http://idrc.ocadu.ca/index.php/resources/idrc-online/library-of-papers/443-whatisinclusivedesign