Korea National Assistive Technology center

Core role of assistive devices in supporting assistive devices and establishing a management system

Goals

• Assistive device usage support
• Establishing assistive devices service delivery system
• Promoting use of assistive devices
• Enhancing effective management of assistive devices

Main Tasks

• Researching and developing projects concerning assistive device policies
• Researching assistive device services
• Enhancing Regional service hubs
• Constructing information management system
• Monitoring the users and the uses
• Encouraging of information exchange

Related Act

Act on the support for assistive devices for persons with disabilities, older persons, etc. And promotion of use thereof Article 13(Main Assistive Technology(AT) Center), Article 10(Quality Control of Assistive devices)

• Policy research of assistive device
• Operation of regional AT center and management support
• Collecting information on assistive devices and establishing a database
• Quality control, etc. of assistive devices

History

• 2009: Korea National Assistive Technology Center (Opened in June)
• 2010: Korea National Assistive Technology Center (Quality Control of Assistive devices, Opened in August)
  Regional AT center opened (Daegu, Daejeon)
  Participated in device distribution business
• 2011: Regional AT center opened (Gwangju, Busan)
• 2012: Regional AT center opened (Gyeonggi-do)
• 2013: Regional AT center opened (Chungbuk)
  Demonstrative business - Case management business
• 2014: Regional AT center opened (Gyeongnam, Incheon)
• 2015: Regional AT center opened (Jeonbuk. Jeju)
• 2016: Act on the support for assistive devices for persons with disabilities, older persons, etc. and promotion of use thereof enacted
• 2017: First factual survey on assistive devices
• 2018: Short & long term objectives for AT center established
  Assistive device database established
• 2019: Establish additional AT centers in 6 regions (Chungnam, Gangwon, Sejong, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Ulsan)
• 2020 ~ : Operate 17 central+ regional AT centers

Introduction of Korea National Assistive Technology center

① Researching and Developing Projects Concerning Assistive Device Policies

Purpose and Direction

• Develop policies for social participation and improving quality of life through assistive devices
• Continue systematic research on policy improvement, service delivery system, efficient analysis, and establish statistical ground

Tasks

• Policy and Service Research
  • Develop manuals for assistive devices and services
  • Publish white book on assistive devices
  • Develop evaluation tools for assistive devices
  • Research basic data of assistive devices
• Status of Assistive Device Usage and Monitoring
  • Investigate assistive device industry and usage status
  • Evaluation of device service outcome
  • Monitoring safety accidents of devices
  • Evaluation of handicap assistive device issue services and outcomes

③ Informatization of Assistive Devices

Purpose and Direction

• Reduce information gap by constructing integrated information system
• Provide various information such as items, types and government subsidy project through the integrated information system
• Enhance the information accessibility by providing information of AT accordance with each individual conditions

Tasks

• Operate Integrated Information System
  • Construct and manage assistive devices DB
  • Operate integrated information App
• Provide assistive devices information
  • Provide customized customer call service (1670-5529)
  • Publish recent assistive devices information trends
  • Operate an experience and exhibition program

• Integrated Assistive Technology Information System
  • Provide information of government subsidy project
  • Help to search customized information in different conditions

④ Quality Control of Assistive Devices

Purpose and Direction

• Promote proactive/follow-up management to strengthen item user safety and improve satisfaction of assistive device support business for disabled
• Support indirect quality control through item sorting and quality test & research and induce quality improvement and industry development of domestic assistive device

Tasks

• Support Items Management
  • Register and manage assistive device according to standard for support items registration of "Assistive Device Support Business for Disabled" and execute test & inspection for registered assistive device
• Quality Test and Research
  • Develop quality standard for assistive device with no and inadequate quality standard
• Classification and Determination of Assistive Devices
  • Establish classification system using objective classification standard and management system of assistive device
• Quality Improvement Support
  • Direct/Indirect quality improvement support for domestic assistive device manufacturers

3. Central and Regional Assistive Technology center(AT center)

Objectives of Regional Assistive Device Centers

• consulting, evaluation, applying, follow-up, etc
• renting, repairing, customization
• recycling assistive devices
• operating assistive device exhibition and experience halls

AT Centers

• Central AT Center (Seoul, Main)
• Gyeonggi-do Province AT Center
• Incheon Metropolitan City AT Center
• Gangwondo Province AT Center
• Sejong Special Autonomous City AT Center
• Chungcheongbuk-do Province AT Center
• Chungcheongnam-do Province AT Center
• Daejeon Metropolitan City AT Center
• Gyeongsangbuk-do Province AT Center
• Gyeongsangnam-do Province AT Center
• Daegu Metropolitan City AT Center
• Ulsan Metropolitan City AT Center
• Busan Metropolitan City AT Center
• Jeollabuk-do Province AT Center
• Jeollanam-do Province AT Center
• Gwangju Metropolitan City AT Center
• Jeju Special Self-Governing Province AT Center