Assistive Technology Suppliers Australia (ATSA), in collaboration with the University of Wollongong (UOW), has been awarded a three-year grant from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to research the integration of motorised mobility devices (MMDs), such as mobility scooters and electronic wheelchairs, in society.
The project aims to increase knowledge about the everyday meanings and experiences of MMDs and is set to provide insights to how people who are reliant upon MMDs negotiate the current transport infrastructure. The research is set to provide important insight to advocates, suppliers, regulators, policy makers, and people who rely on MMDs. Anticipated outcomes include an empirical evidence baseline to inform planning and policy agendas in transport, disability and health.
The research may also influence the planning of infrastructure and the types of MMDs designed and sold in the future.
ATSA executive officer David Sinclair said the joint research project will combine industry knowledge with UOW research expertise on everyday mobility. “The project will advance the public interest in the provision of MMDs, and contribute data that will benefit many elements of society, most of all MMD users,” he said.
Professor Gordon Waitt from UOW’s School of Geography and Sustainable Communities, said the project was a unique opportunity to generate new knowledge about the experiences of MMD users.
“The project will enable researchers, policy makers and industry stakeholders to better understand the everyday lives of MMDs users,” Professor Waitt said. “Australia’s MMD users will benefit, as the project is expected to help work against the social exclusions and isolation created by immobility within this vulnerable social group.”
Professor Waitt said the project would combine qualitative methods, geographic information system technologies and interactive mapping databases, with dialogue groups representing diverse stakeholders.
“Our approach is new, because rather than surveys, the project applies novel qualitative methods that engage with users as individuals to help better reflect their everyday experiences as MMD users.”
Little is known about the best way to support and regulate MMDs in Australia. In a context in which MMDs face increased regulation, this research will be invaluable. The research findings will go beyond just financial benefits and will potentially have significant impact on the lives of people who rely on MMDs.
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