Many people in Ireland continue to face significant barriers in accessing technology designed to support independent living, the World Health Organization has found.

The WHO examined assistive technology (AT) in Ireland in line with the State’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“While AT has the potential to transform lives, many people in Ireland continue to face significant barriers to access and use,” it noted.

“Gaps in equity, awareness, service coordination and user involvement highlight the need for a more universal, person-centred approach that reflects the diversity of lived experiences across the country.”

While Ireland’s “strong network of advocacy groups” was highlighted as a positive aspect of the system, the report noted that the most recent national data on AT use and unmet need is nearly 20 years old.

“There is no comprehensive national service providing guidance on accessing AT. Without a centralized source, users and professionals must navigate a fragmented and inconsistent landscape of information.”

On Wednesday, the Rehab Group attended the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education to discuss the findings.

Educational and assistive technologies can transform the lives of disabled people and enhance independence, said Rita Day, director of the National Learning Network, which is part of the Rehab Group.

It is essential that people with disabilities are not just participants, but “leaders” in developing AT, she added.

“Their insight, innovation, and expertise must shape the future of AT.” 

Paul Daly said Ms Day’s presentation had highlighted the themes of “care, education and employment”. He asked whether there were concerns that the “modern digital world” could lead to a loss of focus on those priorities.

“How do you see the future being all encompassing and inclusive for all your service users?”

Ms Day said 2.5 billion people worldwide currently need one or more assistive products to participate fully in daily life, a figure expected to rise to 3.5 billion by 2050.

“It’s very much a challenge of the future, but it’s something that we are embracing, because we see the opportunities for the people who we support, for our students across various areas in the organisation.” 

Anne Marie McDonnell, head of programme design with the National Learning Network, said the organisation is working to increase awareness of AT.

“If you see it, you’re more interested in using it,” she said.

Ms McDonnell also raised concerns about the growing use of generative AI in workplaces.

“It is going to take away some of the entry level careers, and we’ve seen in even some hotels, you see robots going around collecting plates and things like that.” 

“We are concerned about that, but that’s why we’ve put in place a strategy in relation to supporting our students to learn how to use generative AI safely.” 

“We saw during covid that my disabled people were left behind, and there was a massive digital divide. We learned a lot from that,” she said, adding it has guidelines to support teaching, learning and assessment.