3D printing as assistive technology for individuals with deafblindness : perspectives of rehabilitation professionals

Abstract

here is a growing body of evidence on practical applications of three-dimensional (3D) printing to support the rehabilitation of individuals with sensory impairments. However, applications in the field of deafblindness, or the combination of vision and hearing impairment, remain scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore actual and potential applications of 3D printing in deafblindness rehabilitation from the perspective of rehabilitation professionals in two focus group discussions that involved orientation and mobility specialists, vision rehabilitation specialists, audiologists, and braille technicians. Participants exchanged on 1) 3D printing applications to address their clients’ rehabilitation needs, 2) factors that can impact its integration into their practice, and 3) the ideal logistics for producing and delivering 3D printed products. Educative models and functional adaptations were identified to improve communication, learning, mobility, and independent living skills for individuals with deafblindness. Professionals agreed that the main barriers limiting 3D printing adoption were linked to time constraints and insufficient awareness or knowledge about this technology, while the most crucial facilitator was the promotion of interdisciplinary collaborations with 3D printing experts. The present findings thus emphasize the need for global collaborations, knowledge dissemination, and ongoing research and validation of 3D printing applications to support individuals with deafblindness. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION 3D printing is a promising tool to produce tactile educational material and functional adaptations that can improve learning, mobility, and independent living skills for individuals with deafblindness; examples from this study included actual and potential applications of 3D printing within deafblindness rehabilitation. 3D printing offers the possibility to produce specialized material that can improve communication between rehabilitation professionals and clients with deafblindness, thus improving and accelerating interventions. Insufficient knowledge dissemination about 3D printing and associated possibilities is the main barrier to its adoption by professionals and is potentially more important than time and budget concerns. Rehabilitation professionals expressed the need and interest for efficient collaboration with 3D printing experts with the goal of co-designing customized tools that respond to the unique needs and challenges of individuals with deafblindness.