In 2025, the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) celebrates its 30th anniversary. Founded in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1995, AAATE emerged from a decade of growing European collaboration in the field of Assistive Technology (AT), particularly through initiatives like the COST Action 219“Future Telecommunications and Teleinformatics Facilities for Disabled People” (1987–1996) and the“Technology Initiative for Disabled and Elderly People” (TIDE) programme (1991–1994) within the European Community. These efforts not only laid the groundwork for cross-border scientific cooperation but also advanced a vision of AT as a means for inclusion, participation, and human rights. Since then, AAATE has grown into a vibrant network of researchers, professionals, users, and organizations committed to the advancement of technology for people with disabilities, with an enduring emphasis on the active involvement of end-users as co-creators in the design, development, and implementation of solutions. This legacy provides the back-drop for the present special ssue. To mark this milestone, the Technology & Disability journal brings together a collection of reviews that explore relevant domains in AT. Articles were invited to review AT topics using literature review methodologies. An emphasis was placed on scoping reviews to synthesize the evidence base. While we are aware that the articles do not cover the entire spectrum of AT, which would exceed the scope of a single issue, we believe they highlight key areas of current relevance. The issue opens with a review on the use of mobile phones as assistive technologies, chronicling their evolution from communication devices to powerful, multifunctional tools enhancing the participation of people with disabilities in numerous ways. A second contribution examines how augmented, mixed, and virtual reality can benefit individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders in vocational contexts, revealing promising though still underexplored applications. Another review addresses the intersection of AT and palliative care, underscoring the critical yet under-recognized role of AT in improving quality of life in end-of-life scenarios. The special issue also includes an exploration of haptic and interactive illustrations for visually impaired children, highlighting innovative design strategies that merge tactile, auditory, and interactive elements to make books and storytelling accessible. A scoping review on the use of assistive technologies in commercial video gaming provides insight into a growing area of inclusion, showing how adaptive equipment can broaden engage- ment, enrich leisure experiences, and even support employment opportunities for gamers with disabilities. Another review examines the cognitive demands in- volved in brain-computer interface (BCI) use among children, identifying attention, processing speed, and motivation as key factors influencing BCI performance, and emphasizing the importance of tailoring systems to the developmental needs of pediatric users. Artificial intelligence (AI) features prominently in several contributions. One paper reviews the application of intelligent assistive technologies in long-term care, outlining the benefits and ethical challenges posed by AI- driven solutions. Another focuses on the acceptance of AI-infused AT by professionals in social services, stressing the need for further research to ensure trust and successful adoption. Finally, a scoping review on AI- enabled orientation and mobility technologies for blind and visually impaired individuals critically examines the current state of the field, emphasizing the central role of user trust in the adoption and sustained use of these solutions. The nine contributions featured in this special issue re- flect the breadth and dynamism of the AT field. They also signal a shift: assistive technologies are no longer niche solutions, but increasingly intersect with mainstream innovations, especially AI, raising new opportunities and challenges. As AI continues to revolutionize society, it holds enormous promise for AT. Yet concerns around reliability, safety, data bias, privacy, and equitable access must be addressed with urgency and care. Most importantly, people with disabilities must be central in shaping this future, not just as users, but as co-creators of the technologies that affect their lives. We hope this special issue honors the legacy of AAATE and inspires new paths forward. These are exciting times for AT, and we believe that, with the right commitments, the next 30 years can deliver inclusive innovation at an unprecedented scale. AAATE remains committed to fos- tering interdisciplinary collaboration and advocating for equitable access to technology.
Special Issue: 30 Years of AAATE: Insights into the State of the Art in Assistive Technology
Pagliara, Silvio Marcello
2025-01-01
Abstract
In 2025, the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) celebrates its 30th anniversary. Founded in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1995, AAATE emerged from a decade of growing European collaboration in the field of Assistive Technology (AT), particularly through initiatives like the COST Action 219“Future Telecommunications and Teleinformatics Facilities for Disabled People” (1987–1996) and the“Technology Initiative for Disabled and Elderly People” (TIDE) programme (1991–1994) within the European Community. These efforts not only laid the groundwork for cross-border scientific cooperation but also advanced a vision of AT as a means for inclusion, participation, and human rights. Since then, AAATE has grown into a vibrant network of researchers, professionals, users, and organizations committed to the advancement of technology for people with disabilities, with an enduring emphasis on the active involvement of end-users as co-creators in the design, development, and implementation of solutions. This legacy provides the back-drop for the present special ssue. To mark this milestone, the Technology & Disability journal brings together a collection of reviews that explore relevant domains in AT. Articles were invited to review AT topics using literature review methodologies. An emphasis was placed on scoping reviews to synthesize the evidence base. While we are aware that the articles do not cover the entire spectrum of AT, which would exceed the scope of a single issue, we believe they highlight key areas of current relevance. The issue opens with a review on the use of mobile phones as assistive technologies, chronicling their evolution from communication devices to powerful, multifunctional tools enhancing the participation of people with disabilities in numerous ways. A second contribution examines how augmented, mixed, and virtual reality can benefit individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders in vocational contexts, revealing promising though still underexplored applications. Another review addresses the intersection of AT and palliative care, underscoring the critical yet under-recognized role of AT in improving quality of life in end-of-life scenarios. The special issue also includes an exploration of haptic and interactive illustrations for visually impaired children, highlighting innovative design strategies that merge tactile, auditory, and interactive elements to make books and storytelling accessible. A scoping review on the use of assistive technologies in commercial video gaming provides insight into a growing area of inclusion, showing how adaptive equipment can broaden engage- ment, enrich leisure experiences, and even support employment opportunities for gamers with disabilities. Another review examines the cognitive demands in- volved in brain-computer interface (BCI) use among children, identifying attention, processing speed, and motivation as key factors influencing BCI performance, and emphasizing the importance of tailoring systems to the developmental needs of pediatric users. Artificial intelligence (AI) features prominently in several contributions. One paper reviews the application of intelligent assistive technologies in long-term care, outlining the benefits and ethical challenges posed by AI- driven solutions. Another focuses on the acceptance of AI-infused AT by professionals in social services, stressing the need for further research to ensure trust and successful adoption. Finally, a scoping review on AI- enabled orientation and mobility technologies for blind and visually impaired individuals critically examines the current state of the field, emphasizing the central role of user trust in the adoption and sustained use of these solutions. The nine contributions featured in this special issue re- flect the breadth and dynamism of the AT field. They also signal a shift: assistive technologies are no longer niche solutions, but increasingly intersect with mainstream innovations, especially AI, raising new opportunities and challenges. As AI continues to revolutionize society, it holds enormous promise for AT. Yet concerns around reliability, safety, data bias, privacy, and equitable access must be addressed with urgency and care. Most importantly, people with disabilities must be central in shaping this future, not just as users, but as co-creators of the technologies that affect their lives. We hope this special issue honors the legacy of AAATE and inspires new paths forward. These are exciting times for AT, and we believe that, with the right commitments, the next 30 years can deliver inclusive innovation at an unprecedented scale. AAATE remains committed to fos- tering interdisciplinary collaboration and advocating for equitable access to technology.
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