European research related to assistive technology for disabled children

Abstract

This literature review aims to grasp an overall understanding of European research related to assistive technology for disabled children during the period 2000–2005. Electronic and manual searches of six databases, AAATE conference publications, and issues of the journal Technology and Disability yielded 27 articles and 40 conference papers that met the inclusion criteria, which were studies of European origin and involving assistive technology that conforms to the ISO 9999 classification. The review showed that existing research studies are very limited in number and are focused on ICT-related assistive technology, while a lack of research exists in relation to lower technologies or dealing with the whole assistive environments. Methodologically there is a need to improve child participation and the use of psychosocial theories in research and development. On the whole, this research area is methodologically very challenging.