The World Health Organisation (WHO) is launching a survey in order to pool knowledge and experience with the aim of creating a Priority Assistive Products List (APL). The goal is to receive feedback from a large representative sample of current and potential users of assistive products, as well as their family members and representative organisations. This data will then be used as an advocacy tool and guide for governments in prioritising access to assistive products for their populations. As such, this guidance will simultaneously help contribute to their implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
The participation of all organisations and networks of persons with disabilities is invaluable in this project. The aim will be to identify the 50 top technological products needed by people worldwide to improve their lives. The survey, issued in the world’s 50 most spoken languages, will use the information gathered to build the WHO APL, a tool that will set the standard for the most essential assistive products, and those that health systems should make available.
The survey will close on the 3 March 2016.