Medizinische Fakul­tät OWL

The aim of the BRAVO pilot project is to establish an advice center for assistive technologies for people with disabilities in Bethel and to increase (social/digital) participation opportunities and independence in everyday life for people with disabilities. Funded by the Stiftung Wohlfahrtspflege NRW, the three interdisciplinary collaborators (Bethel.regional, HSBI and Bielefeld University) are developing individual advice that focuses in particular on the user and their living environment with the aim of finding the right assistive technology. Bielefeld University provides findings in the areas of usability of assistive technologies (AT) for people with disabilities and explanatory strategies for AT for people with disabilities.

In the area of usability of technical assistance systems for people with disabilities, it is investigated how the usability of the AT selected during the consultation is assessed by the users. The aim is to ensure that the devices for which advice is given are (or can be) used. The results of this study will be compiled in the form of a database and made available to the general public.

As the aim of the advice center is to ensure that those affected can use the selected devices in a meaningful way, it is important to ensure that they understand the device and how it works in addition to assessing its usability. This is why we are investigating which (cognitive and social) aspects play a role during the explanation in order to convey AT effectively. These findings will be used to develop new explanatory strategies for AI and interactive strategies in an advisory context for people with disabilities.