{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T18:23:32Z","timestamp":1790015012088,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752019200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Cabinet Office, HMG, UK"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Bioengineering"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study presents an analysis of England\u2019s 2023 national assessment of assistive technology (AT) access and use, with a particular focus on the qualitative impact of AT as described by users. It aims to address limitations in conventional AT impact assessments, which often prioritize clinical outcomes or user satisfaction, by offering a deeper account of how impact is experienced in everyday life. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey of 7000 disabled adults and children, as well as six focus group discussions and 28 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders across the WHO 5Ps framework (People, Providers, Personnel, Policy, and Products), the study applies Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum\u2019s Capability Approach to explore these experiences. Using inductive thematic analysis, we identify three main domains of user-reported impact: Functions and Activities (e.g., mobility, communication, vision, leisure, daily routines, and cognitive support), Outcomes (e.g., autonomy, quality of life, safety, social participation, wellbeing, and work and learning), and Lived Experience (e.g., access barriers, essentiality, identity and emotional connection, peace of mind, and sense of control and confidence). These findings offer a more user-centered understanding of AT impact and can inform the development of future measurement tools, research design, and government-led interventions to improve AT provision.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering12070750","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,11]],"date-time":"2025-07-11T13:44:19Z","timestamp":1752241459000},"page":"750","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Understanding the Impact of Assistive Technology on Users\u2019 Lives in England: A Capability Approach"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Joskow","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3746-8171","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dilisha","family":"Patel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Landre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kate","family":"Mattick","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7843-232X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Catherine","family":"Holloway","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jamie","family":"Danemayer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4451-7680","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victoria","family":"Austin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2024, December 20). 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