Grand Challenges in AT Outcomes
What is needed to be able to measure assistive technology outcomes and impact
at the individual, community, local, national, and global level?
Calling Regional Leaders to host a Regional Grand Challenge Consultation
Leading up to the Global Report on Assistive Technology, GAATO [1] invites you to share your views on AT Outcomes. The Grand Challenge Consultations will be held across all WHO Regions between June and September 2021. Where needed, regional consultations may be further broken up by geographic regions and /or regional languages. Coordinated in partnership between GAATO AT Outcomes (ATO) Team and Regional Consultation Teams, these 4-hour virtual consultations will use:
Shared schedule
Shared objectives
Shared meeting materials
Democratic voting software for prioritization
How to volunteer to be a Regional Leader
The AT Outcomes Team [2] will collaborate with regional consultation leaders and their teams in each of the WHO Health Regions. To volunteer to be a regional leader, please fill out the form at the link below by 14 May 2021. If you have any questions, please contact the AT Outcomes Team through the following e-mail: secretary@gaato.org
Regional leader application form: https://forms.gle/9ntJu3W8LUrtXVyD9
Global Grand Challenges Collaborative Consensus Process
Overview
The Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations (GAATO) is proposing a process to identify global grand challenges in the area of assistive technology outcomes.
In particular, GAATO aims to identify a set of challenges which address what is needed to be able to measure assistive technology outcomes and impact at the individual, community, local, national, and global level. Global grand challenges may address tools for data collection, data storage and use, outcomes related systems and their implementation, best practices, and policies.
Guiding Principles for the collaborative consensus method (modified from the CP3 Process [3] )
1) Representation: The process is designed to ensure representation of voices at a global level including regions, income and development level, ability, experience with a range of assistive technologies, and professional affiliation.
2) Inclusivity: The process is designed to be inclusive and use technology to promote participation by all stakeholders.
3) Collaboration: The process is designed to be collaborative, allowing stakeholders to be engaged at all levels individually or through representatives.
STAGE 1 Regional Consultations – facilitated by Dr Emma Smith and regional leads
1 5 min Introduction to the GAATO Grand Challenges Project
15 mins AT Outcomes: State of the Field
40 min Breakout Session 1: Brainstorming and group prioritization
30 min Reporting to Group and Voting
20 min Break
10 min Presentation of Prioritized List and Instructions
45 min Breakout Session 2: Refinement
30 mins Reporting to Group
20 mins Group Feedback
15 mins Next steps and wrap-up
STAGE 2 Global Consensus Process
GAATO leadership team will review the grand challenge lists from each of the regional consultation events and convene a Global Consensus Meeting. The overall outcome is to describe and define each of the prioritized Global Grand Challenges, with relevant background information. The resulting 2021 Global Grand Challenges in Assistive Technology Outcomes will serve as a guide for future conversations and research in the area of assistive technology outcomes.