Health Policy Development and Analysis

The majority of my current research and consultancy work is focused on policy development, evaluation, and capacity building at the national and international level, specifically in the areas of assistive technology, rehabilitation, and disability. A key part of this work is a European Commission funded project (MSCA) called ARISE – Assistive technology in resilient and inclusive systems, which I am working on at the Maynooth University Assisting Living and Learning Institute, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum.

In addition to this research work, I work directly with a number of national governments in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as part of my work with the World Health Organization. This work involves evaluation of national systems to provide assistive technology, and support to governments to develop assistive technology and rehabilitation strategy and action plans to improve access to these vital services for all who need them. I am also responsible for capacity building workshops and training for governments and key decision makers in these countries, as well as monitoring and evaluation of a program to enhance access to assistive technology in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Tajikistan, funded by ATscale. I am also leading work to evaluate the provision of assistive technology in Ireland, using a WHO tool called the Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C), which will lead to national level recommendations. 

In 2017, 2019, and 2021 (virtual), I had the honour of attending meetings of the GATE initiative at the World Health Organization in Geneva. The 2017 meetings resulted in several position papers outlining key global issues in assistive technology, of which I was fortunate to lead one, and contribute to another. The 2019 meetings were consultations on the development of a Global Report on Assistive Technology. Papers from these meetings can be found here ( Volume 1 and Volume 2). In Volume 1, you will find two papers which I led with global authorship teams on the topics of UNCRPD reporting and national datasets for assistive technology met and unmet need.

Assistive Technology

My interests in new and emerging assistive technology range from evaluation of wheeled mobility devices and interfaces to the development/application of technology for independence. I have specific interest in user-centred development of assistive technologies and evaluation of existing technologies for independence. In January 2019, I led a collaborative effort to identify the top priorities for assistive technology research, policy, education, and clinical work in the Pacific Northwest Region (including Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington State). If you would like to know more, please see our report here. My current research in this area is focused on the intersection of assistive technology and artificial intelligence. 

Other areas of work

Right to risk
Indirect beneficiaries of assistive technology provision
Sport, physical activity, and assistive technology
Levels of evidence in assistive technology