The Assistive Technology Information Mapping project AT-INFO-MAP The Assistive Technology Information Mapping project

What is SAFOD Formed in 1986 by disabled people for disabled people as a federation of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs). Leading disability-focused network. Engaged in coordination of activities of DPOs in Southern Africa. Strong presence in 10 countries. Coordinate our programs and activities through our national affiliates.

At-Info-Map Vision Project Aim: Map the availability of different types of assistive technology in Southern Africa. Purpose: Connecting persons with disabilities to the available AT near their community. Providing information to SAFOD and other key actors in advocating for increased AT access. Informing AT suppliers, manufacturers, and designers of unmet demand.

Background Project awarded by Google Impact Challenge – ‘big ideas that will use technology to expand opportunity and independence for people with disabilities’. Technology-based solutions High risk/high impact List of grants funded https://www.google.org/impactchallenge/disabilities/g rants.html Discuss process of selection from Google.

What are the problems? Lack of awareness of what AT is available and where is it available End users – where to find what I need? Advocates/providers/suppliers/researchers/policy makers – what are the gaps? Lack of information and transparency to inform efforts to increase AT access Inadequate availability and quality of AT Inconsistent supply

What is a solution? Design a system that will collect and display information about AT availability. What types of data will be collected? WHAT types of AT are available WHERE those products are located Who will provide the data? AT providers such as hospitals, schools, NGOs, DPOs, businesses Who will use the data? SAFOD End users of AT Providers and suppliers of AT Government, funders, researchers, advocates

What system will be used? An existing app, CommCare, will be designed, tested, and implemented to meet the aims of this project. CommCare features: Open source Designed for low resource environments Use on multiple devices Customizable for different purposes/uses Multiple languages Modalities – text, images, video, audio Dimagi will explain in more detail.

Project Team/Roles SAFOD: Lead implementing partner George Kayange – Project Coordinator DIMAGI: CommCare design, testing and training UW: Fiscal management, coordination, liaison with Google.org AfriNEAD: Monitoring and evaluation, project website management

Scope & Scale SAFOD affiliated countries Funding: $717,000 Pilot: Botswana Scale up: Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe Funding: $717,000 Duration: March 2016 – March 2019

Timeline (March 2016-March 2019) Launch April 19th March 1st 2017 March 1st 2016 SET UP Staffing Contracts Planning PILOT: BOTSWANA Recruit participants Develop & test app Evaluate app Modify app Plan for scale up SCALE UP Invite 9 other SAFOD countries to participate in scaling up

What data to collect on AT availability? Simple/ Easy Complex/Difficult Feasibility/Complexity Geographical location Name of provider Type of provider AT category covered by provider Quantity of supply Cost of products Type of AT provided Consistency of supply Quality of AT Specific model details Real-time supply updates Source/origination of product

Design Consideration System is useful to and used by SAFOD its affiliates and partners/stakeholders System is flexible and customizable to meet different needs and uses (country level, community level) System has a core data set that is feasible to consistently collect across contexts and countries

What data could look like: Basic Level Clinic A: Crutches only All sizes Providing 15/month on average In stock as of [date]: 4O Hospital X: Prosthetics Orthotics Wheelchairs Walkers Crutches Hearing aids Eye glasses

What are motivations to provide data? Make system useful to AT providers Wrap data into other uses Monitoring stock up in supply chain Case management End user follow up Referral system

What we don’t want A beautiful app that no one uses An academic exercise

Other potential benefits Shine light on AT sector Increase awareness of what AT solutions are possible Increase capacity of SAFOD and affiliates and its partners/stekeholders

Challenges Fragmentation and complexity of AT sector Range of product types Diversity of AT providers Inconsistent supply (Donations, Intl NGO, govt.) Motivation to enter data in CommCare One-time entry (cross sectional snapshot) Updating data over time

Challenges Cost of scaling up Sustainability of project after 3 years Requires additional funding/support Sustainability of project after 3 years Financing methods to support infrastructure

How will we know if project is successful? Short-term Long-term Number of users entering into CommCare system Number of end users accessing information collected by CommCare SAFOD using this information to increase awareness about AT, advocate for increased access System continues to increase users beyond 3 year grant Financial mechanisms implemented in participating countries to ensure sustainability Information is used to increase supply of and access to AT

End of Presentation