More than 1,100 people with disabilities have benefited from a fund that helps them pay less for assistive technology, mobile apps and devices such as hearing aids since criteria to qualify for the subsidies were changed in August last year. This is more than a fivefold jump from the figure over the one year period before the changes were made - and has exceeded expectations, The Straits Times has learnt.
When announcing the changes to the Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) in March last year, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam had said that he expected the number of beneficiaries to double from 200 to 400 a year. The ATF disburses up to 90 per cent of the cost of the equipment. Three enhancements were made to the funding scheme.
Previously, the fund could only be used to buy assistive technology devices only for use in school or at work. It can now be used to pay for devices for more purposes, including those that help with daily living. The monthly household income per capita cap for eligibility was raised from $1,500 to $1,800, to help more families to benefit. The lifetime cap for subsidies was doubled to $40,000, as people may need money to replace devices or buy new ones when their needs change as they age.
Mr Tharman had said the Government wanted to encourage and support the use of assistive technology by people with disabilities. There is scope for them to make better use of technology, not just in education and in jobs, but also for rehabilitation and daily living. The technologies themselves are advancing, making them better designed for use by people with disabilities.
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