Assistive Technologies

Assistive Technologies: Principles and Practice, 6th Edition, by Janice Miller Polgar, Pedro Encarnação, Emma Smith, and Albert M. Cook, delivers a clinical reasoning framework for assistive technology practice. Published by Elsevier, this textbook organizes its instruction around the Human Activity Assistive Technology model to guide systematic evaluation and clinical decision-making.

The content addresses theoretical interaction concepts alongside practical methods for securing client access to mainstream information and communication technologies. The material synthesizes subject matter into functional applications, covering specialized seating strategies, personal mobility solutions, and global perspectives on sustainability across diverse care settings.

A primary feature of this sixth edition is its incorporation of international practice standards, directly including material from the WHO/UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology and the WHO Wheelchair Provision Guidelines. This framework offers targeted instructional support for occupational therapists, health science students, and practicing clinical professionals.