Structure of a DRCWG

Membership to a DRCWG mirrors the AfriNEAD membership. Members from the disability, academic, government, business and the civil sectors form a RCWG. With the understanding that disability should be a concern for everyone, membership is open to any persons and organisations from these sectors who are interested in disability transformation through facilitating context relevant research and its translation into policy and practice.

Each DRCWG should have a coordinator who ensures effective and efficient running of the activities of the RCWG and oversees the delivery of its programmes and raising sufficient resources.

The role of AfriNEAD as the mother body and support base for the DRCWGs

DRCWGs are expected to take ownership of their local in-country activities and can be self-sustained while receiving ad hoc support from the AfriNEAD Secretariat when necessary. AfriNEAD will do the following:

• Assisting with initial set up of the DRCWG through training and capacity building
• Annual meetings with the coordinators to touch bases and provide necessary support
• Publication of research evidence gathered by the DRCWGs in the READ for Africa and AJOD
• Provide consultation services especially with conceptual components of the DRCWGs’ activities

Strategies to strengthen DRCWGs

Initial support: The AfriNEAD Secretariat with the support of member DPOs such as SAFOD will support countries in initiating RCWGs through capacity building workshops with the groups in their respective countries. The workshops will focus on training local researchers to equip them with research skills and also skills to initiate collaboration and engagement with DPOs, government and the civil sector.

Ongoing support: DRCWG coordinators will network with DRCWG coordinators from other countries for ongoing peer support. The AfriNEAD Secretariat will also provide ad hoc support with conceptual issues where necessary.

Guidelines (steps) for initiating a DRCWG:

For the DRCWG capacity building workshop to be successful, the following preparatory steps need to be taken:

• AfriNEAD members from a particular country need to select a coordinator for the DRCWG. This coordinator works with the AfriNEAD Secretariat in setting up the capacity building workshop.
• The coordinator should meet with people (researchers, DPOs, NGOs, Government departments Business entities) who might be interested in disability research.
• Share the idea of developing a DRCWG for disability research evidence with the identified interested partners.
• Start developing a reference group to support the DRCWG in that country 

Using the area AT as a spring board to pilot the development of RCWGs

AfriNEAD intends for the next three years to focus on facilitating the coordination of Assistive Technology (AT) for countries that are affiliated to the network. To give focus to the work of AfriNEAD DRCWGs, a decision has been made to use the area of AT as a case study that will assist the development of these DRCWGs.  Due to the vastness of the area of AT, we intend to focus first on AT that will enhance community integration which will target physical, hearing and sight impairments. We think that it will be necessary for the DRCWGs to visit and tackle issues that facilitate and enhance the provision of AT for people with disabilities as well as factors that present barriers to them acquiring AT. AT for and with people with disabilities is one of the gateways to equal opportunities for the realization of the rights of people with disabilities (UN standard Rules 1982, INDS 1997, UNCRPD 2006).

Appropriate AT has been found to be one of the most important factors in supporting activities and participation of people with disabilities. There is minimal to non- existence accurate statistics estimates, in middle and low income countries. Only 0.5% of the population is reported as in need of orthosis or prosthesis and related rehabilitation services. In 2001, the WHO estimated that 250 million people in the world have a hearing impairment; the incidence rate is double in low and middle income-  countries (WHO 2004). Because data collection methods are often inadequate in assessing needs in rural areas, the overall need for AT is considered to be substantially higher. Furthermore, as medical advances continue to increase life expectancy, the predicted worldwide increase in the number of elderly people suggests a continued increase in demand for all types of AT in the coming decades. Most services are available in urban areas, although the need is often greater in rural areas. WHO estimates that in many low- and middle-income countries, only 5%-15% of people who require assistive technologies have access to them (WHO-DAR).

There is currently lack of concrete in-country research evidence from African countries to ascertain the availability and appropriateness of assistive devices needed by people with disabilities. Questions have been raised regarding the mass distribution of wheelchairs to thousands of individuals at one time without any accompanying services that would ensure that the wheelchair is appropriate for the individual. One result is that adult size wheelchairs are given to small children without proper postural support, which leads to secondary complications. Another matter of concern is the distribution of wheelchairs that are inappropriate for the environment in which they will be used, last for only a short period of time before breaking down, and are discarded (Pearlman, et al. 2008). We are aware that mass-production for distribution far from the factory brings with it all types of problems not encountered when production is local and the manufacturers and the customers are in close proximity. Without coordination between manufacturing, distribution, and service delivery, assistive devices and technologies are produced and/or delivered without adequately taking into account the needs of the person and the environmental conditions to which the devices will be subjected. Stone (1993) emphasizes that AT transfer does not only just result in the availability of a device; he suggests that the essence of technology transfer involves that also involves the exchange of knowledge. Through research that aims to understand the local situation and needs of people with disabilities in African countries, the DRCWGs will be able to figure out how to maintain the many benefits of locally manufactured assistive products and hence promote locally relevant and accepted systems of community integration.

Definitions

Assistive Technology (AT) is any device, piece of equipment, software or other tool that is used by people with disabilities to perform activities that might otherwise be difficult or impossible due to their disability. These devices, which increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of people with disabilities, may be acquired commercially, modified, or custom designed and fabricated^[1].  Other AT includes all AT with the exception of wheelchairs, orthoses and prostheses.  Some examples are: equipment to assist with mobility (canes, walkers, standing frames, etc.), equipment that can enhance functional abilities for agricultural work or other vocational activities (modified handles on farming implements such as machetes and hoes, tool supports, etc.), and equipment to augment vision (magnifiers, braille, etc.), hearing (hearing aids) or communication (picture boards, etc.).

For more information about how to join a DRCWG or start up a group please contact us on Afrinead@sun.ac.za

[1] Definition modified from Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 SECTION 3.