Role of Rehabilitation in Equipping Differently-Abled Children With Assistive Devices for Inclusive Education

Abstract

Differently abled students, in recent decades, have options of exploring their abilities by overcoming their impairments and limitations through usage of assistive technology (AT). A collaborative effort of technological researchers, educationists, healthcare providers, policy makers, etc. is required in facilitating accessibility and utilization of these assistive technological tools and devices by these children. Rehabilitation professionals have an important role in promoting usage of these devices and thereby optimizing these children's abilities. The chapter therefore takes a glance at the role of medical rehabilitation professionals in equipping these differently abled children with AT for an inclusive education set-up and helping them become a part of the mainstream community. These are illustrated using common scenarios seen in medical rehabilitation institutions. Lastly, the chapter incorporates the challenges in providing and using these devices for differently abled children with a focus on developing countries.