From theory to practice. Dzherelo’s specialists conducted a training on assistive technologies for children with disabilities

The training participants included specialists in physical rehabilitation, doctors, speech therapists, psychologists, and social work professionals working with children with disabilities from the Lviv, Zhytomyr, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Kharkiv, and Odesa regions.

Over the course of two days, on February 27 and 28, specialists from Dzherelo Centre for Social Services and Rehabilitation conducted a training session in Lviv titled “From theory to practice: Assistive technologies for improving mobility and communication.” Around 30 professionals from different regions of Ukraine participated, including physical therapists, doctors, speech therapists, psychologists, and social workers who assist children with disabilities and motor impairments.

According to Maryna Hlukhotska, head of the Dzherelo’s Centre for Assistive Technologies, most of the training participants are not rehabilitation specialists. However, they are involved in providing assistive devices and delivering rehabilitation services in medical and social institutions, as well as inclusive resource centers (IRCs). Therefore, it is crucial for them to understand how to properly apply assistive devices.

“The main goal of the event is to demonstrate and teach the effective use of modern tools to enhance children’s mobility and communication. It is important for us to outline the steps in assigning these devices so that our colleagues who attended the training understand the significance of assistive technologies in improving children’s daily functioning, especially in educational processes,” said Maryna Hlukhotska.

During the training, physical rehabilitation specialists from Dzherelo Centre demonstrated the proper use of assistive devices for positioning, mobility, and communication. They introduced participants to the classification of assistive technologies, methods for selecting the appropriate devices, and the benefits of mobility aids for children with motor impairments. Additionally, they explained which diagnoses may lead to motor impairments requiring assistive technologies and emphasized the importance of the four key steps in assistive technology provision: selection, adjustment, training in use, and ongoing monitoring.

It is worth noting that Dzherelo’s Centre for Assistive Technologies has been operating since late 2023. Its establishment and launch were made possible thanks to the support of the organization’s long-time partners. The construction of the Centre was funded by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, while its ongoing activities are supported by the American crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving. Specialists at the Centre assess the needs of children with developmental challenges or disabilities and select the equipment that will help them become more independent in their daily lives and achieve greater success.