Obstructed Technology
Experiences Of Under-Funding, Over-Complication And Slowness In Australian Assistive Technology Schemes
I Just Want A Wheelchair I Can Use!
Erin’s tells of her saga, now nearly two years long, of inappropriate and incorrect wheelchairs being supplied and how she can’t get proper support because her condition is formally undiagnosed. Many people have undiagnosed disabilities – this does not make them any less real or mean the people who have them are any less in need of assistive technologies. Read more »
What Do Average Doctors Know About Wheelchairs?
Last week I received a letter from Domiciliary Equipment Services here in SA because I am due to get a new wheelchair soon. I have been driving an electric wheelchair for over 15 years. What they are telling me is that before I can have my new chair that I have to be assessed as MEDICALLY FIT TO DO SO by my bloody DOCTOR and then a further PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT by an OT or PHYSIO. Read more »
Nursing Home Transition Issues
What happens to your aids and equipment (AT) when you go to a nursing home? Unfortunately, this is a perfect example of the lack of joined-up services when entering the aged care sector. Read more »
Needed Top-Up Funding For Ramp
A female client over 65 years who lived in own home (owner-occupied). She used a 4-wheeled walker. She needed a ramp at the rear entrance of her house as she had a history of falls at the current back entrance – a step with rails. The rise at the back entrance was very high, so the ramp needed would be approximately 9m to comply with standards. Read more »
What’s Assistive Technology?
If Obstructed Technology is all about assistive technology, then we need to know exactly what assistive technology is. I’ve decided to use the definition developed by the Australian Assistive Technology Collaboration. Read more »
Tell Us Your Story
We want to share your stories of everything that’s wrong about the Assistive Technology System. Stories from users, parents, carers, professionals, and others are welcome. If you need help with your story, we can do that too! Read more »
Obstructed Technology: The Origins
Natasha Layton (an occupational therapist) and myself – Ricky Buchanan (a blogger and equipment user) – accompanied OT Australia to a meeting with Bill Shorten. He asked us, amongst other things, for stories of people’s issues with the aids and equipment system. After that, we may have got a bit carried away… Read more »
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