Assistive devices are external devices that are designed, made, or adapted to assist a person to perform a particular task. Many people with disabilities depend on assistive devices to enable them to carry out daily activities and participate actively and productively in community life. Access to assistive devices is essential for many people with disabilities and is an important part of any development strategy. Without assistive devices, people with disabilities may never be educated or able to work, so the cycle of poverty continues. Increasingly, the benefits of assistive devices are also being recognized for older people as a health promotion and prevention strategy.
