Low assistive technologies for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Bangladesh

Abstract

Assistive technology can play an important role in allowing a person with spinal cord injury (SCI) to live as independently as possible. The Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) is the only specialized hospital and rehabilitation center in Bangladesh providing rehabilitation for people with SCI. Occupational therapists working in the multidisciplinary team in the Inpatient Unit at CRP play an important role in recommending appropriate assistive technologies for people with SCI. As most of the people with SCI in Bangladesh come from a low socioeconomic background, occupational therapists need to consider low cost assistive technologies. Occupational therapists design and provide a wide range of assistive devices to maximize performance in self-care, productivity, and leisure for people with different levels of SCI. Case examples demonstrate clients’ use of assistive technologies in their local communities. Currently, there is a very limited amount of research on low cost assistive devices in Bangladesh. Thus, ongoing research is required in this area.