"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

Janine C Yaffe; Jacquie Ripat; Gordana Dermody; Michèle C Verdonck

doi:10.1080/17483107.2025.2542376

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"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

Journal article

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"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

Janine C Yaffe, Jacquie Ripat, Gordana Dermody and Michèle C Verdonck

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol.21(2), pp.636-650

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2025.2542376

PMID: 40781998

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Home automation

smart technology

electronic aids to daily living

smart home

voice agents

occupational therapy

environmental control systems

UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion

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 Health
Jacquie Ripat - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health
Gordana Dermody - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
Michèle 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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