The Explosion of Technology in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Technology use in rehabilitation is exploding and increasing hope for improved functional outcomes. A new lens, the F-words in Child Development, built upon the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework, is being applied to pediatric disability. We illustrate the use of the ICF/F-words framework when assessing new technology in rehabilitation, to add depth to the understanding of current and future potential for its impact. We challenge the reader to look beyond the here-and-now, basic functions, and traditional biomedical and technical rehabilitation assessments, by asking bigger, broader questions. We focus on three examples representing innovative, evolving areas of technological development for children with disabilities: Therapeutic Virtual Reality Games (Bootle Blast©), the socially assistive robot (NAO), and robotic walkers (SoloWalk and Trexo). This is a call to drive innovative engineering and technological development forward within the field with specialized, experienced teams using deep, holistic thinking. Let's grow this optimistic vision refracted through the right lens and change the conversation.