Assistive products and how they support people

Assistive products are products used by people to carry out tasks they may not otherwise be able to do well, or at all.

Assistive products can be used by children, adults and older people.

Assistive products may also be called assistive devices or assistive aids.

Assistive products support people in many ways. The right assistive product can support a person to:

• Be included and participate in what that they want or need to do
• Be more independent and have less need of caregiver support
• Have better health and wellbeing

There are many different types of assistive products. Through each of the TAP modules, you can learn about some of the assistive products that are included in the WHO Priority Assistive Products List.

This includes assistive products that can help with:

• Cognition (thinking) – such as pill organisers and whiteboards to remember things

• Communication – such as communication boards, books, and cards

• Hearing – such as hearing aids and alarm signallers that use light, sound, and vibration

• Mobility (moving about) – such as walking aids, portable ramps, and grab bars

• Self-care – such as toilet and shower chairs, absorbent cloths, and catheters

• Vision (seeing) – such as reading glasses, magnifiers, audio players, talking and/or touching watches, and white canes

Often there is a range (more than one type) of the same assistive product.

For example:

• Walking aids include elbow crutches, underarm crutches, walking frames, and walking sticks.

• Magnifiers include hand held magnifiers (such as pocket magnifiers), stand magnifiers, and spectacle magnifiers.