Individuals with disabilities have different needs (moderate, light, severe etc) and oftentimes individuals might have a specific combination or a variety of disabilities at the same time. As a result, many people with disabilities struggle to identify and acquire the most effective tools for their specific needs, leading to underutilization and poor outcomes.
Mada Center is therefore inviting solution providers to develop a novel assistive recommendation system to provide personalized recommendations for individuals with disabilities based on their individual needs and situation.
More specifically, this challenge revolves around building an innovative recommendation system capable of analysing holistic user assessments—encompassing medical, cognitive, and environmental factors—and translating that data into accurate, accessible, and personalized assistive technology suggestions. By bridging gaps in assessment rigor, data integration, and decision support, such a solution would not only improve individual independence and quality of life but also streamline service delivery for healthcare professionals and caregivers.
Currently, individuals physically visit the MADA Center and, depending on the case, will undergo one or multiple visits. The assessment is therefore done manually by a professional.
The primary goal of assistive technology (AT) is to enhance the independence and quality of life of individuals living with disabilities or functional limitations. Current AT solutions—ranging from mobility aids and communication devices to cognitive support tools—play a critical role in supporting daily tasks and social engagement. However, several core challenges remain (including but not limited to:
- Fragmented Assessment Processes
- Limited Personalization and Accuracy
- Resource-Intensive Manual Matching
- Accessibility Barriers
Several approaches and technologies have attempted to streamline the process of matching individuals with assistive devices. Some notable examples of where these solutions have fallen short include:
- Simple database search engines
- One-Size-Fits-All Screening Tools
- Standalone Clinical Assessments
- Basic Recommendation Apps Without AI/ML
Solutions that we are not interested in:
- Purely Manual Assessment Protocols
- Generic Screening Tools with No Customization
- Isolated Data Silos Without Integrated Analysis
- Products That Focus Solely on Product Cataloguing
It is not the goal of this novel assistive technology to completely replace the assessment of the expert, but rather to enhance opinion of the expert by streamlining the online assessment and therefore making the process more effective and efficient.
MADA Center currently has 5 product categories of products, services and tools for individuals with disabilities. The recommendation system should be able to incorporate all these 6 product categories into its final recommendations.
These product categories are:
Finally, for Mada, from a business perspective, we are looking to achieve the following objectives:
- Increase the number of clients with disabilities we can reach and aid
- Increase the efficiency of doing our assessment
