The Fondazione Don Gnocchi is committed to assistive technology through research, innovation, and service delivery. It works to realize the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities goal of increasing access to assistive technology. The WHO's GATE initiative aims to improve global access to affordable, high-quality assistive products. Fondazione Don Gnocchi's SIVA network works to ensure persons with disabilities have access to appropriate assistive technologies through specialized assessment centers, a web portal, and email helpline. The network also focuses on training personnel and collecting data to inform policies and programs.

1. Fondazione Don Gnocchi commitment in the
assistive technology sector through
research, innovation and service delivery
Claudia Salatino
csalatino@dongnocchi.it
SIVALab, Innovation and Development Department,
IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milano, Italy

2. Mission: realize the obligations of the Un CRPD on increasing access to
AT
In 2014 World Health Organisation estabilished the
INITIATIVE GATE
(Global Cooperation on Assistive Health Technology)
GATE initiative: improve access to high-quality
affordable assistive products globally.
https://www.who.int/phi/imple
mentation/assistive_technology
/phi_gate/en/
acknowledged Assistive Health Products represent “fourth pillar” for
global health
focusing on five interlinked areas (5P):
people, policy, products, provision and personnel

3. The GATE initiative produced
several publications,
World Health Assembly issued a
Resolution (WHA 71.8 ) on «Improving
Access to Assistive Technology»
Urges Member states to put forward 9 key
points including:
• to ensure adequate and trained human
resources
• to ensure access to the most
appropriate assistive products
• to collect data to develop evidence-
based strategies, policies & programmes

4. POLL:
In the framework of the GATE initiative, WHO has indicated 3 key points.
Which of these are currently met by your organization?
• to ensure adequate and trained human resources
• to ensure access to the most appropriate assistive products
• to collect data to develop evidence-based strategies, policies &
programmes

5. SIVA (Assistive Technology Information
and Assessment Services) today is a
reliable and accessible consultancy,
research and intervention network on
Assistive Technologies for the autonomy of
persons with disability:
- network of specialised centres (SIVA
centres) taking advantage of technical &
methodological support of SIVALab
- web Portal (https://portale.siva.it)
- email helpline information on AT
(portale@siva.it)

6. • 12 SIVA Units performing 4278 AT
Assessments (2018):
• assessment
• guidance
• advice
most appropriate, personalised AT
solution
SIVA Network
• SIVALab central bioingeneering unit (Innovation in solutions for
autonomy):
• scouting and updating the SIVA AT exhibitions
• technical & methodological support to SIVA network
• spreading information & training on AT

7. SIVALab
Ing. Claudia Salatino
Ing. Lucia Pigini
SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION
Italian network of
IT AT centres
Association for the
Advancement of Assistive
Technology in Europe
European Assistive Technology
Information Network
SIVALab Memberships
European Platform for
Rehabilitation
Global Cooperation on Assistive
Health Technology
INNOVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=e1TqInVnFFQ&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elQKE5oybTo&feature=youtu.be

8. SIVALab activities
 Information:
• SIVA Portal (www.portale.siva.it)
• EASTIN Portal (www.eastin.eu)
• E-mail helpline (portale@siva.it)
• Newsletters (i.e. SIVANews)

9.  Consultancy:
• Technical-methodological
support to SIVA centres in
multi-professional AT
assessments
• Scouting and multidisciplinary
analisys for acquisition and
introduction of assistive
technology within FDG socio-
sanitary services
SIVALab activities

10.  Training:
• Training courses
• Updating meetings
• University education
 Information:
• SIVA Portal (www.portale.siva.it)
• EASTIN Portal (www.eastin.eu)
• E-mail helpline (portale@siva.it)
• Newsletters (es. SIVANews)
 Consultancy:
• Technical-methodological support
to SIVA centres in multi-professional
AT assessments
• Scouting and multidisciplinary
analisys for acquisition and
introduction of assistive technology
within FDG socio-sanitary services
SIVALab activities

11. POLL:
In the framework of the GATE initiative, WHO has indicated 3 key points. If
some of these are not met by your organization yet, on which ones did your
organization decide to invest?
• to ensure adequate and trained human resources
• to ensure access to the most appropriate assistive products
• to collect data to develop evidence-based strategies, policies &
programmes

12. Thank you for your kind attention!!!
Questions?
E-mail: csalatino@dongnocchi.it