Journal article
"Assistive technology in the home is choice and control… it's freedom": perspectives of people with physical disability using electronic assistive technologies in the home
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol.21(2), pp.636-650
2026
PMID: 40781998
Abstract
Objective
People with physical disabilities can use electronic assistive technologies in their homes to increase their independence. These technologies range from disability specific environmental controls systems to mainstream smart home technologies and combinations of both. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of persons with physical disabilities on their experiences using these technologies in their homes to inform future best practice.
Methods
This qualitative descriptive study used a World Café method underpinned by appreciative inquiry. Nine participants with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury participated in four World Café discussions. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse verbatim transcriptions.
Results
Five themes were identified: “Using Mainstream Technology”, “Navigating Person-Technology Fit Amidst Change”, “Making Technology Work in the Home”, “Positive Impacts of Technology”, and “Frustrations with Using Technology in the Home”. These themes supported expected benefits and challenges. In addition, the opportunities provided by mainstream technology in terms of availability and affordability, funding frustrations and poor trust of suppliers were described. Making technology work required support as well as technological safeguards.
Impact
Mainstream technology has improved and broadened possibilities for electronic assistive technology use in the home, which can be complex. It provides psychosocial benefits, but is also frustrating. Furthermore, using technology is a dynamic evolving journey as individual users must navigate changes in search of best person-technology fit. Successful use of technology requires support, as well as backup systems and safeguards to combat poor reliability.
Details
- Title
- "Assistive technology in the home is choice and control… it's freedom": perspectives of people with physical disability using electronic assistive technologies in the home
- Authors
- Janine C Yaffe - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of HealthJacquie Ripat - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of HealthGordana Dermody - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - NursingMichèle C Verdonck (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Occupational Therapy
- Publication details
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol.21(2), pp.636-650
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Inc.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1080/17483107.2025.2542376
- ISSN
- 1748-3115
- PMID
- 40781998
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Grants
- Smart home technology for people with disabilities and ageing in place, 0980028141, University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health; School of Health - Nursing; School of Health - Occupational Therapy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991150740102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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