1. Synergies to fuel Researchers’ Careers
Luxembourg, 10 – 11 December 2015
organised by
ASSISTID: A philanthropic International COFUND supporting fellowships in Intellectual Disability and Autism Brian Harvey – Director of Research, DOCTRID Research Institute, Dublin, IRELAND

2. Assistive Technology for Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorders A Charity-led COFUND with Universities, Industry and Disability Services in Europe and the USA ASSISTID will promote research into the development and application of assistive technologies to enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities and autism, their carers and families. ASSISTID is the first structured research programme of its kind in Europe and the most significant investment into assistive technologies research to date.

3. The ASSISTID COFUND is supported by the
DOCTRID Research Institute An Interdisciplinary and International Research Network of Universities, Industry, Entrepreneurs, Disability Services
In Europe and USA
Universities: Ireland, UK and USA
Industry: IBM, INTEL, Philips Healthcare, Fujitsu..
Entrepreneurs: Special Effects, Grace Apps..
Disability Services: Daughters of Charity
Federation of Voluntary Bodies Ireland

4. Assistive Technology is key to enhance Independent Living in ID/ASD
8 million people with Intellectual Disability in Europe
Up to 40% of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder have an Intellectual Disability
Society needs research and training to enhance community participation, education, employment, social inclusion and Independent living for people with ID/ASD
Assistive Technology is key to enhance Independent Living in ID/ASD
Disability policy and service provision is shifting from a medical model to a social model.
People with disabilities are citizens with the same rights to choice, education and employment.
Society needs research and training to increase community participation, services and
Independent living for people with disabilities.

5. ASSISTID : A Multidisciplinary Approach to AT
Education
Independent Living
Ethics
Health
Social Inclusion
Employment
Communication
Policy
Inclusive Design
Care

6. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR AUTISM AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
40 Post-doctoral Fellows over 5 years. Budget €9 Million
16 incoming
4 outgoing
16 incoming
4 outgoing
Prep Phase
Start
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Jan 2014
Jan 2015

7. ASSISTID: Thematic Areas of Research and Training
Ethics and Policy of Community versus Congregation living for people with significant Intellectual Disability
Smart Gaming for children with ID and ASD
Virtual reality tools for communication, education, employment
Speech and Language Apps
Inclusive Design of the living environment
Applied Behaviour Analysis assessment tools
Sensors and wearable Assistive Technologies for independent living 7

8. MSC ASSISTID Fellows Recruitment
13 Fellows Recruited to date from 2 Calls:
4 Outgoing (3 years), 9 Incoming (2 years)
7 fellows to be appointed Jan 2016
Leaving a further 20 Fellowships to be appointed in Call 3
16 Incoming, 4 Outgoing
Applications: 55% male: 45% Female
70% Passed Remote Review Threshold (41% Female):
Success rate: 51% after final interview (33% Female):
Overall Success rate: 28% of Total applications. 8

9. Grand Challenges Solutions
Establishing a Research Infrastructure and administration ab initio
PR, Peer-review, Selection of Fellows
Aligning expectations of the Charity, the Disability Services, Universities, Industry partners and MSC Fellows
Fundraising
Overheads
Intellectual Property
Ethics
Solutions
DOCTRID, Professional Research Office, Research Committee, Scientific Advisory Board
Learned Societies, Conferences, Pro-active PR, Own Reviewer Database, Rolling Call
MoU, Robust Employment Contract, Pro-active Promotion of collaborations among all partners
Tripartite Employment Contract
Dedicated Fundraising Board
Difficult !!! Overhead to support RESPECT and DOCTRID administration in EU Contract
Difficult !!! RESPECT owns all IP
All MSC Fellow applications reviewed by a dedicated Ethics Committee 9

10. ASSISTID Fellows: Training and Career Development
Primary Objective: Receive Training and Carry out Research to improve the lives of people with Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Multi-disciplinary Training: e.g. Information Technology, Psychology, Ethics, Occupational Therapy, Counselling Ethics, Behavioural Analysis….
Impact positively on the quality of Disability Service provision, Education, Social Inclusion and Employment of people with ID and ASD….
Develop a niche career in Assistive Technologies in Academia, Industry, Service Provision, Entrepreuneurship…. 10

11. Examples of Two ASSISTID Projects
Smart Gaming
Wireless sensors, responsive toys
Brain Computer Interface, Thermal sensors, Eye Gaze
Participatory design
Ethics of Assistive Technology
Risks, Privacy, Consent
Recommendations for developers, users and carers
Synthesis Report 11

12. Meet our ASSISTID Fellows12

14. Contact us, get involved!
Thank you
Contact us, get involved!
Sheeona Gorman, Programme Manager
Alie Kwint, Projects Officer
Brian Harvey, Director of Research