Staff shortages limiting access to technology for people with disabilities

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Severe shortages of health and social care professionals in Ireland is making it difficult for disabled and older people to access the equipment they need, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report has said.

An assessment into the capacity for assistive technology in Ireland was carried out by the WHO and the Government of Ireland.

AT includes products, systems and services which improve the quality of life of people with disabilities or age-related issues and can range from walking sticks and glasses to high-tech digital devices.

It found there had been “significant progress in empowering individuals” and “strong political will” in improving AT access.

However, it also found “high levels of unmet need remain” and disjointed and inconsistent approaches have led to gaps.

Launched in Dublin on Wednesday the Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment In Ireland, found there is a “diverse, skilled and deeply committed” workforce helping people access AT in Ireland.

But it said “severe staffing shortages persist, particularly among health and social care professionals” and “nonprofessional and community-based roles are underutilized and mentorship capacity within services is limited”.

It also found a lack of a single coordinating body or national strategy meant “services can become fragmented”, access to schemes can vary depending on “age, diagnosis, income or location” and there are gaps in support between life stages, such as transitioning from child to adult services.

Speaking at the launch of the report Disability Minister Norma Foley said: “I think the report points to very positive steps forward, and it also points to things that we need to do better going forward and that’s the entire purpose of having a report like this.

“So in the first instance, it does acknowledge that there are excellent examples of assistive technology being made available, but they’re disparate across different departments.”

She added: “It’s there, but it is disjointed, so our focus going forward now will be very much to rein it in.”

Foley said there initiatives including a “single repository of information” are being created and said “oftentimes people aren’t aware of how to access” supports.

Attending the launch was Pelumi Bamidele who uses a tablet with specialist software to communicate.

She said getting the device two years ago changed her life: “It helps me talk and people understand me. I can tell people what I want and choose my food and make my own decisions.”

The report also found that Ireland has shown “leadership in piloting innovative AT solutions”

Valerie Whelan, who works for Enable Ireland Virtual Service as a support worker, said the service collaborates with companies producing AT to help develop their products.

“They will come to us and say they are working on a banking app, or something.

“They will ask us to try it out, give our feedback to them and pay us for our time.”